1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com. 3 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: You're listening to daily devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stanghy, 4 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: and today's devotion is inspired by First Thessalonians, Chapter four, 5 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: verses sixteen and seventeen, which says, for the Lord himself 6 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with 7 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of 8 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will 9 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, 10 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: will be caught up together with them in the clouds 11 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: to meet the Lord in the air. And so we 12 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 1: will always be with the Lord. Some of our days 13 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: are difficult, other days are a breeze. But in the 14 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: midst of our difficult days, it can be tempting to 15 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: be to think things will always be this way. Thankfully, 16 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 1: for those who trust in Jesus Christ, there is a 17 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: glorious future up ahead. This is something the Lord has 18 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 1: revealed to us as an intentional source of encouragement. During 19 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: seasons when we might be tempted to despair. Jesus has 20 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: promised that he will return for us. We don't know 21 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: when this will be, but he has told us to 22 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 1: be ready for him to come at any time. When 23 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: he returns, he will grant a new, resurrected body to 24 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: all believers, and he will take us to be with 25 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: him forever. In his presence, there will be no more sorrow, 26 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: no more mourning, and no more pain. He will wipe 27 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: away all our tears and will usher us into an 28 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: eternity in his presence that is far beyond anything we 29 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: can naturally imagine. Remind your heart of these truths frequently. 30 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: That's right, Lord, Thank you for your word, and thank 31 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: you for the reminders that you give to us in 32 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,399 Speaker 1: it that you have a plan for us that's far 33 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: beyond our current circumstances. Lord, we know that right now, 34 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: in our current circumstances, we might be tempted to experience despair. 35 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: We might be tempted to look at situations that surround 36 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: us and think this is never going to improve. But 37 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: then we look at what your word tells us, and 38 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: your word reveals to us that you have a future 39 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: for us that is far beyond anything we've ever seen 40 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 1: and anything we've ever experienced. And you assure us in 41 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,519 Speaker 1: your word that we are not abandoned, We are not forgotten. 42 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: Your word tells us that your son, Jesus Christ is 43 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: going to return for us, and we will be brought 44 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: into your presence for all eternity. Father, we're grateful for 45 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: this reality, and we're grateful for the hope that you 46 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: give to us that's anchored in who you are and 47 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 1: not anchored in our circumstances. Lord, we could look forward 48 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: to what you have in store for us regardless of 49 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: anything we experience in this world. Father, we pray that 50 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: our greatest hope would not be anchored to anything on 51 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 1: this planet, and that our sense of well being wouldn't 52 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: be tied to how things are going in the present. 53 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: By your grace, Lord, we pray that we would have 54 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: an optimistic, hopeful perspective as we look toward the future 55 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: that you've already secured on our behalf and Father, we're 56 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: grateful to know a little bit about it ahead of 57 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: time so that we could be looking forward to it 58 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: right now. Thank you, Lord for revealing these things to 59 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: us in your word. We commit this day to your care, 60 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: and we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.