Lord God, thank You for this new month. Lord God, please do not let Your people be fooled that this world is getting better. At the same time Lord, help Your people to not be dismayed but to trust You and all that You are doing.
Lord God, as I read current events from around the world and speak with believers from every part of the globe, two thing are certain, no place is safe and evil is rampant everywhere.
Lord God, help Your people shine brighter this month. Lord God, help Your people to stand firm this month. Lord God, may our faith be transformational rather than transactional. May we come to know You more this month.
Lord God, thank You for Your gift of salvation. Lord God, thank You that salvation is not based on my works and efforts. Lord God, thank You that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your work on the cross. Thank You for reconciling Your people to Your Father. Teach us to be more like You, Jesus.
Lord God, thank You for this reader. Fill this reader with courage, boldness and peace in this new month. Lord God, prepare us for this new month and this month for us. Teach us Lord to depend more on You. Help us be more concerned with Your kingdom than the things of this world.
Lord God, may Your people die to sin more this month. May we seek to serve others more this month. May we make less excuses this month and may we take an active interest in others more this month. Lord God, help us to humble ourselves and to be agents of peace and reconciliation. Lord God, thank You that even though community is messy, You do not call us to do life alone.
Thank You Jesus for likeminded people who love, fear and revere Your truth. May we love and stand firm in Your truth more this month. Lord God, no social program will deal with man’s sin issue, only faith in Christ sets captive hearts free. Thank You Jesus for those who will be saved this month, help us to be busy evangelizing and discipling Your people this month. May we be more present with our loved ones this month. May we grow in joy more this month.
Lord God, may we commit our paths and plans to You this month. Help us Lord to be the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Help us to reassure and comfort those with tired and weary souls. May we stand in Your love and grace more this month.
Thank You Holy Trinity for this reader. May Your peace rule and reign in their heart so that they will know and do Your will. Bless this reader Lord as only You can. Thank You Lord for hearing our prayers. Thank You that we are never alone. Thank You Lord for Your grace and mercy. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2 The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord! 7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together 9 before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Lord God, thank You for the new song that Your people in Christ can sing to You. Lord God as You led Israel through the sea and wilderness so too will You lead Your people by grace through faith in Christ alone.
Lord God, thank You and praise You for Your gift of salvation, how sweet Your grace truly is. Lord God, You have made Your salvation known to the world, thank You and praise You that You know who belongs to You. Lord God, may today be the day of salvation for the reader who doesn’t know Christ.
Lord God, even in these trying times of societal, moral and ethical collapse both in the world and in the church, Lord may Your called out people break forth in joyous songs and praises for all that You have done in our lives. Help us stay connected to You.
Lord God, even if Your people don’t praise You, Your creation will. Lord God, may we care for Your creation. The earth is Your footstool and the place where You have revealed Your salvation to us. Where Jesus came from heaven to take on flesh to dwell among us.
Lord God, thank You that You will Judge justly and righteously. Help us to live each day praising You. May we never forget the prayer that changes everything is praise. Father God, we have so many reasons to sing Your praises. Thank You Lord for Your Word. Thank You for this reader. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Sunrise, 17 January 2023, photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
I can honestly say that I have never seen a sunrise in the East and rainbow (there’s a hint of a second one) in the West, at the same time in all my 41 years of living.
I am fascinated and awed by sunrises, sunsets, and rainbows. Since God spoke the world into being, God has watched over the rising and setting of the sun. The rainbow in the sky is God’s promise not to destroy the earth by flood again.
While this may sound provincial to this unbelieving world, in today’s rapidly changing culture, I take great comfort in this fact.
Today’s beautiful morning also reminds me of Jesus’s rebuke to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matt 16:2-3 ESV).
There is a judgment that is coming for both believers and unbelievers. For believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, ask the Lord to reveal to You where You are falling short of what and where the Lord wants You. Work for the Lord willingly rather than man, even in the most difficult circumstances. I know first hand how much easier it is said than done. However, God gives us the grace we need to be His hands and feet with the proper attitude.
