Thank you for listening to Servants for Christ. And all that we do and all that we say, we want to give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for tuning us in as we get into the wonderful Word of God. For the next few minutes, let's take the beautiful Word of God and share it with each and every one of you as we have a sense of anticipation to take the Word of God and to listen to its truth for each and every one. My name is Darrell Bailey. Thank you for tuning in as we continue in our devotions, Wisdom for Life's Journey. We're going to be in Ecclesiastes chapter 11 for our devotion today as we look at the book of Ecclesiastes answers to life's biggest questions. What is the meaning of life? How can we find contentment in uncertain times? How do we navigate a world full of both beauty and brokenness? This devotion unpacks the timeless wisdom guiding us toward God's purpose for our lives. Ecclesiastes reveals the wealth, the pleasure of how that we can have the true fulfillment in a relationship with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, highlighting God's sovereignty, the value of time, and the joy of his gifts. And so, As we look with the practical insights and the heartfelt prayers that this series helps us see life from God's eternal perspective, whether you're facing doubt, longing for peace, or searching for direction, these devotions will encourage you to live with faith, trust, and purpose. And so, as we look at wisdom for life's journey, each and every one of us before we get over into Ecclesiastes chapter 11. Amen. Go ahead and if you have your Bibles close by, so you can follow along with us as we read the word of God and do our devotion on it because we're going to be talking about practical guidance for finding true fulfillment. Practical guidance for finding true fulfillment here in Ecclesiastes chapter 11. And what we'll be talking about is three things. because we've got 10 verses in Ecclesiastes chapter 11. First of all, number one, we're going to be talking about taking bold steps and make wise investments with your resources in verses 1 through 6. Number two, how to appreciate and delight in every season of your life in verses 7 and 8. And lastly, And number three, rejoice in your youth, but live responsibly, keeping God's judgment in your mind, in verses nine and 10. And so before we get into the wonderful word of God, amen, because every one of you Our hope is that through God's word and truth to build up lives into the kingdom of God. We wanna make a difference in all that we do through our words, through our actions to glorify our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. And so here in Ecclesiastes chapter 11 of our devotion, it's talking about doing good things, to live in view of coming judgment. And so before we get into reading the wonderful word of God, Let's open up with a time of prayer. Father, we stand in your majesty and acknowledge that your ways are far beyond our understanding. And Lord, as the book of Ecclesiastes reminds us, for thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the wound of her that is with child, even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. We ask for your forgiveness for our sins today. cleanse us our hearts, guide us our minds to trust in you, to daily put on the whole armor of God. Lord, you are the giver of every good and perfect gift, and we thank you for the joys of life and for the boundaries you've established for our good. Open our hearts to your word. And Lord, we thank you for the precious gift of life. We reflect on your word today. Help us to embrace the urgency of seeking you, not only in the days of our youth, but throughout our lives. And may your spirit move us to a deeper commitment, shaping every moment for your glory. In Jesus' marvelous mighty name, we pray. Amen. You know, I was hearing about a child who asked her mother how electricity works, and the mother struggled to explain, well, I can't tell you exactly, but I know that it powers our lights, it powers our heat, and our homes, and it runs our appliances. And so the little girl thought for a moment, and then she said, well, Mom, You don't have to understand it all, but it sure does make life brighter. You know, in many ways, this is how we approach the mysteries of God. We don't have to understand everything about His ways to trust Him and to know that He works for our good. Here in the book of Ecclesiastes, it reminds us of this truth. You cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things, but We can look at the profound reality that while God's ways are mysterious, His power and love are evident, and from our inability to grasp the path of the wind to the wonder of life forming in the womb, God calls us to live by faith, trusting in His perfect plan. And so, we see God's wisdom is beyond our understanding, and His creation is mysterious. His plans, though, are very perfect. And so as we start to read in the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 11, his ways are meant to be trusted. Listen, I wonder. Are you willing to trust God even when His ways seem incomprehensible? Listen to the reading of the Word of God, because the first thing that we see in our practical guidance for finding true fulfillment is number one, take bold steps and make wise investments with your resources. In verses one through six, we need to learn how to embrace the calculated risk and use what we have to create those opportunities. That I'm glad is that we can look at the complexities of creation, the path of the wind, the formative life, and yet we cannot still fully understand what they are. God's plans often seem unclear to us, but they're always for our good. And so we've got to trust in the Lord. And it does not require complete understanding, but childlike faith. And so we read, cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find in it after many days. Give a portion to seven and also to eight, for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth. And if the tree fall toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap, as thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the wound of her that is with child, even so thou knowest not the works of God, who maketh all. One more in verse six. in the morning, sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand. For thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." We'll stop there for a minute as we learn how to take bold steps and make wise investments with your resources. Because one of the things that we can see young people feel invincible. I remember when I used to ride a motorcycle all the way up the 14th street of Mescala in Atlanta when I got out of the military. I rode a motorcycle up