Lord God Almighty,
As You sanctify every believer in Christ, this suffering is part of Your transforming work. It’s Your ongoing and promised work to us as Your believing children, in Jesus Christ!
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
a wonderful Savior to me;
he hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
where rivers of pleasure I see.
(“A Wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Lord,” Crosby, F., 1890)
HIS divine power HAS GRANTED to us ALL things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who CALLED us to his own glory and excellence,
by which he HAS GRANTED to us
his precious and very great promises,
so that through them
you may become partakers of the divine nature,
HAVING ESCAPED from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire (2 Pet. 1:3-4, BSB emphasis added).
Thank You for this gracious gift and promise to us as we suffer in this fallen world.
Transforming us by the Holy Spirit, from beginning to end!
As with all Your instructions, when You tell us to “be transformed” by the renewal of our minds (Rom. 12:2), You are already making it possible by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. You are the source of our being “in Christ,” from beginning to end (2 Cor. 3:16)!
We’ve already been justified, washed, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of God! Our souls are safe!
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
that shadows a dry, thirsty land;
he hideth my life in the depths of his love,
and covers me there with his hand.
Empowering us by the Holy Spirit
So, when You tell us to
“rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…do not quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:16-19 ESV),”
we can know that You will make this possible as we suffer. You promise that You’ve already given us every spiritual gift we need, united with Christ!
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
he taketh my burden away;
he holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
he giveth me strength as my day.
Leading us through this suffering, clinging to Your promises
Faithful God, please lead, teach, fill, and guide us, as You promise.
Help us to endure any suffering by clinging to every precious promise of Your sustaining soul-work, with bold confidence in Your continual grace outpoured to us. We may be suffering, but who are we, as those in Christ?
Leading us through suffering, transforming us with Your new purpose and identity!
You’ve given us a new purpose and identity!
We are each Your newly created work of art, walking in Your already-prepared-for-us good works (Eph. 2:10).
You raised Jesus, and You promise to raise us by Your power (1 Cor. 6:14).
You promise You’re continually transforming us into ones who are “led by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:18).
In fact, these very battles of suffering and battles with our sin natures are fueling a stronger need for Your indwelling Spirit’s help.
A desperate one.
You are the ongoing source of all that we need to walk in Your way, Your transforming purpose for the remainder of our earthly lives…to be “conformed to the image” of our beloved Redeemer, Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29 ESV).
With numberless blessings each moment he crowns,
and filled with a fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, O glory to God
for such a Redeemer as mine!
Praising Your transforming and powerful work within us, as we suffer
Oh Father, Jesus is the only way to You (Jn. 14:6). We can only walk in Your way as we suffer, with rivers of living water within us (Jn. 7:37-39) by the Holy Spirit’s transforming and promised power.
So, we glory in Your magnificent and transcendent name (Ps. 29:2) as the holy, holy, holy God who promised…
His name is Jesus.
When clothed in his brightness, transported I rise
to meet him in clouds of the sky,
his perfect salvation, his wonderful love,
I’ll shout with the millions on high!
In reverent and humbled awe for all You have done for us in Christ, are doing in Your powerfully transforming us, and will do until the day we are “clothed in His brightness” and glorified, thank You. In the name of our wonderful Savior, Jesus our Lord, amen.
Material adapted from Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering: A Devotional Bible Study Prayer Journal, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2023
A playlist gift to praise our triune God for His promised transforming work, as we suffer
I’m clinging to God’s promises to us, singing His gospel promises, from beginning to glorious end. Are you? I NEED to sing them into the hard days, remembering that He is at work to transform me from within. This suffering is not pointless! I need to praise Him for every bit of transformation His Spirit is doing, all the way home!
This week’s playlist gift is His gracious gift of endurance in suffering, through each song filled with those promises.
If it would help you endure your suffering in the same way, sign up below, and it will come to your email with my love and prayers, as a sister in Christ who understands this challenge and need.
To read more of Lauri’s writing, you can use her devotional Bible study lament prayer journals: Praying God’s Blessings in Christ as We Suffer: Scripture Prayers for the Hardest Days, Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering, Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character as We Suffer, or Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering. In the Valleys of God’s Love is written for children aged 3-8, a perfect read for grandparents, parents, and children to share together, preparing them for suffering to come.
For Scripture devotionals, calming hymns, lots of playlist gifts and encouragement from Lauri, click here for YouTube channel
For those suffering from chronic illness and pain, here’s a calming place of Scripture, song, and prayer, just for us
For suffering Christian women in your church, free workshops are now available
0 Comments