“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.

“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen” (Revelation1:7).

Every eye will see Him.  Does every eye mean that everyone is resurrected?  Yes. some for eternal glory and others for eternal separation.  Let this simple truth be known by you.  This is our confession, that we believe that Christ will judge the living and the dead.  All will stand before Christ.  What kind of person ought you to be knowing these things.  If you have been saved, be one who looks forward to His coming.

Lord, You have said these things over and over and I did not listen.  Help me, I pray, to understand the simple facts that You have spoken so that I may understand good doctrine and not be led astray by those who tickle my ears.  Lead me in the truth so that I may live the new life that You have given me by grace and through faith.  Guide me to rejoice in the revelation You have given me so that all who hear may believe and follow You.

Lord Jesus, You are the King of kings, and the day will come when I stand before You face to face.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of life that You have established.  Help me to know that only in You is there hope and a future.  In the goodness that You have revealed, help me to live this life fully in blessed assurance of all the promises that You have given.  Guide me to learn how to be more faithful.  Amen.

“[A]nd He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father – to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:6).

I suspect many often over-think the idea of what priesthood entails.  A priest is simply one who may draw near to God.  Have we all not been given that opportunity by grace through faith?  Jesus opened the way to approach God, so yes, we all are a priesthood of believers.  But this also does not take away from the Holy Spirit’s gifting us each according to the Father’s purpose.  Live into the purpose the Father has for you knowing that He is drawing all together in Him.

Lord, these two ideas are simple to understand, but I sometimes get them mixed up.  I can come to You anytime in prayer.  I no longer need a mediator.  But that does not mean that I do not need those who will lead me in a life of worship.  Guide me, Lord, so that I follow You in all of Your ways.  Help me overcome those obstacles that are in the way.  In Your providence, help me to follow Your directions.

Lord Jesus, You humbly walked the earth and told us that You did nothing except by the Father’s direction.  By Your example, help me to follow You as You lead.  All authority is Yours.  In You alone is salvation.  You are the way, truth, and life.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may continue to grow in Your grace and mercy.  Help me to be a dutiful member of the kingdom You are creating.  Amen.

“[A]nd from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5)

We have been saved by Christ.  What did you do for that salvation?  Nothing!  Jesus is the One who has saved us.  Let that be your understanding of salvation.  Yes, you need to respond in faith to this and live the new life He gives, but He is the One who gave that new life and You have been invited to live it.  By His blood are we redeemed.  Through Him our sins have been paid for and we have grace and mercy.

Lord, it seems as though so many are working hard at their salvation.  Lead me, O Lord, to not work so hard, but live diligently seeking what is right and true according to Your word.  Guide me in the direction You know I need to go.  Help me to become a faithful witness.  You are the firstborn.  All others must follow You.  You alone know the way, for You alone have descended and re-ascended.

Lord Jesus, my Savior and Rock of Ages, help me disregard the thoughts the that world has taught me so that I may trust in, and walk humbly with, You.  You know the way I should go.  You know the purposes of the Father.  You have come so that all who follow You would grow into the new life that You give by grace through faith.  Guide me this day to take the appropriate steps to grow in the new life You have given me.  Amen.

“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne” (Revelatiion 1:4)

The LORD has always been.  He invented time.  All time is in His hand.  Literally, all time is His.  He sees you yesterday, today, and all the tomorrows that will ever come.  He sees.  Come to the One who has the seven Spirits before Him and has willingly shared these things with You.  Fear the Lord reverently, but do not be afraid to walk with the One who created you, knowing that the Lord is good.

Lord, there are many mysteries in life.  But I have life even though there are many things I do not understand about it.   Help me to live faithfully even with my ignorance of these mysteries.  You have revealed all that You have done that I might share eternity with you.  Help me to focus upon this day and what You would have me do.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to walk the path of faith.  

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your mercy, compassion, and love.  You have paid the price to redeem me from the pit so that I may learn to live a life that gives You thanks and praise.  Help me today to take those steps You place before me and give thanks for all that You have done.  You are to be praised for You are always good.  Help me to learn from You what it means to live righteously.  Guide me always, dear Savior.  Amen.