Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 12

Day 12

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: “The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of our nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:14-22

Application: I believe we could sit in this one passage for a full twelve weeks. There is such great richness in it, beyond what we even see on the surface. We miss the contextual information the first century church would have had when they read this letter. Briefly, from what I’ve learned there is a lot in this letter referring to the geographical location and culture of the city of Laodicea. As He often does, the Lord uses specifics to an individual or group to personalize His message. Laodicea had no good water source, where one nearby city had hot springs known for their healing properties and another a fresh, cold water source known for its purity. Hot and cold aren’t opposites here, but equally beneficial. Lukewarm, on the other hand, is useless, as is lukewarm faith. Also, Laodicea had thriving cloth and eye ointment industries. Yet, Jesus calls them naked and blind. How often do we have what we need physically yet miss out on what we need spiritually? In each of these cases the Lord uses what would be familiar to the hearers of this letter to get their attention. He does the same with us. But even more so, He uses His Word.

One of the sentences in this passage that sticks out to me is: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Could it be that when we are most self-sufficient, we are most spiritually deficient? There is not a direct link between financial wealth and lack of faith, but there is often a correlation. Remember the “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” passage. Why is there such a connection? Because when we experience success on our own, we tend to lose our dependence on God. But the truth is, we couldn’t do one thing without Him. There’s no way for us to even cause ourselves to continue breathing or our heart to keep beating if the Lord does not sustain us. Much less get out of bed and work. Yet we take these things for granted and give ourselves entirely too much credit. Granted, there is choice involved in what we do and how we spend our time and talents, but it is God alone who gives us our time and talents. We tend to forget that we have a thousand reasons to praise Him each and every day. Every breath and heartbeat are cause for worshipping the Lord.

Oh, that we would be on fire for God, desire to be filled with His presence, seek to do His will, and be a vessel to bring Him glory every day! That we would share the cool, refreshing, revitalizing truth of the Living Water with others wherever we are. That we would spend more time clothing ourselves with His righteousness than we spend on our physical clothes. That we would focus our eyes on Him and see as He sees. And what He wants us to see. That we would open ourselves and even welcome the loving discipline of the Lord. That we would be zealous and repent and open the door when He calls out to us. Oh, to experience the indescribable presence of the holy, Lord Almighty! This is the call He makes each and every day.

Prayer: Lord, let me not forget what you have been teaching me through Your Word. Plant it deep into my mind and heart and transform me by it. Help me to always evaluate my works according to the fruit they produce for Your Kingdom. Stoke the fire in my heart for the Gospel and embolden me to live in such a way to bring glory to You every day. Give me the wisdom, power, and steadfastness to conquer in this world and one day sit with You on Your throne, to ever bring glory and honor and praise to Your name.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

What temperature am I? Do I burn for Jesus and bring healing? Do I pour out the cool, refreshing Water on others with my words and actions?

In what ways do I place confidence in myself and my abilities instead of in God?

Where is my greatest spiritual need?

In what areas or my life and/or ministry could I see more clearly?

Lord, help me not to shrink back from Your discipline, but embrace it as You mature my faith and multiply my fruit.

What can I change to hear God’s voice more?

How can I praise God and bring Him more glory today?

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 11

Day 11

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: “The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Stan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie – behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:7-13

Application: What Jesus says and does is final. There isn’t a power on earth or in heaven that can undo what He does. This is how the letter to Philadelphia begins, with Jesus reminding the readers of His holiness, truth, and power. This is the second letter with no condemnation in it, but only encouragement. Like the letter to the church in Smyrna, Jesus’ followers are facing trials. Yet Jesus knows. And in comparison to the little power the church has on its own, the Lord declares His undefeatable power.