For the unbeliever it is my humble prayer that today will be your day of salvation, repenting of your sins and that you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, so you will be saved (Rom 10:9).
Lord God, You know our hearts. You know the loads we carry. Lord God, may we come to You and find rest for our souls. Lord God, thank You for this beautiful sunrise and rainbow. Lord God, prepare us Lord to face You. Lord God, help us to think Your thoughts! Lord God, Your judgement that is coming will be quick and final. May we NEVER presume on Your grace. Lord God, I ask that believers will hold other believers accountable in a loving manner when they are in sin and error. Lord God, may Your people love each other enough to fight for their personal time with You, may believers seek to be spiritually healthy with the same passion that we seek to be emotionally and physically healthy. Lord God, raise up strong leaders in Your Church! Lord God, thank You for this reader. Lord God, encourage this reader today. Help this reader to trust You Lord. Help all believers to increase in their obedience and submission to You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Rainbow, 17 January 2023. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.17 January 2023. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
Lord God, thank You for this new month. Thank You and praise You Lord that Your Word does NOT return void! Thank You Lord that You will complete Your Work in us. Lord, help us to be mindful that we do our work in Your strength and not our own. Thank You Lord that Your grace is sufficient and that You give us the energy that we need to complete Your Work. Help us Lord to be focused more on You this month.
Lord God, many countries are having elections this month, help us to trust You and Your rule more than in the rule of man. Lord God, thank You and praise You there will be a day when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to Your glory Father.
Lord God, guide this reader. May this reader draw closer to You and to their loved ones this month. Lord God, many countries celebrate some form of Thanksgiving this month, help Your people Lord to be thankful and grateful each day.
Lord God, remind us more this month that the faith You call us to is not a blind faith, but a reasoned faith. Yes, we walk by faith and not by sight; however, You call us to be discerning and to exercise common sense. Help us to have more discernment and common sense this month!
Lord God, prepare our minds, hearts and hands to suffer for You. This is not easy for me to write, and in all honesty Lord, You know that I would like to delete this last sentence, but I know that it is true. Lord God, You do not call us to be naive about the hardships of this life. This life is NOT easy and it is even more difficult without Christ. Thank You and praise You Jesus that Your burden is easy and light. Thank You Jesus that when we come to You we will find rest for our weary souls.
Thank You and praise You Lord that Your shalom, Your peace is one of wholeness. It is completeness. No matter what we are facing, no matter our physical, mental and emotional deficiencies, weaknesses, and shortcomings we are complete and whole in Christ. Lord, may this reader not lose sight of who they are in Christ this month.
What a blessing and a relief it is Father to know that Your Son and His Work on the Cross has reconciled us to You by grace through faith.
Thank You Lord for the Holy Spirit sealing us. Lord, may we meditate on what it means to be sealed with Your Spirit more this month. Lord God, for those who are sealed with Your Spirit, You are indwelling them, while the devil and his agents can harass believers, remind this believer that it is absolutely impossible for them to be possessed by anyone or anything other than You. Lord, may we never forget that greater are You who is in us, than the devil who is in this world.
Lord God, strengthen Your people all over the world to fear You rather than their circumstances. I know this is easier said than done. Help us Lord to live as victorious and Spirit-indwelled and Spirit-empowered people. Not for show or for greater gain, but out of obedience to You. Help us to obey You more this month. Help us to love You more this month.
Reveal to us Lord what we are holding too tightly. Remind Your people, including myself, that anything we hold too tightly, You will remove from us. And that removal is usually painful. Lord, help us to be cheerful givers in all aspects. Help us to give ourselves away, to show people the love of Christ more this month, even if we get hurt and suffer for it.
Lord, thank You for the opportunity to live in a day and age where we can pray so openly and publicly with one another. Lord God, may this reader be encouraged and strengthened through this prayer. Lord, convict us where we need to be convicted. Help us to bless others and to be strong for our weaker brothers and sisters where there are needs. May we learn to love You and others more this month.
