Peace in Relationship with God
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, our natural desire is to be in control, and when things don’t go our way we may feel wronged or let down. Please help us to understand no matter what we experience in this world that you know what is best and love us infinitely. Help us to trust your plan and know you will be with us forever.
READ:
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
REFLECT:
I enjoy watching sports, especially college football and basketball, as well as professional golf. Depending on our family schedule, I will record games and watch them later. I do my best to keep from learning the outcome because I prefer to watch the game fresh, without knowing the final score. Though it may be more exciting to watch a recorded game as if it was live, there is something significant I’ve noticed when watching a game where I already know the outcome and it is good: I watch the game free from anxiety and fear of loss because I already know my team has won. Despite the bad plays that occur, the untimely penalties that are called or how much time the scoreboard may show my team on the wrong side, there is no reason to fret because I know, in the end, my team wins.
Living in this world as a Christian works much the same way. Spoiler alert: God wins, and so does everyone who is with Him. Does that make hardship easy in the moment? No, of course not. Can it help us to endure hardship knowing that we have a glorious eternity waiting for us when our time here on earth is over? Absolutely! Put your trust in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and live in the serenity of inevitable victory.
APPLY:
Even though God’s team is the best and will always be the best, He is always looking for more members. If you’re already on God’s team, consider reaching out to someone you know who has yet to join and invite them. If you’re not on God’s team right now, please know joining only requires that you accept Jesus as your lord and savior. Believe that Jesus died so that you (we) could be saved, that He paid the price for our sin in full.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Thank you Jesus for dying the death we all deserved so that we can spend eternity with you. You are amazing!
WORSHIP: