A Prayer About the God Who Encourages
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Most present and persistent Triune God, I’m already a bit encouraged even as I begin a prayer about my need for fresh encouragement and strength. What a gift your Word is to us… what a treasure trove of hope… what an artesian spring of well-timed refreshment… what a perpetual supply of redemptive surprises and gospel sanity…
You could delegate a legion of angels, you could send a bird to sit on my shoulder, you could have a few friends call me… but you, yourself, actually come to me in the Word by your Holy Spirit to give me the encouragement and strength I need for this very day. I’m humbled and I’m so very grateful.
Dear Father, thank you for already proving your love for me through the eternal encouragement and good hope of your grace. Lord Jesus, it’s only because of you, and what you’ve done for me, that the word “grace” doesn’t just mean southern manners or a pre-meal prayer. It’s the only reason I can risk making myself vulnerable today and cry out to heaven without muting or masking my weariness. You are a most merciful and welcoming God.
Indeed, Lord, I’m more than a bit weary as the day begins. I don’t know if I’ve tried to get too much done in too little time. I’m not sure about the spiritual warfare issues swirling about me. It could be the accuser whispering lies and condemnation. Perhaps it’s just that I’m getting older and I don’t have the same energy I used to have. Could just be the tension of life in the “already and not yet.” Maybe I’m trying to do life with too little sleep. Then again, possibly it’s just the groaning of birth pangs in my heart, so wanting to be much more like Jesus than I already am… probably, all the above…
In any case, and every case… loving Father, grace-full Jesus, mighty Holy Spirit… I look to you to encourage my heart and strengthen me for gospel deeds and words, all this day long. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ name, with thanksgiving and glad anticipation.