Thank You again Lord for this reader. Thank You again for this new month. Lead us and guide us Lord. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Lord God, thank You for this new month. Lord God, thank You that Your mercies are new every single morning! Thank You Lord that You are in control and that You know what is happening even when we do not! Lord God, help us to live more like Christ in this new month!
Lord God, help us to NOT be like the scribes and the Pharisees who preach but do not practice (Matt 23:3). Help us Lord to be hearers, preachers and doers. Help us Lord to have words and deeds that glorify You, encourage believers and that point the lost to Jesus. Lord God, help us to not get bogged down with the sin that we see around us. Help us to cling more to You than to this world and our possessions. Help us Lord to prepare for the coming difficulties that we will face; may we prepare in faith and not fear. May we prepare in a manner that pleases You and not pleases ourselves. Lord God, as times become darker and more difficult, help us to care for people, may we not seek our own interests, but take an interest in others as well.
Lord God, thank You and praise You for the opportunity to see Your end time events unfold. Lord God, I know every generation since Christ’s ascension to heaven has thought this, may we not take the time that You have given us for granted.
Lord God, as You and Your Word are attacked more and more in the Western world, help Your people to be confident that Your Holy Spirit will give us words and guide us when we need to speak and stand for You. May we not shrink back in fear, may we not lose heart, may we keep pressing on, knowing that our eternity is safe and secure in You.
Lord God, I thank You and praise You that when You are ready You will hold all those who persecute and oppress Your people accountable. Lord God, I thank You and praise You there will be a day when You will put to an end food, weather, monetary, government corruption and manipulation. I thank You and praise You Lord that You are Just and that You will vindicate Your people. Lord Jesus, help us to not lose sight that You are our Victorious, Overcoming and Soon Returning King. Lord God, You amaze me! Lord, help us this month to be more like John the Baptist stating, “I must decrease and He must increase.” Lord, help us to increase our faith, trust, obedience and dependence on You this month.
Help us Lord to speak with unbelievers who are questioning what they see happening around them that does not make sense. May we affirm to them that without Jesus Christ like makes absolutely no sense and that everything is truly meaningless. Lord God, fill Your people with renewed passion and vigor for You this month!
Lord God, for those who are returning to school may You in Your common grace give them teachers and professors who care about ethics, morality and common sense, even if they are unbelievers. Lord God, for parents who have children going to school, Lord may they not forsake helping their children process what they are learning, even if they go to Christian school. Lord God, for those who are preparing for summer break, help them to finish their school year well. Prepare their parents to have their children home again this summer!
Lord God, thank You for the opportunity to pray with my brothers and sisters online! I know the internet is full of all kinds of evil, filth and trash; however, thank You for this platform and may Christians use the internet responsibly! May we never forget that You know every spoken and unspoken thought that enters our minds! Help us to be mindful in what we are taking in and pouring out. Lord God, help us to be more like Christ in our internet interactions.
Lord God, thank You for this reader! It is a joy and an honor to pray for men and women created in Your image. How much more amazing it is Lord to pray with and for likeminded believers. Lord God, for the person reading this blog who does not know Jesus, may today be the day of salvation. May today be the day where they acknowledge they are a sinner and that they need Jesus Christ to be their Savior and Master. Lord God, for my fellow believers, may we share Christ and be like Christ even more. Thank You Holy Trinity for this reader and for this new month. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them (Psalm 89:11 ESV).
It’s not everyday that I wake up at 6am to a full moon! What an awesome and amazing way to start the day! What an excellent reminder that the Lord knows and holds it all!
Lord God, thank You and praise You that the sun and moon rise and set on Your time schedule. Thank You Lord that as You know the number of the sand on the seashore, so too do You know those who belong to You. Thank You and praise You Lord for how You use creation to point people to Yourself. Lord, as this world spirals more and more out of control, help Your people to be witnesses, testifying to who You are and what You have done in our lives.
