“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.” Proverbs 15:8
God does not accept prayers or praises from the impenitent, who continue in their sinful ways, but He gladly hears and answers the prayers of those who acknowledge their sins and turn to Jesus Christ and His cross for mercy.
Forgive my sins, O Lord, for the sake of Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, and give me a heart to hear and obey Your commandments. Amen.
“Daniel said: ‘Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who know understanding. …’” Daniel 2:20-21
It is the LORD God, the possessor of wisdom and might, who gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those with understanding. He also removes rulers and sets up rulers. He does so for His own purposes, often not known to man. Rulers can be for a blessing upon His people or for judgment upon a people who have turned away from the LORD and His Word and have rejected His wisdom and understanding.
O all-wise God, grant that we trust in You and accept Your judgments, for we know that You work all things for the good of those who trust in Your name. Amen.
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is generous toward all who call upon Him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:12-13
One’s ethnic or national background makes no difference. Anyone who repents of his sinful ways and calls upon the risen Lord Jesus, trusting that He is the promised Messiah and that He made atonement for the sins of all by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross, will be saved and have everlasting life.
For Your sake, dear Lord Jesus, grant me pardon and forgiveness for all my sins and a place in Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.
“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching on the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3
Nothing that we do, say, think, or desire is hidden from the LORD. He sees both the evil and the good. This, of course, is all the more reason for us to quit trying to hide our sins from the LORD. Rather, we should acknowledge them, repent of them, and look to the LORD for mercy for the sake of Jesus Christ, who lived a sinless life for us in His thoughts, desires, words, and deeds, and who bore the just punishment for all our sins, making atonement for us by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross.
Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for the sake of Jesus Christ, my crucified and risen Savior. Amen.
“Yet the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. For the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24
True worship of God is not determined by the place one worships (Jerusalem or Mt. Gerizim), nor by outward forms (liturgies, vestments, instruments, etc.). As Jesus said, true worship is “in spirit and truth.” It is not just words spoken by the lips; it is genuine prayers and praises from a penitent heart that trusts in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for mercy and forgiveness.
Dear Father in heaven, grant that I worship You not merely with my lips or with outward forms but with a heart cleansed of my sin through the shed blood of Christ Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
