Good morning, Lord. You set the standard. Even when I’m trying, I fall short (and all too often I’m not trying). Give me eyes to see and ears to hear Your Word. Fill my mind with Your wisdom and fill my heart with Your love. Lead me the paths of righteousness and justice. Help me stay right and true.
This is how I visualize justice and righteousness.
Justice (horizontal) is our relationship with the people around us. Righteousness (vertical) is our relationship with God.
And Jesus is the cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:20 (NLT)
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
Good morning, Lord. You are perfectly righteous and just, I am not. Forgive me for questioning Your ways, for thinking I know better than You how things should work, how the world should run. Forgive me for taking the short view, looking for the quick and easy fix. Your righteous and just kingdom come, Lord Jesus, in Your perfect timing.
On this first Sunday of Advent, I heard these familiar words from the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 9:7 (NIV)
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
Justice and righteousness–words often associated with Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. Justice and righteousness–ways we fall short here and now. Eternal justice and righteousness–something to look forward to. 
Good morning, Lord. Advent begins, and we celebrate the Prince of Peace. Teach me to be a peacemaker, O God. May I speak words of encouragement, not criticism; good, not evil; truth, not lies; praise, not gossip; reconciliation, not division.
May all my words be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).
Beatitude versus bad attitude:
Matthew 5:9 (TLB)
Happy are those who strive for peace—they shall be called the sons of God.
Proverbs 6:16-19
For there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven: haughtiness, lying, murdering, plotting evil, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, sowing discord among brothers.
At the end of each day, it behooves me to ask: Was I more peacemaker than troublemaker?
It’s a good thing I’ve learned to hold my tongue. If I said out loud what first pops into my mind, I’d be in big trouble. My initial thoughts can be downright mean. Per the Beatitudes, I should aim for mercy.
Matthew 5:7 (NLT)
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
“Merciful.” Not critical.
Lord, teach me to think and speak about others the way I want them to think and speak about me.
Good morning, Lord. You are all good, all just, all merciful, all loving. I am not. Help me become better, fairer, kinder and more loving. Chisel the hard edges off my personality. Shape my attitudes and actions to be more like Yours.
“Gentle.” A word seldom used to describe me.
Yup, I can be overbearing.
Matthew 5:5 (EXB)
They are blessed who are humble [meek; gentle], for the whole earth will be theirs.
Blessed are the humble, meek and gentle. Not the go-getters, the strong and the outspoken.
Is God calling me to change my personality? I don’t think so. But I can scale it back. I can step aside and let someone else take the lead. I can admit when I need help. I can listen first and speak later (or not at all). God will bless my effort.
Good morning, Lord. Everybody has a story, I know, and I see only one small corner of it. You know it all. Teach me to pause before I judge, to pray before I jump to conclusions, to listen to Your Spirit before I speak.
When someone says something that upsets me, remind me that they see only part of my story. Grant me a gracious attitude, in Jesus’ name.
