That I a Lord might be!

Revelation 20-21, Zechariah 9-14

Revelation 20:6 – Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second resurrection has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Let all together praise our God before his highest throne. He serves that I a lord may be – a great exchange indeed! Could Jesus’ love do more for me to help me in my need? To help me in my need. For us he opens wide the door of paradise today. The angel guards the gate no more; To God our thanks we pay, to God our thanks we pay. Amen.

He Really love me? Yes. Yes he does.

Proverbs 30:24-33, Psalm 144-147

Psalm 144:3-5 – O Lord, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

Lord God, who am I that I should be a husband or a wife?

Who am I , that I should be a father or mother?

Who am I that I should be a servant?

Who am I that I should have the friends that I do?

Who am I that I should enjoy what I do?

I am yours.

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth

Would care to know my name

Would care to feel my hurt?

Who am I, that the bright and morning star

Would choose to light the way

For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am

But because of what you've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who you are

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still you hear me when I'm calling

Lord, you catch me when I'm falling

And you've told me who I am

I am yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin

Would look on me with love

And watch me rise again?

Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea

Would call out through the rain

And calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am

But because of what you've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who you are

- Lyrics by Casting Crowns.

The Best Days are Yet to Come.

Revelation 19, Zechariah 1-8

Zechariah 8:4-5 – Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and women shall again sit on the streets of the Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of great age.  And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets.

Lord God, such a vision of my eternal future you lay out here.  As I look back to the good ol’ days, I have images just like this painted in my mind.  I see old men and women sitting on the front porches sipping on sweet tea.  I hear children laughing and playing in the streets.  Those were good days.  The future will be better.  Lord God, I can’t wait for the days when health and strength will be fully and completely restored. My health will be better and my strength will be greater than my best days on earth.  I won’t ever need a cane because my health will be so fully restored.  And instead, I’ll laugh in the streets with the kids.  I’ll be part of the stick ball game. And it will be good. I can’t wait for those days when you’ll wake me from the grave and take me to your side, to an eternity in heaven with you.  Lord Jesus Christ, make me extremely useful during my days of this earth.  And at the same time, lift up my eyes to my home in heaven when I will rejoice in joys unspeakable.  Amen.

Work! God is with you!

Revelation 17-18, Haggai 1-2

Haggai 2:4 – Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD.  Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest.  Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord.  Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts.

Lord God, as we approach any task whether great or small, we count the cost.  We weigh the risks and the rewards.  As we look at the tasks in front of us there are a lot of things that scare us.  And it’s always easier to play it safe.  But God, as you spoke to the leaders and to the workers about the work of rebuilding the temple you sent them to work with the promise, “I am with you.”  And you say the same to me.  Whatever task I face, whatever trouble I encounter, you say to me, “Work, for I am with you.”  Whatever challenge faces me this week or in the coming year, help me to face it knowing that you are for me in the fight and with me in my work.  And so, with this confidence, send me out to work for you.  Amen.

Fear not!

Revelation 15-16, Zephaniah 1-3

Zephaniah 3:16-17 – On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.  The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

Lord God, it is astounding how often you say to your people, “Fear not.”  Again and again and again you say it to your people.  Again and again and again you help them know.  In any and every kind of circumstance you tell them not to be afraid.  When we are afraid of danger and things that threaten us, you say, “Fear not.  I will protect you.”  When we are worried about what the future holds, you say, “Fear not.  I hold the future in my hands.”  When we are afraid of the work that is front of us and worried about how it will turn out, you say, “Fear not.  I am with you.”  Again and again you say things just like this to us so our hearts would rest in your presence and promise.  Lord God, let the things that make you happy relieve our fear.  You rejoice over us with loud singing!  You are glad to call us yours.  You are filled with joy to protect us, to provide for us, to be with us.  You are head over heels for us!  Let these truths wash all our fear away as we meditate on you, O God.  There is no god like you.  Amen.

My Strength.

Revelation 13-14, Habakkuk 1-3

Habakkuk 3:18 – God, the Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like a deer’s; he makes me tread on the high places.

Lord God, I can’t see through the fog or imagine the future.  I can dream, but that’s all I can do.  I can imagine, but it isn’t that clear.  You alone know my future for me and my family.  You alone know what tomorrow brings and what next year will hold.  You alone know where all my paths lead.  I pray, Lord God, be my strength to face what these days, weeks, and months will bring.  You alone know what is good for me, my family, and for all whom I love.  You alone know us.  You alone care for us.  You Lord, and you alone.  Give peace to my soul. Give strength to my hands to do the work that is in front of me.  Give hope to my heart.  And make my footsteps sure and certain just like the deer.  They jump and duck and dodge and their feet are always sure.  Make my footsteps sure and certain even when I don’t know where you are leading me.  Amen.

