Revelation 3:7-13

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.- Revelation 3:7-13

Dear Jesus, 

I know how much you love each church and each Christian and want them to endure through hard times.  It's so easy to get discouraged by what we can see with our eyes in this world still influenced by Satan.  We often get distracted by our own deep disappointments with how slow the gospel moves.  But you promise that when we endure we will will ultimately see you in heaven and get the prize of eternal life.  Help me by your Holy Spirit to continue my walk of faith through thick and thin because I know you are watching over my life to the very end.  

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

Endurance is much easier when we stop trying to lift the past or the future while carrying the load called today.