I put my Daddy on hospice today. It was heartbreaking. Last night the caretaker said he tried to get out of bed saying, “I'm going, I'm going.” “Where are you going?” she asked. “To heaven,” he replied.

The reason I can have joy and peace in this difficult situation is because of the resurrection promise of the Cross. When the time comes for my Daddy to close his eyes here on earth, he will open them in the presence of the Lord.

I have some other chronic stress in my life, things that are unresolvable at the moment. But because of the promise of the cross, I have a resurrection power and presence within me that calms, assures, and loves me.

There’s an old song by Bill Gaither that rings in my ear whenever I’m struggling:

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
My life is worth the living just because He lives."

Do you have that song in your heart? Because that's the promise of the cross.

Pray:

Adoration: God is holy, mighty, gracious, and merciful. Spend time declaring your love for Him and expressing your thoughts of praise and worship.

Confession: Ask God to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

Thanksgiving: Express your thankfulness to God for the blessings He has given you. When we consider that we deserve punishment because of our sinfulness, and instead God gives to us His love and mercy, our only response should be one of thankfulness.

Supplication: Petition God for growth in your compassion and love toward others. Offer prayers for your loved ones and others who do not know Jesus and for those in need. Ask God to use you to tell others about Him and show His love. Offer prayers concerning your activities for this day and any special concerns you have.