Thank You Lord for the beauty of creation. Thank You Lord that You are mindful of humans and that You loved us so much to send Jesus into this world. Thank You Jesus for dying on our behalf to forgive us from sin so that those who may believe in Your Name will spend eternity with You. Thank You Holy Spirit for convicting us of our need for Jesus and for sealing us with Your Spirit.
It is beyond my comprehension that someday Lord Jesus we will see You face to face. Lord, help us to look for ways to marvel at the works of Your Hands even in the midst of everything that is going on. Thank You Jesus for this reader. Draw this reader closer to You and to Your heart so that others may see You in them. Thank You Lord for today. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn
Sunset. Bluebird on top of pine tree. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (Psalm 46:10 ESV)
Lord God, in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, help us to pause and meditate on You. Lord God, may we not let the sun go down on our anger. Lord God, may Your peace prevail in Your peoples lives, even when the storms and trials rage.
Lord God, may Your people love You and desire You more each day. May Your people be reminded that You will vindicate Yourself; You do not ask Your people to take vengeance into our own hands.
Lord God, as I pray sitting around the fire, I ask that You will remind us that the judgment that is coming will reveal our our hearts and actions. Lord You are an all consuming fire, may we never take Your grace and mercy for granted. Praise You Jesus that one day all the nations will bow before You.
Thank You Lord for this reader. May the glow of the sun and fire point this reader to the True Son, the One who paid it all. Lord, what a gift it is to have people to pray for! Even when we may be annoyed or agitated, thank You Lord for the opportunity to commune with You in prayer and interceding for others. Bless this reader as only You can. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPhoto taken by Mandy Sweigart-QuinnPraying for y’all! Photo taken by Nathan Quinn.
Lord God, as You care for the flowers, birds and trees, so too will You care for Your people in this new month. Lord God, thank You that nothing is beyond Your control!
Lord God, help us to become more like Christ in this new month. Lord God, Your Word in both the Old and New Testament tell us not to be surprised or taken off guard by war, rumors of war, pestilence, disease, food shortages, famine and persecution.
Lord God, help Your people to endure trials and to be patient with people more this month. Father God, as the weather in the North heats up, help Your people to be agents of peace and reconciliation not sowers of discord and malice. Lord, help Your people to exercise reason and common sense so that cooler, tempered minds, hearts and hands may prevail.
Lord God, reveal to this reader and myself where we are starting to compromise and look more like the world. Reveal to us in this new month Lord what we are holding on too tightly. Lord God, root out anything in us that is keeping us from growing closer to You!
Lord God, give Your people increased wisdom and discernment in this new month. Lord, it is blatantly obvious that we are living in a post-Christian time period. Help us to be good stewards and witnesses for You as the time of Jesus’s return is nearer with each passing moment.
Lord God, prepare Your people for what they will face, not only this month but in the months to follow. Lord God, Your Word is life; it is our comfort and joy. Help us to apply Your Word this month so that we will be prepared to stand firm in the trials that we face.
Lord God, I pray for the reader who has wandered from the faith, Lord, stir their heart to return to You. Lord God, for the reader who is hostile to the faith, if You lead them to this prayer may You convict them of their sin and their need for a Savior. Regardless of where one positions themselves in regards to the elect/called/chosen/whomsoever, thank You and praise You Lord that You are the One who save us from start to finish. It is not our work or achievements but Christ crucified, buried, resurrected and ascended who is the Redeeming Savior for all those who trust and believe in Him.
Lord God, I am reminded in John 10 that You are the Good Shepherd. But before that, You say You are the Door/Gate for the sheep. So often Lord we want Your provision, protection and blessing as the Good Shepherd but we do not want Your exclusivity, we do not want to enter through the narrow door, walking the narrow path of obedience. Lord God, convict us of our arrogance, our hypocrisy and our lack of love and reverence for You. May we NEVER forget Jesus that You are the Way, the Truth and the Life and that no one comes to the Father except through You (John 14:6).
