Praying as I Read

We’ve been looking at Paul’s incredible statement about what God did to save us.  As I prayed through Colossians 1 I found myself in these incredible words (1:21-23).  I had just praised Him for who He is in verses 15-20 and that praise continued.  I prayed something like this,

God, I cannot thank you enough for saving me.  I know who I was, and you know that even better that me.  You know me best and yet you love me most!  Thank you for taking me, alienated and hostile and doing evil…thank you for reconciling me in your body on the Cross.
I have a hard time seeing myself as holy and blameless.  My sin is always before me and the accuser never lets me forget a single mistake, but You have done an incredible work and while I am still struggling in sin day to day, You have declared me holy and blameless and no longer sinful and condemned.

I am in Christ and therefore I can actually be above reproach before you…not in my works, but in Jesus.  I am hidden in Him and when you see me you see Him!  Thank you Father for your grace.
Help me to finish strong…to continue in the faith and to be steadfast and not shifting…help me to stay focused on the hope of the Gospel that I first heard and through which I was saved…may the faith that saved me grow stronger and help me in becoming more and more like you.  

You may word it differently, but we can spend an incredible amount of time in this chapter and in prayer.  Praying as I read and reading as I pray!