“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

Because you were called you should walk in the way of that calling.  This world lives by the principle of an eye for an eye.  The Lord grows in us what He wills through adversity.  Do not react with the sinful old Adam but learn to live in the way Christ has taught us.  Inherit the blessing that the Lord has in store for you by humbly walking on the path He has set before you.

Lord, throughout Your Word, You have set the course for us to follow.  You have consistently told us time and again the way of leading a righteous life.  In faith, by grace, help me to persevere by acting as if these things were already mine.  When my hand raises to strike back, grant me an alternative so that I would put Your grace and mercy into practice.  Teach me to repay evil with good.

Lord Jesus, You have overcome the world.  Through You there is hope and a future.  You have given me the gift of faith.  Lead me in this faith to act so that my belief might be evident in what I say and do.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the upward way of salvation and keep me into the Father’s will.  You have set the course and called me to follow.  Help me now and always to follow You.  Amen.

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8).

If the world would do this, we would have peace.  As it is, the word does not do these things, but as far as you are concerned, in the power of the Holy Spirit, do all you can to live with others in peace.  Do not be quarrelsome.  Do learn to love others as the Lord has loved you.  Learn to be merciful as the Lord is merciful.  Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord in order that He may do as He wills in you.

Lord, these things are easy to say, but in this lifetime, so hard to accomplish.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I would now and forever be guided by You.  You know the issues I have and the direction I need to go.  You know all that is needed.  Help me, Lord, to live into these good qualities in order that I may journey in the upward way  and learn all You give me to learn.

Lord Jesus, without You it would be impossible.  You have come so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of true and everlasting life and help me to hold fast to Your never-changing principles.  Guide me by Your Spirit to hear and then to do all that You have commanded.  In You alone is there hope and a future.  You know the plans You have for me.  Lead me to live into them.  Amen.

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers” (1 Peter 3:7).

These principles are good no matter to whom or when they are applied.  Be considerate to others.  Treat others with respect.  All are precious ones for whom the Lord died.  Let nothing get in the way of your communication with the Lord.  Walk in Him and He will walk with you.  Or, as Jesus told us, abide in Him as He will abide in you, for apart from Him you can do nothing.  Live in the promise of the Lord.

Almighty Father, You lay these things out before me and I see them.  I hear them.  Sometimes I will even do this for a stranger, but too often not for those who are close to me.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I would be consistent in applying what You give me to do always.  Guide me according to Your principles and let me live them as You grow in me the image of Your Son.  Hear my prayers when I come before You.

Lord Jesus, You told us that You do nothing apart from what the Father says.  You and the Father are One.  You prayed unity for Your church.  Help me to live in that unity by doing those things which are right and godly.  Lead my heart into the better portion so that I would indeed abide in You as You abide in me.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, to walk the path of salvation You have set before me.  Amen.

“[L]ike Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear” (1 Peter 3:6).

Do not give way to fear.  How many of our actions are driven by fear?  Perfect love casts out fear.  We do not do things because of intimidation.  Do not follow the crowds of the world but follow the Lord of all.  In Him is all life.  In Him is all hope.  Walk in the way of the Lord and know that He will lead you into all righteousness.  Be led by the Lord now and forever.

Lord, I do not have because I do not ask properly.  I follow the way of the world and I am afraid.  Help me to have the boldness You give in order that I may be led by Your Spirit to stand firmly in the way of truth.  Guide me in the narrow upward way to follow Your example and the example of the saints of old.  In all things, keep me upon the path of righteousness so that I may now and forever abide in You.

Lord Jesus, You have taught us to pray constantly.  You have led all of those saints I read about in Scripture to live their lives faithfully.  Help me, Lord, to do the same.  In humility, lead me to walk with You and follow Your example.  In boldness, help me to stand firm against the world and not listen to its constant chatter.  In all things, help me learn how to be faithful for Your name’s sake.  Amen.

“For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands” (1 Peter 3:5)

The world calls to you to become your own person.  Step out there and tell the world what you think.  The Lord calls for us to come and submit to Him.  Do not think that things have changed.  They have not.  The Lord is calling us all out of this world of rebellion and into His reign of peace.  He gives the peace that surpasses all understanding.  Only in Him is there life, liberty, and peace.

Lord, I have believed the lies of the devil.  I have followed the way of the world.  I have sought for my way to be the way of things as I yell out my will to the world.  It is all for naught.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I would look to You and follow as You direct me in the upward way of right living.  Help me now and always to be guided by Your goodness and mercy and to humbly walk in this way.

Lord Jesus, You healed the sick and infirm and boldly proclaimed liberty for the captive.  You have told us to follow You, for broad is the way of destruction.  Guide me in the way to live and then help me to follow in the way You lead.  My rebellious heart wants other things, but You have called me into the good things of salvation.  Lead me in the better way.  Help me to hear You when You guide me in the upward way You have set before me.  Amen.

“Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:4).

A gentle and quiet spirit is what should prevail.  How often are we tempted to be boisterous and noisy?  That is just another way of saying, “Look at me.”  Take the focus and put it upon the Lord and the things of the Lord.  Be guided by His goodness and mercy.  Know that in Him is all truth and that He has made you to be whom you are.  He will also make you into whom you shall be.

Lord, I am Your creation.  You say in Scripture that I am wonderfully made.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the everlasting way of beautiful truth in order that I would learn to act as the person I am becoming.  In all truth, may I radiate that truth in all that I say or do.  You Lord, are the only One who can bring me from where I am to where I need to be.  Guide me on the path of salvation so that I go where You direct.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save me, set me free, and lead me in the upward way of salvation.  Along the path You create for Your own purpose, guide me so that I would look to You and not myself.  Let the beauty of what You are doing radiate through me always.  In all things, guide me to do what is right and good in the Father’s sight.  Lord, may I learn to always give You free reign in my life.  Amen.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes” (1 Peter 3:3).

Think about how much we focus upon what others see or think about us.  The truth is probably that they do not think about us any more than we think about them.  They too are worried about appearances.  What a waste.  Focus upon what is inside you.  Let the Holy Spirit come in and help to clean your house.  Let the beauty the Lord has created be what others see in you at all times.  Live in His presence.

Lord, You know how much time, effort, and money I spend trying to look good.  You know how often I embellish, or boast in order to have others look at me.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I would not look to myself, but look to You.  Guide me in such a way that I would reflect what You have given me outwardly in order that others may see what I do and see Your beauty.  You are the Creator of all things and what You have created is beautiful.

Thank You for the salvation You have given me, Lord Jesus.  I no longer need to work so hard at the impossible task of being perfect.  Instead, lead me in the way of salvation.  What I look like is what I look like.  Who I am is in Your hands.  Between these things is freedom.  Guide me, dear Lord, so that I would look to You and see the beauty of reality and see it shining out through me always.  Amen.

“Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,  when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Peter 3:1-2).

In the same way.  What this means is that we need to learn how to submit.  Not just wives, but everyone.  Humble yourselves and submit to one another.  Why?  In order that we may learn how to submit to the Lord of us all.  Only in Him is there life and liberty.  Come then and live into the life to which You have been called.  Be guided by His goodness and mercy.  Know that the Lord of your souls will save you.

Lord, You know all the places where I struggle to keep control.  Guide me, dear Jesus, in the way of everlasting life in order that I may now and always be guided by You, the Savior of my soul.  Help me now and forever to look to You as the One to follow.  Help me in those times of doubt to humbly walk where You lead.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that You alone are God.

Lord Jesus, You know all that I need.  You know what is required.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of salvation so that I may now and forever by led by You, my Savior.  Help me to win over others through my willing submission to You.  You are my Shepherd; take me where I need to go and help me to willingly follow You on the way.  Bring purity and reverence into my life to reflect Your presence in me.  Amen.

“For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

When we are not following the Lord, we are wandering.  We were never meant to do life on our own.  The hunger in us is for the Lord.  Do not live as those who have no hope or direction, but live following the Lord of your soul.  The one who created you must be the One who oversees the direction of your soul.  It is He who saves us and not we ourselves.  Come into His salvation.

Lord, You know the places where I resist You and do not come into the salvation You have prepared for us in the sight of all people — not only me, but all of those who will follow You.  Guide me this day to walk in the newness of life you give so that I may now and forever by guided by You, the One who is the guardian of our souls.  Lead me, Good Shepherd, in the way of everlasting life.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all of your goodness and mercy.  By Your grace, lead me as You know I need to be led.  You are Lord and I am a sheep in Your hands.  You know where I need to go and what needs to happen.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life in order that I would now and forever be guided by You, the Good Shepherd.  You are the Shepherd of my soul and I shall not want.  Amen.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24)

You have been healed through, by, and for Christ, the One who saves.  He took upon Himself the iniquity of us all.  He has done what needed to be done in order that you might be freed to live into the life for which You have been created.  This is the amazing mystery that has been revealed to those who believe that through this death comes eternal life.  Live then into the life that Christ gives.

Lord Jesus, in You alone is there all hope.  You have come in order that all those who trust in what You have done for us, may walk the upward path that leads to eternal life.  Guide me now and always Lord so that I would forever trust You.  You have done this and there are many more promises that are an assurance to me.  Guide me now and always so that I may humbly walk the way of everlasting life.

Lord Jesus my Savior, in You alone is there all hope and a future.  You have died so that I might live.  You have united me through Your death with eternal life.  The mystery is deep, but I see it before me.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go.  Guide me according to Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk the path You have laid before me.  In all I do, may I look to You for the grace You have purchased from the cross to redeem me.  Amen.