God's Word |
Personal Vow |
| Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. | [1] Lord, give me a heart which is dedicated totally to you. Let my life be a living sacrifice to you, sanctified and acceptable in Your sight. Let my life-service be based on Your Word. |
| {2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. | [2] Keep me from being conformed to the Old World, but transform me by making my mind part of the New Creation (2 Cor 5:17), so that I can quickly and spontaneously discern Your good, acceptable, and perfect will. |
| {3} For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. | [3] Give me a heart which by Your grace does not think of myself more highly than I ought. Give me the grace to think soberly, according as you have given me the measure of Faith. |
| {9} Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. | [9] Give me a pure and true heart, Lord, and take away my façades. Let me truly hate evil and genuinely long for good with all my heart. |
| {10} Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; | [10] Make me kindly affectioned to others with brotherly love, even though the Old World is teaching me to be competitive, "businesslike," and "look out for numero uno." Instead, give me a heart which looks out for others, letting them go before me with honor. |
| {11} Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; | [11] Keep me from self-centered laziness by making me diligent in service. Ignite my spirit so I can serve You, O Lord. |
| {12} Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; | [12] Give me wisdom to see Your plan and rejoice in hope. Keep me patient when tribulations distract me from hope in Your purposes. Let my life of prayer to You be continuing and steadfast. |
| {13} Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. | [13] Give me a heart which sees how I may distribute my resources to brothers and sisters in need. Fill my heart with hospitality. |
| {14} Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. | [14] When I am persecuted, please let me bless my persecutors; don't let me curse them. |
| {15} Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. | [15] Give me the freedom and power to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. |
| {16} Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. | [16] Give me a loving heart which keeps in mind the things others have on their minds. Keep me from thinking I have to know everything the L.A. Times and the Universities say I need to know, but help me condescend to help those who are powerless and not "influential." Don't let me be wise in my own conceits. |
| {17} Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. | [17] When someone does something wrong to me, please don't let me think I have to do something wrong to him, like the Old World teaches me I should do. Let me be content to provide goods and services which are honest in the sight of all men. |
| {18} If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. | [18] Let me live at peace with all men, as much as is possible. |
| {19} Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. | [19] Lord, please don't let me try to avenge myself, but rather let me step aside for Your divine wrath; as You have written, "'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the LORD.'" |
| {20} Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. | [20] Therefore, if my enemy is hungry, let me be willing to feed him. If he is thirsty, let me be willing to give him something to drink. Help me to understand that by giving love to my enemy, I heap coals of fire on his head. |
| {21} Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. | [21] Lord, please don't let me be overcome by evil, but empower me to overcome evil with good. Lord, trying to live Romans 12 is hard enough. I want to bless those who curse me, and not resist evil doers. It's one thing to love my neighbor, but how can I avoid a resistant spirit when it comes to that consummate evil-doer, the State? Thank you, Lord, for giving Your people assurance that You are sovereign over the Principalities and Powers. |
Ephesians 2:1-3 | |
| And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, | Lord, you resurrected me, to the praise and glory of Your Name. I was dead because |
| {2} in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, | I walked according the agenda and values of the Old World, following Satan the Prince of the Powers, the spirit that worked in the lives of those who crucified Christ. |
| {3} among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. | You saved me from this World, a world of fleshly lusts and an addictive fulfilling of those desires in my mind and flesh. I was born a son of Adam, and my old nature left me in Your wrath. But in the Second Adam I stand in grace. |
| Colossians 1:13-16 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, | Through Him You have delivered me from captivity to the powers of darkness and made me a citizen of the Kingdom of the Son of Your Love, |
| {14} in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. | in Whom I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. |
| {15} He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. | Your Son my Savior is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. |
| {16} For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. | Lord, remind me that all things were created by You, and predestined by You. Everything that is in heaven and on earth; visible creatures and invisible creatures, even the State: Thrones and Dominions and Principalities and Powers. You created all things through Christ and predestined them for His glory. |
| Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. | [1] Lord, let my soul be subdued so I can patiently submit {hupotasso} to the powers. Teach me that the powers are of You: higher than I am, but not higher than You; they are part of Your plan; You have set their boundaries {tasso}. |
| Acts 2:23> Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death | Even the most lawless and sinful act of the State in human history was predestined by You. |