This means war!

Revelation 12, Nahum 1-3

Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb…

Revelation 12:17 – The dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Lord God, I read Revelation and it becomes clear that there is a spiritual war going on around us all of the time.  It’s clear that the Devil is a roaring dragon, a fire-breathing dragon who wants to destroy Jesus followers.  It’s clear that we are in the last days before you return. Lord Jesus, it’s easy for me to fall into a way of thinking that forgets we are at war.  He wants to lull me into a false sense of security and complacency. And when he has lulled me to sleep, he will come like a lion crouching in the tall grass, ready to pounce.  It’s that dangerous for me to fall into false sense of safety.  And it happens so easily when things in my life are going well.  When things in life are smooth, it’s easy to think that things in the spiritual realm are smooth too.  But it just isn’t so.  The Devil is furious and he is off to make war on those who follow Jesus – that’s me!  Lord Jesus, keep me always alert, awake, and aware of the devil’s schemes. He is at war with me and he wants my soul. Also, keep me always alert as a watchman.  The devil isn’t just after me, he is after all of the people in my life.  You’ve given me to them to sound the battle cry, to rouse them for battle, the battle that is coming to us because the devil hates us.  At the same time, Lord Jesus, help me to rest my soul and my head on the ultimate victory that you won on the cross.  That victory is mine.  The devil can’t have me.  Let this confidence live in my heart and give rest to my soul.  Amen.

Listen, Lord.

Proverbs 30:11-23, Psalm 140-143

Psalm 141:2 – Let my prayer rise before you like incense, the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.

Lord God, your ears are open to my every prayer.  It amazes me every time.  That you would hear me.  That you would even care to hear me. That you would pay attention and not just smile and nod.  Lord Jesus, I owe God’s ear to your blood.  His ear is tuned to me because your blood opened the way.  Father, that you would hear me, slug that I am is a gift of your grace and that you would consider it a pleasing aroma is grace upon grace.  Almighty God, that I can enter your most holy place with my prayers is just plan astounding.  Lord God, I beg you, hear me when I pray.  Receive my prayers like incense.  Make it a pleasing aroma in your sight.  Answer me. Direct my footsteps.  Guide me.  Grant me peace.  Grant me more – your Holy Spirit, the greatest of all your gifts.  Amen.

The Good.

Revelation 10-11, Micah 4-7

Micah 6:8 – He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Lord God, sometimes we make serving you so hard.  We want to do the great things, to do the things everybody notices.  We want to accomplish great things for you, things that will matter, even things that will last.  But here, God, you make it so simple.  What is the good that you want?  You want me to do justice.  You want me to love kindness.  You want me to walk humbly with God.  That’s it.  Lord, I pray, first help me to grasp your astounding, justifying, cleansing and saving love for me like never before.  Let your love overflow the rim of my heart so that it flows out into my life.  Fill my heart with the certainty of your love so me that is over the moon. Then, as I live my life, keep me from worrying about doing the so-called ‘great things’ in your sigh.  Keep me gaze on the simple things: doing justice, loving kindness and walking in humility with you.  This is the good you have given me to do.  Help me to do it and to do it in faith.  Amen.

Broken and Contrite

Revelation 8-9, Micah 1-3

Psalm 51:17 – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Lord God, as I read through the prophecy of John and of Micah I notice a sad refrain.  As often as you came to the people, as often as you disciplined them, as often as you preached to them, they did not repent.  It shows up again and again on the pages of Scripture.  Lord God, my prayer is two-fold. First, as your servant, make me bold to be a preacher of righteousness like Noah was in this wicked and evil age.  Give me a forehead of bronze to call out sin, to call for repentance, and to call for faith.  But, more importantly than all this, Lord God, I need your Spirit to break my heart and to lead me to repentance.  It is too easy to grow hard to the rebuke from others about sin. It is easy to excuse and rationalize.  It is way to easy.  Lord God, keep my heart soft and broken to hear your rebuke and to receive your discipline.  Lead me to repent of my sin, all of it. Show me the sin in my blind spots.  Uncover them all to me, Lord, that I may be healed.  Amen.

Marked

Revelation 6-7, Obadiah 1

Revelation 7:3 – I saw another angel ascending and saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of God on their foreheads.”

