1 Peter 4:7, “The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.”
Everyone, no matter who they are, is saying more and more, “We are living in unprecedented times.” Historically, there have always been times of crisis. Now, we have new issues in our world, and in my business, we are telling our customers, “We are living in unprecedented times. So now is not the time to panic.” We see in Scripture warnings about unprecedented times, and therefore, we should watch and be ready for Christ’s return. I like how the Amplified Bible states 1 Peter 4:7: “The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him].” We are living in “end times” right before our eyes; therefore, we need to be diligent in praying for others and investing our time and talents where they will make an eternal difference.
Matthew 24:42-44 declares, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. . . because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 also declares, “Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.” We are to use good judgment and stay calm with a spirit of prayer, in light of Christ’s return. “Prayer sharpens our awareness so that we are able to be more discerning. It gives us genuine hope and confidence in Christ in the midst of confusion. When you’re panicking, you’re not praying. When you’re reacting, you’re not trusting in your sovereign God.” Chuck Swindoll’s New Testament Insights, 1 Peter 4:7, page 218.
We all need to spend more time in prayer, especially myself. The following verses emphasize this:
- Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18.
- Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2.
- Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
- Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:5-6.
- The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 1 Peter 4:7.
We all face anxiety from time to time. Nobody is exempt. You don’t have to be an expert in everything you do or understand everything you need to grow your business or opportunities before you. Pressures will surround us, competitors will attack us, and your supply chain will challenge you, especially during these unprecedented times. It all comes back to our hearts and trust in the LORD – not just on Sundays. We all must be willing to be used by God in whatever His purpose is for us to do in our life for God’s glory. It often takes the tough times to cause us to long for heaven. Stay balanced and focused on Christ’s return. Ask God to make you of benefit just where He has placed you. Then pray for the people around you. Be watchful. Be thankful. Stay balanced and focused on His return.
Listen to Somebody Prayed (Lyrics) – Crowder.