| Ephesians 1:19-23 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power | Keep before me always the exceeding greatness of Your Power, |
| {20} which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, {21} far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. | mighty to save me through Christ Whom You raised from the dead and seated at Your right hand in the heavenlies, far above all the principalities and the powers, above all who claim to be mighty and their dominions, and above every lord that is named, not just in eternity, but here and now. |
| {22} And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, {23} which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. | I praise You, O Lord, that You put all things under His feet, and gave Christ to the Church to be head over all things. Make the Bride of Christ the fulness of Him who fills all, |
| Colossians 2:10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. | and make us complete in Him, Who is the head of all principalities and powers. |
| Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. | I give you thanks that He disarmed the principalities and powers, and made a public spectacle of them by triumphing over them in His execution, which they thought would put an end to Him. |
| 1 Corinthians 2:8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. | The purposes of the State cannot overrule Your purposes, O Lord. |
| Ephesians 3:10-11 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, | Now that they have been spoiled, the manifold wisdom of God can be made known through His Church to the principalities and powers, |
| {11} according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, | just as You predestined from all eternity to be accomplished through Christ. |
| 1 Peter 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. | I give you thanks that Jesus has now gone into heaven and is at Your right hand, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. |
| Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in
the Lord, and in the power of his might. {11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. |
So I pray for Your strength, Your power, Your might. I need Your armor, Lord, if I am to stand against the State. |
| Luke 4:5-7 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. {6} And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. {7} "Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." | Satan continually seeks to tempt me to worship him to share in his "glory," the empires of the world. Lord, give me a heart which doesn't seek authority and worldly glory. You gave politics to Satan; let him keep it. |
| Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. | Give me strength to wrestle against "the powers that be," against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual armies of wickedness in the heavenly places. |
| Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. | You are the God of Peace, Lord; crush Satan under my feet, so that |
| 1 Corinthians 15:24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. | Christ can put an end to all archists, the powers, and all earthly might. |
| 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: | But remind me always that though I walk in the flesh, I must not wrestle against the powers using the tactics of the powers. |
| {4} (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) | Remind me that by following the non-resistant Jesus, I use spiritual weapons which are mighty because God is behind them to cast down Humanistic lies and anti-Christian propaganda, and which help |
| {5} Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; | everyone think God's thoughts after Him. |
| Romans 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. | [2] Never let me forget that if I set myself against the powers {anti-tasso} in a fleshly way, I stand against You {anti-histemi}; to stand against Your predestined plan is to reach for damnation. |
| 2 Peter 2:9-10 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, | When the State persecutes me and other saints for not bowing to Caesar, it's easy to become resistant and lose the Spirit of Christ, |
| {10} and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, | to walk according to the flesh, lust for power and envy the lords. In presumption I confess being self-willed and not afraid to blaspheme the powers. |
| Jude 1:8-9 {9} Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. | But I pray that I might have the submissive spirit of Michael, who did not dare blaspheme Satan, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." |
| Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, | Give me such a heart, O Lord, that I might be subject [hupotasso] to the powers, these demonic archists. |
| Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: | [3] I don't fear archists; only archists fear other archists. I don't want to be afraid of the powers, so I do good [poieo agathos]. Even they must admit that I do. |
| Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, {39} nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Give me that confidence to have no fear of Caesar, a confidence that comes from knowing that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. |
| Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. | [4] I give you thanks and praise that the persecution and irritations that archists unleash against me serve Your purpose to build the Character of Christ in
me. If I am an evil doer, I should be afraid, for the State serves Your purposes of wrath and vengeance against evil doers. |
| Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. | The way You created all things to work together for my good, to build the character of Christ in me, is a wonderful system. |
| Romans 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. | [5] Give me Your grace, therefore, to be under -- to be subject to -- this order [hupotasso]. Not just to avoid Your wrath, but for the sake of the conscience of archists |
| John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. | who do evil to me, thinking they do your will. |
