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Are you looking for a May 3 prayer to read and reflect on? We provide a guiding Bible verse, prayer questions, and example prayer for the day below.
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Bible verse for May 3
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18 CSB)
Prayer Reflections for May 3
At 5 years old, I mashed my fingers against piano keys to made-up worship songs. I rejoiced at learning of a Heavenly Father who loved me.
At 8 years old, I found there was depravity in my heart, and sin that would lead to ruin. Yet, I found there was also a Savior who rescued and redeemed me.
At 11 years old, I mourned as my family left behind the only place I’d ever called home. Yet still, I found there was a faithful friend who would never leave me.
Then at 15, this God inquired of the King that reigned over my heart. I had been willing to worship God, to let Him rescue me, and to accept His love and comfort, but was I willing to submit to His Lordship? Was I willing to trust that He is good, that His ways are good, and that what He asks of me is good?
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“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.” Mark 10:18 CSB
In this passage, a young man comes to Jesus and asks Him what good thing he can do to inherit eternal life, calling Him a good teacher. Jesus challenges the ruler’s understanding of goodness and reminds him that only God is truly good – God is the standard of goodness: in morality, He is the standard; for our lives, He is the standard. His ways alone are good.
In the subsequent verses, the young ruler first defends his own perceived goodness, claiming he has followed the commandments of the Old Testament from his youth. However, Jesus delves to the heart of the matter: What do you love most? Jesus commands the man to sell all possessions and follow Him. Truly, this is the greatest good and the path to salvation.
Now the man has a choice to make: to choose his riches as his greatest good, or to choose Jesus as the greatest good.
He departs from Jesus in grief, unable to follow all that the Lord commands, and unwilling to submit his life fully to a good God. He falls short of God’s standard of goodness. He had other gods to follow, and he chose what he deemed to be his greatest good – riches.
Fallen humanity is unable to attain God’s standard of good. But God, in His sovereignty and grace, saw fit to save us from our own ruin and depravity, and restore us to Him. Now for us, the question is this: what do our lives reflect as our greatest good?
May 3 Prayer
Lord, thank you for reminders and examples throughout your word that you are good, and that your ways are trustworthy. I ask forgiveness for my doubts and wayward heart that have led me to disobedience. I ask you to realign my heart to yours, so that I see you as my greatest good, and recognize that your commands are for my good. Help me to accept your Lordship and grow in obedience to you. May I accept your standard of goodness alone, and cling to the salvation you offer. Thank you for loving me, and for desiring that I know you just as you know me. Amen.
Resource of the Day
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