Lord, we humble ourselves before you this morning-you are our God, our Savior through Jesus Christ who is Lord over all. He is the one who sustains us-the one who is able to keep us from stumbling. The one whom we will one day stand in the presence of his glory-blameless and with great joy. May we look forward to that day with anticipation as we live out each day you have given us on this earth-seeking to bring honor and glory to you. 

Lord, help us to lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and to run with endurance the unique race you have set before each of us. And as we live out our days on this earth, may we keep our eyes focused on Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith. He endured the cross on our behalf, despising the shame and is now seated at the right hand of your throne awaiting and orchestrating the promised culmination of all things. It is in him alone that we find rest for our souls-now and forever. He is the one who endured from sinners such hostility against himself on our behalf so that we need not grow weary or fainthearted. Each of us struggle daily against sin, but none of us has resisted to the point of shedding our own blood as he did on our behalf. And when we face trials and temptations, we can do so with joy because of what he has done on our behalf and because of what ultimately lies ahead. As your word tells us, our daily trials and the testing of our faith produce steadfastness and the result of steadfastness is completion and perfection because Christ is our all in all and in him we lack nothing-now and forever. He alone is the source joy and contentment.  

Because of that knowledge, help us, Lord, to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in your work. As we are reminded, from an eternal perspective; our labor is never in vain when it is for you, Lord. Help us always to be aware, that what we sow, we will reap. If we sow to our own flesh we reap corruption, but when we sow to the Spirit, from the Spirit we reap eternal life.  And may we not grow weary of doing good, for as you promised, in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. We look forward to the day when we stand before you and for the first time see your face and hear the words, well done good and faithful servant. 

Father, we ask all these things in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ-Amen