These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 2:23
Lord Jesus, this morning my soul longs for a connection with You. Never mind the ritualism of form and fashion that I have been taught, as well as the drive within me to say the right things and present myself to You in a way that exudes righteousness. Instead, I come before You this morning just as I am – broken and incomplete, in desperate need of a touch from You. I bring to You all of my hangups and shortcomings, my failings and my mistakes. I lay at Your feet “me”, in all of my raggedness, laden with sins and burdened with failings. I know that only You can heal and make whole. Only You can restore. So, this morning I put behind me all of the baggage that comes with being labeled “Christian” in this society, and put on all of what it means to be a child of God. I put this world behind me and press towards the prize that I have in You. Fill me today with Your Spirit that might be able to run this race with perseverance to Your glory. I pray this in Your Name. Amen.