Another theme we see popping up again in this letter is the emphasis on patient endurance. Something many of us would rather not discuss. Much less consider praying for. Instead, many joke about not praying for patience because God will bring circumstances that provide the opportunity to learn it. None of us want to wait and develop patience. We live in an instant gratification culture. We aren’t used to waiting for much of anything. In the world of drive-thru food, instant microwave cooking, and free two day shipping, we don’t have too many occasions to cultivate an attitude of patient endurance. Yet, when we examine scripture, we find that patience is a fruit of the Spirit, a characteristic of love, and a sign of spiritual maturity.

Patient endurance is not only a virtue, it’s a sign of trusting God. Trusting that He is still in control. Trusting that He is good. Trusting that He is love. Trusting that He has a perfect will in each of our lives. Trusting His Word. Trusting His ultimate power. We may face challenges and difficulties, experience disappointments and hurts, but God will keep us under the shadow of His wing. He has opened the door to salvation and eternal life through His own blood, and no one can keep us out.

It is so hard to imagine what heaven will be like. There are many descriptions of heaven, but I don’t think there’s anything that comes close to actually describing what it will be like. However, the glimpses we’re given through scripture are enough to keep us focused on eternal things. We will be honored and repaid for hardships due to following Jesus. We will receive a crown. We will be a pillar in God’s new temple. We will have God’s name written on our being. We will be in the glorious presence of the one and only true and holy Lord forever.

So no matter what you’re facing today – whether financial hardships, difficulties on the job, family stress, illness, hard relationships, failures, lostness of loved ones, chronic pain, death, or other major losses, let Jesus’ words be a reminder that He’s always with us, He knows, and He still has the power to bring about our good and His glory. We are but a mist and our troubles, not matter how painful at the time, are light and momentary compared to the glories of heaven. Let us rejoice in who He is and what is to come!

Prayer: Almighty God, You alone are worthy of praise. You alone sit on the throne of creation and no one can defeat You. You alone hold the key to heaven and You alone open and shut doors in my life. Thank You for Your great love. For Your great promises and salvation. I hide under the shadow of Your wing in the midst of troubles of this life. Help me to keep my focus on You. To be compassionate and sincere, but not faltering in my faith. While it feels like I have so little power on this earth, I know that Your power is within me to endure as I follow You and proclaim Your name in all the earth. Show me how You desire me to bring glory to you today, where I am, as I am.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

Lord, turn my eyes to gaze upon Your holiness and truth.

In what ways have I not kept God’s Word or denied His name?

Jesus, Reveal to me those around me who don’t know You and prompt me to pray for their salvation.

How can I cultivate patient endurance?

How can I not only hold fast to what I have in my relationship with Jesus, but grow in it?

What area of sin, complacency, or comfort do I need to conquer by the power of Jesus’ blood?

Holy Father, thank you for loving me as I am and too much to leave me where I am.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 10

Day 10

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not spoiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:1-6

Application: Five out of the seven letters to the specific churches found at the beginning of Revelation begin with these words: “I know your works…” In previous letters, and in the next one, these words are followed by encouragement. In this and the last letter, however, these words are meant to cut straight to the heart of the readers. There is no comfort in being reminded that God knows everything when we are dead inside.

I cringe at the thought of taking these words too lightly. Of passing over them briefly without allowing God to use His Word to examine my heart. During the last nine weeks, there have been many opportunities for you and I to open ourselves before the Lord and have Him purge what needs to be excised and plant what needs to be nurtured. Yet, He is not done. There is no plateau in a relationship with God. There are always deeper issues to be dug into and higher places to go. This is such an opportunity.

Throughout many sermons I’ve listened to and discussions I’ve participated in, the question of how we do church and how it compares to the biblical model for the Church seems to continue to come up. People have various preferences and desires for worship style, location, programs, preaching style, and discipleship. We tend to base our opinions on our backgrounds, education, church experience, and perceived successes or failures. However, this scripture gives us a perfect opportunity to examine how we “do” church – both individually and corporately.

