“Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself” (Revelation 19:7).

What in this life do you look forward to?  Many of us look moment by moment for what will fill the void.  That void is the absence of the Lord.  The day is coming when we shall be united with the Lord forever.  He is Sovereign and He shall (as He already does) reign. Has He not told us that His people are like a bride and He is the groom?  Has He not told us to watch and be prepared for when the bridegroom comes?  He told us these things ahead of time.

Lord, these are not new ideas.  This is not some strange thing, but the truth that You have revealed over and over.  We are the bride and You are the groom.  We are Your children and You are the Father.  We are the ones who have been redeemed by You.  Guide the faithful away from the momentary life of this world to live into the new life for which You died.  Guide us by Your grace to walk always in Your ways.

Lord Jesus, my faith is not some idea by which I live occasionally with others of like mind.  You have called me into a new life which is preparing me to be united with You forever.  Guide me into this new life.  Let it be the center of who I am.  Let me not be caught off-guard but help me to watch and prepare as I make myself ready to be united with You forever.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life, now and forever.  Amen.

“Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns” (Revelation 19:6).

Although those who follow the Lord are a minority (many are called; few are chosen), it is still a great multitude.  From every tribe, tongue, folk, and nation, the Lord has called those who are his.  He raises up for Himself those who will choose to walk the way we were created to walk.  Come into the presence of the Lord and walk with Him all the days of Your life.  The Lord does reign; but does He reign in your heart?

Lord God, I hear these words and they fall upon my ears.  I know they are true, but my heart is quickly distracted by my worldly concerns, and I walk in the way of the world.  Guide me away from the attractions of this world and into Your arms of mercy.  You have given me a mind that can understand.  Help me to understand the right way.  It really does boil down to my looking to You and knowing that You provide for all that is needed.  You are the source and sustenance of life.

Lord Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, guide me this day to humbly walk with You, my Lord and God.  Help me to know that in You alone is hope and the only future worth living.  Lead me according to Your goodness to praise and thank You, knowing that Your creation continues to unfold day by day.  You are creating in me the image of a child of the Heavenly Father.  Be the One who leads in my life, Lord.  Amen.

“And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great” (Revelation 19:5).

It all boils down to this: will you praise and thank the Lord?  There are those whose lives center upon themselves, and there are those whose lives become centered in the One who made them.  The latter seem to be the minority.  Are you a part of the minority?  Small or great does not matter.  What matters is whether true life has been revealed to you and is in you.  True life is centered upon the Lord.

The old life is still entrenched in me, Lord.  I think about myself and act according to what is right in my own mind.  Help me by directing me to the true center.  I do not have a reliable internal compass, but I need one.  I need to be pointed at You always.  You have the words of eternal life; for You are the Word made flesh.  Guide me away from myself and direct me toward love for You and others.

Lord Jesus, You have given me the word of life.  You have pointed me in the right direction.  You have put me upon the path of life.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to humbly walk with You, my Lord and God, and know that You alone are worthy of all praise.  It matters not what I think I am; whom You have made me and what You are making of me does.  Lead me in Your truth.  Amen.

“And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” (Revelation 19:4)

Keep your eyes upon the Lord.  Too often, we are distracted by circumstances and forget that the Lord has already prevailed.  Know that in the Lord is goodness and hope.  In the Lord is life and the true liberty He gives to those who walk in His ways.  Come and be led by the One who is worthy of all honor and praise.  We may be living in the pre-dawn that is this age of darkness, but dawn is coming when the light of eternity will reveal all that He has done for us.

Lord, I can become absorbed in this world’s way of living, thinking, and acting, or I can look to You with praise and thanksgiving.  It is really an easy choice in my mind, but living in the filth of this world, it is hard to do day in and day out.  Grant me the fortitude to hold fast to the truth of Your promises and live in the hope You give.

Lord Jesus, You struggled with the principalities of this age throughout Your ministry.  They were constantly confronting You.  By Your strength and in Your grace, lead me to live looking to You.  You are my help and stay.  I need You, for You alone can help me overcome the obstacles that are before me.  Teach me how to praise and worship You throughout the day.  Guide me in Your goodness now and forever.  Amen. 

“And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises forever and ever” (Revelation 19:3)

The day will come when all the things of this age which tug at you will be removed.  When we are resurrected to be with Christ as well as be like Him, we shall be freed of all the wickedness of this age.  I do not know, but I suspect it is much deeper and more prevalent than even we know.  Look to the Savior and know that goodness will prevail.  The day will come when all the wickedness will be judged.

Lord, move me to the place where what I do in secret is the same as what I do in public.  Let me be consistent so that what people think of me as to who I am, is really who I am.  Although, grant me a lack of excess concern for how people think about me, for it is You who matters above all.  Guide me into the Christ-life so that I may learn from You how to deal with all the nonsense that goes on around me.

Lord Jesus, I do praise You for eternally freeing me from the recompense of sin and death.  Lead me today to live into a life that is pure and chaste.  Do not make me prudish, as some are, but guard my mind toward the garbage of this world and how it pollutes us all.  Lead me into a life of praise and thanksgiving, knowing that only in You is there true joy, hope, and fulfilment.  Amen.

“[B]ecause His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her sexual immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her” (Revelation 19:2)

One would think that with all the sexuality shoved in our face every day that we were deprived.  Just the opposite is true.  Sex sells and it is being used in our entertainment, advertising, and all over the place.  God intended sex to be intimate and discrete, not something to be used as it is.  But what about you?  Do you strive to look the other way, or are you steeped in the great prostitute’s perversion of what God has created?

