Heavenly Father, as Paul, who at that time was a literal prisoner in the Lord urged his readers by The Spirit – grant that I would truly walk in a manner worthy of the calling I have received. Work in me humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with others in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Help me Father to live ever mindful that there is one body and one Spirit, one hope to which I was called; serving you the one Lord, in one faith, by one baptism; looking to you, the one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Help me to grasp what it means not only to each one of us – but to me personally – that grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. This is why your Word says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.” What does Jesus “ascended” mean, except that He also descended to this earth? He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

Let me take full advantage of all these gifts you have given us in Christ, so that I will no longer be an immature infant, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Grant me lips so that I always speak the truth in love, so that I may in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

So work in my heart by your Spirit that I no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They (as I once was) are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.

But this is not the way I came to know Christ. I have heard of Him by your grace, and was taught in Him—let me keep with the truth that is in Jesus— to put off completely my former way of life, my old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; and let me be renewed in the spirit of my mind; and put on the new self, created to be like you in true righteousness and holiness.

I plead Father, empower me to put off falsehood and speak truthfully to my neighbors in Christ, recognizing we are all members of one another. Teach me how to “Be angry, yet do not sin.” To not let the sun set upon my anger, to never let it be the last word so that I do not give the devil a foothold. Keep me from a covetous, thieving heart, and to steal no longer, but work, doing good with my own hands, that I may have something to share with those in need. Let no unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, but only what is helpful for building up others in need and bringing grace to those who listen. Keep me from grieving your Holy Spirit, in whom I was sealed for the day of redemption. Work in me to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Give me a kind heart, tenderhearted to one another, and a lavishly generous and forgiving spirit, just as in Christ you have forgiven me.

For Jesus’ sake I pray – Amen.