Heavenly Father I praise You for a few days of calm. I praise You for the trials that test me and purify me for Your service. I praise You for comforting me when I suffer. I praise You for all and any inspiration that I get from Your Holy Spirit.
Peter told us in his letter, “Who is he who will harm you if you follow that which is good? But even if you suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. ‘Do not be afraid of their terror, do not be troubled.’ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to every person who asks You for a reason for the hope that is in you, with gentleness and fear. Have a good conscience so that evildoers who speak evil of you and falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, that you suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit, by whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison, who in times past were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. Figuratively this is like baptism, which saves us now. It is not the washing off of dirt from the body, but a response to God from a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” [1 Peter 3:13-22]
Holy Spirit help me to speak when asked about why I believe and why I still have hope even after suffering the loss of my son Philip. Help me to keep a conscience void of offense so that I can stand before people and radiate Christ who has saved me and cleansed me from all unrighteousness. Help me to lean on Your wisdom, and not my own thoughts. Help me to walk with integrity and love. Help me to never be prideful of who I am but to be confident of whom I belong to. Lead me one step at a time to following Jesus and Your Spirit in all that I do, think on, speak about and treasure. In Jesus’ name, Amen.