That a church can have a phenomenal reputation yet be dead to Kingdom works should raise an alarm in us. It is much easier to look upon other church bodies, other denominations, other people and point out how they are lacking in spiritual fruit and growth. It is much more difficult to turn our gaze inward and be willing to sacrifice any beloved church ministry or way of doing church. This is the very problem Jesus constantly pointed out in the Pharisees and Sadducees: they knew the scripture and followed the letter of the law while neglecting the heart of the law – to love God and people. They most likely had a reputation of being alive within the larger church, but Jesus called them whitewashed tombs. They were dead inside.

Could it be that we are more like them than we’re comfortable considering? Could we be clinging to a way of doing church more than God’s vision for us being the church? Could we be pushing the Gospel aside to have great programs? Could we be failing to make disciples because we’re too focused on feeding ourselves? Could we be missing the leading of the Holy Spirit because we’re following rules and regulations according to human teachings? Could we be forgetting the ends of the earth because of being too comfortable at home? Could we be missing out on the best God has for us for the good that is before us?

Let us be a people who hears what the Lord is saying to us and stay alert to who He wants us to be.

Prayer: Oh, God! Wake me up! Strengthen me! Let You be my greatest love and the Gospel be my greatest mission. Make me uncomfortable. Reveal to me if I’m dead in my works. I forego any reputation I have with anyone other than You. Teach me to walk in Your ways of righteousness. Remind me that bringing glory to Your name by living a holy life and sharing Your salvation with others is why I am here. It doesn’t matter what that looks like. Make me who You desire me to be. Use the unique gifts, talents, and abilities You’ve given me to bring glory, honor, and praise to Your name. Thank You, Jesus for confessing my name before the Father. Let me respond to the worthiness You poured out on me by grace through faith by letting go of everything that doesn’t expand Your Kingdom.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

In what areas or ways have I placed too much importance or emphasis on my reputation in the world?

What works am I putting my efforts into might God be asking me to give up or alter?

Lord, by the power of Your Spirit, help me remember the grace I received and Gospel I heard through Your Word.

Where might my preferences and perceptions of how church is to be done be hindering the spread of the Gospel?

How can I be more focused on who God desires the church to be rather than what I think the church should do?

Lord God, I praise You for writing my name in the book of life.

Father, what are You saying that You want me to hear today?

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 8

Day 8

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: “The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

Revelation 2:8-17

Application: Again, the message to this church begins as the letter to the church in Smyrna did: the Lord knows. What a comfort it is to recognize that there isn’t anything out of the purview of God’s knowledge. Not one thing. There is no pain, no hardship, no circumstance that the Lord is unaware of. He knows what is going on in our nation, He knows what’s going on in our job. He knows what’s going on in our church. He knows what is happening in our families. He knows even the state of our hearts. How eye-opening is it that He knows when His people are living in the midst of Satan, and leaves them there?

This goes against what we tend to believe and pray for as God’s will. We want to be taken out of the difficult situation. We want God’s rescue and healing. While God does rescue and heal, He also works His will in and through us as we walk through trials. It is by walking through the fire as we cling to God that we are refined and our faith becomes stronger in us and used in a greater way for God’s Kingdom. None of us would choose to walk through the fires of trial, but when we do so holding fast to His name, His rescue and healing found on the other side is more rewarding than if He’d saved us from those trials. He is good all the time! Even when times aren’t good.

Then there are those times we, or someone we love, live with, worship with, work with, doesn’t hold fast to God’s name. And we tolerate it. As our culture has gradually moved away from God, many ungodly values, thoughts, and ideas have crept into the church. They were so subtle for so long that now they are becoming blatant and we are shocked. This is the teaching of Balaam that Jesus refers to in this letter. (The story of Balaam and Balak can be found in Numbers 22-25.) Balaam agreed to take money from King Balak to curse the Israelites, but each time he attempted to do so, God put blessings in his mouth. Since he wasn’t able to curse God’s people outright, he devised a plan of subtle deception where he used the Moabites to entice the Israelites to mix with them and take on their false gods and sinful behavior. While we don’t have the details of how the Israelites transitioned from faithfulness to idolatry, I imagine it was what we would call a “slow fade” today. One small compromise followed by another, and before they realized what they were doing, they were fully engulfed in pagan worship and sin. We are just as susceptible to these small compromises and overlooking the compromises of those around us. They sneak in through our music, TV watching choices, things we read, time management, busyness, and in so many other ways. God calls us instead to repent of any idols in our lives and conquer over sin through His Word and His power.

