Father, we know it is Your will that we take care of Your children, whether they are being obedient or not. When we have an opportunity and they have a need, it was an appointment made by You. You have taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves. You have said elsewhere, “They will know us by our love”.
Hey, do you need an attorney…This one is perfect!
We see that singing and rejoicing will characterize our arrival. What a joy filled scene that will be. Help us here and now to not forget that Your will is that we be joyful, knowing You are for us; You are the perfect Advocate. We could never enter into the Father’s presence without your advocacy. Your healing Spirit is both our hope and our reality.
We want evil punished now, right now!
Father, sometimes we want You to raise Your hand against the enemy of Your people, now, right now! We know You will, but we see evil conquering good, too often. Give us patience as You allow or cause events to happen on Your timetable.
Just how much license does our liberty give us?
You tell us that if we are insensitive to the needs of a weaker brother that we are sinning against You. That is a powerful reason for us to show patience when we are inclined to do otherwise.
What is wrong with “getting even”?
Jesus, You taught us that if we do not forgive our enemies You will not forgive us. You said to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Yet when the enemy attacks we are inclined to take matters into our own hands. Give us the courage, we pray, to display patience when our lower nature tempts us to “get even”, right now!
What is it that would make heaven perfect for you?
Father God, You have chosen to make us in Your image. We know, for those that love and obey You, that we are not yet what we will become. Life can seem so long when we are hurting yet You have prepared an eternal place of perfection for us all where we will be neither young nor old and certainly not ill. We look forward to something so perfect that it escapes our ability to fully describe it.
Sure, heaven is going to be great…but this is awful!
Father, Peter tells us a very important fact. We have been given a “living hope”. Yes, heaven awaits, but here we learn that our hope, made evident here and now, by our faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior, is a present reality.
One day with Jesus better than thousands elsewhere.
Father, the world will witness your power. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that you are Lord, including those who have not yet done so. It is your mercy that we seek. You have chosen us and even now You draw us near to You in spite of our weaknesses.
My life…as a blossom in a… barren desert?
Thank You for the evidence of Your love both in our lives and in that which You have created for our use. The earth does indeed blossom abundantly, even when man turns his back on You and on the opportunity to rejoice in You.
The omnipotence of God…a fearful reality.
Help us this day, to transition from temporal, here and now fear, to a sense of security that no matter what happens, we are Your children, promised an eternity of safety, security and goodness with You.