On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).
Our Father, You are our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. You sustain us by Your powerful word (Hebrews 1:3); You guide, protect, provide, deliver; You give us hope and purpose.
Thank You for all You have given us in this life. Thank You for Your abundant showers, both spring and autumn rains (Joel 2:23).
Thank You for walking with us through times of trial, pain, difficulty, loss. Thank You for walking with us through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4).
But as we live, and work, and pray, and rest, and play, help us to maintain focus and perspective. So often, Lord, we long for Your coming kingdom here and now. Many of our prayers are for relief and freedom from the traumas of this world.
O Father, You understand our need and our yearning for a stable, peaceful world. You have promised us those things. But not in this life. You have plainly shown us that this world is not our home—that You have a plan for a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).
In the meantime, as we struggle through the hardships of this world, we often have a difficult time understanding that our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17). In our scope, our measurement, our troubles feel unbearably heavy and everlasting.
Yet, Your promises are true, Lord. You have made known to [Your people] Your glorious riches (Colossians 1:27). And those who accept the gift of Your Son receive the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Many ridicule this idea, calling it "pie in the sky." But You made it clear from the Garden of Eden, when humans rebelled against Your authority and brought death and devastation into the world, that You would restore everything, as You promised long ago through Your Holy prophets (Acts 3:21).
So as we pray and hope for the sunshine tomorrow, help us to see tomorrow through the lens of eternity. The apostle Paul reminds us, If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead… (1 Corinthians 15:19-20).
Lord, thank You that through the risen Christ we have a hope beyond the troubles of this life. Thank You that even as we reel from the devastation of war and violence, evil and abuse, famine and devastation, we have the promise of a future where Your tree of life brings healing to the nations (Revelation 22:2).
Thank You that all who accept Your gift of eternal life through Your Son, receive Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Thank You that You transform us into His image as we learn patience, perseverance, faith, and trust in this troubled, broken world. Help us to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, confident that He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).
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