Praying in light of 1 Pet 2:24-25, "24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls."

Our Father,

We come before you recognizing that apart from you we are utterly sinful. The natural bent of our hearts is away from you. We naturally desire the very things you hate. We are born inclined toward sin. We are born children of wrath, dead in our trespasses and sins. The natural bent of our minds is to think our own thoughts. We naturally think in a way that is contrary to your word. Our minds so often chase after that which is not pleasing to you. We think less of you than we ought. We think of you less often than we ought. All that we are apart from your grace is polluted by sin, corrupted by sin, bent and twisted by sin. And so we are fully deserving of your wrath. We have sinned against you. You our very Creator. You who sustain us each moment. You who are worthy of our highest obedience and allegiance You who are holy, holy, holy. You who has loved us steadfastly. You who have been so faithful while we are often faithless You who have only ever done what is good for us. You who are infinitely worthy of our praise. And yet we sin against you and so we deserve your eternal wrath.

But the good news is that your Son bore our sins in his body on the tree. He took the wrath of God that we deserve. He took the punishment for our sin that should have fallen upon us He took the curse of damnation for us. Every sin we have committed or will ever commit is paid for. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. There is no wrath remaining for us. There is no punishment that awaits your chosen people because Jesus bore our sin. He is our substitute sufferer, the substitutionary sacrifice. 

Not only does he pay the penalty for our sin but empowers us to live righteous live Through the death of your Son, we have died to sin Sin no longer enslaves your people Sin no longer has dominion over us. Sin no longer reigns in our hearts and through the death of your Son, we are empowered by your grace to do what is right and pleasing to you. We are able to be holy in all of our conduct because Jesus died for us. We are able to fervently love one another because Jesus died for us. We are able to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul because Jesus died for us. We are able to submit to governing authorities which you have ordained. We are able to suffer for righteousness sake like our suffering savior. Through the death of your Son, we have been healed, we have been forgiven, returned, reconciled and brought to you. We were straying like lost, deceived sheep. But in your grace through the death of your Son, we have been turned away from our false ways, turned away from ignorantly, foolishly seeking to live life according to our wisdom and we have been turned to your Son. The one who is the shepherd and overseer of our souls. Father thank you for your amazing grace, your amazing love that deals fully, completely, and sufficiently with our sin

What is our hope in life and death?

Christ alone. Christ alone.

He is our only confidence.

All praise be to your name through you Son, our Savior.

Amen.