Lord God, it is wonderful to know you, to be your child, to be in your Kingdom. I praise you for the privilege you give us of knowing you now and knowing much of what is to be.  Knowing that you are in loving and wise control of what comes my way; that you protect the weak; that you have defeated the enemy; that my future is in your hands; that I will spend eternity in heaven with you; that there will be the pleasure of your presence, the power of your purpose, the goodness of your glory.

Therefore here on earth, as my body gets weaker, as I lose abilities, as I go downhill, my level of expectation, joy and praise goes up, for I am closer to going to be with you!  What a wonderful reality: I live in an open-ended time box that spills out into ever-better things even as life deteriorates on earth.

The very losses that depress most people intensify my desire to be with you, remind me of how privileged I am to be weak in your hands, the means of glory for you in this life, the favor of living by faith, of praising by trust and of obeying in belief.

You, Lord God, are my focus, my Father, my favorite One.  “Whom have I in heaven but you and earth has nothing I desire besides you.” (Ps. 73:25)  To you be glory forever and ever. To you be glory today in my being, living, thinking, speaking and acting. May I obey you in all, being a glory-giver, honor-maker, God-lover. Amen.