O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago. “I will praise you, O Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” With joy, I will draw water from the wells of salvation. I say: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.” [Isaiah 25:1, Isaiah 12:1-5]
Christ said, “When you see a cloud rise out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it is. And when a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth. But why do you not know how to discern this time?” [Luke 12:54-56] I do not the exact time when Your return will be, but what I do know is every day we live and breathe is one day closer to that time. I also know that many of the prophesies foretold have come to be true. So, I know we live in a season that is much closer to Your return. No matter the day, the year, or the season, I will live my life fully and as if it may be the last here on the earth in preparation for my first day in heaven. I will do everything I can to renew my mind, listen to Your Spirit, walk in righteousness, witness, and testify to Your glory, salvation, and mercy while I do my best to fulfill the purpose I was created for.
Therefore, let me not sleep as others do. But let me be alert and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But let me, who is of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed me to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for me, so that whether I am awake or asleep, I will live together with Him. So, I will comfort myself, and edify my brothers and sisters. I will acknowledge those who labor around me, and/or are appointed over me in the Lord, and instruct me. I will esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among the members of the body of Christ. I have been exhorted, to warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, and be patient toward everyone. I will not render evil for evil to anyone. But always seek to do good to others. I will rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning me. I will not quench the Spirit. Nor will I despise prophecies. I will examine all things. Firmly hold onto what is good. Abstain from all appearances of evil. May the very God of peace sanctify me completely. And I pray to God that my whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. For I know that faithful is He who calls me, for He also will do it. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-24