Pastor Mary Haley

Intro: As human beings created by God and made in His image, we tend to have an awareness when we have not aligned with the will of the Lord. Certainly, we can sear our consciences by demanding our own way, but sometimes we are just ignorant about the power of our decisions to lead us away from God. This may take our souls to a place of unrest—uneasiness, sleeplessness, turmoil—so, we wander looking for peace.

I believe God allows us these wrestling experiences with our souls to help us find a deeper knowledge of Him and who He is as our Prince of Peace. Think about it this way, if we never experience unrest or turmoil in our souls, we will not look or reach for the Peace only God can give. He wants more for us and to enjoy more with us. Therefore, God promises to use all things for our good when we love Him and are called according to his purpose for us (Ro 8:28) Do you see how times of unrest in your life have been God’s way to draw you closer to Himself?

In our passage today, king Darius has spent a night in turmoil; waiting to see if Daniel’s God protected and delivered him from death while in the lion’s den. When the king finds Daniel alive, he implements justice by taking action against the envious administrators who sought to trick him into killing Daniel. Then, the king makes a righteous decree for everyone to worship Daniel’s God. So, what the enemy meant for destruction, God used to increase righteousness for his glory. God has promised to faithfully protect his servants and Daniel’s story reminds us of his power and ability to do so.

Daniel 6:19-28 NLT
19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”

21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.

24 Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.

25 Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you!
26 “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

For he is the living God,    and he will endure forever.His kingdom will never be destroyed,    and his rule will never end.
27 
He rescues and saves his people;    he performs miraculous signs and wonders    in the heavens and on earth.He has rescued Daniel    from the power of the lions.”
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Prayer: Lord, you are the God of all miracles and you can shut the mouths of lions and destroy evil according to your word and will to save. Thank you for protecting us by the Truth as we live the Truth in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: There are positive or negative consequences for every decision we make; therefore, we need to bathe every choice in prayer. Nothing is too small or too big to bring to the Lord. Prayer should be like breathing in and breathing out as we seek the will of God with every decision. Otherwise, we may find ourselves filled with regret as we watch the chain of events that begin to tumble from our poor choices. God’s Word encourages us to remember we will reap whatever we sow; when we sow poor decisions—things outside the will of God—we must face what follows.

In our passage today, king Darius has not weighed all the negative consequences that may come with his decision to enact an unjust law against prayer. Consequence #1: Soon after he enacts the law, the king realizes this law will cost the life of his best servant. Consequence #2: Darius has no power to revoke the law. Consequence #3: Darius’ soul is troubled and filled with regret. Our lesson, today, is to pray about everything and know God will lead us toward reaping good consequences…abundant favor.

Daniel 6:13-18 NLT Daniel in the Lion’s Den
13 Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
14 Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.
15 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”

16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power of prayer and the wisdom to know how to make decisions that will yield positive consequences. Help us learn from the life of Daniel that you are always there to save us from evil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Envy is very detrimental to the soul, so God communicated about that danger when he said, “You must not covet…” (Ex 20:17). Envy is sin; sin brings suffering. The biblical definition of envy is the sin of jealousy over the blessings and achievements of others, especially the spiritual enjoyment, and advance of the kingdom of Christ freely and graciously bestowed upon the people of God. Both the Old and New Testament help us understand God’s warning; we see it manifest in the lives of biblical characters and the trauma it brings into their relationships (E.g. Cain/Abel).

Envy births a wicked and ungrateful attitude toward God and others, because it rests on the foundation of making comparisons. We are all unique in how God has made us and our gifts and needs for resources may be very different, so envy actually makes us blind to the beauty in which God has made us as individuals. When we envy others, we are really wasting our time, energy, and opportunities to make a difference for Christ’s kingdom.

In our passage today, Daniel is the focus of his fellow administrators’ envy. They hate his integrity and abilities, but Daniel is faultless in those areas. So, these envious administrators plot and accuse Daniel of violating the official law with his religion; that no one will pray to anyone but king Darias. Daniel cannot obey the law, so he bows his head and bends his knees three times every day knowing the price he will pay for his obedience to God. Will Daniel’s gratitude and allegiance to God break the power of envy set to destroy him?

Daniel 6:1-12 NLT
1 Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. 5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”

6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law.

10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. 12 So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?”

“Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”

Prayer: Lord, may we truly be grateful, today, for who you made each of us to be as workers in your kingdom. May we be impeccable with our integrity and helpful with our gifts and abilities to make a difference in your kingdom. Thank you for Daniel’s powerful example of gratitude and allegiance. Help us to stand strong for you, because we bend our knees in prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Humanity just loves to label things and people. We want to decide who we are, who other people are, and then hang a sign on the doorpost of our lives convinced we have the truth. But, friends, God cannot be labeled and we are made in His image or likeness. God alone knows who we are and who He created us to be. When we recognize that as Truth, we will bow and worship Him knowing there is no one with more authority.

