“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

Whether it is the end of this life for you or me, or the end of the age, it will come and when it does. It will happen quickly.  Do not be surprised at the twists and turns along the way.  The Lord has told us ahead of time so that when the end comes we will not be surprised.  Too many do not heed the warning of the Lord.  Do not be one of them.  Know that the Lord will bring about all He has promised.

Lord, this age is turbulent and uncertain.  Even in the best of times, it is still filled with uncertainty.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of life that looks to You so that I may be guarded by You and Your word.  Your word is truth.  Let me not cling to this world which will burn up, but be renewed by Your spirit in my mind, heart, and soul.  Guide me dear Lord to live as You would have me live.

Come, Holy Spirit, and guard my heart and mind.  Lead me into the peace that surpasses all understanding so that no matter what is happening in this age, I may be at peace knowing that all things are in the Father’s hands.  Guide me today to keep my mind and heart in Your hands.  Lead me to do what is fitting for this day and guard me against the adversary and his tricks.  Amen.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

The Lord has waited so that You would have the opportunity to be in His kingdom.  At just the right time, He came to us.  He is waiting for whomever else is not yet walking with Him, including the unborn.  The Lord is building His kingdom and just because you have realized that you are a part of it does not mean that the Lord needs to wrap it up.  You have been given grace.  Pass along that grace to others that they too may have the opportunities you have had.

Lord, guide me away from selfish thinking where I think I am the only one who matters.  Lead me into all truth so that I may patiently await whatever You will bring into my life.  Guide me in Your goodness to see where I am not gracious to others.  Through all things, You are the One who is Sovereign.  Lead me to willingly accept Your timeline knowing that all things are in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, why is it I become so selfish and want things to end now that I have accepted You?  Guide me to have compassion for others so that I may be led by Your goodness and Your desire that none would perish.  Lead me in the way I need to go and help me see through the dark clouds of sinfulness in this age to do what is right.  Help me hold fast to Your promises today and live in them now and always.  Amen.

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day” (2 Peter 3:8).

What is time?  Is not time something the Lord has also created?  He is not just in our time, but in all time.  He is the creator of time.  In fact, He has, so to speak, all the time in the world to deal with you alone.  We fret over time, but the older you are, the more you know how fast it goes.  Look to the One who created all things and rest in the arms of His grace and mercy.  He will do as He has promised, for He cannot lie .

Lord, I try to figure things out and I fail.  You have created me to be who I will become.  Continue to lead me on the path of salvation so that I may continue to grow into the likeness of Christ, my Savior.  Let me not worry about progress, time, or whether I am meeting some deadline.  Instead, help me to look to You always, be at peace and be guided by the word You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You walked this earth to provide what is necessary for the sake of all who believe in order that the way of everlasting life would be shown.  Lead me according to Your goodness to know that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Guide me in the way You have established so that I do not worry about time, but act as one who is eternal because of Your grace and mercy.  Lift me up in Your arms to continue becoming what You are making of me.  Amen.

“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7).

It will come soon enough.  We all will wind up at the gate and will face Jesus.  What?  Seventy or eighty years?  Perhaps not that long.  And yes, there will be a final day.  Meanwhile, the liars will lie, and the scoffers will scoff.  But you, what will you do?  Will you come to your Maker on His terms?  Will you submit yourself to the Lord God and learn to love Him as He loves you?

Lord, You know all that I need.  I listen to the world who say, “Where is your God?”  Help me turn to You in all seasons that I may humbly walk in Your presence.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is hope, for You are the Maker of all things.  Let me not fear judgement so much as look forward to being with You forever.  Guide me in Your goodness, O Lord.

Thank You, Jesus, that by Your stripes I am healed.  Lead me according to Your goodness to know that in You is life and liberty.  You have given me grace.  I have all the grace I need because of You.  Help me to live into the life to which I have been called knowing that in You is all truth.  Lead me now and forever, Lord, so that I may walk with You as You created me to walk.  Amen.

“[T]hrough which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water” (2 Peter 3:6)

The scoffers ask, “How could God destroy humanity?”  Sometimes, I wonder why He hasn’t destroyed it as He did in Noah’s time.  People can be so hateful and mean.  But God has His purpose in all things.  He will fulfill all the promises He has made.  It will come to pass just as He has spoken it.  Do not just look to the way things are, but to the way He will make them to be.  Look to the Lord in and for all things.

Lord, help me to see through all the nonsense of this world.  Guide me in Your goodness to understand that You have a plan and that all things shall work out according to Your plan.  You have promised that all things shall work together for our good because of Your steadfast love.  Guide me now and always by that love to know that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Lead me out of death (the wages of sin) and into new life in You.

Lord Jesus, You are the life that has been promised.  You have come so that we who believe may have new life and have it abundantly.  Guide me as I am conformed to You in order that I would grow each day into Your likeness.  Help me to see through the dark clouds of this age and understand the clarity of Your promise.  Hold me fast to Your Word of promise that I may live by grace through faith, knowing that You are the way, truth and life.  Amen.

