Episode 37: Titus 2:11-14
Transcription
Today’s verse is Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.
Let’s pray together.
Jesus, I need Your grace today. I feel like nothing is under my control. Perhaps that’s because nothing ever is, but today I’m feeling it more than normal. I don’t like the feeling. I wish that there was a way around the struggle, the pain, the anxiety. Because I and so many others feel like that today, we need You to meet us in a special way. We need a tangible touch, the assurance that You are in control, and that You do care.
In response, LORD, help me to submit my own desires to You, relishing the grace of my salvation, knowing that it is because You cared so much for all people, that I have the ability to do anything. Help me show my gratitude, help me be obedient to Your word. When it would be easier to deal with something my own way, when it feels like ignoring You will hurt less, when I’m afraid of giving up what I want, remind me that You are holy and You are good and You saved me.
If I am tempted today to speak an unkind word, to be ungenerous, to lash out, to hide away, to hoard my gifts, to protect myself with a lie, or to be greedy, mean, or selfish in any way, rebuke me. I want to hear it from You, to be reminded that You have set up a higher way, a more merciful way. As Your child, I no longer get to dictate my own morality. Instead, I need to submit to the purification process of Your holy grace.
I pray to get excited about living in a way that honors You, that shows my agreement with how You operate, and that continues to teach me more and more about You. Jesus, I need to learn, I need to grow, I need Your help. I pray that I can see it when You reach out to me, that I listen for meaning in what others say and do, in the places I go, the things I read, especially Your word. May I see You because I am looking for You, and not for what gratifies myself.
I can’t deny that it is really hard to live for You. Right now, it feels harder than ever. Everywhere I look, I see people dishonoring You, ignoring You, afraid of You, angry at You, telling me that You don’t matter. They tell me to promote myself, to search after what I think will make me happy, to take care of myself above all else. Simultaneously, I have to care about whatever they care about, about everything in the world, every problem, issue, or tension. Jesus, I’m exhausted. We all are. We keep trying to fix everything ourselves, instead of listening to You for Your instructions.
We live in hope of seeing You again, of the time when we no longer have to deal with this world and the enemy of our souls and our own flesh vying for our attention and trying to harm us. In the meantime, the expectations of our need to live godly lives can be its own form of suffocation. Jesus, blow Your freedom of truth on us. Help us to understand from You and discern from You, what we need to care about, what our tasks are, how to grow in beauty and grace and love. How can we be disciplined as You were? How can we honor our Father as You did? How can we honor Your sacrifice for us?
We want to be ready for You, as ready as we can be. We want to be refined, purified, shiny, the cracks in our skin glowing with the gold of Your Spirit’s fire. But I know this is only possible through Your daily, hourly, minutely help. I cannot do this; I cannot keep on this way by myself. I am liable to crash and burn and simply weep for eternity, my body and soul aching with exhaustion and effort. So, pick all of us up, help us to keep walking, keep waiting in hope, and do not let us attempt to do it on our own. Show us who to help, show us how to ask for help, show us who You are, more and more each day.
Father, heal the sick, mend the broken, comfort the grieving, give rest to the weary, strengthen the flagging, excite the apathetic, and banish the evil that would try to make us give up.
I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
