Episode 30: Hebrews 10:23
Transcription
Today’s verse is Hebrews 10:23.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Let’s pray together.
LORD, I find it very easy to let go of things when I shouldn’t. Instead of grit and determination being my goal, I languish towards laziness and fear. I do not want that anymore. Today, Jesus, we ask for perseverance. We ask that when things are hard, we hold on tighter. We ask that when something tempts us to let go of our faith in You, we do not answer the call. Let us learn from Your example, from the way that You walked through Your life here on this earth. You walked through temptation, through torment, through taunts, through trials, through traps, through terror. Give me and those who can hear my voice the strength, Your strength, to defeat that which would cast us away from You. Only You could do this perfectly so we depend on You to help us through each day, each hour, each minute. I know that I can be weak, so I want Your strength. I want to, day by day, exercise and build up my stamina as I walk through the endurance of a life on earth.
Because my hope is not found on this earth. My hope is found in You. You saved me, enabled me to hear Your voice amidst every other distraction and assault that is our daily experience on a war-torn earth. So let my ears be open, let my heart always admit Your presence. Now that I have found You, help me to proclaim it openly. It is so easy to try and keep hope hidden in my heart, my inward flame that keeps me going. But the flame of hope needs oxygen, expelled from our lungs in victory, declaring to all who can hear, that my hope is found in Christ alone. And when I do so, I believe my flame grows stronger. Sharing is part of what keeps my hope alive. Jesus, You did not come to save me by myself, but to save all those around me. Give me boldness and courage to do so, in whatever way You have prepared for me. I want my flame to be a beacon, Your hope given to the masses. Help me not to be selfish and timid, afraid of what others might think. Let my thoughts of approval be towards You alone. In that way I cannot fail because You will give me what I need to accomplish Your will.
Hope might be conceived as flimsy, Jesus, but I do not think it is. The candle flame might flicker, but a wildfire is not easily extinguished. So let us be steady and faithful as You are. Your hope provided is constant and it shines all the brighter through adversity. Jesus, we do face such adversity. You know for You faced the same. Help us to defeat our enemy, help us to face them without running. The forces of darkness that pervade our world are strong, but You told us that You have overcome the world. The war is won, help us to fight the battle. I don’t want to flinch at evil, I want to laugh at it. Diminish its power, Jesus, defeat the despair that surrounds us in the world today. That despair might be global, it might be deeply personal. Our own minds can turn against us and make us think life isn’t worth living. Jesus, we ask You to pour Your light into that darkness and whisper Your words of love and invitation instead. Be the healer of depression and turn us from sickness to health. We need it and only You can provide it.
Jesus, You are faithful. Your promises are true. We can count on You. Help us to believe that even when it doesn’t seem like it’s true. It’s so hard here under this veil of sin, but You have promised to be with us. You kept Your promise to come into the world and save us. So help us keep our promise to believe Your word and to follow Your truth. Help us to know it, give us discernment. Break deception over us, Jesus. Show us Your faithfulness. Show us Your constancy. We all have individual promises from You. Some of them haven’t come true yet. Some of them might not come true in ways we can understand. But You promised that Your word does not return void. So, Jesus, we ask for fulfillment though we know to be humble and ask for it in Your timing. But when it is hard to wait, we ask for patience and for your wisdom, so we can see Your Providence and Your intervention in our lives. Don’t let us speak of coincidences, let us speak of miracles.
Today, if you are feeling weak or hopeless, I pray God’s supernatural infusion of hope and peace for you. Let Him refresh You. Take a deep breath. Be reminded of your first love. He does not fail. Be open and honest with God and let Him speak to you and hear His truth. God, let us spend time in Your word, being reminded of Your promises. Let us speak them and encourage each other with them. Be our Father, renewing us daily by Your Holy Spirit.
I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
