I do life with Jesus. That is the first of the affirmation/ prayer point statements. It is the overarching principle under which the rest of the statements nestle. But what does it mean?
If you are a believer, there was a transaction which occurred that ensured that this statement is, indeed, true. You traded your sins, for among other amazing gifts, the presence of the Holy Spirit living in you. So, please recognize that Jesus is with you, whether you would rather Him be there or not.
Jesus is with you when you wake in the morning, when you fall asleep, every moment in between, and all through the night. Think about that! Jesus is with you before you’ve had your first cup of coffee, so He witnessed first hand your grumpiness toward the clerk at the convenience store. He was there when you talked about that annoying co-worker behind closed doors. He was there when you were doing your personal errands on company time, and He was there when that driver cut you off in traffic. YIKES!
But…He was also there when you opened the door for the elderly gentleman at the store. He was there when you gave an encouraging word to a neighbor. He was there when you picked up the trash laying on the sidewalk, and He was there when you visited a dear friend going through a tough time.
Jesus sees all that we do – the good and the bad and the ugly. When I see that clearly, it makes me want to do better. Jesus deserves better than my sarcastic response to a question I consider irrelevant. I wonder how many times a day do I make Jesus sad.
When I make the statement, “I do life with Jesus.” All of the preceding is what flows through my brain, and I realize the amazing privilege I have to do life with my Lord and Savior and how very not worthy I am of that privilege. So I pray:
Abba Father, You began a good work in me the moment I accepted Jesus into my life as Savior, and You will continue this good work until it is completed. When I look back, I can see the progress I have made, but in daily life I see only how far I have to go. Forgive my impatience with Your divine process. I want to please You with all I think, say, and do, but I have the attention span of a child. I am so easily distracted by the “shiny things” the world is offering. Thank You for Your patience and redirecting my attention to You. I am humbled when I think about Your desire for relationship with me. Help me, dear Lord, to remain focused on You all day, and may my thoughts, words, and actions make Jesus smile. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus, with whom I do life through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Use this prayer, or come up with your own, but never forget that you are doing life with Jesus.
If you are not in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can be. He turns no one away. Just recognize that you are in need of a Savior. One that can cleanse you of all your sins and remove the burden of condemnation from your shoulders. Tell Jesus that you recognize His authority to forgive you and invite Him to share in your life as the Holy Spirit begins and continues the good work in you.
I hope that you all have made that transaction (your sins for His glory and eternal life). Doing life with Jesus is an adventure, and it makes a difference for the better in your life and the lives of those around you.