Lord, sometimes I do not know what to do.  I am steeped in sex through this culture.  It is everywhere.  Help my eyes to be discerning and my brain to be protective against the wiles of  wickedness in this age.  I know the great prostitute is bound for perdition; but untangle me from her net and lead me in Your way of prudence, modesty, and chastity.  Help me to understand how to live in this age.

Lord Jesus, You knew how to deal with the woman caught in the act of adultery.  It seems adultery is what adults do in our age.  Help me. Lord. to be mindful of Your attitude of what You have created for the human body.  Lead me in the way of goodness and mercy so that I may walk humbly with You in a manner that is chaste and modest.  Lead me to live the same life on the inside as I display on the outside.  Amen.

“After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God” (Revelation 19:1)

The last song of this age belongs to the Lord.  After all the wickedness is done, it will be clear that the glory of the Lord is greater.  The wicked may last for a season, but the Lord is forever.  Do not fall into the traps of the wicked in this age.  Be guided by the goodness and mercy of the Lord.  You are invited to be one of the multitude who will shout praises to the Lord and the truth that He overcomes all wickedness.

Lord, I see it and yet, I fall for it too often.  Something wicked tantalizes me and I fall into temptation.  My own resolutions fail.  My own attempts at doing things right end up only partially done.  I want to be with You and walk in Your ways.  I want to be a part of the multitude, but then fall I down and need to start over again.  Help me, Lord, so that I can continue to run the race of salvation.

Lord, in Your mercy and grace, I need all the help You give me.  When I am about to stumble, hold on tight so that I do not fall.  When my mouth could praise You, but is afraid in this world, give me strength to praise You.  When I am lured by the wickedness of this world, let my eyes see things as they really are.  Lead me into Your goodness, Lord Jesus, and help me by Your grace each step of the way.  Amen.

“And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slaughtered on the earth” (Revelation 18:24)

Many who have stood up against the wickedness of the world have been slaughtered.  Blessed are they who are persecuted for the Lord’s sake.  But God does not exonerate the wicked who have done this.  To You who are persecuted, remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord.  To you who are lukewarm, be warned, the day of wrath will come upon us all.  That is why it is called the great and terrible day.

Lord, it depends upon which side of the equation I live my life.  Either I am under Your grace and walking the narrow path, or else I am following what is right in my own eyes.  Lead me, Lord, on the narrow way and clear my mind to see clearly the distinct division between the goodness of Your law and the grace I need to live as one who seeks righteousness.  Keep my eyes clear to see the deceptions of this age.

Lord Jesus, in the power of Your Holy Spirit, by grace, I need to be led step by step in the way You would have me go.  Guide me now and always by Your grace to see the boundaries of the narrow path so that I do not stray off it.  Lead me today and every day to be intentional about my journey of faith.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to know that You alone are my Savior.  Amen.

“[A]nd the light of a lamp will never shine in you again; and the voice of the groom and bride will never be heard in you again; for your merchants were the powerful people of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your witchcraft” (Revelation 18:23).

The once mighty will fall. The crafty people who deceive with trickery will rule no more.  The ingenious who deceitfully lead astray masses of people will go down to the pit.  The glamorous are glamorous only for a while. Their influence is fleeting.  The merchants who count their wealth go down to the pit and their wealth gathered goes to another.  Do not look to these as your example.  Look to the saints who have been faithful and follow their lead.

Why do I listen to the “beautiful” people who give opinions about everything? Lord, shut my ears from the advice of the wicked.  Close my eyes to the wicked people who would lead me astray.  Shut my ears to not hear the enticements of the wicked one.  Let me not toil for things that do not matter.  Turn my heart to You, O Lord, so that I may grow as You have created me to grow in Your likeness.

Lord Jesus, I can do none of these things without You.  You have purchased the grace I need with Your own shed blood.  Help me in the power of Your Holy Spirit to be wise and discerning.  Lead me according to Your goodness this day to see through the wickedness of this world.  Guide me now and always, looking to You alone as the source of my being.  Guide me, Lord, into true living.  Amen. 

“And the sound of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again; and no craftsman of any craft will ever be found in you again; and the sound of a mill will never be heard in you again” (Revelation 18:22)

Music was created by the Lord.  Craftsmanship skills are a gift of the Lord.  Musical instruments have been used to call God’s people to worship.  It is not the things themselves, but what wickedness has done to pervert the use of these things.  All these things in this age that are perverted, we see in abundance.  In eternity, the perversions will be no more.  You shall have no other gods before the Lord God Almighty.

Lord, it is second nature to me, and I do not think about the reality of how these things which You have created are perverted.  Guide me away from such things.  Grant me eyes to see and ears to hear so that I may clearly understand what is detestable to You.  Do not lead me to be a zealot but do lead me to be discerning about these things and fervent for righteousness.  Let me not fall into the pit of wrath that comes upon the wicked. 

Lord, where my heart is not pure, purify it.  Where I use the gifts You have given for my own glory, change my focus so that all I do is used for Your glory instead of mine.  When I hear fine instruments, let them call me to You.  Although I must live in this age of wickedness, change the direction of my heart to look to You always.  Only in You is there eternity.  Only in You is there hope.  Grant me the hope of eternity through faith in You.  Amen.