“As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:20).

The Lord uses symbols to help us understand things that we otherwise would not be able to understand.  Come to the Lord humbly and He will show you what you need to know.  He cares for all that He has created.  A sparrow cannot fall from the sky without His knowing about it.  You, too, who are of much more worth, are known by the Lord and He cares so much for you that He gave up His life to redeem you.

Lord, I know that in ancient times the number seven represented completeness.  Help me to understand that You will complete all things.  The angels who watch over us and the churches which You are perfecting are in Your hands.  Lead me, O Lord, to look to You and see that all things truly are in Your hands.  Help me to grow in this faith You have given me and become complete in You.

Lord Jesus, all of Scripture gives evidence of Your hand and the work You are completing for eternity.  Guide me, Lord, now and always to humbly walk the path of salvation, doing those things You have given me to do.  Help me to be faithful in the fellowship in which You have planted me.  Grant that I would accept the help You give me.  In all things, complete me in You.  Amen.

“Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things” (Revelation 1:19).

The Lord, who knows all things, has given us a message to encourage us through the difficult times that will come upon those who believe.  The world hates the followers of Christ.  Some have experienced horrific things.  Do not think that you are exempt.  It could happen to you.  Pray that it doesn’t, but prepare so that no matter what comes, you are found following the Lord in all of His ways.

Lord, I do not know what tomorrow will bring.  Help me be prepared for whatever may come so that I do not rely upon this unreliable world, but upon You who has given promises and a hope that cannot be taken away.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go and prepare me for what You know lies before me.  Through all things, grant that I would hold fast to You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, Alpha and Omega, guide me in the way of salvation which You have set before me.  Lead me this day to think upon those things which are right and good.  Help me to learn how to meditate upon Your word.  Through all things that come, help me see that it is true that even amidst adversity, You are working all things together for good because You love me.  Help me to see and understand, Lord.  Amen.

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18).

Indeed, we all shall fall on our face in front of the Almighty.  Why wait until then to live in the reality that the One who was and is the Holy One?  Live in the knowledge that the Lord is lord of all.  In that knowledge, continue the journey of learning how to obey all that He has commanded.  This is the way it shall be in eternity.  Get ready for eternity by looking to the Lord for all things.

Lord, it is a struggle, and this world teaches me to compromise in order to get along.  Teach me how to hold fast to faithfulness.  Teach me how not to compromise, nor be unfaithful for any reason at all.  Lead me to learn how to see things as they are and to do what is right no matter the cost.  Lord, You hold he keys of eternity.  You have said there is either life with You or eternal separation.

Lord Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords, You hold all things in Your hands.  You know eternity and You have invited me into eternity through You, the One who was slain and rose again.  You know the path, for You created it.  Help me to look to You for all things.  Teach me step by step so that I may learn faithfulness.  Guide me by Your Spirit and create in me a new heart that loves all that You command.  Amen.

“In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:16).

The complete set of stars are in His hand.  He speaks His word, and it cuts both ways: Law and Gospel.  He is the light of the world which has always shone in the darkness.  He who was, who is, and who is to come is the One whom we shall all face.  He holds all power and has all authority.  In Him is life and light.  He is the light and life of the world.  Come into His presence and live in His light.

You are the One through whom all have their being.  Lead me, Lord, in the way that You have created life to be lived.  There are so many temptations in this age, and the old Adam follows the familiar sinful ways.  Help me break the cycle by Your grace to overcome the ways of this world as I learn how to live the way You direct.  Thank You for the grace I need to do this.

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill my heart with faithfulness.  Guide me through the snares of this world to walk the path of obedience.  You know what is needed.  Rather than speaking words to tell me what to do, You soften my heart to receive the guidance You give in Your Word.  Help me to step out in faith and do as You direct.  Lead me and help me follow willingly and joyfully.  Amen.

“His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters” (Revelation 1:15).

What is being described is someone greater than any we have ever seen.  The humble One who walked in our midst is the Almighty who is the essence of life itself.  Do be overwhelmed by Your Creator.  Fall on Your face and worship Him.  He is above all things and is worthy of all honor and praise.  Let Him lead you into a life of praise and thanks.  Come into the presence of the Lord and learn from Him.

Lord, I see what I look for and I often forget that all I see was created by You.  Even the eyes with which I see were created by You.  Everything is in Your hands.  Let me hear Your voice, whether it be small and still, or the sound of many rushing waters.  Let me feel the warmth of Your life and not the heat of Your anger.  Guide me to live so that what I will meet is Your approval when I stand before You face to face.

Lord Jesus, Alpha and Omega, You have come so that all who look to You may live.  Guide me in living the life You would have me live.  Help me to learn how to obey You in and through all things.  In Your goodness, continue to lift me up out of the way this world thinks to have a heart after Your own.  Teach me how to love so that I may more fully love You and my neighbor.  Amen.

 “His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:14).

