“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Peter 5:10-11

Father, today we take great comfort in the reminder that anything and all that is wrong in our lives today will be made right in Your time.  You are the One who has pledged to restore.  You have committed to confirm us.  As we wait, You are providing the required strength to endure and to overcome in the midst of deficits, denials, deceptions and destabilizations.  While our own generation rattles, teeters and crumbles in so many ways, Your covenant with us through Your Son includes the provision that You will establish us.  We are not orphans in this world which is characterized with serial abandonment.  We are not forgotten inmates in a generation filled with violence and injustice.  We are not victims on a planet pulsing with oppression and mercilessness.  No, we are those who have been immeasurably loved, eternally ransomed, lavishly graced and permanently freed.  All of this is because of Your heart of infinite love and Your hand of unparalleled power.  Today we are happy to be calmed in the reminder that we are sons and daughters of the greatest Father.  We are unspeakably blessed to be Your own.

Now, Father, help us to walk in this reality.  Help us to aim our vision higher.  Help our horizons to broaden and our pathways to lengthen, as Your own promises and commandments are exceedingly broad.  Give us back our dreams. Restore all those deep and holy desires which have fallen under the shadows of horrible headlines and ruthless reports about what opposes us as redeemed pilgrims in a foreign land.  Remind us that we have been made to stand, that we are currently standing, and that we will remain standing alongside our undefeated King for all the endless ages! Help us to retain the deep love which will motivate our unflinching faithfulness in the face of adversity which is coming our way.  Empower us to model to our children and grandchildren that we worship and serve a mighty Father who laughs at the heathen who have raged against Him through the centuries.  We have surely known Your tenderness – now make us also to feel Your fire in our bellies.  Match our hungers – no, Father, please exceed our hungers! – with Your presence and Your provision.  Remind us of Your majestic greatness because we live in a generation of people who have dragged you down to a slightly-above-average standing.  Roar, Lion of the tribe of Judah! Draw out Your sword, Captain of the Battle! Raise up Your majestic banner to let all who are watching know that the King is in His residence and ruling upon His throne.  We wish to see You, Lord.  We believe You and are looking for You to move in our midst.  We declare Your greatness and reverently declare before You that we fully expect to see You act in a dynamic manner which has not been seen in many centuries.  Now, O Lord, is the time.  Your Psalmist wrote long ago, “It is time for the LORD to act, for Your law has been broken. (Psalm 119:126).”

We lift up that same plea to You today, Father.  We say again that the time has come and we wait eagerly to know what You will do.

For Your glory, Amen.