Jesus, empower me and prosper me so I can give everyone what I owe him: If I owe taxes, let me pay taxes; if revenue, then let me pay revenue; if respect, then let me pay respect; if honor, then let me give them honor. Empower me and prosper me so I can let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another. Help me be a person who loves his fellowman and has fulfilled the law (Rom 13:7-8).

Jesus, teach me how to fulfill the commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, let them be summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Teach me that love does no HARM to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom 13:9-10).

Jesus, when someone does the opposite of Romans 13:7-10 in their relationship with me, help me not feel they are in debt to me. If they mistreat me, then help me not feel they OWE me an apology; if they borrow something, help me not feel they are responsible for bringing it back; if I work for them, help me not feel they OWE me a wage; if I trade them something, then help me not feel they OWE me a similar object of value. Teach me that, that is the LAW of justice and being fair; but, GOD gave me grace and mercy. He blessed me with gifts I didn’t deserve (grace); and, He delivered me from punishments that I DID deserve (mercy).

Jesus, I have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But, help me not resist an evil person (Mat 5:38).

Jesus, if someone strikes me on the right cheek, help me turn to him the other also (Mat 5:39).

Jesus, if someone wants to sue me and take my tunic, help me let him have my cloak as well (Mat 5:40).

Jesus, if someone forces me to go one mile, help me go with him two miles (Mat 5:41).

Jesus, help me give to the one who asks me, and not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from me (Mat 5:42).

Jesus, I have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But, help me love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me, that I may be a son of my Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous (those who do good to themselves and others) and the unrighteous (those who do bad to themselves and others) (Mat 5:43-45).

Jesus, teach me that if I love those who love me, what reward will I get? Teach me that even the tax collectors are doing that (Mat 5:46)?

Jesus, teach me that if I greet only my brothers, what am I doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that (Mat 5:47)?

Jesus, I thank You for my perfect record with God; but, help me learn how to be perfect, therefore, as my heavenly Father is perfect (Mat 5:48) in my relationships with myself, others, and Your plan.

Jesus, teach me how to “crush” the competition; when people come with all their violence, bad attitudes, lies, cheating, and competitive attitudes, help me understand that they come ready for a fight. They have learned how to fight; they know how to deal with people who believe and act like they do; but, they are TOTALLY unprepared to deal with me, when I act like You teach and empower me. Teach me how to win by using procedures that the world has NEVER encountered before. Teach me that they are so unprepared that they are set back by the love procedures that You are training me with.

Jesus, teach me and empower me to, in everything, do to others what I would have them do to me, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Mat 7:12). Teach me that this is the principle that wins the hearts of honest, loving, caring, fair, and righteous people (only doing good to ourselves, others, and God’s plan). Teach me that it is the opposite of those who do business and live their lives based on being lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Help me have nothing to do with them (2 Tim 3:2-5).

Having a form of godliness but denying its power: Jesus, help me decide which one of the above philosophies I would want to marry, do business with, be friends with, or follow their teachings. However, show me that I do business with these kinds of people all the time.

Teach me that many of the people I do business with “act” like they care about me; they “tell” me they care about me; they structure their business “as if” they care about me; they structure their advertisements trying to make me “think” they care about me; but, they actually are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

Jesus, teach me what to do with media, business, entertainment, education, government, law enforcement, friends and associates, and sports people that teach me, do business with me, entertain me, govern me, and inform me through hearts that are evil. Help me use the power-forgiveness of God and then move into a way of life that provides people with media, business, entertainment, education, government, law enforcement, friends and associates, and sports that come from Your life and Your heart.

Jesus, make it clear to me how much more severely a man deserves to be punished who has trampled You, the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified You, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace. For I know Him Who said, “It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:29-31). Empower me to simply use God’s power-forgiveness and move on. Teach me that when I do that, I am not fighting people, taking people to court, being distracted with anger, frustration, bitterness, revenge, and competition.

Jesus, empower me to GET RID of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Empower me to BE kind and compassionate to one another, FORGIVING each other, JUST AS in Christ God forgave me (Eph 4:31-32). Jesus, if I have an ACCIDENTAL encounter with an evil person, help me QUICKLY apply the system of Matthew 5:38-48, forgive them JUST AS in You God forgave me, and then help me get away from them as fast as I can. Help me leave them to God, forgive them, and GO ON WITH MY LIFE.

Jesus, teach me that the Christian spouse, Christian business person, Christian friend, Christian associate, or Christian stranger spends as much of their time as possible with those who WANT to be helped, cared for, transact business, and live righteous lives. Help me stay away from evil people as much as is possible; and, help me spend all my time with those who want to do things the way You teach. But, as I spend time with them, let me help them see the benefits of You and Your way of life.

Jesus, I want forgiveness for myself and want to be able to forgive others. I now say these words: “Forgive us our debts, AS WE ALSO HAVE forgiven our debtors.” Bring anyone to my attention that I haven’t forgiven; then help me add any additional prayers and pray over any additional Scriptures that You help me feel will enable me to forgive the people in my life; then help me pray this prayer again.