I rejoice in You, O Precious Lord, because of the hope that You’ve given to me through Your unselfish love and devotion. It is a love that binds us together in a way I never could have conceived. It is a love that holds tightly, yet engenders in me a freedom that leads to peace and contentment. You cover me with a blanket of protection found only in Your love and it covers a multitude of my sins and transforms the way I lead my life. Because of the hope I’ve placed in You, I know that one day I will see You face to face. And the love that I feel toward You is only the tip of the iceberg of what I will feel once I get to spend eternity with You in Heaven … yet, as I live out my “earthly” life, You continue to cause it to grow to the point where it overflows into living service to You and others.
Because of Your love and the hope that it produces, I am learning to trust You more and more. In them, I am finding the strength needed to shake off temptation when it rears its ugly head. Because of Your love growing inside of me, I am able to put down the evil desires of my flesh … jealousy, gossip, covetousness and lying. And because my desire is to please You, I am able to forgive more readily, love more easily and serve more joyfully. As a result of Your life in me, I know I am growing in compassion, kindness, gentleness and forgiveness. Because of my faith in You, I can go through my day with a spring in my step and joy in my heart. The joy You give me surpasses my understanding and spills out into the lives of others. As a result of my relationship with You, I sense You holding me close when I am afraid … comforting me in my times of pain and sorrow … and, encouraging me when I’m confused or depressed. I know that, as a result of the new life that You’ve placed within me, peace and rest prevail in my life.
I believe the outlook for my future is bright … not because I love You … but because You loved me first. It is through Your perfect love that I’ve been given the gifts of prosperity and overcoming power. Because You gave so much … I am blessed with plenty. Because You made Yourself selfless … I am highly valued. Because You became empty … my life is full. Because You suffered … I have been spared. Because You did not want me to walk alone through life … You gave me a “Helper”, in the form of the Holy Spirit. Through Your example, I have been shown the way to righteous living …. and, as a result of grace and mercy, I am blessed above all men. Without reservation, I give You my life and unwavering devotion … and, if You ask “why?” I will say “just because”. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Psalm 91:14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.”