I've been thinking a lot about endurance in light of persecution. In the past week or so, I have really struggled with pressing on in what I know to be God's will for me, even though I've not undergone much persecution as we know it. As I have been reflecting on these things, I do know others struggle in much the same way, so today I have decided to offer up a more of a personal prayer under my other screen name, naphtali_deer.  ~Karen
"I Have Need of Patient Endurance Today"

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Father,

I read about the persecution the churches at Smyrna and Philadelphia were enduring and would endure.

I have need of patient endurance today.

I know that lately I have had much need of endurance. I have doubted. I have wanted to quit. I have looked at the task ahead and been overwhelmed. There are days I cannot see how You can take five loaves and two fish and feed a multitude. There are days when I've not wanted to keep prostrating myself to You, to keep praying to You on behalf of Your Church. There are days when I wonder why I should blow the trumpet since no one seems to be listening. There are days when I have wondered if it will have been worth it in the end. There are days when I have wondered why I am bothering.

I have need of patient endurance today.

Lord Jesus, I've never known any type of trials or persecution like these two churches had or would have. I've never known tribulation like many of the New Testament saints. I've never known anything close to the suffering You endured for me. Yet in my small sufferings and tribulation for You and Your Gospel I still have the same need of great and patient endurance. I have the same enemy You have and these churches have – the devil. He wants to steal, kill and destroy.

He wants to steal my joy.
He wants to kill my desire to follow You.
He wants to destroy my vision.

I have need of patient endurance today.

Even though I've not yet undergone much outward suffering and persecution, my heart and mind and soul have struggled and I have been discouraged in many of the same ways they were. I have been wanting to give up, rather than being faithful unto death. I have found it difficult to patiently endure. I have almost let go of that heavenly crown. I have almost lost the will to be more than a conqueror. And yet You have sustained me. Your love compels me to press on. To continue to ministry of the Word and prayer. Yet daily, even moment by moment, I have need of patient endurance. I know I can slip at anytime. My spirit is willing but my flesh is weak. I confess this to You today.

I have need of patient endurance today.

Lord Jesus, You finished all the work the Father gave You to do. You did not shrink back from suffering. You delighted to do Your Father's will. You willingly offered Yourself up. You came not to be served but to be a servant. You endured the cross, despising the shame. How? For the joy set before You. And You continue on as a faithful high priest.

May Your Spirit of love fill me and constrain me today.
May Your Spirit of obedience fill me today.
May Your Spirit of perseverance fill me today.
May Your vision of a heavenly Kingdom fill me today.
May Your Spirit of joy fill me today.

I have need of patient endurance today.

I look at Paul and Silas and the verbal and physical persecution they enduring, which was far greater than anything I have known for Your Name's sake and Your Gospel's sake:

How did they react to this persecution?

They were praying and singing hymns to You, O God! They were joyful in prison

I have need of patient endurance today.
I have need of Your joy today.

I look at the Hebrew Christians who were persecuted for their faith:

Once again what do we see? We see joy there in the midst of persecution, suffering and plundering.

How can I have that joy in the midst of persecution, suffering and plundering? How can I have joy in the midst of the spiritual battle? How can I have joy as I press on to lay hold of that for which You have laid hold of me? How can I have joy so I might be faithful unto death in the calling with which you have called me? How can I have such joy daily? How can I continue to persevere? How can I be more than a conqueror?

I have need of patient endurance today.
I have need of Your joy today.

In Hebrews 13 we read:

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

And in Psalm 84 (NKJV) we read:

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You.

Father, that is the secret of patient endurance in all circumstances: to go to Jesus and dwell with Him, to abide in Him. To remember my true home is not here on this earth but with You. I am but a pilgrim here. As I seek to abide in You while I walk in this world, I can praise You no matter what happens to me. As I seek to abide in You while I walk in this world, I can praise You no matter how I feel. Only as I abide in You and You in me can I have that same abiding and heavenly joy Paul and Silas and the Hebrew Christians had – a joy that transcends my circumstances and my feelings because it is joy that is rooted in You and in my relationship with You through Jesus Christ. Joy that will carry me through victoriously, as more than a conqueror. Joy that is rooted in You rather than worldly things, including the praise of men or earthly success. The things of this world will not endure. But You are everlasting. Jesus told us He had come that we might have joy and have it abundantly. That's the type of joy that continues to rejoice no matter what. That's the type of joy that allows us to offer up sacrifices of praise to God like Paul and Silas did, even after verbal and physical persecution and even while sitting in prison. That's the type of joy that allows us to offer up sacrifices of praise to God like the Hebrew Christians did, even after their property had been plundered. That's the type of joy that will allow me to continue to praise You and to press on even in the midst of my doubting. Help me to continue to dwell in Your house so I might ever praise You no matter what happens to me or how I feel.

I have need of patient endurance today.
I have need of Your joy today.

