Heavenly Father, I praise You that even though man is sinful and deserves death, You offer a way to salvation. You offer forgiveness, mercy, and grace. You love us enough that Christ paid for our sins, without saying a word against us. You faced death and won. You faced sin and won. You faced humanity and won. You demonstrated that no matter how many evil attacks, victory is Yours.
You were wounded for my transgressions. You bear the stripes of my pain. You healed, You walked and showed mercy, You spoke wisdom to those who could not hear or listen. You opened eyes to see Your kingdom. You took the keys of hell. You sit on the throne and are our advocate. You pray for us. You sing over us. You love us and desire our company. How can I fail You so miserably at times with what You have done for me alone? Help me to remember this when I am tempted, when I am tired or weak, or feel distant in my faith. Open my eyes, my heart to the Savior You are to 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