Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord (Psalm 31:24).
Oh Lord God of truth, You are our rock of refuge, our fortress of defense, You are our strength (Psalm 31:2, 5). Lord, be gracious to us; we long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress (Isaiah 33:2).
Father, teach us to wait in hope for the Lord (Psalm 33:20). Renew our strength—safeguard us from fatigue, burnout, and discouragement. When we have no might, increase our endurance. When we feel that [our] cause is disregarded by [our] God (Isaiah 40:27), remind us that You are for us (Romans 8:31). When we feel like fear is on every side (Psalm 31:13), strengthen our heart, and fill us with courage.
We look forward to the time of renewal You have promised for the whole earth, and we look forward to Your renewal in our own lives. We surrender to You our valleys, trusting You to raise them up. We surrender to You our mountains and our hills, trusting You to make them low. We surrender to You our rough ground, trusting You to make it level. We surrender to You our rugged places, trusting You to make them plains (Isaiah 40:4-5). In Your own way Lord, and in Your own timing.
Show us Your glory, Creator God, Everlasting Father. We hope in You, we wait on You. Teach us to soar on eagles' wings, raised up in hope, trusting in Your perfect and unfailing love.
God of hope, fill [us] with all joy and peace in believing, that [we] may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Let us rest in the assurance that "the mouth of the Lord has spoken" (Isaiah 40:5).
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