Prayer: Lord God, the living, sharp two-edged sword, thank You for Your mercy! You are always faithful even when we are not. Your mercies are new every morning. You are slow to anger. Call me to an uncompromising love of You and empower me to see and eliminate any idols I’ve allowed to creep into my life. Thank You that You know my circumstances. Remind me whenever I need it that it doesn’t matter where I live, not even in the midst of Satan’s throne, but You know and are with me. Sustain me with the Bread of Life. Keep my eyes fixed on You and on Your Kingdom to come. Refine my heart to love You will all of my being. I praise You, Lord, for You alone are King.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

How can I better let God’s Word act as a sword in my heart, discerning my thoughts and intentions and refining them?

How can I use where I live, where I work, where I learn, where I play, and where I worship to bring glory to God?

What trials or difficulties is God calling me to surrender to His refining fire?

Lord, open my eyes to any stumbling blocks that have been placed in my way on my journey of seeking You.

Are there any compromises I’ve made that are hindering my spiritual growth and witness?

Father, help me evaluate every experience, belief, and decision based on Your Word and Truth and not any other teaching.

What are You saying to me today, Lord? Help me to hear Your voice.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 6

Day 6

Scripture focus: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.”

Revelation 2:1-7

Application: God knows. And He sees. This is great encouragement! Often we labor in our faith and feel like no one recognizes our effort. Most of life isn’t made up of the great events or works that are seen by others, but in the daily “hard work and…patient endurance.” No human sees when we get up early to spend time with God. Often no person sees when we sacrifice time or money or pleasure to feed into someone else’s life. Going to work and completing our tasks with excellence usually is expected and not praised. There’s seldom reward for cooking meals, mowing the lawn, washing clothes, cleaning house, changing the oil, changing a diaper. These are tasks that make up the dailyness of life and we do because they need to be done. However, God sees it all and knows the things we do. He sees us volunteer in the nursery. He knows when we get to church early to greet people. He observes us when we meet with and encourage another believer who is struggling. He is watching when we gather in small groups to pray over and discuss decisions for our faith family. He is not absent when we make a pot of coffee, sweep a floor, or give a hug. God knows all the ways we serve people. When we refuse to compromise His standards for the world’s values. When we hold fast to His truth in a corrupt and capitulating culture. None of this escapes His notice.

Neither does our motivation and heart for our works. It is easy to get wrapped up in our life routines of work, school, parenting, grandparenting, running around, and serving and lose our love for God and people. We slip into a mode of survival instead of victorious living. We fall out of loving God and others with a passionate love. A love that comes first and foremost and serves as the impetus for the things we do. Have we, have I, forgotten to love God as I did at first? You know what a “love at first” is like: passionate, joyful, willing, energizing, enthusiastic, all-encompassing. When we first recognize God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness, we are compelled and excited to love Him back, spend time with Him, share His love with others, and are empowered to love them well. As time moves on and the everydayness of life creeps in, it can crowd out and dampen the flames of our love for God and others. Yet, we are still working. In our own strength. According to our own ideas. For our own purposes.

But God.

He desires our hearts. Our love. Our complete devotion to Him, reliance on His strength, surrender to His ways, and focus on His purposes. And out of that love and devotion the fruit His Spirit will then blossom and feed our everyday labors.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the reminder that You see. You see my works. You see when I don’t give up. You see when I stand up for You. You see how I labor when no one else does. You know my heart. Thank You that Your steadfast love endures forever and that You continually call me to love You first. Show me where my love has waned. Reveal to me where my works and labors have thrown water on the fire of my love for You. Continue to call me to spend time with You, to dwell in You, abide in You. Shower me with Your love so I can in return love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, body, and spirit. Overflow my heart with Your love in order to enable me to love others around me well. To love them in such a way that’s best for them: for their good and Your glory. Give me ears to hear Your Holy Spirit and understand. I praise You for the victory You give in this life and the fruit of eternal life You have prepared for me in the next. To Your name be all honor and praise and glory. Amen.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

Lord, help me to remember that You see and know all and that my works and labors are to be done unto You.