John is describing what He saw.  We each form a mental picture from what is described.  The Holy One is timeless.  What does that look like?  He is the source of life and life exudes from Him.  The One who is, was, and always shall be is to be worshiped.  Do not be like the world and pass by Him for a few moments but be transformed by being in the presence of the One who made you.

Lord, forgive me for I often go about my life as though nothing matters except me.  Lead me away from such selfishness to live into the life You have given me through grace.  Guide me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope.  The day will come when I stand before You.  Will what John is describing be what I see?  Help me to look to You and rejoice that I will see  Your glory.

Lord Jesus, You became one of us to lead us out of this age of wickedness and into the glorious company of the saints in light.  Guide me this day, O Lord, to live according to all that is good in Your sight.  Help me keep my eye upon You and not veer from the path You have laid before me.  In Your grace, continue to encourage me to live as I ought, learning and growing in Your likeness.  Amen.

“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash” (Revelation 1:12-13).

Seven is the Hebrew number for completeness.  Later in this book, the seven churches will be addressed by Jesus.  Jesus is the One who completes us.  He is the One who made us, redeemed us, and who will finish the work He has begun.  Look to the One who has overcome and be led by Him.  In Him is life and light.  In Him is all reality.  Come into the presence of the One who calls you.

Lord, through the water of my baptism, You have called me to journey with You in this life.  You are here, but I am often so busy with things that do not matter that I become unaware that You are right beside me.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may grow toward the completeness You promise.  Help me understand that in You is all hope, for You are the author of life.

Lord Jesus, open my heart and mind to be receptive to the leading of Your Spirit.  Grant that I have a heart that desires You above all things.  According to Your goodness and mercy, help me keep on the path of salvation that You have laid before me.  Lead me, O Lord, according to Your grace so that I see You for who You are and follow You, knowing that You alone must lead me in all things.  Amen.

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,  saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea” (Revelation 1:10-11)

Write what you see.  How simple an instruction.  Do you follow the word of the Lord.  “The Lord does not speak to me this way.”  No?  Why not?  I suspect we all get so busy being busy that we do not listen to the small still voice of the Holy Spirit when the Spirit speaks.  Like any relationship, this needs to be nurtured.  Learn how to listen when the Holy Spirit speaks.

Lord, I do not always hear You even when it is through the words of Scripture.  Teach me how to listen, Lord.  Guide me in the way of being obedient.  I am whom You are making me to be, but You commanded us all to learn how to obey.  As You spoke to the prophets of old, so also speak to me.  Then, teach me how to obey when You speak to me so that I may be Your disciple and see Your will done in and for me.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for freeing me from sin and death.  Raise me up into the new person You have created me to be and teach me to hear when You speak.  Guide me according to Your purposes so that I may be led by You in all things. Help me, Lord, according to the Father’s will, to learn how to be obedient to Your commands.  Lead me, Lord, and teach me how to follow You in all things.  Amen.

“I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9).

We are partakers of tribulation in this age.  There are some who take this book and make it into something it is not.  All of Scripture is for our edification.  Be helped by the One who is and know that He has given you grace and mercy to live in this age of rebellion.  He came to save us and salvation is what we receive from Him.  Persevere through all difficulties knowing the Lord uses everything for His purpose.

You understand the difficulty of the way of righteousness in this age of rebellion, Lord.  You know that there are those who will mock and curse and hate.  Lead me through the mazes of this age on the narrow path and hold fast to the promises You have given so that I may be a fellow partaker of the goodness You give.  Guide me by Your grace to persevere and do what is needed each day.  Help me to remain steadfast throughout the trials and  tribulations that You have already overcome in this age.

Lord Jesus, Savior and King, You know all that is needed.  You have already provided even before I have asked.  In the Father’s will, show me how this day to humbly walk with You wherever You lead.  Guide me in the knowledge You have revealed and teach me to trust in faith that You are leading the way.  In You alone do I have hope.  Hold me in that hope until the day we meet face to face.  Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

We live our  three or four score years and those who are the elderly are celebrated if they make it to one hundred.  The One who will be, is, and who has always been, is our Savior.  What is one hundred years in the face of eternity?  He has come and He will come again at the end of the days of this age.  I do not know about you, but it sure seems to me that far too many, even in the church, treat Him as an afterthought, when He truly is the mighty God and the Creator of all things.

Lord, forgive me, for I too do not respect You with awe and wonder.  I too live my life as though it were mine and I created it.  Lord, You have come that by grace we would learn to live life as You created it to be lived.  Guide me, Lord, so that in Your mercy I would learn and be uplifted to live righteously.  You know where I am and what is needed.  Lead me according to Your goodness and provide all that is needed.

Alpha and Omega, the One who is, teach me to worship You in spirit and in truth with praise and thanksgiving.  You are worthy of all honor, thanks, and praise.  You are the One through whom all things have their being.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of life that You have established as You help me see things as they really are.  In You is my life, hope, and a future.  Prepare me to meet You face to face on that great and terrible day.  Amen.