Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

I am John, a follower together with all of you. We suffer because Jesus is our king, but he gives us the strength to endure. I was sent to Patmos Island, because I had preached God’s message and had told about Jesus.

Revelation 1:9 (CEV)

Feeling sidelined? Stuck? Or like there are things preventing you from doing what God has made you to do? What would get you through today, give you hope, and make you bold? How about seeing the promise of the final victory of good, a glimpse of the power of God, and words of encouragement from the Commander of the heavenly armies himself?

A man named John seemed to be out of the game. He had been preaching about Jesus to anyone and everyone. The authorities wanted to shut him up, so they banished him to an island.

But even exile will not stop God’s work. God was not surprised nor did he give up on his plan to use John to spread his message. Instead, he unfolded his next step to reveal to John amazing things about the heavenly realm and the future. By the Spirit, John saw things in Heaven and wrote about them, and God used this book of Revelation to encourage billions more people than John could have told in his own lifetime.

In the book of Revelation, it’s clear we serve an awesome, powerful God who will conquer all evil in the end; that he controls all things; that his plans will absolutely succeed. So, if you are feeling stuck or you are struggling to accomplish what God made you to do, remember that God is in control and will win every battle in the end. Give it over to him today!

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Skim over the following verses in Revelation that talk about Heaven. What encourages you from these verses?

• 1:12–18
• 4:2–8
• 8:3–5
• 11:16–19
• 22:12–13

INSPIRATION

“The enjoyment of him is our highest happiness and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here…”

—Jonathan Edwards, American preacher in the 1700s

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Refer to the tabbed Bible references to read the passages today.

Psalm 33:13–14

Isaiah 66:1

Revelation 1:2

Revelation 1:10–11

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This devotional was written by Tonia Gutting for the Hero Squad Program of the American Bible Society. Hero Squad provides complimentary faith-based resources to strengthen and encourage Military families through God’s Word. For more information or to enroll your Military family, check out our website.www.myherosquad.org.