Hope in Christ

Sometimes life seems to throw more at us than we think we can handle.  We are met with bills, health issues, car problems, relational struggles, etc.  Globally, we have witnessed people who have lost their homes and loved ones due to various tragedies such as plane crashes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and the like.  We have gone through these moments of loss and of struggle continuing in prayer and accountability with other Christians, yet in the quiet stillness of our alone time, we feel we have lost all our strength.  We have been faithful to God and can see a light at the end of the tunnel, but just aren't sure that we have the strength for the last leg of the journey.  To all of those in this place, individually and corporately, God offers us a promise of hope: Revelation 3:7-13 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. ⁸ I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. ⁹ I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars-- I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. ¹¹ I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. ¹² Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. ¹³ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Today's Prayer:
Holy God, you are our hope and our strength.  We give thanks that you have recognized our faithfulness and that you have been our shepherd in our times of need.  God we recognize that you are faithful and give thanks for all the ways you fulfill your promises in our lives.  Help us this day to rely completely on your strength.  Help us to see that you are our all in all and that you will guide us at last to the door you have opened for us.  Amen.