May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Lord Jesus, I need your strength. I need you to bolster my heart and raise it to life. As I live my life for you I am worn, tired and just plain exhausted of the fight. The biggest battle I am fighting is the one in my own heart and mind. I get in my own head too many times and think things and go down paths of thought that are harmful and sinful. Create in me a new heart, O Spirit, and give me strength to carry on and step forward in faith and strength to serve and to do the good you have place in front of me. Do not let me deterred from doing good. Encourage my heart with your finished work. You have loved me with an undying and eternal love. You have given me eternal encouragement and hope by my adoption into your family, by the promises of your Word, by the way you repeatedly assure me of your love in your Supper. Dear Jesus, strengthen me to live in these last days with courage, with grit, with your strength. Amen.

The Christian lives from the inside out. With a new heart given by the Spirit, we rise up to live with courage and strength.