Lord God, thank You for this reader. Thank You that You know everything about this reader and what they will face this month. Strengthen and guide this reader Lord to lead the lost to You, to encourage believers and to glorify You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
I absolutely love the smell of my cherry tree!!! Every time I encounter a fragrant tree, shrub, bush or flower I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 2:14–16:
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life (ESV).
Lord God, may everyone we encounter smell Jesus on us. Lord God, may we be a fragrant aroma to those in the faith and not shy away and shrink back from being an odious and offensive stench to the unbelieving world. Lord God, thank You for the life that we have in Christ. Lord God, fill this reader with Your presence. Thank You Lord for Your creation. Lord God, may our worship be a pleasing aroma to You. Thank You and praise You Father for Your love for us. Jesus thank You that we are Your Ambassadors and Holy Spirit thank You for indwelling and sealing us. May we be a pleasing aroma to You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Looking down on east side of the Temple Mount. 23 May 2017. Photo taken by Mandy Sweigart-Quinn.
24 A Psalm of David.
1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah
In light of Holy Week 2022, I cannot help but meditate on David’s hymn.
David makes it clear that the earth belongs to Yahweh and that He is the Creator and Sovereign overall (vv 1-2). David’s understanding of creation theology is the antithesis of how Israel’s neighbors understood creation. For most of the Ancient Near East (ANE), they viewed the earth as flat and floating on a cosmic ocean. Water in the ANE was signified with chaos and disorder. (Each ANE civilization had a defeated sea god. For example: the Ugaritic (Canaanite) Baal was the storm/fertility god who defeated the sea god Yamm). To David, “these words signify that the Lord has manifested his wisdom in creating an orderly world, and therefore he rules over all. The biblical perspective is opposed to the deification of nature, for, while everything is glorious, its glory is derived from the glorious Creator” (W. VanGemeren, Psalms REBC, 2008, p. 258).
“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?” (v 3). The hill that David is speaking of is Mount Zion. “The temple of Yahweh was built on a hilltop above the rest of the city. Thus, going to worship at the temple involved a modest ascent. The Temple Mount was the place of God’s throne, which is relevant in this psalm’s call to praise God’s kingship” (J. Hilber, “Psalms” ZIBBC, 2009, p. 342). While the temple was not constructed in David’s lifetime, I love what VanGemeren says, “The hymn instructs God’s people wherever they may be to live in the presence of the Creator-King in order to receive his blessing” (p. 260).
Holiness is required to enter the Lord’s presence! Only those with clean hands and a pure heart, who neither lift up their soul (life source) to what is false nor swear deceitfully (v 4), will “receive blessing from the Lord” (v 5). The Lord requires us to be solely and only devoted to Him. We cannot serve God and something or someone else. It was impossible in the Old Testament and it is impossible today!
“Purity of ‘hands’ and ‘heart’ is the condition of living before God in accordance with his precepts and out of the desire of his heart…The one who has ‘clean hands’ is innocent of wrongdoing and readily asks for forgiveness when he or she has sinned against God. In contrast is the sinner, whose ‘hands are full of blood’ and who needs cleansing, forgiveness, and reconciliation” (VanGemeren, p. 260).
Only a fool would enter the Creator-King’s Holy presence in a manner that is contrary to His Character and Workings. The people of God need to be sensitive and mindful of the condition of their hands and hearts when they enter into His presence. Failure to do so will lead to discipline rather than blessing.
For the “generation of those who seek him” they are the legitimate children of Jacob (v 6). Seek here is a Hebrew participle denoting continuous action. “To ‘seek him’ is an expression of a sincere desire to live in accordance with God’s standards so as to live in the presence of his ‘face'” (p. 260).
