Working Out Our Salvation

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are right in Your verdict and justified when You judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet You desired faithfulness even in the womb; You taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me. (Psa. 51:1-10)

Holy Spirit, I know that You are light; in You there is no darkness at all. I also know that if we walk in the light, as You are the light, we have fellowship with You and the blood of Jesus Christ purifies us from all sin. If I confess my sins You are faithful and just and will forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:5,7,9)  Help me to continue to work out my salvation with fear and trembling, so that You can do a work in me that will help me to act and fulfill Your good purpose. Teach me not to grumble or argue so that I may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.  Then I can shine like the stars in the sky as I hold firmly to the word of life. I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:12, 14-16)

Holy Spirit I know that I need to offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is my spiritual act of worship.  Let me not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind.  Then I will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1&2)  Christ told us to, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name you will drive out demons; you will speak in a new tongues; you will pick up snakes with your hands; and when you drink deadly poison, it will not hurt you at all; I will place my hands on sick people, and they will get well. (Mark 16:15-18)

I am being taught, with regard to my former way of life, to put off my old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of my mind; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)  So I need to be kind others, tenderhearted, forgiving others, even as God in Christ forgave me. (Ephesians 4:32) Lord direct my heart into Your love and into the patience of Christ. (2 Thess. 3:5)  In Jesus’ name, Amen.