This post is Day 18 in a series of studies about “A Living Sacrifice”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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A Living Sacrifice – Day 18

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. This does not mean that life is a fun ride until we graduate to Heaven. There are times in our christian walk when we hope for things that never arrive, there is affliction, but in all situations we can to pray.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

The Thought

Being a christian does not mean that life is a fun ride until we graduate to Heaven. There are many times in our christian walk when we hope for things that never arrive, there is often affliction, but in all situations we are free to pray.

All of us are hoping for Heaven one day, but the early disciples really believed that Jesus would return to be King of the world in their lifetime and that He would change everything. Two thousand years down the line Christians still have that same hope, but it is a sure hope, a positive hope, as long as it is a hope in Jesus, and not in people.

As He promised, Jesus will come back in the way He left, riding on the clouds, but He is held in Heaven until the church, His Bride, is ready to receive Him.

A lot of work needs to be done before the earthly church is ready. Sadly we appear as a broken body, not yet a beautiful bride.

As I write, there are rumours of revivals beginning in many parts of the world. Jesus is preparing His Bride, and He will be back soon to save us from all the sufferings of earth.

The writer of Proverbs tells us not to put our hope in man.

Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing. Proverbs 11:7

Action

Ask yourself today where your hopes lie? In your bank account, your doctor, the government? Remember that Jesus is a higher authority than all those.

Pray for your government for the right decisions to be made, and for the leaders to follow The Lord.

Pray for the world wide church to unite in Truth and become the Bride that Jesus is coming to claim.