Peace And Prayer!

Sometimes people struggle to make ENDS meet. Then there are ENDS they don’t want to meet. However, a reality of life in this realm is that there are ENDS and there will be an END. Not knowing the how and when regarding ENDS is sometimes a source of great apprehension. What should we do in the face of the unknown?

Peter exhorted…
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore BE SELF-CONTROLLED AND SOBER-MINDED FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR PRAYERS.” ( 1 Peter 4:7 ESV)

Though Peter used the Greek word “sophroneo” (sober-minded or of sound mind), he also used the Greek word translated “self-controlled” which is from “nepho” that “signifies to be free from the influence of intoxicants” [source: “W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary Of N.T. Words”] or as Strong’s lexicon suggests it signifies being “calm and collected in spirit.” Is that the spirit or result associated with our prayers to God in the face of unknowns as we look to the One Who does know?

With regard to the things God will bring to COMPLETION and an END, we should pray and not be fearful, because of our relationship with Him through Christ. Jesus came and gave Himself, conquering death and therefore destroying the one who has the power of death (the devil), in order to save and deliver us from the fear of death. ( Hebrews 2:14-15)

The church at Smyrna was encouraged…
“DO NOT FEAR WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SUFFER. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE CROWN OF LIFE.” ( Revelation 2:10 ESV)

Faithful to the END! That needs to be our aim! Let us pray to the END that God will provide us with the resolve and strength necessary to endure whatever we might face in this realm as we remember that the END of one thing is often the beginning of something else. The END is not the END (whether it be our death or our Lord’s return), for in Christ we can joyfully anticipate an eternity with Him. May we therefore in a calm and collected spirit pray as we trust His power to bring us through life’s challenges and ultimately deliver us into His eternal kingdom above.

Have a great day OF CALMING COMMUNICATION THROUGH CHRIST!
Carl

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