A Prayer About Commitment

A prayer about Commitment

When I want to strengthen my commitment to God

Lord Jesus,

My family is at the center of so much that I do, and they are a blessing to me. So I struggle when I read your strong words telling your disciples to hate even their families and their own lives in comparison with you. But I think the key is that you want us to see that commitment to you is exclusive and costly. You must become the central and dominating commitment of my life, and I must consider all other loves—even my family—in light of that. Show me what that means for me. Certainly I need to make financial decisions based on biblical principles, instead of just buying what I want. Perhaps you might lead me to make sacrifices to help needy people, even if it puts additional strain on my own family. Lord, too often my commitment to you is diluted by everything else in my life. Help me to evaluate everything by asking, “Is this worthy of my time and affection in light of my complete devotion to you?”

[Jesus said,] “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost.” Luke 14:26-28