Joy that is not rooted in how I feel.
Joy that is not rooted in how others treat me.
Joy that is not rooted in what others think of me.
Joy that is not rooted in what I possess.
Joy that is not rooted in how much success I attain.
Joy that is not rooted in where I am.
Joy that is not rooted in my current circumstances.
Joy that is not rooted in this world.

I have need of patient endurance today.
I have need of Your joy today.

Joy that goes beyond how I feel.
Joy that goes beyond how others treat me.
Joy that goes beyond what others think of me.
Joy that goes beyond what I possess.
Joy that goes beyond how much success I attain.
Joy that is not rooted in where I am.
Joy that goes beyond my current circumstances.
Joy that is not rooted in this world.

I have need of patient endurance today.
I have need of Your joy today.

Joy that is rooted in You and You alone. The only true joy Paul wrote about in Philippians 4:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Father, help me to abide in Your Son and to be ever mindful that this world is not my home. Help me not to be surprised when persecution and trials come. Help me to have Your joy that will carry me through no matter what my circumstances are or my feelings might be. May I have know more and more the only true joy, that joy unspeakable and full of glory, which is rooted in You and You alone. You are the same yesterday, today and forever. You never change. Help me to continue to dwell in Your house so I might be ever joyful and might always praise You. I have much need of endurance. Lord Jesus, help me to abide in You, the true Vine so I might endure and bear much fruit and glorify You. Help me to abide in Your house so I might praise You always. Holy Spirit, fill me and strengthen me and uphold me to endure to the end for apart for I know that apart from You I can do nothing. Amen.

As we've been reading, reflecting and praying over Revelation 1-3, when I read Psalm 138 and saw the purity of David's worship there I was reminded of the purity Jesus desires in the Church.

Jesus was coming into the midst the seven churches and giving them both commendations and corrections. He had come to evaluate their worship of Him. Was their worship of Him pure? And He is coming to us today and asking us the same question: Is our worship of Him pure?

In Psalm 138 as we see purity of worship modeled for us, we also see God's faithfulness to keep and uphold His chosen people, to make us holy as He is holy. As He is faithful to us, may we continue to be faithful to Him and offer Him the pure worship He desires and deserves for He alone is our God.

I've adapted Psalm 138 into a prayer we as the Church could pray together.

Holy Jesus, spotless Lamb of God, our Sanctifier,

We praise You, our Savior, for You have come to save us from our sins. The Father provided You as an atoning sacrifice on the cross for us. Your blood was shed so our sins might be forgiven. You took the punishment we deserved, so we now have peace with God. We can call "Abba, Father," to Your Father because by faith Your Father has become our Father. Amen. And when we do sin we need not fear condemnation for Your blood covers all our sin so when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You became sin for us so we might become the righteousness of God. Your righteousness is credited to us, counted to our account, so You no longer see our sin! How wonderful. But You have also given us Your righteous nature. Your Holy Spirit has come to dwell in us to make us holy and to make us pure. You are not only our Justifier, but You are also our Sanctifier.

We see how You appeared to John in his vision. John fell at Your feet as though dead. He saw Your holiness, well some of Your holiness, for He could not have lived if He had seen all of Your holiness.

Because You are a holy God, You cannot endure sin in Your presence. Through Your Holy Spirit, be merciful and kind to us, show us our sin. Show us where us our worship of You is impure. Show us where we are not walking before You with our whole heart. And then through Your Holy Spirit, give us the desire and the power to purify ourselves, so we might worship You and walk with You in purity, with our whole heart.

May we use David's prayer to help us focus on Your purity and on the purity of worship You desire of each of us and of Your Church. You alone are our God and we ought to be worshiping You with our whole heart. Continue to purify us, O Lord, and perfect that which concerns us. Make us holy as You are holy. May we worship You with our whole heart and nothing less. Do not forsake us. Do not forsake Your Church, but complete the work You have begun in us so we might be a praise in the earth and shine brightly in the world so we might bring glory to You, our wonderful Savior and Redeemer.

We give you thanks, O Lord, with our whole heart

God forbid that we ever give thanks to any other god!
Keep us giving thanks to You alone, O Lord, with our whole heart,
May we never come to You with half-hearted worship
For You alone are our God!

before the gods we will sing Your praise

God forbid we ever sing the praise of other gods!
Other gods do call us to praise them,
Keep us singing Your praise always
For You alone are our God!

We bow down toward your holy temple

God forbid we ever bow down toward any other temple or any other god!
You alone are God and You alone are holy.
May we worship You with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength,
Keep us bowing down toward You and Your holy temple alone.
For You alone are our God!

and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.

God forbid we give thanks to any other name but Your holy Name!
God forbid we exalt anything or anyone above Your Name and Your Word!
Keep us exalting You, Your Name and Your Word above all things
For You alone are our God!

