Proved Genuine

Is this faith of mine for real?

Or will I fall under the weight of my doubt?

Will I be found a faithful follower when all is said and done?

Or will I crack under this mantle of suffering?

Will this pain stifle me and keep me silent?

Lord, I want to be fully Yours.

In Your great mercy You have given me new birth into a living hope through the resurrection from the dead of Your precious Son, Jesus Christ, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for me, because through faith I am shielded by Your great power until the coming salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this I long to greatly rejoice, Lord, though now for a little while I have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

You have said that these have come into my life at this time so that my faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Jesus, though I have not seen You, I love You…I love You so much; and even though I do not see You now, in the midst of these trials, I still believe You, and I am filled to overflowing with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for I am receiving the goal of my faith, the salvation of my soul.

Therefore, Lord Jesus, please prepare my mind for action.

Help me to be self-controlled.

Set my hope fully on the grace to be given to me when You are revealed.

Please keep me from conforming to the evil desires I once had when I lived in ignorance, apart from You.

Keep me from falling back into my youthful, naïve ways.

And, Lord, help me to be holy, because You are holy.

Jesus, if in these tribulations my faith is being proved genuine, then I’m thankful.

I praise You for allowing me to go through this, knowing that You have not left me alone.

As tears stain my pillows and moisten my cheeks, You are here.

You know my heart.

My faith is in Your hands.

As You hold me, You hold and protect the measure of faith that You, Yourself, have given me.

Thank You, Jesus!