Scholars are not in agreement as to what David is referring to in verses 7 and 9. It could be that David is literally commanding the gates and doors of the temple to open or it could be referring to the ancient city of Jerusalem itself. Since the temple was not built in David’s time, I am more inclined to go with the latter; however, I am not dogmatic on this! As VanGemeren states, “Regardless of the referent, the point remains that Jerusalem had been a Jebusite city with a long history…over which Melchizedek ruled in Abraham’s days. It became the city of God because God chose to dwell in it. Consequently, both the city and the people were called on to receive with joy and anticipation the Great King. The repetition in v. 9…bears out the importance of proper preparation for ‘the King of glory'” (p. 262).
Verses 8 and 10 are verbless clauses where the people cry out, “Who is this King of Glory?” The answer is the Lord, Yahweh. “He brings blessing, victory, and vindication to his people because he is their God and Savior” (p. 262). Yahweh is the Divine Warrior (a significant theme in the Old Testament) who fights for Israel rather than against her. David describes the Lord’s divine power as “strong and mighty” and “mighty in battle!”
The Lord of Hosts (ṣebāʾôt) is also translated Almighty. “The Great King has at his command innumerable heavenly ‘hosts,’ reflecting the glory and splendor of undisputed lordship. He is the Divine Warrior, the Commander of all powers in heaven and earth. His battles always win him victory…The presence of the divine Warrior among his people is the ground for tranquillity that drives out fear” (p.263).
In Psalm 24, David celebrates the entrance of the great Divine Warrior, the King of Glory, the Lord Almighty Himself coming into Zion. Yesterday, April 10, 2022 Protestants remembered the Triumphal entry of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt, where the crowds met Jesus with palm branches, spreading their cloaks on the road, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:12; c.f. Ps 118:25-26).
Only a few days later these same people along with their chief priests and religious leaders cried out for Pilate to “crucify” Him (Luke 23:21; John 19:6). In prophetic irony, Pilate put an inscription on Jesus’s cross which read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (John 19:19). Onlookers who were coming to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover would have seen this sign. For three hours Jesus suffered before succumbing to death. His body was then taken down and buried in a new, yet borrowed tomb (v 41); however, this was not the end, because on the third day, Jesus rose from the grave! This Overcoming King of Glory defeated death, the grave and Satan forever!
For those who believe in Christ, we know that Jesus is the Soon Returning Conquering King who will enter the holy city of Jerusalem bringing His reward with Him (Rev 22:12). For those who believe in Christ we know that our reward is being with our Triune God forever. For those who do not know Christ, their reward is separation from God and eternal torment (see Matthew 25). In a world full of uncertainty and zero guarantees, Jesus’s return is certain. None of us are promised tomorrow, please seek Jesus while there is still time!
Jesus is the ultimate Davidic King. Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the King of Glory, the One who fights on behalf of His people. May we allow Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection take root more in our lives this year. For the reader who is a part from Christ, do not spend another day without Jesus being Your Redeemer, Savior and King. All glory to Jesus both now and forevermore.
Father God, prepare our hearts to worship You both now and in eternity. Thank You Jesus for coming to earth, being born of a virgin, living among sinful man, being crucified, dead and buried, rising on the third day so as to reconcile Your repentant sinful people to Yourself for the glory of God the Father. Holy Spirit, thank You for indwelling and sealing Your people. Thank You Holy Spirit for helping us to become more like Jesus each and every day. Help us to want more of You and less of ourselves. Lord God, help Your people to have clean hands and a pure heart. May we never forget that we come to You and stand in Your presence because of Your grace and mercy and not because of anything good in us. Lord God, may we never forget that salvation has always been by grace through faith, never because of our works! Lord God, help Your people to be a generation who seeks Your face. Lord God, help believers to not lift their soul to what is false nor swear deceitfully. Lord God, thank You for this reader! Lord God, You are strong and mighty in battle and NOTHING is too great for You. Thank You Lord that nothing will stop Your will from being accomplished. Thank You for this reader. Lead and guide this reader to love You more each and every day. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Blue Collar Theologian 