When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Luke 5:8

Holy Lord,

In a day and age that seems to be defined by disrespect, help us to keep You in the proper perspective and “ascribe to [You] the glory due [Your] name” and “worship You in the splendor of holiness” (Psalm 29:2). You are a friend of sinners, yes, and we thank You for humbling Yourself in such a way, but help us never lose sight that You are also the Lord of heaven and earth, before whom every knee will one day bow. Peter recognized he was unworthy in Your presence after the miraculous catch of fish, and begged You to depart from him before he was consumed. When Your glory appeared in the temple to Isaiah, his response was one of fear as well, and he said “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5). You are a holy and righteous God, before whom sin cannot stand. Therefore, we ought to have a healthy fear of and respect for You. We ought to come into Your presence confessing our sin and bowing before You in awe and reverence, acknowledging our unworthiness. It is only by Your grace and mercy that we are able to stand before You at all, for You took our sin upon Yourself and gave us Your righteousness instead. Thank You for this incredible honor, Lord. May we never take for granted the amazing privilege of coming into Your presence, and may we always properly honor Your holy name in our actions, words, and attitudes.

Please help me to honor You especially in the following ways…

In Your name I pray. Amen.

For a full explanation of this challenge, see the post 12-Minute Prayer Challenge. If you are just joining us, feel free to continue on with us from the current day, or if you prefer, you can go back and start at Day 1.