We thank you for this day, Father. We thank you for the opportunity to get to know who we are through our challenges and experiences. It sometimes isn’t easy to know why certain things have happened to us. Sometimes they are very challenging. When we realize we are being chosen by you to be tested, it all fits into place. When we go through these things, it gives us the chance to know how strong we are and how strong our faith is. It gives us a chance to look inside, it takes us to the temple within ourselves. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2-3) In that temple in our core, that sacred space, we can find the strength and courage to endure all. We realize that we are becoming very much like tempered steel, in a good way, when we are tested by you. “And how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.” (Romans 5:4)

Come into our hearts, come into our minds, let our Soul sing out in praise of this great journey. Keep us ever mindful that the miracles of change that we are witnessing in this world are coming from your hand and happening because of the dedication of the great warrior inside each of us, perfected through your fire, in the song of life, sung by the true children of the Living God. “But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

Please bless our teams and families, may they be lifted up today to see everything from a higher vantage point. Bless Julian and Stella, and their family, please Father. Bless our Beloved E, may he be kept safe from all harm and be given all he needs to accomplish his missions. Refine us, Father, cleanse us with your Holy Fire. “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:7)

In loving service,
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.