Jesus, teach me that righteousness is me ONLY doing good to myself, other people, and God’s plan. But, the way righteousness is produced in me is through LOVE. Help me yield to God’s love so I can LOVE the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and with all my strength.’ And, empower me to yield to God’s love so I can ‘LOVE my neighbor as myself’ (Mark 12:30-31). Help me see that without the power of LOVE, none of my relationships will be righteous.

Jesus, once again, help me understand that righteousness is me ONLY doing good to myself, other people, and God’s plan. However, make it clear to me that the good in righteousness isn’t determined by me. I think a lot of things are good; but, they aren’t. I even think certain things are bad; and, I am wrong. Teach me that the Holy Spirit speaking to my conscience, You causing certain things to pop up in my mind, and the Bible being read and studied establishes what is good or bad. Help me always remember that God has labeled all bad things as sins; and, He has labeled all good things as righteousness. Help me see that if God says something is righteous, then the long term results of that item or issue WILL turn out good. If God says something is sin, then the long term results of that item or issue WILL turn out bad. I can count on it!

Jesus, show me what LOVING my neighbor as myself looks like. Help me see that in EVERYTHING, I must do to others what I would have them do to me, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Mat 7:12). In this commandment, You are taking those things I consider good and using them to help my relationships with others. Teach me that if a certain way isn’t the way I want to be treated, then I must simply NOT do that to others. Let this give me a rule of thumb to start me off in pursuing righteousness. However, make it clear to me that when I first start off as a Christian, my attitudes and character aren’t as well developed in GOOD as they will be later. Those things I want done to me in the beginnings of Christianity will change and improve.

Mark 12:30-31 (NIV) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. Jesus, help me see that one VERY important thing happened to me when I made You my Savior, Lord, and King. Teach me that hope does not disappoint me, because God has poured out HIS love into nt heart by the Holy Spirit, Whom He has given me (Rom 5:5). Help me understand that if I love my neighbor and myself with GOD’S love, that will change my attitudes and character drastically.

Jesus, make it clear to me that here is how I will treat myself and others through God’s love: 1 Cor 13:4-8a (NIV) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Make it easy for me to see how the pursuit of righteousness is mightily enhanced by me yielding to God’s love that HAS been poured out into my heart. Since I already have God’s love in me heart, teach me that I just have to learn how to yield to it. And, when I do, I will be empowered to love my neighbor AS myself.

Jesus, You said in Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca [you empty headed, worthless person],’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Help me learn the relationship principles in Matthew chapters five through seven. Help me learn some of the most important aspects of righteousness from them. Teach me how to treat the people around me. Even though some of them will take a lot of prayer before I will be able to live them, help me live them. Help me not just read them; help me “do what it takes” to live them. Show me that, that will be ME hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

Jesus, help me accept the fact that according to Romans 5:5 I already have GOD’S LOVE inside me. Also, accept that according to Matthew 5:6 (NIV) Blessed are those who HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, for they will be filled. can be mine. If I DESIRE to be filled with righteousness, You will start helping me use God’s love to treat myself, others, and God’s plan the right way. If I STUDY the Bible, You will show me how to use God’s love. You will take me through Matthew chapters five through seven and give me examples of how to do it. If I PRAY, You will accept my invitation and join me with Your power to do what You teach in Matthew chapters five through seven. If I BELIEVE, You will empower me to live in relationships I never thought possible. If I yield to God’s LOVE, my reason for getting the things I need in my life will be so I can share them with others.