Heavenly Father, I praise You for the mercy You bestow on us and especially me. I praise You for the valleys I have walked that You were with me through cancer twice, being severely septic twice, blood clots, besides two knee replacements, and a hernia operation. You walked with me in the dark valley of losing my youngest son and the babies we lost at 23 weeks. You have also walked with me on the mountains as had success in school, athletics, mission trips, working with youth for many years, and getting to be in a leadership role at work. You have walked with me as I cultivated knowledge from your word, on how to pray and preach. I am extremely thankful for the blessings You have bestowed on me with a wife of over 35 years, three children who made it to adulthood, three grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces. Help me today to take command of my day so all evil can be shaken from it.
I am learning from Paul as he wrote to the Philippian church, and how he explains that in the world’s eyes I have given up much to serve Christ, but to me, that was or is garbage for the most part, and that I have hope, peace, joy, and most of all, I have and know what true love is. My salvation is by far my greatest gift given to me, and my joy comes from serving Christ and helping build His kingdom. My faith is anchored and empowered by the resurrection, fellowship I have gained through the Holy Spirit of Christ. I no longer fear death. Help me to say daily, “Not that I have already attained or have already been perfected, but I follow after it so that I may lay hold of that for which I was seized by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not count myself to have attained, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 3:12-15] My citizenship is in heaven, my destination is no longer hell because my sins have been forgiven, and I walk with Christ through the Holy Spirit that resides in me.
Therefore, let me not sleep as others do. But let me be alert and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But let me, who is of the
day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed me to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for me, so that whether I am awake or asleep, I will live together with Him. So, I will comfort myself and edify my brothers and sisters. I will acknowledge those who labor around me, and/or are appointed over me in the Lord, and instruct me. I will esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among the members of the body of Christ. I have been exhorted to warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, and be patient toward everyone. I will not render evil for evil to anyone. But always seek to do good to others. I will rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning me. I will not quench the Spirit. Nor will I despise prophecies. I will examine all things. Firmly hold onto what is good. Abstain from all appearances of evil. May the very God of peace sanctify me completely. And I pray to God that my whole spirit,
soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. For I know that faithful is He who calls me, for He also will do it. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-24