Father, today, I thank you for my parents and those other servants whom you used to bring me to baptism.  I didn’t come by own own horse power.  They brought me because they knew that I needed this gift. Father, thank you for baptism.  There you adopted me as yours and I became your child, wholly and dearly loved.  There you claimed me as your own.  Since that time, Father, you have been at work in my heart and life by your Spirit to raise up faith in me, to transform me by the gospel so that I might be a servant in your kingdom.  Lord, I pray let your name continue to be tattooed on my head and on my heart.  Continue to mark me with your cross so that I may end my days in faith.  And while I wait for your appearing, help me to use the time that I have to reach more and more people and to make the most of every opportunity.  These are the days you have given me by your grace to serve and to share you.  Amen.

Don't! Please, don't!

Revelation 4-5, Amos 5-9

Amos 8:11 – “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD God, “when I will send a famine on the land – not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.”

Lord God, take anything else form me, just not that. Take my goods, my reputation, my property, even my health; take even my family away from me, Lord.  Just don’t take your Word.  Lord, if you take away your Word from me by false teaching or by my own neglect or even by taking away my access to it, then how will I know what you have said?  Then how will I be lead to repent?  Then where will I find forgiveness, peace and hope?  Then where will I get guidance and direction for my life?  Lord, if you take your Word away from me or anyone else, then who can be saved!?!  Lord, don’t!  Give your Word to me, to my family, to al the world.  Let it be taught purely, truly, rightly. Let law and gospel be given in the truth and purity.  Give us your word of peace and forgiveness, of rebuke and repentance, of guidance and direction.  And Lord, especially give us the Word about Jesus, the Savior of the world, even of me.  Let your Word remain, Lord, so that I may be saved. Amen.

Prepare to meet your God.

Revelation 3, Amos 1-4

Amos 4:12 – Therefore this I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!

Lord Jesus, keep me from being slow to learn the lessons of love you want to teach me.  When in mercy you send discipline and rebuke, help me to hear it and to quickly turn back.  Keep from excuse making and from rationalizing, even justifying myself.  Send your Spirit on me so that my first reaction is, “Lord, you are right; I’m sorry.”  Break my heart with your Word so that I receive your rebuke.  Heal my heart with your Word so that I am refreshed and restored to serve you again.  Exalt me by your Son so that I can lift up my head with joy and confidence, a joy and confidence that comes from you alone.  Amen.

Just the Right Amount.

Proverbs 30:1-10, Psalm 137-139

Proverbs 30:8 - Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and stand and profane the name of my God.

Lord God, Solomon is so wise.  He shows me that both poverty and riches pose a danger to my soul.  The one leads me to praise myself, the other leads me to curse God. I pray, give me and give my family just the right amount so that we are left to rely on you and on you alone. Give us just what we need so that’s we call on you for daily bread and trust you to provide it. Give us just what we need so that we don’t become self-reliant or boastful. Give us a contented heart whatever provision you give us so that we are happy, thankful, and content in whatever season or blessing you give us.  God, I pray, continue to give us daily bread, each day.  Most of all, dear Lord, help us always to have our hearts fixed on you and full of joy to worship and honor you.  Do whatever it takes in our lives to keep us close to you and believing in you.  Amen.

Hold on!

Revelation 1-2, Joel 1-3

Revelation 2:25 - Only hold fast what you have until I come.

Lord God, through your prophets you preach fire and brimstone, judgment and salvation, hell and heaven.  It is clear.  In fact, judgment seems to be a louder and more frequent theme.  Lord, as I meditate on judgment, I pray, keep me in the faith so that when you return I will be righteous in you.  Lord do the same for my family, for those whom I love.  Make me a better family shepherd for their souls so that they will know you better.  I also pray, give me determination and grit.  My callings from you call for determination and grit to face what is about to come and what is already coming.  Give me an iron-forehead to take on whatever is coming.  Help me to hold on to the truth of your Word.  Help me to meet the challenges of holding on and holding forth the Word of truth in an age and place that seems to grow cold for your Word.  Lord, make this a fertile place to preach and teach, to scatter the seed.  Make me bold and compassionate to share the truth with those who are letting go of the truth.  They need me to speak up and into their lives.  Help me to set my priorities for the sake of my family.  Help me to make the most of the opportunities which you give to share the truth with anyone and everyone whom you put in my path.  Amen.

How can I?

Jude 1, Hosea 11-14

Hosea 11:8 - How can I give you up, O Ephraim?  How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboim?  My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.