| 1 Peter 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. | I want to please You, Lord, by enduring the persecution of the State, suffering wrongfully, for conscience' sake. |
| 1 Corinthians 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? | Conscience, I say, not mine own, but of the other. |
| Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding , lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. | I do not want to offend their conscience, and I pray for the resources to follow Jesus. |
| Romans 13:6 For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. | [6] Help me to see that this is the purpose of taxes; these political priests (liturgists) unwittingly attend to my growth in Christ continually, to Your praise and Glory. |
| Hebrews 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. | Therefore, help me to accept joyfully the plundering of my goods. |
| Romans 13:7-14 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. | [7] Help me to see Your predestined plan, and to willingly surrender everything demanded by the powers: taxes and other levies; I want a spirit which willingly gives them what they want: fear and honor. |
| Matthew 17:25-26 And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their own children or from strangers?" {26} Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free." | I know the kings of the earth have no lawful jurisdiction over me. |
| Romans 13:8 You owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. | [8] I know I owe kings nothing, but I do owe love, which is obedience to God's Law, and a willingnes to sacrifice myself for the conversion and growth of others. So help me to love truly. |
| {9} For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. | [9] Help me with my lustful thoughts and adulterous flirtations. Help me conquer my violent thoughts and actions towards those who do evil to me. Keep me from lying to impress others or save myself. Keep me from coveting the things the State says I need to consume to be happy. And with every other command in Your Law, I know it shows me how to love in truth. |
| {10} Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. | [10] Help me, Lord, to do nothing lawless toward my neighbor; I want to be willing to love my neighbor; I want to become practiced in obeying Your Law with respect to him. |
| {11} And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. | [11] I give You thanks, O Lord, that this is the New Age of Salvation, and I pray that I would not be asleep; keep me from becoming a drone of the night of the Old Age. |
| {12} The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. | [12] Give me strength to cast off the dark deeds of the Old Age, and to clothe myself with the Armor of Light. |
| {13} Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. | [13] Give me the strength to walk decorously, honestly, as a disciplined man of the day; not "letting loose" in the partying, drunkenness, addictive sex and lust, fighting, and envy of "night life." |
| {14} But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. | [14] Rather than scheming and dreaming about satisfying my flesh tonight, fulfilling its lusts, please, Lord, let me put on Christ today. |
| Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is
no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
{2} Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. {3} For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: {4} For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that practices evil. {5} Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. {6} For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. {7} Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. {8} Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. {9} For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {10} Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. {11} And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. {12} The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. {13} Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. {14} But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. |
[1] My soul is subdued and I obediently submit
{hupotasso} to the powers: they are higher than I am, but
not higher than God; they are part of His plan; He has set their
boundaries {tasso}.
[2] If I set myself against the powers {anti- tasso}, I stand against God {anti-histemi}; to stand against God is to reach for damnation. [3] I don't fear archists; only archists fear other archists. I don't want to be afraid of the powers, so I do good (poieo agathos). Even they must admit that I do. [4] Archists serve God's purpose to build the Character of Christ in me. If I am an evil doer, I should be afraid, for the State serves God's purposes of wrath against evil doers. [5] It is necessary, therefore, for me to be under -- to be subject to -- this order {hupotasso}. Not just to avoid God's wrath, but for their conscience {and so that I see things God's way [con-science]}. [6] This is the purpose of taxes; these political priests (liturgists) unwittingly attend to my growth in Christ continually. [7] Therefore I surrender everything demanded: taxes and other levies; I give them what they want: fear and honor. [8] I owe nothing but love, which is obedience to God's Law. [9] To sum up the Law, I love my neighbor as myself. [10] I do nothing lawless toward my neighbor; I seek to "love" my neighbor by obeying the law with respect to him. [11] This is the New Age of Salvation, not a time to sleep and be a drone of the night of the Old Age. [12] I am casting off the dark deeds of the Old Age, and clothing myself with the Armor of Light. [13] I walk decorously, honestly, as a disciplined man of the day; not "letting loose" in the partying, drunkenness, addictive sex and lust, fighting, and envy of "night life." [14] Rather than scheming and dreaming about satisfying my flesh tonight, fulfilling its lusts, I am putting on Christ today. |
| KC: I am wholly dedicated to God, a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God: my service based on the Word.
