“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 NIV)
As I write this I am aware of being marked by several things this day –
-busyness
-my children’s questions
-the sunshine
-frustration
-rest
-a good book
-a plan that went well
-a new endeavor I’m trying to launch
I assume your list of things that marked this day for you might have some similarities and many differences.
But tomorrow I want to be marked more by God. I want to be able to listen more deeply to Holy Spirit within me. I want to smile more. I want to enjoy the people I am with. I want to show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and gentleness and be Light in a dark world. I want to mark the world I encounter with grace and hope.
Mark the world with hope.
God of Hope,
Thank you for loving us and giving us your grace, encouragement and hope. Fill us with all joy and peace in our believing as we seek your face. Encourage us and strengthen us in every good deed and word. We pray in Jesus’s name, Amen.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV)