“The fruit you long for has left you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and people will no longer find them” (Revelation 18:14).

We are sold on the idea of the emperor’s new clothes.  There is really nothing there and one day we will discover that there never has been anything there.  People of this age quickly move from one trivial thing to another.  They are led by nothing and into nothing.  Such is the state of the rebellion in this age.  God, who has given us everything, is treated as if He were nothing.  And too many are okay with this state of affairs.

Lord, You know these things better than I ever will.  Help me to see that the reality of love and life that You offer is dismissed with what I think are pleasures, but they are really nothing.  I trade eternity for a moment.  I give up my blessing for a bowl of nothing like Esau.  Lead me the other way round Lord so that I go the way of the righteous.  Guide me on the narrow path to value what is valuable.

Savior of all who believe, lead me away from the fleeting pleasures of this world to focus upon what is right and good.  Help me now and always to lift my eyes, look to You and see where my help comes from.  The hindrances are of this world and my help is from You.  Guide me today in Your way of righteousness so that I may humbly walk with You, my Lord and Savior.  Thank You for grace, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“[C]argo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; every kind of citron wood, every article of ivory, and every article made from very valuable wood, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon, spice, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, and cargo of horses, carriages, slaves, and human lives” (Revelation 18:12-13).

From Wall Street to Walmart, and especially during the holiday seasons, it becomes a mad rush to buy things.  We may not need them, or even want them, but they are purchased.  Mounds of expectations satisfy the advertisements that tell us we need these things.  Do we listen to the Word of the Lord as we listen to all the hype?  Are we as fervent for the Lord as we are for our  desires for things?

Lord, what a crazy world this has become.  We go shopping and it looks like one giant ant hill.  Why do I get so caught up in the insanity?  Why do I not shed myself from these things and simply live for You.  Save me Lord from this mess, too.  Everywhere I turn, I see the need for salvation.  Guide me in Your goodness to live according to Your grace and mercy.

Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, minister to my heart so that I would live simply and accept that You alone are the source of all things.  All the jewels and precious stones are Your creation.  The gold and silver are Yours also.  Help me to look to You, the source of all that is precious and beautiful, to live as You have created me to live.  Guide me this day through the mess of this world.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, minister to my heart so that I would live simply and accept that You alone are the source of all things.  All the jewels and precious stones are Your creation.  The gold and silver are Yours also.  Help me to look to You, the source of all that is precious and beautiful, to live as You have created me to live.  Guide me this day through the mess of this world.  Amen.

“And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore” (Revelation 18:11)

How much of our money, time, and effort do we waste on things that do not really matter?  The stores have shelves filled with things upon things.  Once two or three sets of clothes were enough.  Now we have too many to choose from.  One day the Lord will say “enough”.  Prudence will return and no one will buy all the junk that is being produced.  Why not start now?

Lord, what is prudent?  I do not know.  How much do I really need?  How much is enough?   Your grace is sufficient, but what does that mean?  Help me, dear Lord, to gain wisdom and have a clear mind about what I do and do not need.  Guide me away from this consumerism that has the whole world reaching for their wallet.  Lead me to spend my time, effort, and money on things that will make a difference. Grant me contentment with what I have.

Lord Jesus, You did not spend Your time the way the world spends its time.  Even in Your day, which was not as frantic with consuming as now, You went from place to place and engaged with people.  Lead me, Lord, to follow Your example and engage with people.  As I walk this life of faith, grant me a clearer mind, eyes that see, and a willingness to set godly priorities.  Amen.

“And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of sexual immorality and lived luxuriously with her, will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come’” (Revelation 18:9-10).

How the mighty weep when their days of luxury are over.  Some of the mighty also end up in nursing homes, forgotten and unattended.  It is not that winding up in a nursing home is bad, but that the delusional do not think they are like the rest of us.  For those who have lived in a delusion, reality is painful.  Those who have lived immorally will also receive judgement against all wickedness.

Lord, the judgement is built into reality.  Those who live by grace may not like their situation, but they will still praise You.  Those who hate You and practice wickedness will become even more bitter as the delusion of this age is replaced with the reality that judgement brings.  No matter our circumstances, we are called to praise and honor You.  Affliction lasts only for a time, but to be with You in eternity is true joy.

Lord, help my unbelief.  When difficulty comes, I am tempted to cry out in aguish and ask, “Why me.”  Why not me?  Lord, You have allowed all that will come to pass to unfold with a promise to those who believe that it all has good purpose.  Lead me by faith to hold fast to Your promises and to live through whatever tests this life may bring.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of true living.  Amen.

Lord, help my unbelief.  When difficulty comes, I am tempted to cry out in aguish and ask, “Why me.”  Why not me?  Lord, You have allowed all that will come to pass to unfold with a promise to those who believe that it all has good purpose.  Lead me by faith to hold fast to Your promises and to live through whatever tests this life may bring.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of true living.  Amen.

“For this reason in one day her plagues will come, plague and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong” (Revelation 18:8).

That which you do not expect nor desire shall come.  Your sinful desires will no longer be satisfied.  You will weep and not be so positive anymore.  The delusions will be shattered and the illusion of happiness shall fall down before the reality of wickedness in this world.  It is not that we should always be sad, nor lack any happiness, but the mantra of positive thinking is a poison.

Lord, take away from me the poison of delusional thinking that is going on in society.  Let me be one who sees clearly.  Allow me to live in the freedom You give so that I may abide wholly in You.  When I am tempted to not see things as they are, help me graciously to walk away from what is false to live what is true.  Guide me in Your goodness Lord to walk always with You.