[2] I am not conformed to the Old World, but am being transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may discern what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. [3] I confess, through the grace given to me, that I must not think of myself more highly than I ought. I think soberly, according as God has given me the measure of Faith. [9] My love is not just a fac?ade. I truly hate evil and I long for good with all my heart. [10] I am kindly affectioned to others with brotherly love; letting the other go before me with honor. [11] I am not slothful, but diligent; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; [12] Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; in prayer steadfastly continuing; [13] Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. [14] I bless them which persecute me: I bless and do not curse. [15] I rejoice with the rejoicing, and weep with the weeping. [16] I am keeping in mind the things others have on their mind. I do not worry about high things, but condescend to men of low estate. I am not wise in my own conceits. [17] I do not repay evil for evil to anyone. I provide goods and services which are honest in the sight of all men. [18] As much as it is in my hands, I live at peace with all men, if it is possible. [19] I do not avenge myself, but rather I step aside for God's wrath, for it is written, "'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' saith the LORD." [20] Therefore if my enemy is hungry, I feed him; if he is thirsty, I give him something to drink; for in so doing I heap coals of fire on his head. [21] I am not overcome by evil, I overcome evil with good. |
[1] Lord, give me a heart which is dedicated totally to you. Let my life be a living sacrifice to you, sanctified and acceptable in Your sight. Let my life-service be based on Your Word.
[2] Keep me from being conformed to the Old World, but transform me by making my mind part of the New Creation (2 Cor 5:17), so that I can quickly and spontaneously discern Your good, acceptable, and perfect will. [3] Give me a heart which by Your grace does not think of myself more highly than I ought. Give me the grace to think soberly, according as you have given me the measure of Faith. [9] Give me a pure and true heart, Lord, and take away my fac?ades. Let me truly hate evil and genuinely long for good with all my heart. [10] Make me kindly affectioned to others with brotherly love, even though the Old World is teaching me to be competitive, "businesslike," and "look out for numero uno." Instead, give me a heart which looks out for others, letting them go before me with honor. [11] Keep me from self-centered laziness by making me diligent in service. Ignite my spirit so I can serve You, O Lord. [12] Give me wisdom to see Your plan and rejoice in hope. Keep me patient when tribulations distract me from hope in Your purposes. Let my life of prayer to You be continuing and steadfast. [13] Give me a heart which sees how I may distribute my resources to brothers and sisters in need. Fill my heart with hospitality. [14] When I am persecuted, please let me bless my persecutors; don't let me curse them. [15] Give me the freedom and power to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. [16] Give me a loving heart which keeps in mind the things others have on their minds. Keep me from thinking I have to know everything the L.A. Times says I need to know, but help me condescend to help those who are powerless and not "influential." Don't let me be wise in my own conceits. [17] When someone does something wrong to me, please don't let me think I have to do something wrong to him, like the world teaches me I should do. Let me be content to provide goods and services which are honest in the sight of all men. [18] Let me live at peace with all men, as much as is possible. [19] Lord, please don't let me try to avenge myself, but rather let me step aside for Your divine wrath; as You have written, "'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the LORD.'" [20] Therefore, if my enemy is hungry, let me be willing to feed him. If he is thirsty, let me be willing to give him something to drink. Help me to understand that by giving love to my enemy, I heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Lord, please don't let me be overcome by evil, but empower me to overcome evil with good. Lord, trying to live Romans 12 is hard enough. I want to bless those who curse me, and not resist evil doers. It's one thing to love my neighbor, but how can I avoid a resistant spirit when it comes to that consummate evil-doer, the State, and its Principalities and Powers? Thank you, Lord, for giving Your people Romans 13. Lord, you resurrected me, to the praise and glory of Your Name. I was dead because I walked according the agenda and values of the Old World, following Satan the Prince of the Powers, the spirit that worked in the lives of those who crucified Christ. You saved me from this World, a world of fleshly lusts and an addictive fulfilling of those desires in my mind and flesh. I was born a son of Adam, and my old nature left me in Your wrath. But in the Second Adam I stand in grace. Through Him You have delivered me from captivity to the powers of darkness and made me a citizen of the Kingdom of the Son of Your Love, in Whom I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Your Son my Savior is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. Lord, remind me that all things were created by You, and predestined by You. Everything that is in heaven and on earth; visible creatures and invisible creatures, even the State: Thrones and Dominions and Principalities and Powers. You created all things through Christ and predestined them for His glory. [1] Lord, let my soul be subdued so I can patiently submit {hupotasso} to the powers. Teach me that the powers are of You: higher than I am, but not higher than You; they are part of Your plan; You have set their boundaries {tasso}. Keep before me always the exceeding greatness of Your mighty Power, mighty to save me through Christ Whom You raised from the dead and seated at Your right hand in the heavenlies, far above all the principalities and the powers, above all who claim to be mighty and their dominions, and above every lord that is named, not just in eternity, but here and now. I praise You, O Lord, that You put all things under His feet, and gave Christ to the Church to be head over all things. Make the Bride of Christ the fulness of Him who fills all, and make us complete in Him, Who is the head of all principalities and powers. I give you thanks that He disarmed the principalities and powers, and made a public spectacle of them by triumphing over them in His execution, which they thought would put an end to Him. Now that they have been spoiled, the manifold wisdom of God can be made known through His Church to the principalities and powers, just as You predestined from all eternity to be accomplished through Christ. I give you thanks that Jesus has now gone into heaven and is at Your right hand, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. So I pray for Your strength, Your power, Your might. I need Your armor, Lord, if I am to stand against the State. Satan continually seeks to tempt me to worship him to share in his glory, the empires of the world. Lord, give me a heart which doesn't seek authority and worldly glory. You gave politics to Satan; let him keep it. Give me strength to wrestle against "the powers that be," against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. You are the God of Peace, Lord; crush Satan under my feet, so that Christ can put an end to all archists, the powers, and all earthly might. But remind me always that though I walk in the flesh, I must not wrestle against the powers using the tactics of the powers. Remind me that by following the non-resistant Jesus, I use weapons which are mighty because God is behind them to cast down Humanistic lies and anti-Christian propaganda, and which help everyone think God's thoughts after Him. [2] Never let me forget that if I set myself against the powers {anti-tasso} in a fleshly way, I stand against You {anti-histemi}; to stand against Your predestined plan is to reach for damnation. When the State persecutes me and other saints for not bowing to Caesar, it's easy to become resistant and lose the Spirit of Christ, to walk according to the flesh, lust for power and envy the lords. In presumption I confess being self-willed and not afraid to rebuke and blaspheme the powers. But I pray that I might have the obedient spirit of Michael, who did not dare blaspheme Satan, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." Give me such a heart, O Lord, that I might be subject [hupotasso] to the powers, these demonic archists. [3] I don't fear archists; only archists fear other archists. I don't want to be afraid of the powers, so I do good (poieo agathos). Even they must admit that I do. Give me that confidence to have no fear of Caesar, a confidence that comes from knowing that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. [4] I give you thanks and praise that the persecution and irritations that archists unleash against me serve Your purpose to build the Character of Christ in me. If I am an evil doer, I should be afraid, for the State serves Your purposes of wrath against evil doers. The way You created all things to work together for my good, to build the character of Christ in me, is a wonderful system. [5] Give me Your grace, therefore, to be under -- to be subject to -- this order {hupotasso}. Not just to avoid Your wrath, but for the sake of the conscience of archists who do evil to me, thinking they do your will. I want to please You, Lord, by enduring the persecution of the State, suffering wrongfully, for conscience' sake. Conscience, I say, not mine own, but of the other. I do not want to offend their conscience, and I pray for the resources to follow Jesus. [6] Help me to see that this is the purpose of taxes; these political priests (liturgists) unwittingly attend to my growth in Christ continually, to Your praise and Glory. Therefore, help me to joyfully accept the plundering of my goods. [7] Help me to see Your predestined plan, and to willingly surrender everything demanded by the powers: taxes and other levies; I want a spirit which willingly gives them what they want: fear and honor. [8] I know I owe nothing but love, which is obedience to God's Law. So help me to love truly. [9] Help me with my lustful thoughts and adulterous flirtations. Help me conquer my violent thoughts and actions towards those who do evil to me. Keep me from lying to impress others or save myself. Keep me from coveting the things the State says I need to consume to be happy. And with every other command in Your Law, I know it shows me how to love in truth. [10] Help me, Lord, to do nothing lawless toward my neighbor; I want to be willing to "love" my neighbor; I want to become practiced in obeying Your Law with respect to him. [11] I give You thanks, O Lord, that this is the New Age of Salvation, and I pray that I would not be asleep; keep me from becoming a drone of the night of the Old Age. [12] Give me strength to cast off the dark deeds of the Old Age, and to clothe myself with the Armor of Light. [13] Give me the strength to walk decorously, honestly, as a disciplined man of the day; not "letting loose" in the partying, drunkenness, addictive sex and lust, fighting, and envy of "night life." [14] Rather than scheming and dreaming about satisfying my flesh tonight, fulfilling its lusts, please, Lord, let me put on Christ today. |