Reading: II Timothy 4
My Verse: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (4:7).
Talk about a most apt epitaph for Paul! Lord God, to be able to make such a proclamation at the end of one's life would be most sweet indeed! Throughout his writings, Paul encourages us to be like him in the way he pursued You.
"I have fought the good fight." Have I? Lord, I know You meet us where we are and bring us along (grow us) as we are able. But I am so sorry that I have often been slow to respond to Your love and guidance. There have been many missed opportunities. I pray for discernment to know when You are telling me to act and for courage to act. Thank You, for this promise. "Fear not, for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My right hand of rightness and justice" (Isaiah 41:10). Yes, You will help me to fight that good fight!
"I have finished the race." Paul speaks here of completing the work You gave him to do. He persevered through incredible hardships. Again I need You to help me when I run out of steam. I need you to help me get up when I fall flat on my face. I know that I cannot persevere as Paul did without Your help. "But those who wait for the Lord shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint, or become tired" (Isaiah 40:31). Thank You for this!
"I have kept the faith." Oh, Lord God, I know this is impossible without You. You alone keep me and enable me to trust and rely on You. "Keep and guard me as the pupil of Your eye, hide me in the shadow of Your wings" (Psalm 17:8). I need only turn to You and let You "keep and guard me". I am so blessed!
I thank You and praise You, because I know that You will help me to honor You in all that I do not only today but until my life's very end. "And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ, developing and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you" (Philippians 1:6). So Paul is telling me here that I too can have such an epitaph!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (4:7).
Talk about a most apt epitaph for Paul! Lord God, to be able to make such a proclamation at the end of one's life would be most sweet indeed! Throughout his writings, Paul encourages us to be like him in the way he pursued You.
"I have fought the good fight." Have I? Lord, I know You meet us where we are and bring us along (grow us) as we are able. But I am so sorry that I have often been slow to respond to Your love and guidance. There have been many missed opportunities. I pray for discernment to know when You are telling me to act and for courage to act. Thank You, for this promise. "Fear not, for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My right hand of rightness and justice" (Isaiah 41:10). Yes, You will help me to fight that good fight!
"I have finished the race." Paul speaks here of completing the work You gave him to do. He persevered through incredible hardships. Again I need You to help me when I run out of steam. I need you to help me get up when I fall flat on my face. I know that I cannot persevere as Paul did without Your help. "But those who wait for the Lord shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint, or become tired" (Isaiah 40:31). Thank You for this!
"I have kept the faith." Oh, Lord God, I know this is impossible without You. You alone keep me and enable me to trust and rely on You. "Keep and guard me as the pupil of Your eye, hide me in the shadow of Your wings" (Psalm 17:8). I need only turn to You and let You "keep and guard me". I am so blessed!
I thank You and praise You, because I know that You will help me to honor You in all that I do not only today but until my life's very end. "And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ, developing and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you" (Philippians 1:6). So Paul is telling me here that I too can have such an epitaph!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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