“The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up” (Revelation 8:7).

One can go in many directions with these verses.  The question is, “What is it God desires from you?”  What will it take for you to follow Him earnestly?  Will it take calamity to wake you up?  Come into the Lord’s presence and walk humbly with our Maker.  Be guided by His goodness and mercy and know that the practice of faith is the most important thing in your life.

Lord, I look at what I think about as just one topic amongst many.  Do I agree with Christianity or not?  Turn my heart to realize that You have made a revelation and that it is not up to me to agree or disagree, but either to live toward being faithful or continuing in rebellion.  Guide me to take the road less traveled and walk with You my Savior and God.  Let not calamity be what wakes me to reality.

Lord, what will it take to kindle in my heart the fire of Your love?  Let me not see fire rain down, but let the truth of Your word open my heart to live according to Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me now and always in the way of truth.  Guide me according to Your grace so that even if fire and hail rain down, I will give You thanks and praise You for all things.  You are the Creator and center of all being.  Teach me to love You as You love me.  Amen.

“And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them” (Revelation 8:6).

The Lord is not capricious.  You are reading these verses.  Is He not giving you warning of things to be aware of?  Judgement is built into reality.  There is a reaction to every action.  This age of wickedness pays a price for being wicked.  Do not suppose that we are exempt.  We are not.  Live then according to the gift of grace you have been given so that when judgement comes, you will know it is for us all.  Christ paid the price to redeem those who are His.

Lord, I do experience the repercussions of wickedness in this age.  Help me, I pray, to understand that in You alone is my hope.  That hope does not mean I will not suffer in this age, but it does mean that I know that my outcome is based upon You and Your goodness.  Lead me, Lord, to be unconditional in the life I live.  Lead me according to Your will to do what is right, now and always.

Lord Jesus, You walked this earth and You know what it is to receive punishment without any guilt.  You took my guilt with You to the cross.  But as Your word reminds us, all things work together for good for those who love You.  When I experience the judgements that come upon this earth, help me to keep my eyes upon You.  Lead me in Your goodness to know the truth of the freedom You grant through the grace You purchased for us all.  Amen.

“Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake” (Revelation 8:5).

The prayers of the saints mixed with the will of the Lord will affect the earth.  There are those in this world who do great evil.  Those who stand firm in the Lord counter the evils.  It is unimaginable how evil the world would be without the constraint of the Lord.  Be one who lives within that constraint and know that in just doing that, you combat the wickedness of this age.  The Lord uses all things to work together for good.

Lord, I do not need to understand all these things in order to see that Your hand is upon us all.  You guide us so that in You we have hope.  You hear all my prayers.  Your will is firmly established and we are invited to live according to Your will.  Lead me in these things so that I will join with the saints of every time and place and rejoice in Your goodness and mercy.  Open my heart to receive what You teach.

My Lord and Savior, You have asked that I come before You in prayer and pray without ceasing.  I do not fully know what this means.  Yet, I am willing to walk down this path because of Your calling.  Guide the thoughts of my mind and teach me to pray.  Lead me according to Your goodness to know that in You is all hope and the only future worth living.  Lead me, Lord, now and always, on the path You have placed before me by grace.  Amen.

“And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand” (Revelation 8:4).

It is the Lord who deals with us.  Think about that.  We have great leaders who are supposed to care for the people.  Which of them personally takes care of each person?  The Lord watches over your going out and coming in.  The Lord knows you.  Come to the Lord and walk humbly with your Maker.  Be guided by what He says.  Pay attention and become one who, in the obedience of faith, does as the Lord asks.

Father in Heaven, help me to be a person of action.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You there is hope and a future.  You have spoken the Word and through You all things have their being.  You care for each one of us.  Lead me, Lord, in the way You intend life to be lived.  Keep me in Your goodness to heed all that You say and to learn from You how then shall I livehu.  You have said that I will become more like Christ.  Thank You for helping me by Your grace to do so.

Lod Jesus, I want to become more like You today.  I do not know where to begin other than with the prayer You taught us.  Throughout the day, as You see the need, remind me of things I can do to increasingly become like You.  Guide me in thought, word, and deed to be consistent in action, thoughtful in prayer, and humble in attitude.  You know what I need.  Thank You for providing all the grace that I need.  Amen.

Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne” (Revelation 8:3).

Your prayers are like incense before the throne of God.  There are also the prayers too deep where the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.  These prayers come continuously before God.  He hears every one of them.  Remember, God is outside of time so He has, so to speak, all the time He needs for every prayer.  The Lord gives you promises so that you will live by them and prepare for what is coming.

