Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your word and that it does not sugarcoat life. I praise You for knowing my heart, my thoughts, my desires, and who I am. I praise You that You have created me unique, yet as human as anyone else. I praise You that I have the hope to hold onto, the purpose You have given me to give me strength to keep walking my path, and the faith that eternity and heaven await me if I just finish the race. Help me today to renew my mind, remind myself I belong to You, and to take command of my day so that I can shake the evil out of it, identify it, and move on doing Your will and not my own.
Holy Spirit, we all face down days. Elijah had a great victory, but then he hit a wall and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” [1 Kings 19:4] You did not allow him to stay at that place in his life, but reminded him who he was in You. You sent encouragement to him. I have hit some very low times in my life, yet You have reminded me that I am loved, I am important to You, and You have sent encouragement once I was willing to listen.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. 1Peter 5:6-11