Future healing

Then the Lord will bandage his people’s injuries and heal the wounds he has caused. The moon will shine as bright as the sun, and the sun will shine seven times brighter than usual. It will be like the light of seven days all at once. ~ Isaiah 30:26 (CEV)

“Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:3-4 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

The future is bright with God living among his people and healing all their hurts.

PRAYER:

Kind God, thank you for the promise of healing. It means a lot to me because some of my friends are really sick. It is easy for me to get swallowed by pain and grief -- to forget that you are in the process of healing. Help me to keep the future in my mind. I'm going to trust what you are doing through Christ Jesus to heal the world. Amen.

Jesus shows up when we need him

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. ~ Psalm 143:8 (NLT)

So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach... ~ John 21:3-4 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus shows up when we need him.

PRAYER:

Lord, just when I realize that I need you, you're already there. Help me to trust you even more -- especially when I'm out fishing all night and catching nothing. You're there for me. Amen.

God will help me

The Lord God will help me and prove I am innocent. ~ Isaiah 50:9 (CEV)

And not only that: we even take pride in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the one through whom we now have a restored relationship with God. ~ Romans 5:11 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Through Christ Jesus our relationship with God is restored.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for making a relationship with you possible. In spite of my silly efforts to appear worthy it is all about you and your kindness. Continue to protect me from all the forces that want to undermine my relationship with you. I am going to take pride in you and what you have done for us -- for me. Amen.

The great things God has done

With our own ears we have heard it, O God— our ancestors have told us about it, about the great things you did in their time, in the days of long ago. ~ Psalm 44:1 (GNT)

What else can I say? There isn’t enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions and put out raging fires and escaped from the swords of their enemies. Although they were weak, they were given the strength and power to chase foreign armies away. ~ Hebrews 11:32-34 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God has done great things through our ancestors.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you so much for all that you have done for us in the past. I confess, though, that I am feeling a bit anxious about the challenges we're all facing now. Please give me the faith to trust you to conquer the current enemies. Even though I'm weak I know that I can rely on you. Amen.