Am I examining the claims made by all who call themselves Christians and evaluating them based on God’s Word?

Have I fallen from loving God first with a first kind of love?

Of what is God calling me to repent?

Jesus, never let me forget that You command an army of angels and walk amongst Your church. You are here with us and have unfathomable power!

What are the “works” the Lord wants me to do? What are some “works” that He may be calling me to lay down or let go?

Almighty God, thank You for preparing my heart to hear Your Spirit. Prepare it every day and help me to have understanding of Your Word.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 4

Day 4

Scripture focus: Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Revelation 1:12-16

This is one of the most fascinating descriptions of Jesus given in scripture. We generally think of Him looking as a young man, flawless, strong, and with loving eyes, as we’ve seen in pictorial representations. I think there’s a good reason we don’t know exactly what Jesus looked like when He walked this earth and wore human skin for just over three decades. His human face did not define Him. I often wonder, because of prophetic descriptions of the Christ, if He wasn’t the complete opposite of what we might call handsome. I imagine He was unassuming, someone who’d be overlooked without the miracles and great wisdom that attracted people to Him. What that looked like in details though, we’ll never know.

Then we get this amazing, awe-inspiring description of the resurrected, powerful, holy Christ. Much of the description seems symbolic, and it all fits in various messages Jesus sends to the churches, but I think the physical descriptions were actual. I try to picture it in my head, and fall short. I looked up artists’ renditions of their translating these elements, and they all too fell short. Because we cannot imagine Jesus in all His glory and power and dominion. It is too much for us.

Yet, He gives John this glimpse to pass on to us. A glimpse that is hard for us to imagine, but yet gives great insight to the victorious Jesus who is coming to judge. I think of His white hair. In our culture age is not revered and correlated with wisdom, but I imagine Jesus’ white hair represents his wisdom. And His holiness. White is often used in scripture to talk about how His sacrificial death washes us white as snow – just like His hair is described here. I consider His voice like the roar of many waters. A sound that reverberates and supersedes anything else. It filled the whole space and washed away any other sound, yet John was able to understand Jesus’ words clearly.

There is so much in this short section of verses! I hope you take time this week to meditate on this image Jesus presents of Himself and God blesses you with a greater understanding of Him.

Prayer: Holy, Almighty Lord, when You speak, let me turn toward Your voice to get a clearer picture of You. Help me to remember You have all wisdom and offer to give me wisdom for my life freely if I ask. Give me wisdom, Lord, for the big and small choices I face! You alone can hold all the stars, all people, all planets, and the very breath in my lungs. The sun You created is too much for me to look at, yet Your brilliance and light far out pass the sun I can see. Thank You for Your Word, grace, mercy, perfect love, and redemption of my life. Thank You for being the light to show me the next step, then the next, and the next. Amen.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

Do I see Jesus as He presents Himself in all of scripture, or do I see Him as He’s been presented by others’ or my own ideas?

Do I seek wisdom from other people or experts first, rather than from God first and foremost?

God, help me to remember You are passionate for me and You desire that my desires be for You and Your Kingdom.

Do I see Jesus as the light that directs my steps in this life and the light that is the Way to eternal life?

Jesus, speak to me with a roar that will drown out all the distractions, deceptions, and discouragements I face in this life.

How can I open my heart and mind to God for Him to divide the marrow and bone of who I am with His Word?

God, You are all-powerful. Help me to not just give mental assent to this truth about You, but live according to this truth.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 3

Day 3

Scripture focus: I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

Revelation 1: 9-11

Application: We each have a unique calling as followers of Jesus. John the disciple, most certainly had an exceptionally unique calling. According to tradition, he is the only original apostle to have survived into old age. At best guess, he was in his eighties or nineties when this revelation was given to him. He had survived many tortures and persecution for following the Way (how early Christians were referred to) and was exiled to a prisoner island because of the Gospel.