I know the day is coming when we shall all stand before the Lord and know Him even as we have always been fully known.  Lord, I still need so many things and I do not know where to begin.  Let me begin this day by remembering that You have taught us to pray without ceasing.  Teach me how to do this again.  Guide me — because I know that You hear me — so that I keep in constant contact with You.

Lord, there are many kinds of prayers I pray.  This is between You and me.  I need help so that I don’t just complain to You, or continuously ask for things.  Many of Your words tell me to praise You, which I can do in prayer.  Help me again by reminding me of the prayer You taught us to pray and then to expand upon it so that I am constantly in communion with You, my Savior.  Amen.

“And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them” (Revelation 8:2).

After the silence, the Lord speaks.  Are you prepared to hear what the Lord has to say?  Many go about their day without a thought about the One who made them.  Some deny Him and become wrapped up in the false gods of this age.  But what about you?  Are you prepared to hear when the Lord speaks?  Open your ears and listen, for the Savior desires that you not perish, but come to Him and remain with Him forever.

Lord, You have spoken in many and various ways.  In these latter times, You have spoken words of warning so that we may realize how serious You are about our salvation.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of truth so that I may humbly walk with You and learn.  You have given me the gift of grace and You send me into the world to tell others of the Good News of great joy.  Send me, Lord, prepared by Your word.

Lord, there are many things I can ask for.  In terms of things in this world, what good would they do?  Help me to prepare by knowing Your word and walking in Your ways.  Guide me to proclaim with all that I am the truth of the Gospel. Lead me, Lord, in the way You would have me go.  If I am to declare You in this world, give me the voice to speak of You faithfully.  In all things, help me learn from You how to be steadfast in Your Word.  Amen

“When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1).

The Lord is slow to anger.  Do you think the Lord likes seeing all the suffering upon the earth in this age?  “And Jesus wept.”  But there comes a time when things must be as they are.  The Lord gives us time.  Plenty of time.  None of us will have an excuse.  Will we come to the Lord and walk with Him, or will we continue in our own way.  There is a time for silence, but then a time for action.

Lord, help me to know when to do what is needed.  Sometimes I am busy when I should be still and other times I am still when I should be busy.  Guide me in Your grace to do what needs to be done in both cases.  Through all things, help me to see more clearly that You are doing what needs to be done in this age in order that we may be saved from the silence where Your word will not be present.

Dear Savior, all things are in Your hands.  Guide me today in the grace and mercy You have given me so that I may humbly walk in Your way.  Help me to be still and know that You are the One who saves.  Keep me today and every day in the way of truth.  May I know and always marvel at the amazing grace You have given me.  May I learn to praise you in song and in silent prayer.  Amen.

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17).

This is a promise to cling to.  The Lord Himself will wipe away every tear.  Why do you look to created things to comfort you?  Many of us do this, but why?  Why not learn to come to the One who made all things.  He has promised to be our comfort.  He has promised to watch over us and lead us.  Why go anywhere else?  Come to the Lord of all now and follow Him today as you shall forever.

Lord, I do not know why I take comfort in things.  To a point, that is fine, but I often cross the line where I take comfort in things of this world instead of resting in You.  Lead me into a life of deeper prayer so that I look to You truly as the source of all things.  May I learn the comfort You give so that even in times of personal adversity I can retain the true hope You have promised for those who are in You.

Lord Jesus, Scripture says that I should become like You, a child of the Heavenly Father.  Lead me in the hope, grace, mercy, and comfort You give so that I may abide in You deeply.  Help me now and always so that I may overcome the obstacles of this world and learn from You, the Great Shepherd, not only how to live in this age, but prepare for the age to come.  Lead me now and always, dear Savior.  Amen.

“‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.  The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat” (Revelation 7:16).

The promise is paradise.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  We long for a place where we no longer battle against the elements.  It has been easier in our age with food and shelter, but there is more depravity and hatred.  This age is filled with sin.  Focus upon the promise, “Never again.”  The Lord promises that we shall be freed forever from sin.

Lord, I cannot even begin to imagine what a place without sin, want, depravity looks like.  Help me to focus upon the task at hand knowing that the day will come.  Meanwhile, there is still sin in me.  Lead me to pick up my own cross, follow You, and live through this age knowing that You have given me great hope.  My hope is in You and what You have promised.  Lead me to work toward that promise.

My dear Savior, I like the idea of a place without want and fear.  I like the idea of a perfectly safe place.  But it must begin with me.  As I am, I would ruin the whole thing.  Lead me, Lord, by the grace You have given to go to work.  I have been lukewarm.  Put fire under me so that I respond to You as to what needs work.  Help me to not lash out at my neighbor as I am confronted by the sin in me.  Amen.