Dec 13 – Day 347. Pray for Virtue, Knowledge, & Perseverance

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; to temperance patience; to patience godliness; to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Welcome to another daily prayer. Prayer is effective. Seek strength in virtue, pursue knowledge, embrace perseverance, show kindness, and spread love.  Alongside this, make every effort to enrich your faith with a foundation of virtue; to virtue, seek the depth of knowledge; and to knowledge, foster the quality of temperance. As you cultivate temperance, embrace patience; from patience, strive for godliness; from godliness, extend brotherly kindness; and from brotherly kindness, generously practice charity. Each of these qualities builds upon the last, creating a strong and vibrant character that reflects our highest values and deepens our relationships with others.

Transcript

Good morning, everyone! Welcome to another episode of our EBC’s Prayer Podcast. I hope you are doing good. Today is December 13, marking the 347th day of the year, a time for reflection as we are approaching the end of this year.

I’m your host, Dr. Victoria Haddad, the First Lady and Prayer Leader at the Elyon Bible Church Apostolic in Salem, NJ. 

Today, our focus will be on a powerful passage of scripture, taken from 2 Peter 1:5-7. The verses say: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” 

The Lord is encouraging us to build upon our faith step by step. He is emphasizing the importance of cultivating virtues that enrich our spiritual lives and enhance our relationships with each other. 

As we pray, let us ask the Lord to teach us how to apply these virtues in our daily lives and foster an environment of love, kindness, and gratitude. Let's open our hearts to the wisdom that God wishes to impart to each of us today.

Let’s dive into Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, Our Lord, our Savior, and our Gracious God.

Father, thank you for the wonderful gift of prayer. Thank you for your unfailing love that covers our failures and your grace that renews us each morning. At any moment and in any circumstance, we can lift our voice to you and pray with assurance, knowing that you are hearing our prayer. 

God, you are not as strangers, but our Heavenly Father. What a gift it is to be able to speak with you, as your beloved children who are welcomed into your presence with open arms.

Thank you for reminding us that as your children we are called not just to believe, but to grow, to add to our faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, to patience godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 

Lord, you have given us faith, which is the foundation on which everything is built. Help us to believe your words and pray for faith not just in word but in actions. 

Father, help us to diligently add virtue to our faith. Teach us to live with integrity, courage, and moral excellence, so that others can see in us a reflection of your holiness. Give us faith to trust you even when things are not perfect and we cannot see the full result. Give us faith to believe that your promises even in the darkest valley is sure. Lord, may your virtues not only shape us, but also comfort and sustain us. 

Lord, you do not want us to stop at belief alone. To virtue, Lord, help us add knowledge. Not simply the kind of knowledge that fills our minds, but the wisdom that shapes our hearts and our choices. May our prayer draw us closer to you, deepen our understanding of your will, and equip us with the courage to walk more faithfully in this world. Keep us from pride and make us humble learners who receive your words daily.

Father, to knowledge, help us add temperance, or self-control. You know our struggles, you know our weaknesses, the temptations that try each day to pull us away from you. Lord, too often we give in to sin, to distractions, to unhealthy desires, and to quick actions that do not honor you. But today, strengthen us. Teach us discipline, guard our thoughts, guard our speech, and bring our bodies under subjection to your will.

Lord, to temperance, we are praying for patience. Life often tests us; sometimes we face delays, difficulties, and disappointments. Sometimes we grow weary, sometimes we complain too much, and sometimes we lose hope. But you are reminding us that patience produces character, and character produces hope. So we are praying, Father, that you would help us to be patient in suffering, gentle in waiting, and steadfast in hearings. Father, those who are weary, those carrying heavy burdens, those facing illness, grief, or uncertainty. Wrap each and everyone in your arms and remind us that your presence is always with us. Lord, give us hope for tomorrow. For you are always near, you will never abandon us, for we are your children, and even when we do not see the full results, you are working all things together for good. So, we are giving you thanks and we are praising you.

Lord, to patience, help us add godliness. May our lives reflect your holiness, not just in church or in moments of prayer, but God, help us to be godly in our homes, godly in our jobs, and godly in our community. Let our actions, our words, even our thoughts, be shaped by reverence for who you truly are. Teach us to live in respect of your majesty and in gratitude for your mercy.

Lord, to godliness, help us add brotherly kindness. In a world where division, anger, and selfishness often take center stage, help us to become people of compassion. Teach us to see others as you see them, to bear one another’s burdens, to forgive quickly, and to extend grace generously. May our kindness be sincere, not for recognition, but as an overflow of the love you are pouring into our lives.

Father, above all, to brotherly kindness, help us add charity, which is true love. For love is the greatest of all virtues, the bond of perfection, and the most accurate reflection of who you are, and you are our Creator. Lord, fill our hearts with your love, a love that is patient and kind, a love that does not seek its own, a love that never fails. Help us love not only those who are easy to love, but also those who are difficult, those who have wronged us, and those who never love us back in return. 

For in doing so, Lord, we will walk in your footsteps. You loved us while we were yet sinners and paid the ultimate price for us.

Lord, we know that none of this growth is impossible for you. On our own, we fall short, but with you, we can be transformed day by day into your image. 

So, prune us away from things that should not enter our lives, strengthen us when we are weak, and nourish us to bear much fruit for your glory.

Father, thank you for being patient with us as we learn, stumble, and grow. May our faith be steadfast, our virtue strong, our knowledge humble, our self-control firm, our patience enduring, our godliness evident, our kindness abundant, and our love overflowing.

We pray, in the precious, holy, and mighty name of Jesus Christ…Amen.

Everyone. Keep on praying, keep on trusting God. Have a wonderful day, and by God’s grace, we will pray again tomorrow. Bye-bye.