A Collect Against Self-Justification

Lord of all knowledge, who knows the heart for you created it, reveal to us when we seek to justify ourselves and rationalize our unwise impulses, so that we wouldn’t be focused on finding the way to satisfy our immediate pleasures, but seek to grow toward increasing love and holiness and always in the image of your Son, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit in glory and holiness. Amen. ‘Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”‘ – Matthew 4:5-6