“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

Pretty simple, right? Rejoice at having hope, patiently endure tribulation and pray consistently. Sure, so how about finding hope to rejoice at in the midst of tribulation? Remembering to pray consistently when your head was bashed around in a car wreck, you have add, and a pressing novel demanding to be written . . . well maybe that one is just me. Of course its when we most need to pray and when we’re the weakest that we can let ourselves be distracted.

Let’s pick ourselves up today and seek our balance in him.

Lord, forgive us when we stumble. We thank you for your grace and mercy. Lift us up today to walk closer you. Heal us of our infirmities and strengthen us to walk in your ways. Transform us by the renewing of our minds. Open our eyes to see the hope you give us even in the darkest of nights. Turn our mourning into dancing in proper season. Grant us patience, and the trust and faith required to pray for it, that we might be delivered from the strongholds of  fear and superstition. Work in our hearts, by grace, a great love for prayer, gently remind us when we are distracted, Lord, of our need to connect to you. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.