December 29, 2021 - Philippians‬ ‭2:14-15

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Philippians 2:14-15 NLT

Jesus, help us to learn to live a life without complaining. Please forgive us for all the times we complain. Would you highlight it every time it arises? Even if it is just in our minds or hearts. We don’t want to give any place to it. Complaining can so often be a very hurtful thing and we never want what we say to be hurtful to you or others. It is a sign of being ungrateful. Help us learn to find the good in every situation and be thankful in all things. Let our positive attitude even in difficult situations, when we think we have a right to complain, be something that makes us stand out as different.

Lord, we also ask that you help us be humble and not have to always be right. Show us when our pride is raising its head. Please forgive us for all the time that our pride has us standing our ground and trying to prove our point. We don’t want to argue for the sake of arguing or to prove our point. When we need to stand up for something, let it be because you told us to. Then give us wisdom on how to do it in an honoring way.

Lord, we want to live pure lives. We want our hearts and actions to reflect you and your ways. We want to stand out as different in our society. Show us areas in our lives where we are trying to hide you and blend in. We don’t want to look so much like our culture that they can’t see anything different in us. Help us to be leaders who are willing to blaze a path for others to follow even if there is no one going with us. Lead us in our pursuit for holiness. We want to be just like you, even if that doesn’t make us popular in our culture. Show us how to humbly love those who are going in a different direction from us. Let our lives draw them to you.

In Jesus name, amen.