Why I Need to Worship and Pray – Jesus Fix Me!

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I’ve thought so much about worship this week. What it is. What it isn’t. Even what it should be.

And one verse keeps coming to mind…

But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 (AMP)

Whether we’re talking about worship styles or honestly, any other issue that offers a multitude of opinions – it feels like we, as a culture, are missing the mark when it comes to the “gentleness and respect” part.

I don’t know about you, but I can be quick to know I’m right.

The problem is it’s so easy for my “right” to become self-righteous.

And of course, if I’m right, then you must be wrong if you don’t agree with me.

Which gives me the “right” to judge you!

RIGHT!

Look at the divisiveness in our country and yes, even in our churches … I’m guessing this, self-righteous vs. judgment attitude, is more prevalent than you and I would like to admit.

Seriously, how many times have you watched the news or scrolled through social media and decided who’s right and who’s wrong, who’s guilty and who’s innocent, who’s godly and who’s not based on just a little bit of information?

Jesus told a couple of stories about the problem of judging others through a lens of self-righteousness…

 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Luke 6:41–42

And…

“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. Luke 18:10–14

I want to be more like the repentant tax collector. I want to give Jesus first place in my life. I want to SEEK His truth, His will, His direction. I want to live my life surrendered completely to Jesus. And I want to gently and respectfully tell anyone who will listen about the blessings of the “hope and confident assurance” I have in Him.

So, I’m humbly asking Jesus to forgive and remove my self-righteousness and cover me with His righteousness and teach me His truth. I’m praying, “Fix Me, Jesus.”

Will you please, pray with me? Jesus Fix Me!

Jesus, Fix me. Forgive me. Heal me.

I’m sorry! It is so easy to hide behind religion and rules. I can be so self-righteous and quick to judge the actions and attitudes of others.

Jesus,  Fix me. Forgive me. Heal me.

We are sinners. Not because we sin. We sin, because we are sinners. ~ R.C. Sproul

It’s hard for me to admit that I’m broken and needy. But I am! I am a sinner and I need You.

Jesus, Fix me. Forgive me. Heal me.

Help me. I want to trust You completely, but I look at life through the distorted lens of my personal perspective and experiences. I have foolishly relied on my own opinions and simply trusted those who tell me what I want to hear.

Jesus, Fix me. Forgive me. Heal me.

Help me. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I want to trust you completely and follow You faithfully.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Jesus, Fix me Forgive me. Heal me.

Help me listen with love and speak with kindness. Help me to forgive as You have forgiven me.

 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Thank you for forgiving me!

Before I obeyed You. Before I joined a church. Before I did anything, You gave Your life for me. You suffered my punishment. From the cross to the resurrection . . . You fixed me.

Jesus, I thank You. I praise You. I worship You.

“To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.” ~ William Temple

By Your grace, may my life be an act of worship. May my worship point a broken and hurting world to You. Jesus fix us! Amen.

By God’s grace, through Jesus, you and I are forgiven. We have been fixed not because of who we are but because of who He is.

The next time your self-righteousness rears its ugly head and gets in the way of your worshipful witness and I promise you it will if you’re anything like me, remember this simple prayer.

Jesus fix me and help me love like You! 

Love you, dear friend! God bless you!

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