Heavenly Father, I give You praise this morning for helping my wife not have a broken nose. I praise You for helping her through her concussion from falling. I ask that You would continue to clear up her vision and that there be no real damage to her eye. I praise You for allowing us to come to You in times of trouble and despair. I praise You for my grandchildren and children and the time You give me to enjoy them.
Holy Spirit, Your word says: For His anger endures but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes in the morning. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. [Psalms 30:5; Isaiah 55:8&9; 2 Peter 3:8&9]
As I grow older, I begin to understand that we, especially me, grow impatient to move quickly and sometimes interfere with letting God do what He needs to do when He needs to do it. I have to pause and remember that I see the world around me with my physical eyes, which is a limited view. I ponder and question the little I know and fall short of what the bigger picture is. You, O God, are all-knowing and stand outside our concept of time, yet know and understand how all things work towards and with each other. What I see as trouble may be just a test or motivation to cause change; what I see as an easy thing for You to touch or handle may not be good in the long run for a person’s salvation. I need to learn to wait on You and allow Your timing to take place. Help me to learn and appreciate Your timing and allow that I know so little to what You know.
Since I am receiving a kingdom that cannot be moved, let me be gracious, by which I may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For God, You are my consuming fire. I will perpetuate brotherly love to continue. I will not forget to entertain strangers, knowing that at times that has meant entertaining Angels unknowingly. I will remember those who have been imprisoned around the world for their faith and join with them in prayer and solidarity. I will stand with and remember those who have been abused, berated, or beaten because of being a child of God and will identify with them no matter the cost. I will honor my marriage and keep my bed undefiled. I will let God judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. I will use money but never love it or desire it so that it never interferes with my devotion to God. I will learn to be content with what I have, for I know Your Word says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So that I can always boldly proclaim, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear, what can man do to me?” I will remember those who rule over me, who have proclaimed to me the word of God. I will follow their faith, considering the results it has produced in their lives. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In Jesus’ name, I anchor my salvation, amen. [Hebrews 12:28-13:8, MEV and my paraphrase]