On the day we called, You answered us;
our strength of soul You increased.

God forbid we call on anyone or anything else!
There is no other God but you.
Other gods cannot answer our calls.
You alone are our Strength.
You alone will increase our strength when we are weak.
There is no true strength apart from You.
Keep us seeking strength from You alone, keep us calling on You alone
On the day we call, You will answer us
For You alone are our God!

All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of Your mouth
and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.

God forbid we make ourselves kings!
God forbid we worship earthly kings!
One Day the knees of every earthly king will bow to You and sing and give thanks to You.
Your glory is greater than all the glory of all the earthly kings combined.
God forbid we never glory in any other king but give you, O King of kings, all glory
For great is the glory of the Lord
For great is Your glory, O Lord
For You alone are our God!

For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly,
but the haughty He knows from afar.

God forbid we remain haughty and proud!
Humble us, O Lord, bring us down to our knees.
Most High God, You are seated high in the heavens and the earth is Your footstool
Yet You come to dwell with those who have humble, lowly and contrite hearts.
You look upon the one who is poor and trembles at Your word.
God forbid we refuse to bend our necks and bow our knees to You!
Humble Your Church, O God,
Have mercy upon us and look upon us,
We are poor and needy,
Come dwell with us once more in power.
For You alone are our God!

Though we walk in the midst of trouble,
You preserve our life;
You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of our enemies,
and your right hand delivers Your Church.

O Lord God, we are walking in the midst of trouble today.
We are Your chosen people.
You have set Your love on us and loved us with an everlasting love.
Nothing can separate us from Your love for us in Christ Jesus.
Preserve us. There are temptations from within and from without Your Body.
Yes, we praise You, O God, for we know You will preserve our life because You are our Life!
You will never forsake Your own children.
Stretch out Your hand against the wrath of our enemies, for our enemies are Your enemies.
We have no power to fight this battle. This battle is Yours, O Lord.
O God, may Your right hand deliver us.
In and of ourselves we are powerless and helpless to deliver ourselves.
Help us to wear the armor and to use the weapons You have provided for this warfare.
Help us not to resort to fighting by our own might or power but by Your Spirit,
Help us stand strong in the grace You have provided,
For You alone are our God!

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for His Church;
Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of Your hands.

O Lord, You will fulfill Your purpose for Your Church.
Certainly You will.
O Lord, Your steadfast love to us endures forever.
You have promised to never leave us or forsake us.
Do not forsake the work of Your hands,
We are the work of Your hands.
You have birthed us into Your Kingdom family.
You are the author and finisher of our faith.
You will complete the work You have begun in us.
For You alone are our God!

I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. 9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, Write what you see in a book 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. 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Holy God,

How often we take comfort and solace that Jesus in our midst, as well we should,

but how often do we see Jesus the way John saw Him in Revelation?

Father, Son and Spirit,

When we overlook Your perfect holiness, it is too easy for us to overlook our sin. Do we see You as John did?

Please open our eyes and give us a vision of You like the vision John had . . .

the Alpha and the Omega,
the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come,
the Almighty,
Your loud voice like a trumpet,
to see You in the midst of the lampstands, in our midst of the Church, Your Church,
like the Son of Man,
clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around Your chest,
hairs of Your head white like wool, as white as snow,
eyes are like a flame of fire,
feet are like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace,
voice is like the roar of many waters,
to see a sharp two-edged sword coming from Your mouth,
Your face like the sun shining in full strength.

Show us Your glory . . .

it is only then we will see our sin, our sinfulness and vileness:

Yes, if we were to see you like this, so long as we are no longer trusting our own righteousness but are covered with the perfect righteousness of Christ by grace through faith, You would also lay Your right hand on us, like You did John, and tell us, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."

Yes, Your death saves us from the second death, but not only that, but Your death frees us from sin so we might now be dead to sin but alive to Christ today and forevermore! We have been buried with Christ so we might walk in newness of life. You gave Your Son's life to redeem us, so our lives are not our own. You own us. We are Your people. We are to be a holy people, a people set apart for You, blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom [we are to] shine as lights in the world (Phil. 2:15), even as Jesus Christ shines in the midst of His Church today.

Grant us a greater vision of Your holiness so we might have ears to hear what Your Spirit has to say to us, to the living stones of Your Church, Your dwelling place.

Open our eyes to see Him, so we might see our sin and confess our sin, so You might sanctify our hearts and minds and wills to receive Him and His Word to us.

Open our ears to hear what the Spirit has to say to us. Open our hearts and minds and wills to receive and obey the voice of Jesus Christ in our midst, so we might not grieve or quench Your Spirit, so You might be glorified in and through us. You have created us for Your glory. You have called us of the world to be a holy people, to bring You glory and to declare and proclaim Your praise. May Your Church be a praise in the earth and bring glory to You as You have intended.