But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Our Father, God of tender mercies, who tends His flock like a shepherd: [who] gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; [who] gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11)—teach us to hear Your voice, to follow Your leading. Thank You for the promise regarding our Lord Jesus, "When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice" (John 10:4).
In our grossly disoriented world, so many desperately seek guidance, and peace, and safety, and the words of Augustine of Hippo have never rung more true, "Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless until it repose in Thee" (Confessions I.5). And in all the restless seeking is the constant danger of those who would devour unwary, gullible, or desperate souls.
We thank You for the truths given to us Scripture—"by them Your servant is warned" (Psalm 19:11). Time and again, we have been "put on notice" against false prophets, and their hallmark characteristics of greed and depravity. We see their bold and unscrupulous schemes at every turn.
O give us Your wisdom, Lord! Guard our minds against not only the bizarre and outlandish teachings that clearly run counter to, or contradict the Scriptures, but also against the dangerous and subtle heresies that have crept into our doctrines, our beliefs, our prayers.
Father, take us back to the precepts You have laid down that are to be fully obeyed (Psalm 119:4). Teach us to study the Scriptures diligently (John 5:39) but only under the power and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, seeking Your help in learning and applying truth.
Cause [us] to understand the way of Your precepts, that [we] may meditate on Your wonderful deeds (Psalm 119:27). Help us to correctly handle (rightly divide) the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
Cause us to examine the things we believe. Show us from the light of Scripture, where we have learned or absorbed concepts that are skewed or untrue. Give us the humility to "unlearn" all that we have absorbed in error. Give us hearts that are willing to "let God be true, and every human being a liar" (Romans 3:4).
Cause us to examine the "empty" phrases that we use. Keep us from pat and shallow philosophies and meaningless platitudes. Help us to understand the truth depth of the word of God, living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow...a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
Cause us to examine the prayers that we pray. Teach us to model our prayers on the prayer our Lord Jesus taught us, on the prayers that He prayed, and all the other examples and principles of prayer in the Scriptures.
O God, show us where we have let wrong doctrines influence our prayers. Keep us from babbling, from vain repetitions, and from meaningless mantras (1 Kings 18:26, 28; Matthew 6:7). Keep us from following world-saturated formulas, unscriptural "catch phrases" and unsound watchwords. Keep us from "trampling the courts" of the Most High and Holy God (Isaiah 1:12).
Cause us to examine the lives we live. Keep us from selfish ambition, from shallow pursuits, from blind indifference. Keep us from self-righteousness and hypocrisy. Keep us from evil inclinations and from itching ears that would gather false teachers to pander to our own desires. Keep us from bring[ing] the way of truth into dispute (2 Peter 2:3).
Cause us to grow in wisdom and in diligence so we can discern and refute destructive heresies and counterfeit doctrines. Cause us to trust Your infallible purpose, and to accept Your perfect plan. Cause us to follow You into the future, grounded in Your truth, confident in Your leading, secure in Your grace.
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