Most of us can’t relate to that level of persecution for sharing Jesus. At most, we have experienced being uncomfortable, made fun of, dismissed, or ignored. This is changing for the worse in our country, for sure, but we have not yet experienced persecution as believers in Christ as others have in the past and around the world today. In this – partnering with our brothers and sisters in Christ as they’re experiencing persecution and tribulation – we can relate to John’s words. As we seek to love, serve, and obey Christ in loving and serving others for the advancement of His Kingdom, we can remember not only those who are lost, but those who are suffering for the Gospel.

We can partner with them in our prayers, awareness, and however else God calls. We can remember that there are churches today in modern day Turkey in the locations John’s letter went to that we can partner with. There are churches going through the same challenges and experiencing the same victories we read about in Revelation all over the world. How is God calling us to be a part of His universal Church? How is He calling you? What is He trying to convey to us today about His church? Our local church? How we individually play a role in what He’s saying? Let us each cultivate a habit of being in the Spirit to hear what the Lord has to say.

Prayer: Holy Father, we praise You for the gift of patient endurance when I go through trials and tribulations. Thank You for adopting me in Your family so I never go through these things alone. Thank You for the brothers and sisters in the faith You’ve given me in this faith family and in Your church around the world. Draw me to You and help me to eliminate everything in life that prohibits me from being in Your Spirit and hearing Your Word. Remind me to rest in You and listen with a heart cleansed by Your grace and mercy. May You receive all glory and honor and praise, as You alone are worthy. Amen.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

God, how are you calling me to be a part of Your church – locally and around the world?

Lord, reveal to me what may be hindering me from hearing Your Word.

How can I be more aware of and pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are experiencing persecution and tribulation?

What does God want me to give up in order to spend more time with Him?

What difficult circumstances or times drew me closer to the Lord can I thank Him for?

Father, help me to see all fellow followers of You as partners in the Kingdom.

In what ways might God be calling me to have a greater understanding of patient endurance?

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 2

Day 2

Scripture focus: John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:4-8

Application: What a greeting! We haven’t even gotten into the meat of this letter John wrote to the churches and there’s enough theology in these few lines to contemplate for a weeks. This one passage is full and rich of revealing who Jesus is. He is. He was. He is to come. He has no beginning and no end. He is eternal. He rules earthly kings. He loves us. He has freed us. He is almighty. There is nothing beyond His capabilities.

I almost don’t know where to begin. Therefore, it would be a good idea to reread this whole passage and highlight anything that sticks out to you. What’s God trying to make clear to you?

Could it be that He has the power to move in your life in ways you can’t imagine? Is it that He is calling you to a deeper understanding of His perfect, kind, never-ending love for you? Perhaps He wants to remind you that every single sin you’ve ever committed or even thought about was washed away, made as white as snow, when He poured out His blood and drank the wrath of God for you. That even those things you haven’t forgiven yourself for, God has freed you from – completely and totally. Maybe God wants to remind you that He is the beginning of (the Author of) your faith and will bring that faith unto completion. Possibly He could be reminding you that He’s coming again and all will see Him and the truth of who He is. Or is He drawing out some other truth about Himself to you in this passage?

With the often hard messages John was about to share with the churches, indeed also with us, isn’t it amazing that he begins with greetings and blessings of grace and peace? It’s almost as if God wanted to make sure the receivers of the convicting, commending, and correcting He was about to speak through John’s letter were completely grounded in who He is. To remember God is Lord. That Jesus is God. That even His rebukes are because of His love. And that when He calls out some in His church for embracing, endorsing, or engaging in sin, it is covered in His love and forgiveness. Yet He will not wink at or ignore that sin. What a gift that He calls us out of sin, gives us His power to defeat sin, and wipes it all clean!

