“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you harmony…” Rom. 15:5
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…” Rom. 15:13
“May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” Rom. 15:33
Gracious Father, your Word never ceases to astonish, nourish, and cause our hearts to flourish. For through the Scriptures, you reveal yourself most clearly and become most near to us. In this one chapter of 1169 in the Bible, you tell us you are…
“The God of endurance and encouragement.” We need an ample supply of both. The past two years have been marked by stressful scenarios, intense opinion-wars, and much divisiveness. We need harmony, not just in our singing, but in our living. Humble and gentle us. May we overflow with encouragement.
“The God of hope.” We’ve never needed empty promises or spiritual hype. We need a living, sure hope—an anchor for our souls in the sea of uncertainty. In the Gospel, that’s exactly what you’ve given us. Father, fill our hearts with a vision of your occupied throne, and our gaze with the resurrected and returning Jesus.
“The God of peace.” Father, we have peace with you because you made peace with us by Jesus. Hallelujah, and thank you. May your peace rule in our hearts—trumping our fears and toppling our idols—fueling our commitment to live and love to your glory. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ trustworthy and worship-worthy name.