Perseverance #8 — Praised by Perseverance

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again … and who protects us by his power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

How precious is the hope you have given me, O God. You began a good work in me and you have promised to complete it. You will not withhold your compassion from me; your lovingkindness and your faithfulness will continually preserve me. Nothing can separate me from the love you show me in Christ Jesus, and you have proved this repeatedly. I remember how you kept Abraham and Moses and Joshua and Hannah and David and Isaiah and Habakkuk and Mary and Peter and John and Paul through the difficult days of their lives. Their affliction generated perseverance, which strengthened their character, which produced enduring hope.  What an encouragement their stories are! By your power, through your Spirit, their faith did not fail. Hoping against hope they rested in you, and you gave them perseverance. How wonderful it is to be part of those for whom Jesus suffered and died, part of all he redeemed from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, who definitely and assuredly will worship you, because those whom he justified, he also glorified. Because I am crucified with Christ according to your will, I can live by faith in him who loved me and gave himself for me forever. Amen.