A Joyful Anticipation – The Presidential Prayer Team

Preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 1:13

If you have ever driven near the mountains, you will understand that your perception of them can easily be skewed. They could appear to be just miles away, but they are actually much farther. And the range you thought was just behind the closest ones can be tens or even hundreds of miles farther with a huge valley in between.

Think about the prophets in the Old Testament who wrote about the coming Messiah. They likely would not have known that the suffering Messiah would come years before the full glory of the Lord Jesus would be revealed at the end of the age. In between is where believers are today – the Church Age – the time between Christ’s death and resurrection and His Second Coming.

The apostle Peter understood the mystery of the Old Testament and explained that “according to [God’s] great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope… to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:3-4). In other words, the best is yet to come. The Lord’s rewards in eternity are a result of His great grace, not because of your worthiness. Therefore, you can celebrate His merciful salvation even in the midst of trials and difficulties.

Take your thoughts captive in obedience to the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:5). Be diligent about living the life of faith, disciplined in mind and heart, and setting the proper priorities in life. Live in thankfulness for today’s blessings and in joyful anticipation for those in the life to come. Then pray fervently for this nation and its leaders, that their hearts would be set aright to meet the Lord when He comes again.

Today’s Verse: 1 Peter 1:13

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: 1 Peter 5:6-11

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.