“[S]o that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7)

What is the most precious thing to you?  Your faith in Christ is the most precious thing there is in your life, but is that true for you?  If you are out of sync, then learn how to live in such a way that your life is following the way of Jesus.  He is the One who is saving you, but in order to be saved, you need to follow His lead.  Come then and live according to the goodness and mercy of the Lord.

Lord, I get caught up in the way of the world and I am distracted.  I want what the world says I should want.  I do not go to that place where I desire what You would have me desire.  Guide me Lord up and away from the way of the world and into the narrow path of salvation.  Help me to spend my time and energy preparing for the day when I shall meet You face to face and then know fully what You have always known.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we might have the abundant life.  Guide me in the narrow way in order that I would clearly see those things which get in the way of my living that life.  Help me to spend the needed time and energy in the right things and to prioritize what is important.  You are leading and teaching me how to follow so that I fully participate in this promised life that You give.  Amen.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6)

How do you view life?  In what ways are you inspired to do things.  Are you guided by what you know from the world, even though what you do is good, or are you inspired by the way of the Lord?  Look to the Lord first.  He told you that there are to be no other gods before Him.  Live then into the faith you have been given so that you may be guided by His eternal goodness.

Lord, I am educated in the schools, or at least in schools of thought, and by what I hear at church.  I spend way more time listening to music, watching television, and scouring the internet than I do paying attention to You.  My mind is filled with conflicting ideas.  Lead me, O Lord, to see that You alone are the Eternal One.  You are the One through whom all things have their being.  Lead me to always look to You as my first priority.

Lord Jesus, You came in order that we may have eternal life.  Guide me this day so that what You have taught me is foremost in my mind.  By Your example, help me to meet all the challenges of this day.  In You, let me have hope.  May the things I think, say, and do, be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Show me by Your word, O Lord, how to live life; living toward the eternity in which I will spend with You.  Amen.

“[T]o obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:4-5).

We are living in an age of defilement.  Every disease, every plague, every crime is the result of sin.  We are reminded of this each day.  But this is temporary.  The day is coming and in the hope Christ gives us now, we can and do know that we are not living in this state forever.  We are called to live toward the hope of that day when all is imperishable and immortal.  Live in this hope and know that the eternal day is coming.

Lord, let me not be fatalistic, nor defeated, but grateful and filled with joy that You have already overcome all the wickedness of this world.  Guide me in the way of salvation so that I may now and always walk according to Your will and in the way laid before me by You.  Help me to walk each step in Your grace and with mercy so that I may now and always walk in the hope of the salvation which is mine through You.

Lord Jesus, You were purposeful about all of the things You did.  As You headed to the cross, You left timeless stories to help us walk the way of truth.  Guide me this day by Your word in order that I may walk the narrow path as You lead me to see Your hand upon my life.  Lead me to do what is right in Your sight and according to the Father’s will.  Through all that comes this day, may I live in the newness of life that You give by grace.  Amen.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3)

Born to a living hope is not born to what you will be, for that we do not yet know, but born again by the living hope which is Christ.  He who has accomplished your salvation is leading you as your salvation unfolds through the actions of your life.  Come then and be in the journey which Christ leads.  Be a willing follower who looks to the Lord for each step of the journey.

Lord, I like to think in terms of immediacy.  You are not slow as those who are impatient see slowness, but intentional so that I am not fully aware of all that You are doing.  Lead me away from wanting to know the outcome to a desire to learn obedience.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may now and forever be led by You, my living hope, into the goodness of Your grace and mercy.

Jesus, You have taught us to believe in You.  You have told us that You go to prepare a place.  As I walk this journey of faith, help me to live in the hope into which I was born through You.  When I reach the end of this age or my life, may what I still have is hope in You.  Help me to live in that hope each and every day.  Guide me according to the Father’s will that I may be led by You to that better country.  Amen.

“To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure” (1 Peter 1:1-2).

I suppose it is no longer politically correct to think this way, so whether you listen to the Word or the world, we forge ahead with the idea of being alien, even if the world says this is our home.  Home is where the heart is.  Is your heart set on the things of this world, or upon where you will be forever.  Know that if your heart is set upon heaven, in the Lord, you still very much care for the earth; the opposite, not so much.

Lord, You have called for us to be stewards.  Stewards don’t own, they just care for what is entrusted to them.  Everything in my possession belongs to You.  Teach me to care for all things as a steward knowing that this is not my home.  Being with You is my home.  Guide me in the way I should go in order that I may be led into that better country where I am no longer an alien and sojourner.

Lord Jesus, You did not come just to make us better people in this place.  You came that we might go with You on a journey into eternity.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Help me to walk with You knowing that You alone know the way, for You are the way.  Guide me in the new life You have given me and help me to rejoice in Your grace with thanksgiving.  Amen.

