Softly I announce My Presence. Shimmering hues of radiance tap gently at your consciousness, seeking entrance. Though I have all Power in heaven and on earth, I am infinitely tender with you. The weaker you are, the more gently I approach you. Let your weakness be a door to My presence. Whenever you feel inadequate, remember that I am your ever-present Help.
Hope in Me, and you will be protected from depression and self-pity. Hope is like a golden cord connecting you to heaven. The more you cling to this cord, the more I bear the weight of your burdens; thus, you are lightened. Heaviness is not of My kingdom. Cling to hope, and My rays of Light will reach you through the darkness.
Psalm 46:1
English Standard Version
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Romans 12:12
English Standard Version
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 15:13
English Standard Version
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Lord, you are in my life. You are with me. Every day I need you. Every moment. Lord, You are over all this earth. You created it. You ordained righteousness, my highest goal. And you are personal. Again, you are with me. Thank you for living alongside me. Thank you for living in me.
Lord, yesterday was a day of trial and being unsettled about that car purchase. Lord, I prayed for your peace and never got it. There were signs everywhere that I shouldn't get it, and yet I pressed on, not wanting to upset the buyer. Thank you for my wife and her common sense. O how I needed her. I had prayed that she would be there and would speak. She has good sense. And she spoke when I couldn't. I saw once again Lord how you made her to complement me. You made her for me. She is my Eve. Thank you Lord. Thank you for Your presence through my wife. I sat there in the mechanics window and thought of You and Your presence, realizing I was weak and needed Your guidance. Thank You for showing me Your presence in my weakness.
Father, I pray for Hope. Hope tells me that my tomorrow with You will always be better. My hope of heaven and being in Your presence, intimately connected with You relieves me of the discomfort of this present life. Remind me of this hope. And center me on this future glory. Bruce and I talked yesterday about how we cling to our problems. When we are struck with an illness or medical problem, it begins to take over our life. And all we want is to be free from it. And yet Lord, it should move us to a greater desire for You and a greater hope to be in You. And a greater reminder that in saving me, my future hope is secure. Nothing can hurt me. So, as future hurts come my way and as I age, and health issues become larger, may my Hope remain in You and not simply focused on being freed from current burdens. As a people of God, help us to be focused on this.
Lord, you are my refuge. You are my strength. You are my help in trouble. Teach me patience in tribulation versus a quick exit to the tribulation. Through it may I rejoice in hope and be in constant prayer. Lord, give me peace and joy in believing, so that my hope abounds.
Lord, I pray for the spiritual leaders of our church, all of them. Guide them in their teaching and passing on of the Word. I pray for effective teaching that Your word would be received well. I pray they would each be bold, would look to be bold both in the church and outside of it. Raise each of them up to be laborers for You. Give them humility and help them to be respectful and gentle. Help them to listen and confide in others, to know when there message needs to be altered.
Lord, I pray for my pastors. You have gifted each of these individuals in different areas of the church. In each of their disciplines, may the message of Your Hope and Your Gospel and Presence be clear. Help them to be bold in their witness. Increase their dependence on You. As they have moments of teaching others, may their teaching be accurate and authentic. Help them to be clear and accurate, bold and humble, gentle and respectful. Guide the worship ministries, the youth ministries, missions and evangelism, military, small group, discipleship. Raise up people that want to be more than just buckets, but be hoses that want to carry Your message.
Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.