In our passage today, king Nebuchadnezzar exalts himself to obtain human worshippers; everyone in his empire has no choice but to honor his demands. Nebuchadnezzar is a pagan worshiper who, along with his kingdom people, serves many false gods, so he just adds himself to the list of these gods. This king is so set on control and homage, he erects a nine-story gilded statue of himself, positions musicians to play, and directs everyone to bow to the statue of his likeness. As the music plays, the people of the empire are all bowed down; all except three brave men who refuse to bow to anyone but Almighty God. Can you image the picture or social pressure of this fiery trial?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will not allow another human to define them or rob their worship of the Most High God. God protects these men [perhaps through the pre-incarnate Christ] while they are in the fiery furnace; the penalty brought against them through the forces of evil. God rescues these three young men and, as a result, the king recognizes the authority of God.

We will face our own fiery trials when we refuse to worship the false gods of this world, but we never face them alone (1 Pet 4:12-13). Christ is there to protect us and deliver us from evil. Aren’t you grateful to have Jesus with you in every fiery trial you face?

Daniel 3:19-30 NLT The Blazing Furnace
19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.
24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for rescuing us from evil each day; we never have to face the forces of evil or the fiery trials without you. May our sincere worship of you today bring glory to your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: We need to hear the truth everyday, because the human conscience can get seared. Simply stated, people can be guilty before God and not feel guilty. For this reason, we must stay in the Word of God, so our words and actions align. Sin should bring a feeling of shame, but when we choose to ignore the truth we no longer hear the “voice” telling us our behavior is wrong or sinful.

In our passage today, we are introduced to Herod Antipas who was made Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea when his father Herod the Great died in 4 BC. Although he was positioned as a Jewish ruler from 4 BC to 39 AD, Antipas saw himself above Jewish law most of the time. For example, Antipas talked the wife of his brother Phillip into violating the Jewish law by leaving her husband and marrying him (Lev 18:16). He was guilty before God, but he did not feel guilty.

John the Baptist was determined not to let Antipas forget he was to govern God’s people. John was focused on repentance and righteousness, so he condemned Antipas for adultery when he married his brother’s wife. For John, sin was sin, so he did not shy away from warning Antipas or his wife about their sin against the laws of God.

Antipas hated the truth John proclaimed; but his wife, Herodias, took the necessary action to silence John. Because Antipas cared more about his image with people than pleasing God, he order the execution of John. In fact, this ruler was known for his duplicity—the practice of working to people’s disadvantage behind their back. Antipas was a deceiver and liar; even Jesus referred to him as “that fox” (Luke 13:32).

Matthew 14:1-12 NLT The Death of John the Baptist
1 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, 2 he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”
3 For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip). 4 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.

6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, 7 so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. 8 At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” 9 Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. 10 So John was beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12 Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.

Prayer: Lord, from the beginning you used human shame to help your people turn away from sin and toward you. Help us, as believers, to never silence your voice in our conscience; we need to hear you everyday in order to live in a way that pleases you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: I deeply love the writings of the psalmists, because they encourage me in managing the emotions of my own soul. Whether the psalmists are lamenting or rejoicing, these writers always find a way to lift up praise and remain focused on the faithfulness of our God. True, they may sound angry or discourage in some writings—even feeling abandoned by God at times—but these writers inspire faith in our soul realm, because we know they sing the truth: God [above all others] is to be praised and honored.

We cannot possess the mind of God, so he allows us to be authentic and learn about his loving nature and the redemption he offers to all. Praise refocuses our attention and some days we definitely need refocusing! Maintaining an attitude of praise brings every child of God to a place of worship—oneness with the only One who can turn our weeping into rejoicing [our sorrow into joy]. Are you lamenting or rejoicing today?

Today in our passage, the psalmist praises the King of creation who inspires awe in human beings, because his love is beyond human comprehension. No other relationship we have in life can compare to the love of God for us. I am convinced human beings, as a whole, have no clue about the depth of God’s love and provision for all creation; otherwise, the nations would universally serve and worship him.

So, let’s be great examples of praisers, today. Let’s praise his wonderful name and allow the Spirit to make us mighty in his power and strength. God knows we are weak, but when we are willing to allow the Spirit to transform us, we are connected to the powerful and saving work of the Lord.

Psalm 96:1-6 NLV A Call to Worship the Lord
1 Sing to the Lord a new song. Let all the earth sing to the Lord. 2 Sing to the Lord. Honor His name. Make His saving power known from day to day. 3 Tell of His shining-greatness among the nations. Tell of His wonderful works among all the people. 4 For the Lord is great and should be given much praise. He is to be honored with fear above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are false gods. But the Lord made the heavens. 6 Honor and great power are with Him. Strength and beauty are in His holy place.

Prayer: Lord, we praise you with the songs of our hearts. May they sing of our love for you and express our gratitude for our salvation. May every beat of our hearts tell of your wonderful works and how you love and provide for us. Please forgive us for our limited faith at times and our failure to praise you even in our trials. Stimulate us to greater faith as we step out to represent and serve you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Eternal life is present both here and now, as well as in every moment we walk into the future. That’s because King Jesus and his Kingdom is within us and living in righteousness reveals them both actively manifesting in our lives. “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17). So, when we allow the Spirit to help us remain in Christ’s righteousness through our right attitudes and actions, we are experiencing miraculous signs of Christ’s presence, as well. Please don’t forget peace and joy are Kingdom experiences. “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another” (John 1:16). Are you enjoying Christ’s abundance?

