Jesus.
Light of the world absorbing the darkness and destruction of sin.
Bread of life for a world hungry for significance and identity.
Way of truth for the world caught in the lies of lust and shackles of selfishness.
Entrance and guidance to a life full of joy and peace with a loving and compassionate Father.
Epitome of goodness and graciousness to those who lose their way.
Hope of a new life now and a glorious life forever.
Connection to a life of purpose and a heart of faithfulness guided by the Creator of all things.
Sōtḗr (so-tare’) [i].
Deliverer.
Preserver.
Savior.
Please save me.
Please deliver me.
Please preserve me.
From opinions.
From expectations.
From anxieties.
From who I think I am.
From what I think I am not.
From what I think I need to be and do.
From trying to be perfect.
From who others say I am.
From what others think I am not.
From what others expect me to be and do.
From others’ accusations of perfect.
Only You can …
Help me.
Guide me.
Change me.
Only You can love me into the best version of myself.
So, please …
Help me to feel accepted where I have felt abandoned.
Help me to feel blessed where I have felt betrayed or bitter.
Help me to feel compassionate where I have felt critical.
Help me to feel confident where I have felt confused.
Help me to feel discernment where I have felt disappointed or disrespected.
Help me to feel delight where I have felt despair.
Help me to feel exceptional where I have felt excluded.
Help me to feel excited where I have felt empty.
Help me to feel free where I have felt fearful.
Help me to feel forgiving where I have felt furious and frustrated.
Help me to feel grateful where I have felt guilty.
Help me to feel hopeful where I have felt helpless.
Help me to feel healing where I have felt hurt or humiliated.
Help me to feel harmony where I have felt hostility.
Help me to feel inquisitive where I have felt indifferent.
Help me to feel interesting where I have felt inadequate or inferior.
Help me to feel joyful where I have felt judged or judgmental.
Help me to feel jubilant where I have felt jealous.
Help me to feel kind where I have felt cruel or cruelty.
Help me to feel loving where I have felt let down.
Help me to feel merciful where I have felt mistreated or mad.
Help me to feel nice where I have felt nasty.
Help me to feel open-minded where I have felt overwhelmed.
Help me to feel optimistic where I have felt oppressed.
Help me to feel peaceful where I have felt persecuted, pressured, or provoked.
Help me to feel purposed where I have felt perplexed.
Help me to feel quiet where I have felt quaking.
Help me to feel rested where I have felt rushed.
Help me to feel respectful where I have felt ruthless or resentful.
Help me to feel sure where I have felt scared or stressed.
Help me to feel sensitive where I have felt sneering.
Help me to feel thankful where I have felt tired.
Help me to feel trusting where I have felt threatened.
Help me to feel unmistakable where I have felt unfocused.
Help me to feel valued where I have been violated or victimized.
Help me to feel vulnerable where I have felt vicious.
Help me to feel worthy where I have felt worthless or weak.
Help me to feel worshipful where I have felt worried.
Help me to feel yielded where I have felt yearning.
Help me to feel zealous where I have felt zapped.
Thank You Sōtḗr (so-tare’) that as I walk through the pain and process of change You never leave me to wonder or wander alone.
Thank You Sōtḗr (so-tare’) for the freedom only You can bring – peace of mind and heart – when I let go and trust You to be in complete control.
Thank You Sōtḗr (so-tare’) for turning my world and my perspective upside down and inside out so I can be better today than I was yesterday.
Thank You Sōtḗr (so-tare’) for delivering me from myself into Your glorious light.
Thank You Sōtḗr (so-tare’) for preserving me from the pressure I put on myself to be and do outside of Your perfect will.
Thank You Sōtḗr (so-tare’) for saving me from the selfishness and self-righteousness that wants to consume me.
Thank You Sōtḗr (so-tare’) for being with me through everything to help me become the person You created me to be.
Thank You Sōtḗr (so-tare’) for loving this holy mess with unconditional love and unending grace.
AMEN!
[i] Blue Letter Bible, “Strong’s G4990 – sōtēr”, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4990/kjv/tr/0-1/
Marie Fremin. 12/27/21, 12/30/21, 3/2/24
Marie's Hope 