“My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).

If your focus is upon another and not upon yourself, that is an important first step in relating with one’s neighbor.  We are called to care for one another and help each other as we journey with Jesus.  Come then and be a help to others so that we each may grow in the likeness of Christ.  Christ alone redeems us, but we too have our part; for God has chosen to work through means.  Come then and live according to the Word of God and be led by the One who redeemed you.

Lord, in You alone is all hope.  But especially in these self-serving times, I focus too much upon myself.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life in order that I may now and always be guided by You.  Help me to understand that You have provided the way of life and that I cannot go by my own direction.  Without You I am lost.  Only the One who has descended can ascend because only He knows the way (and is the way).

Lead on, O King eternal, our Savior Jesus, for You who are from eternity have come to lead into eternity those who will not perish, but have everlasting life.  Guide me, Lord, to see that in You is all hope and the only future worth living.  Keep me and others around me from error so that we may live peaceful lives that conform to the Father’s will, the way You have laid before us.  Amen.

“Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:18).

Elijah was never in control of the circumstances.  You and I will never be in full control of our circumstances.  When we learn to listen to the Lord, we learn to do what He commands us to do.  If he tells us to tell a mountain to be moved, it will be moved.  Come then into the fulness of faith and learn to walk in the Lord’s admonition and be guided by His goodness and mercy.

Lord, Your word is constantly pointing me to come in prayer to You and learn from You.  Lead me, dear Lord, in this faith You have given me so that I may now and always be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Teach me to see that it is not about discovering how to do something, but about listening to You.  It is not about magnificent powers, but about You who is the One through whom all things have their being.

Lord Jesus, You have said things plainly, but I do not listen.  You have told me to come to You in prayer; in fact, to never cease praying.  Lead me, O Lord, to know that in You alone is there all hope.  Guide me according to Your purpose and by Your grace to have ears that are open and a willingness to do what You know I need to do.  Help me to obey no matter what You ask me to say and do knowing that what You give me is always good.  Amen.

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months” (James 5:17).

None of us has extraordinary powers.  The Lord has all power and authority.  We are called to come into the community which is Trinity and live out our lives of faith in the Father’s will and to His glory.  Elijah was just like us and in his example, we are to live lives of faith.  Come live the life of faith You have been given and be encouraged according to the measure of grace given you.

The Lord has said that His grace is sufficient.  Walk in that grace and be led to live out His purpose in your life now and forever.  Be guided by the Lord and not by the world.  Live in the community and do not lament that it is not what you want.  The Lord has given you everything you need.  Be content with your portion and do not hesitate to pray and hear as the Lord answers.

Come, Holy Spirit, and kindle in me the spirit of willingness to do what is right.  Guide me in the grace You give so that I would be a person of prayer.  Lead me according to Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope, for all authority is Yours.  Stir my heart to want doing what You give me to do and then, move me to actually do it.  In and through all things, grow in me a willing and contrite heart.  Amen.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16).

We need community.  Isolate someone and they will not do well.  We have been created as social creatures.  The church is a living organism and not just a meeting place.  Be in community and share with one another.  Share your burdens and share your joys.  Pray for one another.  The healing is of the soul.  It will happen for those who are in faith which is why we live in Christ.

Lord, help me to separate how I feel from the promises You give.  The body I now occupy will fail, but Your promises are forever.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of life so that I may now and always be guided by You and the promise You give.  Help me to connect in the community where You have placed me.  Lead me according to Your goodness to see through this age’s nonsense.

Lord Jesus, You gathered together the twelve, the seventy, and all of those who are called through Your grace into salvation.  You are building a community.  Help me to live in the community in which You have placed me.  Guide me according to Your purpose to live the life of faith You have given me.  Grow me  in the ways of caring, communicating, and praying for others.  Amen.

“Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him” (James 5:14-15).

The concern is to go deeper than just a quick prayer or word of encouragement.  As the Lord has invested Himself in us, we are to invest ourselves in others.  Be guided in the goodness of the Lord to learn how to care for the members of your extended family.  Learn how to love your neighbor as yourself.  This is a part of what the Lord is doing as He brings you into conformity to Him.

Lord, help me to be aware and intentional about this faith You have given me.  Guide me in Your goodness to learn how to truly care for those around me.  Show me the need and then help me learn how to meet that need.  Guide me Lord in the way of everlasting life.  Lead me according to Your word to fulfill Your will and live in the righteousness You have shown me.

Lord Jesus, throughout Your earthly ministry You did these things.  You are now asking me to step up and do the same.  Guide me in order that I might truly be one who completes the ministry You have given me to do.  Let me not just talk about my faith but live it and carry it out through the ministry You give me.  Teach me how to love my neighbor as You have loved me.  Guide me always in the way of righteousness.  Amen.