Just prior to our passage for today, Jesus fed a crowd of people—five thousand men plus women and children—with five barley loaves and two fish. Talk about making an abundant meal for the masses from a snack! Even after experiencing this abundance from the hand of Jesus, people struggled to believe he was the King of Glory. In order to see the Kingdom, a person must be born again of the Spirit (John 3:3). However, even Spirit-filled believers may struggle a bit to see abundance, because everything in the Kingdom is about what the King of Glory does for us, not about what we do.

In our passage for today, Jesus tells the people following him to spend their energy seeking the Kingdom of eternal life. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “You thought the fish dinner was great, but press in deeper because you ain’t seen nothing yet!” So, please, “Seek first the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously and he will give you everything you need” (Mat 6:33).

John 6:26-35 NLT 26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do? “

29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while the journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat’”

32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the abundance you came to bring us; we certainly need everything you have promised to provide. Thank you for being our daily Bread and for quenching our dry thirsty souls with your vibrant eternal life. This world drains us, but you fill us up to running over. We love you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In 2013, Peter, our Board of Directors, and myself created a five year business plan and set a goal that accompanied our bank loan to purchase our present building. This business plan was built on mature faith in Christ’s provision; we decided we would ask the Lord to help us pay the building off in five years. God miraculously honored that goal through some amazing and generous people…because they kept their focus on the work of the Kingdom as we served the King.

Establishing and setting financial goals is always an essential part of wise living, because it keeps the important things in focus. Maintaining a budget these days is a must! If all we do, today, is blindly focus on our wants as we spend money, we will find ourselves unprepared tomorrow. Believers do not worry about tomorrow like God will in some way neglect to care for us, but we certainly should not live foolishly or beyond our means, because every decision we make, today, in some way affects tomorrow.

Another part of wise living is setting spiritual goals. For the believer, our first goal should be to die to sin and diligently live new life in Christ’s power. Our new life will be filled with new desires that bring new actions as we seek to reflect the character of Christ.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul shares his spiritual goal with the church in Philippi and believers from every generation to follow. Do you have difficulty forgiving and forgetting the pain from your past? Paul understands. For Paul, he had to trust God to help him forget his spiritually ignorant and murderous actions against Christ’s followers. As we each press toward the goal of becoming more like Christ, let’s help and encourage one another to move beyond the past, as well. Let achieving your spiritual goal consume your energy, instead.

Philippians 3:12-14 NLT Pressing toward the Goal
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for teaching us how to live wisely by setting goals. Our spiritual goal, like the Apostle Paul, is to radiate your amazing character and trust in your provision to see us through. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Merriam-Webster defines divided loyalty as ‘a feeling of strong support for opposing groups.’ It’s like a person staggering; struggling to get balanced. At times, we can find ourselves questioning where to place our loyalty, because we may desire to love and serve God, but we also want to make ourselves and everyone else around us happy, too. I hope we can all agree that finding oneness with God while at the same time trying to find oneness with this worldly culture will never happen and we must be all right with it. “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions” (Gal 5:17). We cannot serve two masters (Mat 6:24).

In our passage today, the Apostle James [brother of Jesus] reminds 1st Century Jewish Christians that divided loyalty is like ‘adultery’ and ‘idolatry.’ Very simply, God commands our loyalty: We must not have any other god but the Lord (Ex 20:2-3). We cannot be divided in our loyalty to the Lord, because to do so is to be unfaithful to him and his rule over our lives. We cannot love our desires, others, or this world more than God. To love the Lord is to love him with our whole being regardless of what Satan serves up on the silver platter of this world. We need the Lord to deliver us from evil. To remain faithful or undivided to God is to humble ourselves and exalt the Lord as our Rescuer.

James 4:4-10 NLT
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Intro: God has the authority or freedom to decide or act without explanation or hindrance [e.g. He answers to no one]. God has the authority or power and ability to complete an action [e.g. only Jesus can forgive sin]. God can delegate authority to his ambassadors to perform ministry which builds up the Body of Christ [e.g. the apostles]. Lastly, God has established spheres of authority in the world [e.g. civil government, home, and church] and has instructed believers to honor those holding authority. Yet, God has created EVERY human being to live by conviction under His rule and authority.

In our passage for today, Peter writes to elders [spiritual leaders who serve as examples], young people [who are learning to emulate Christ], and the Church Body [believers who are committed to serving Christ]. He encourages each group to accept the responsibility to care for one another—to stop seeking positions of power—because authority and leadership is granted to those who emulate Christ’s humble servant heart.

Spiritual authority is something Christ took back from Satan. Believers—new creations—have authority because Christ lives in us and flows through the spiritual gifts we have been given. We simply need to stay or abide in Christ and honor His humble way of ministering to lost, hurting, and broken people. Be an example of Christ for someone, today.

1 Peter 5:1-5 NLT
1 And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

Prayer: Creator Lord, as your children, sons, and daughters, we honor Your authority and the spheres of authority you have put into place. As well, we welcome the conviction of the Holy Spirit to shape us for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.