Abba Father,

How often must we cry to You to be the desire of our hearts when our flesh yearns for lesser things?

How often must we plead with you for the strength to trust you when our minds are besieged with doubt?

How long must we wait for you to come for us when we ache for You like a child long separated from one’s parent?

How long must we fight and war when our strength fails and our spirit falters?

Abba, we long for you.  We ache for you.  We struggle and contend against everything this life casts upon us so that we can remain faithful to you and so that we may please and honor your righteous and holy name!  

But the struggle is not without its failures.  It is not without its injuries.  A war is just that…a war.  There can be no glamorization of war.  There can be no sugar coating the devastation it brings in its wake.  We feel it.  Your creation feels it.  And that loss and struggle only feeds our ache for you to come and return for us; for you to restore the creation to what it ought to be!  

We cling to your promises as our only hope.  We stand upon your promises to provide assurance, courage, peace, and strength when the world and our fallen flesh has robbed us of them.  May your promises, backed and supported by your righteous character, gird up our minds, freshen our spirits, and embolden our steps!  May the truth ever resonate and reside in our minds and upon our hearts.  May we guard it well; may we guard the truth for one another well so that we hold fast, walk steady, and live with joy and hope in the midst of this fallen world.

We love you.  Thank you for your promises for us.  May they prove to be our anchor; our rock; our fortress; and our deliverance.

Amen.