Father God, we are grateful to you for the testimony we have heard from Annie and her obedience to biblical teaching to be baptized as a believer.  We are grateful for the work you have done in her soul.  How you used the circumstances of life to show her great need for a savior.  How she responded in her hopelessness and brokenness to reject her self-reliance and instead rely on the only one who is trustworthy, sovereign, and safe.  In her weakness, we see your strength.  We praise you for her testimony of trust and dependence on Christ and Him alone.   

I praise you Father for how you displayed your glory and power by using your church and your word to transform Annie.  It was not by her works.  It was not by her contribution or efforts.  It was by your grace, your word, and your people that you kindly worked through.  What a sweet encouragement to see the people of this church come alongside a new face and tenderly care for her and faithfully remind her of biblical truth and encourage its application in her life.  

I pray we all would be more like Job.  To recognize our insignificance and rightfully consider you God as you reveal yourself in scripture.  Father, you are in control over all things.  You are good and you are sovereign.  Those truths are never compromised or in conflict.  Our suffering or trials are never random nor are they without purpose.  Rather, you allow suffering because it serves a good and gospel purpose in the life of your followers.  Help us remember and apply this truth.  Help us remind others of this truth in our body. 

God remind us too that you are a promise maker and a promise keeper.  Remind us of the promise of Christ in John 6 when he said “All that the Father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me, I will never be cast out.”  The Savior declares that He will never cast out or lose anyone who comes to him.  Our salvation is secure in you who grant the grace for salvation.  Forgive us when we doubt your saving power or your securing grace. 

Remind us too that “If we confess our sins, you are faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  You are always faithful to forgive and cleanse when we ask.  We don’t have to let sin separate us from you.  Father, forgive us when we act as if we must save ourselves through our acts of righteousness.  Righteousness is only possible through faith in Christ.

Also remind us “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Help us to build our assurance of salvation on nothing other than the great kindness of Christ.  As we have witnessed - all of your promises of grace, mercy, and forgiveness are real and can be clung to by humbly coming to Christ in salvation.  I pray God, that you and you alone receive all glory for this testimony of your work on display this morning.