Lord God, you heart is so clear in these verses.  Your people had wandered far from you and deserved so much wrath from your hand.  And you were ready to give.  You were ready to pour out the cup of your wrath on your people.  But then you stepped back and your heart warmed and grew tender. You loved your people, rebellious and stiff-necked though they were.   You were compassionate for your people even though they deserved your anger.  O God, you are so patient with me.  I clearly see how I have rebelled from you in so many ways.  It isn’t hard for me to see how I have justly earned your rage.  But then you ask: How can I? How can I hand him over?  And that’s why you handed over your Son. You couldn’t bear to see me destroyed so you handed over your Son in my stead.  It is more than I can fathom.  Thank you Lord! Lead me to ask this today: How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness too me? How can I show my love to him who has been so compassionate and loving toward me?  Let my life show my thanks to you for all of your goodness to me.  Amen.

The Day is Coming

2 Peter 2-3, Hosea 5-10

2 Peter 3:11-12 - Since all these things are to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God!?!

Lord God, Peter warns and speaks to me with such urgency and seriousness.  This is an urgent call to action.  There is no time to waste.  Jesus is coming.  Judgment comes with me.  What I want, Lord Jesus, on the last day is to be found in him, not having a righteousness or a goodness that comes from me.  I want to found in him being perfectly pure and totally good through faith alone.  I want to bring glory to you, Lord Jesus, by the life that I live for you, full on, all out, urgent, careful, obedient.  Lord, help me to live, teach, love and obey you with end times urgency and seriousness.  There isn’t a moment to waste. Repentance is not something I can put off until later.  Faith isn’t something I can wait on.  Fruit isn’t something I can wait to bear.  You are coming.  By faith, make me ready for that day. By your Spirit keep my faith living and active until that day when you come down from the clouds.  Amen.

Diligent Practice

2 Peter 1, Hosea 1-4

2 Peter 1:10 – Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Lord God, you’re not done with me yet.  There is so much more that I need to add to my faith.  There are so many areas in which you want me to grow. And I need the reminder.  It’s easy, so easy, God, to fall into laxity in faith, to be content with the way things are.  It’s so easy to even think to myself that I’ve arrived at faith’s final destination.  But here through Peter you remind me that I have a long way to go.  You urge me to add virtue to faith, knowledge to virtue, self-control to knowledge and more.  You urge me to be transformed by the power of your Word and the working of your Spirit.  And this takes work.  It takes repentance.  It takes study.  It takes meditation.  It takes discipline and practice.  Lord God, help me to keep on working with your Word, to keep on hearing your Word.  Open my heart to keep on receiving the work of your Spirit, the chiseling work of your Word, and the refining work of life’s trials and troubles.  These are the way that you make my calling and election sure.  Keep me from becoming lax or complacent.  Keep me always working in and with your Word and in this way, Lord God, you will make my calling and election sure. Amen.

Surge!

Hebrews 13, Daniel 10-12

Daniel 11:32-33 – But the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.  And the wise among many people shall make many understand.

Lord Jesus, as we live in these last days, the days before you return to judge the world in justice, we see many terrible things on every side.  It’s everywhere and it’s terrifying.  As a Christian and as a church, it’s easy to sit back behind the doors of the church and just try to stay safe.  It’s easy to throw up our hands dejected because “the world won’t listen anyway.”  It’s easy to give up.  But that’s not what you’ve called us to do.  You’ve told us to stand firm and to take action. You’ve told us to take your word and to help people understand you and your Word.  Lord God, there are two options in front of me. 1) Shrink back and be destroyed.  But that’s not who we are.  We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve our souls (cf. Hebrews 10:39). 2) The other option is to stand our ground and even surge forward with the gospel of God and the sword of the Spirit.  This is what Daniel sees the church doing in the last days. He sees us surging forward to help people know God.  Lord God, help me to do this.  Help me to surge forward with boldness and with your gospel. Amen.

Whatever He Wants

Proverbs 29, Psalm 133-136

Psalm 135:6 – The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the sea and in all their depths.

God, your power and might are clearly on display throughout history.  Your mighty acts of righteousness and deliverance are there for all to see.  Even now, generations later, I still marvel at your creative and redemptive acts.  I am in awe.  And what strengthens me and give me hope is the truth, God, that you are still the same God. You are the God who parted the seas and rescued your peoples.  You are the God who created the heavens, the earth, the seas, and all that is in them.  And you are the God – for endless years the same – who does the same acts of deliverance and creation in my life.  And you God, are beholden to none.  You never have to ask permission or send it up the chain of command.  You are unlimited and unrestricted in the help that you want to give your people.  All of us, any of us – all the time!  God, sit on your throne and keep doing what you have always done.  Because, that Lord God is always good. Amen.