Thank You, Jesus, for speaking the words of truth.  Guide me in truth so that I may humbly walk with You into eternity.  Teach me the obedience You desire.  Lead me to walk one step at a time, speaking truth.  Do not let me cover up mourning with laughter, nor shrug off famine with indifference.  Let me live the life You have given me the way You would have me live it.  Amen.

“To the extent that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, to the same extent give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning’” (Revelation 18:7).

Sit, glorifying yourself, living luxuriously, and only accepting positive thoughts.  That sums up many people in this age.  Living an illusion, they are alone, but think themselves leaders of the world.  It is a delusion.  But the Lord has come to shine His light so that you can see and not live as one who is blind.  You are who you are, and the Lord is who He is, and you are not Him.

Lord, reality is much easier to live out than the delusion of thinking more of myself than I ought.  Lead me into continued right thinking and help me avoid all the wicked nonsense that tempts me to stray from You.  You are the One who created all things and only in You is there life and liberty.  Throughout the pains of this age, lead me to see with clarity Your upward call of grace and mercy.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for helping us to stand firm amidst a delusional age.  We have become steeped in the wine of lies that makes us drunk on things that are not true.  You have spoken the truth and set me free.  Lead me to live in the freedom You give so that I may now and always abide in Your salvation.  Guide me to know that in You alone is hope and an eternal future.  Amen.

“Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her” (Revelation 18:6).

Vengeance does belong to the Lord and He will repay.  The wicked ensnare, trap, and destroy the innocent.  Good men have gone to their demise because of the wicked.  For the time being, be aware of the traps and avoid them.  Do not be led astray by the common temptations but be aware of where you go and what you do.  Do this not because others are watching, but in the Lord and according to His will.

Lord, too often, I behave because of what others say.  This creates a trap where I do things I ought not.  But this also means I do not do things that I ought.  Lord, free me from this trap to be freed to be who You have made me to be.  It is not to care about what others think, but it is about doing what is right regardless of what others think.  Lead me, Lord, where I need to go.

Lord Jesus, at first, salvation seems so easy.  Look to You and hope in the resurrection.  But then the Holy Spirit comes and tells me of many things that need to be worked on.  Lord, give me strength each day to meet the challenges I will face.  Help me to understand that in You alone is salvation.  Help me to do what is right and moral for my own sake and for others.  Help me by Your grace to take seriously the challenge of becoming like You.  Amen.   

“I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive any of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her offenses” (Revelation 18:4).

Come out.  Is it really that simple?  Yes, but.  It is so hard to be shed of a certain way of life filled with bad habits.  The Lord has called us out of the wickedness of this age to live into the life of eternity.  Practice acts of righteousness and refrain from the acts of indecency which mark the wicked in this world.  Know that only in the Lord is there hope and a future.  Know that true life is found only in the One who createded life for you and me.

Lord, I know when I am doing something that is wrong.  I see it, and its pleasures are fleeting, followed often be guilt and/or dissatisfaction.  Help me to break the cycle and live as You know I have been created to live.  Guide me in Your goodness to not only see but do according to all that You have in mind for me.  Lord, bring me safe out of this wicked age and fill me with a desire for true life.

My Lord and Savior, You have come to lift me out of the pit of condemnation.  Grant me the will and ability to stay out of the pit.  According to Your grace and mercy, may I be found in You now and always.  Each day, grant that I would become more like You.  Through all that I experience in this age, may the clarity of Your call be clear above all the evil noises I hear.  Save me again today, dear Lord.  Amen.

“For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich from the excessive wealth of her luxury” (Revelation 18:3).

Wink, wink, look the other way and listen to what we say and do not look at what we do.  How many politicians have fallen because of immorality?  It seems people don’t care about those things anymore.  Collect money, live hedonistically, and do not care about the truth.  These are  marks of wickedness.  The world may practice them, but what about you?  Do you seek these things?

Lord, I do not understand why the world lives this way, but I do understand the tug that pulls at the sinful heart.  By Your grace, You have kept me from walking this way.  But even if You had not, turning my eyes to You is the cure.  We often live for the nothings of this world, but You call us to true life which includes everything.  If I can see it for what it is, why do I chase after things that are temporary and fleeting?

Lord Jesus, in You I already have all things necessary.  Guide me in the way You would have me go.  Lead me away from this world’s way of living, what it calls, “good times.”  Keep me in Your arms of mercy and grace where I may live life as it is meant to be lived.  Help me to know that in You I have true life.  Help me to resist the idiotic temptations that come my way and live life with purity.  Amen.

“And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird” (Revelation 18:2).

Every unclean thing gathers together.  The unclean encourage one another on with the rebellion against our Lord and God.  Why do you go to Babylon?  Why do you dwell with her?  Come out of her, you who have seen the light.  Come out and live toward the eternity which is promised you in grace.  Do not go her way but learn to live in the way of the Lord.  He who is sovereign will guide You always.

Lord, the wickedness of this world is all around me.  I long for the day when her wickedness is no more.  Guide me according to Your purpose while I remain amidst the wickedness so that I may learn how to be faithful.  Teach me in Your grace and mercy how to avoid the pitfalls and temptations that surround me.  Keep me from the unclean spirits that daily seek to destroy me.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving me the hope and blessed assurance of salvation by the grace You give.  Guide me today to walk humbly in the way of salvation.  No matter what I see happening around me, keep me close to You and guide me to remain faithful.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may grow in Your likeness and be a reflector of Your light shining in this world.  Thank You for the salvation You give.  Amen.