“For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water” (2 Peter 3:5)

God spoke and all that we see came into existence.  Apart from God speaking it into existence, it does not exist.  Do not let this escape your notice.  The Lord speaks His promises, and it shall be as He has spoken them.  Jesus said, “Father, I thank You that I have not lost one.”  It is so because Jesus has spoken it.  The Word of God has spoken and all who are in Him have been renewed by water and the Word.

Lord, on the one hand, this is a great mystery.  On the other hand, it is so simple that the smallest child can understand.  You have created all things and what You say comes to pass.  Help me to not get caught up in the manipulation of words that this age uses to confuse and lead me astray.  Help me to hear Your clear words of truth and follow what You have already spoken.  Guide me, Lord, in Your way of truth and life.

Lord Jesus, You are the Word made flesh.  In You alone is there all hope.  You have spoken and it is so.  By Your grace I am healed.  Lead me ever deeper into the faith You have given me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to walk humbly with You all the days of my life.  Help me now and always to hear Your word and to hold fast to the promise You have spoken for all who will believe.  Amen.

“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”  (2 Peter 3:3-4)

The Lord is not slow as some count slowness.  The Lord is purposeful.  If it helps, think of it this way: if the Lord came while the Apostles were alive, you would not be here.  The Lord knows those who are His.  He awaits fulfilment in our age of what was prayed, “Father, I thank You that I have not lost one.”  The Lord is the author of creation, and all things are in His hands.  Look to the One who saves.

Lord, I too become impatient and conditional in my thinking.  I sometimes think that unless You do this or that, this must all be my imagination.  Lead me away from such doubts and sinful thinking to live into the life You give me through faith.  Guide me according to Your purposes so that I will learn from You how truly to live.  Keep me this and every day, O Lord, and help me to understand more fully the truth You have revealed once for all by Your grace.

Guide me, dear Jesus, in the way of salvation.  Lead me according to Your purposes so that I may be sustained by the truth and not led astray by the lies of this world.  Everything is in Your hands, and the Father has promised that it all works together for good for those who love Him.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may grow in Your likeness and be led by the truth You have revealed to all who believe.  Amen.

“This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles” (2 Peter 3:1-2).

There are those who, by all appearances, appear to be engaged, but are not.  They nod their heads, but they have not heard.  Do not be as those who are not involved in daily seeking the Lord’s will.  Instead, do all you can and remember the words spoken about His will that you may be prepared for whatever may come in your life.  The Lord died so that you might have the opportunity to live with Him.

Lord, help me to remember what You have said to me through Your Word.  Help me to continue to grow daily in Your admonition.  Let me not play the game of just being a church member, but truly be a part of Your body.  Guide me, Lord of All, in the way of everlasting life.  Let me know what You have given me to know and to believe what You have opened my heart to believe.  In all things, lead me according to Your will.

Lord Jesus, You did not die so that I could feel good about myself.  You did not die to let me off the hook.  You died so that I could live true life in You according to Your eternal purpose.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You have established.  Guide me according to Your purposes so that I would truly learn to obey willingly all that You have commanded.  Teach me how to learn and then teach me how to live.  Amen.

“It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:22)

There are those for whom salvation will not happen.  It is not that the Lord has not done for them what needs to be done, but that they will not accept and receive what He has done, nor live in the promise of what He has done.  This is the only place where we can truly exercise free will.  We can reject the salvation of Christ.  Leave behind rejection of the Lord and come under the yoke the Lord gives you and learn from Him.

Lord, You told me to take Your yoke upon me and learn from You.  I see those around me who act as if they already know all that needs to be known.  Help me to not go down that path.  Lead me into being one who is true to You and does not deceive himself.  Help me understand that in You is all hope and the only future worth living.  Guide me in Your goodness to remain firmly in Your forgiveness.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, in the way of everlasting life.  Help me now and always to know that You have come to give life.   True life is not found in this world of death.  A life worth living is found only in You.  Lead me ever deeper into Your likeness that I may grow into the everlasting life You are giving me.  Guide me now and always to hold fast to what You have given me through grace.  Lead me, Lord, according to Your purpose.  Amen.

“For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them” (2 Peter 2:21).

More cursed is the one who knows that they are doing evil.  A wicked man does not know how bad he is.  He cannot repent because of that ignorance.  A good man can repent because he knows he has some bad in him.  The one who knows he is corrupted by sin is the most able to repent.  The one who repents and then repents of repenting is closest to the devil himself. 

Why do I do the things I do not want to do?  The old Adam in me controls and drives me to despair.  But You, Lord, have come to save me from myself.  Let me not accept Your salvation and then abandon it.  Let me never entertain the idea that I can do anything apart from You.  Lead me with humility so that I may remain in Your holy presence and be guided in Your goodness and mercy.

Lord Jesus, it takes a perfect man to repent perfectly.  You are the only perfect man who has lived throughout history and that is why You began Your ministry by repenting for us all (represented in Your baptism by John).  Guide me, dear Lord, in the repentance You have represented for me in order that I would begin to understand the truth You have unleashed in my life.  Lead me into faithfulness and take away the temptation to ever reject what You have given me. Amen.