Holy Spirit, this moment is Yours:
Revelation 8
1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
I've been a fool in preparing. It's all vanity. Today You have told me that no amount of preparedness can save me from Your judgements. I may plant 1,000 trees to assure my family and I may eat in full; but You can simultaneously strike my whole property with famine. All I have is at YOUR mercy; Including my self.
Thank you for this bread which is Your Son, Jesus Christ's body, broken and given for us. Please bless it.
Thank you for this wine which is Your Son, Jesus Christ's blood which was shed for many for the remission of sins and of the new covenant. Please bless it.
We repent of our sins, Father. Mold us by Your Holy Spirit to make us more as our Master. Your only begotten Son. We are at YOUR mercy.
In Jesus name amen.
Amen! That's funny, I spent this morning studying Rev Ch.8. One of the purposes for these judgments is mercy. (I know it's hard to think that with that is described). But this is God setting the contexts for the next and ultimate phase, the last 3 trumpets and the bowls. God is crippling the antichrist's advance with these first four trumpets and confirms the witness of the church. That we will have clarity and a steady hand to tell and prepare others what will happen next. The church is not the victim, but the catalyst through the prayers of the saints which will release the final judgements and then ultimately reuniting with our heavenly father. It's the final exodus, the spiritual one. Where we are shown mercy and lead back to the new Eden.
Well said, sis. As often times it is said. It's through tribulation that we must enter the kingdom (Acts 14). So though it seems bleak; it indeed is the only way forward. To keep moving forward is as it sounds: you will not be spared of the fire, but rather will be given the endurance to walk through it. A poet once said: "Dark is the way; Light is a place." -Dylan Thomas on 'a poem on his birthday'
And that Light is Jesus Christ.