Prayer: Holy Father, Your grace and mercy overwhelm me. There is nothing – not one thought or action – I can hide from You. Yet you have completely freed me from my sins by Your blood. You and You alone deserve glory forever. I praise Your name! By Your might I will stand in my faith. Thank You for the peace of living in Your forgiveness. I wait with eager anticipation for Your coming. Open my eyes to how I can reflect Your glory and goodness to everyone You bring into my life, even those present only briefly. Stir discontent in my heart with those around me who don’t know You. Let me remember they will see You in all Your glory one day and to be in a position to praise You, not wail and mourn because they missed You. You alone are God. Amen.

Reflection Questions/Prayer Prompts:

God, what do You want me to see more clearly about You and Your character?

Is there something I need to acknowledge or repent of in order to experience Your grace and peace in full?

Father, help me to remember that the rulers and kings of this earth are under Your authority.

Is there anything prohibiting me from experiencing the fullness of Your love in my life?

Lord, You have flung open the doors of the prison my sin held me in. Help me see if I haven’t stepped out of that prison to live in the fullness of the freedom You have provided.

Is there a deeper part of me that I haven’t surrendered fully to your grace, love, and mercy?

How can I share the work you’ve done in my heart and life in the last week to bring You glory and love others better?

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 1

Day 1

Scripture focus: The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Revelation 1:1-3

Application: God is always revealing Himself. Various places in scripture give us examples of how God has revealed Himself through creation (nature), through speaking to His people, through His angels, through visions and dreams. The visions and prophesies described in the letter of Revelation are unique to the apostle John, but also support previously recorded prophesy. They also have a great deal to tell us.

Since God is constantly revealing Himself, even if not always in such dramatic ways as the visions and prophesies given to the apostle John and other God worshippers in scripture, we should always be looking for what He is saying. To lean our ear to His Word. To soften our hearts to His love. To be still and quiet (a huge challenge in today’s culture!) so we can hear His messages clearly.

John was exiled to a prisoner island and used that time to worship and draw closer to the Lord. We may sometimes wish we could escape to a deserted island to do so, but that desire isn’t likely to be fulfilled. Instead, we can seek to create islands in our everyday lives to get away with God. That island can be in our car, a closet, a special chair, or even the bathroom. Most of us are familiar with the story of Susanna Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley, who created an island in the middle of raising 10 children (you may have heard the number 19, but 9 died as infants) by covering her face with her apron to pray. What a great example of making time with God of utmost importance!

As we seek to spend that time with the Lord to hear from Him, He will bless us. As we live out what He says to us, He will bless us. God’s blessings may sometimes be financial or physical, but as we see from the life of His disciples, they are more likely to be emotional, spiritual, and mental. God has promised us so many blessings that we may easily overlook. This week, I pray you will experience a new level of hearing God’s revelation, experiencing His presence, and basking in His blessings.

Prayer: Holy Lord God Almighty, I thank and praise You for Your revelation. Your faithfulness is great. Your Word is true. Your blessings are abundant. Help me in the chaos of life to create an island where I can spend intimate time with You. Keep calling me and drawing me closer. Quiet the noise so I can hear You speak to me as your servant child. Draw me to Your Word and Your heart. Soften my heart and clear out anything in the way of my relationship with You. Holy, holy, holy, are You, Lord God Almighty. You are, always have been, and always will be. And You love me. Pour out Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness on me through Your Son Jesus. My heart overflows with gratitude and praise to You. Let it always be so. Amen.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

What may God be calling me to give up in order to spend more time with Him?

Is there something in my heart blocking me from clearly hearing what God is saying to me?

What blessings am I not paying attention to that the Lord has already poured out on my life?

Under what circumstances could I read God’s Word aloud and/or bear witness to His word?

What is keeping me from keeping what is written in God’s Word?

Do I need to evaluate how much of God’s Word I’m listening to on a daily basis verses how much of the world I’m listening to (through radio, television, social media, etc.)?

How can I worship and praise God more?