Victory

As I enter this time of prayer, I repeat the words of Psalm 22:10–11, slowly, several times, making them my prayer to God:

‘From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.’

Pause and repeat

Pause and read the passage: 1 Cor. 15:55–58

‘This is not the worst thing to ever happen!’ wrote my friend Margaret Lee as she lay dying of cancer. ‘Cancer is so limited. It cannot cripple love, shatter hope, corrode faith, eat away peace, destroy confidence, kill friendship, shut out memories, silence courage, quench the Spirit, or lessen the power of Jesus’*

As Christians, we believe in life after death, but also life before death, and even life in the midst of death (as we see in saints like Margaret Lee). What might the resurrection power of Jesus look like in the midst of my struggle today?

Pause and reflect

Lord, fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Let my life be marked by defiant love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Pause and pray

As I bring this time with God to a close, I pray the words of a well-loved hymn of surrender by Judson W. Van DeVenter:

All to Jesus I surrender

All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him

In His presence daily live

I surrender all, I surrender all

All to Thee, my blessed Saviour I surrender all.

Amen.

* Pete Greig, God on Mute, David C Cook, (Colorado Springs, 2020), p140