Not If But When

Wednesday June 4, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Jeremiah 15:19 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.”

Verse of the day: 1 Chronicles 29:11

11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

Today’s Reading:  2 Chronicles 21-22 John 14

Not ‘If’ But ‘When’

Luke 22:31–32

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not 

fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus does not tell us to abide and then leave us to our own devices.

Jesus tells us: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. (John 10:27–29)

Then in John 17:11–12, Jesus prays to His Father, our Father, “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me…”

Jesus told Peter, “32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not 

fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your 

brothers.”(Luke 22)

Jesus tells us that we are in God’s unfailing grip; He prays that we are kept in God’s Holy name; and then prays for us that ‘when’ we return(knowing we will sin and repent) we will, from the strength we gain from failing and returning to God, strengthen our brothers.

So, when we hear Jesus command us to ‘abide in Him’, we must know that He will give us all we need to abide as we are held in God’s hand, in God’s name, and in the prayers of Christ for us.

...because He loves us… He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

In Your name is all my provision and all Your kingdom. Increase my desire to do Your will. Give me today my kingdom teaching. Forgive me for choosing not to think kingdom thoughts. Deliver me from evil.

Tender God of all patience,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen