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 are fulfilling your promise to complete it. You have not withheld your compassion from me; your extravagant kindness and your faithfulness are continuing to preserve me. I delight in knowing that nothing can separate me from the love you show me in Christ Jesus, as you have proved 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. By your grace the affliction they experienced generated perseverance, which strengthened their character, which produced a joyful and enduring hope. What an encouragement their stories are! By your power, through your Spirit and the intercession of a risen savior, their faith did not fail. Hoping against hope they rested in you, and you enabled them to endure with great joy. 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 fellowship with you forever. For those whom he justified, he also glorified. Because I am one with a crucified and risen Lord, who faithfully loved me and gave himself for me I live now fully assured of a grace filled future. Hallelujah! Amen.