Heavenly Father, I praise You for today and for creating me just the way I am and with a purpose. I praise You for the wife You brought into my life and with whom I have shared experiences for the past 34 and ½ years. I praise you for my daughter and both sons I was allowed to have the responsibility of rearing with my wife. I praise You for my grandchildren and son-in-law. I ask that You help me take command of my morning and shake the evil from it.
Holy Spirit I have dreamed and thought about what it must have been like to be on the hillsides as a shepherd when the skies broke open with the appearance of angels singing and speaking. I would have appreciated their trek to the manger and witnessed the hope that had been promised for over 600 years. Because of Christ, Immanuel, coming to earth in our form and living among us, we now have hope, but we often miss the peace. Christ said: Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, you will be My disciples. [John 14:27; John 15:7&8] Holy Spirit I seek this inner peace in my life. I seek to be able to demonstrate, explain, and share this peace with my brothers and sisters. I seek to have a peace that the world can not touch. I also ask that you give peace to Jessica who has to make life decisions for her husband.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has given us a new birth into the living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does not fade away, kept in heaven just for me, I am protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this, I greatly rejoice, even though now, if for a little while, I have to suffer various trials for my faith's genuineness, which is more precious than gold that perishes. However, it is tried by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, I still love and in whom, though I do not see Him now, I believe. I rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving as the result of my faith the salvation of my soul. Amen. [1 Peter 1:3-9]