“Encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing”—“all the more as you see the Day approaching” (1Thess.5:11; Heb.10:25)
Heavenly Father, what a destiny we have, what a God you are, what a Gospel we treasure. By your outrageous generosity, we will soon realize that whatever we thought “heaven” would be, our bar was too low, our hopes were too tiny, our dreams with only in 3 colors, not 30,000.
Life in the new heaven and new earth will be beautiful, bountiful, and bodacious beyond our most Spirit-fueled imagining. Intensify our peace, craving, and joy as we await the Day of all things new and beautiful. And until then, free us to dispense 70% more encouragement than we currently do. “Stuff happens” … but encouragement and building others up are intentional.
All this Thanksgiving week—and throughout Advent, may we speak words of life and kindness to each other. May we catch each other “doing it right” and honor one another above ourselves. Free us to overlook stuff that irritates in the moment but will be forgotten forever. May we spend the currency of grace on each other like it’ll never be exhausted, because it won’t.
Father, thank you—whether we die before Jesus returns or live to see that Day—”signed, sealed, and delivered,” we are yours. No separation from your love, no derailing your plans, nothing but awesome ahead. So Very Amen.