there every day and I felt like some days when I put that leather on and I had all my chaps on and gloves on and safety things, I felt invincible. But you know what? In the years, our greatest strength, it's difficult to fathom the time that will come when our invincibility diminishes or even is gone. Because perhaps subconsciously, we enjoy continuing through the end of life, but the opportunities of that youthful energy and ability to provide will not always be available. And so Solomon offers wise counsel aimed at those who are younger, because I'm glad that as we get on into chapter 12, he's going to describe old age when he gets there. But now we talk about youth, because when we get old, our ailments and limitations will be before us. And the wise counsel here is those several steps behind on the journey of life. that we've got to make the most of our productive years while we can, because while you have physical stamina and strength to do so, the time will come sooner than you can imagine. Oh Lord, listen to me. That when these physical abilities begin to slacken, you're going to reap in old age what you have sown in your youth. You're going to reap physically what you sow. You're gonna reap financially what you sow. You're gonna reap socially what you sow. And so, when we look and we realize that from all of these things in the wonderful word of God, amen. that we begin to embrace the calculated risk and use what we have to create those opportunities. Because first of all, in verses one through six, we take a risk and wisely invest whatever you have. Solomon deals with two topics that he's very well acquainted with, shipping and commerce and agricultural. Because number one, he tells us that we need to expect He says, cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days. Well, you know what? He's involved in shipping industry. and the amount of sea trade with Hiram, the king of Tyre. In fact, the background of what Solomon is advising is he tells us that Solomon had a fleet of ships, not just one, and he kept his ships at sea three years or less before Solomon received the return of his investment. Solomon's investment reaped enormous dividends and wealth that enhanced his enjoyment of life because the shipping industry involved a significant measure of risk. There were no guarantees of return when a man stowed his grain on a ship and sent it out to sea. And so, Solomon gave another illustration of the principle that a farmer sowing his seed, the farmer must sow his seed into the ground before it will grow. And so the risk is involved. The year could bring a drought with no rains, or the opposite, a torrential rain that could wash away the seed, or again, some seed could be devoured by birds, or it will never multiply. And so the farmer must take it from storage and invest it in the earth before he will ever be able to have more grain. And if he does not, he'll have bread for a time, but eventually the supply is going to run out. And so the lesson is very, very clear. Whether the grain is sent out to sea or sowed into the ground, it must be done with faith and expectation that it will yield a return. And so all of us, as we go through life today, we can try to do the very, very best that we can. But I'm glad that we have to diversify our investments. We cannot know the risk of the disasters that lie ahead, ape man. Ships will wreck, but most will not. All of our grain is on one ship, though, and it crashes, what will we have left? And so we try to look, and as verse three, we observe the events. Because in nature, even as signs when rain is coming, if we see dark clouds rolling in, we know that the rain is going to follow. And so, the threatening clouds that are out there, storm clouds give us time to prepare for the rain that comes, but trees fall unexpectedly. And just as trees will occasionally fall, at times we're gonna face obstacles that impede or delay our plans. And we must be prepared, sometimes if we can, for the unexpected and to convert the obstacles into opportunities. The fallen tree that delays us today will yield firewood or lumber for our use tomorrow. And so in verses four and five, guard against the procrastination when we're waiting for the ideal time. Farmers delay planting until weather conditions are absolute perfect. And so if they wait too long for the perfect time and the circumstances before they do anything, the opportunity passes them by. And so load your ship, send it out to sea, plant your seed, get it in the ground where it can grow, do your work sooner rather than later, and do not procrastinate. Well, You wait for the perfect time, it'll keep a person from investing or planting or the opportunity to undertake the venture. And so our risk should be as calculated as possible. Many things are clearly beyond our knowledge and understanding, but Solomon provides two great illustrations about the mysteries of God in verses one through six of the God of nature and the way that he works. And that first illustration deals with the wind. We can only observe the wind's path, not discover its origin. Even with all the modern technology of advances today in science and meteorology, we cannot discern where the wind comes from or why it blows on some days and is calm on others. Jesus acknowledges the fact that he says in John 3, 8, The wind bloweth where it pleases, and thou hearest the sound there, but cannotst tell whence it cometh and whether it goeth. So is everyone that is born of the Spirit. And so the wind or the rock of the Hebrew word referring to human spirit. There's no reason to take Solomon's use of the word anything but a literal reference to wind. But the second illustration not only deals with the wind, But the second illustration deals with a great wonder of God's creative power, the development of an infant in a mother's womb. We live in a time of far greater knowledge than people had in Solomon's day, but thanks to the medical advances, the ultrasound technology that we peer inside the womb, we see the unborn child in the various stages of development. But again, we can only observe and not fully explain. We can explain what is occurring, but we cannot completely explain how that it miraculously occurs. And the more that we know, the more we recognize what we do not know. And this is true with many of God's works. We cannot predict, understand, or fully know what God will do and when he will do it. And the ways of God defile human explanation. The fact that stirs Solomon to the issue of the straightforwardness challenge is sow your seed. And we may not understand how a dead seed can go into the ground and then spring forth into new life, multiplying itself many times, but we're to sow it anyway. And we're to proactive and aggressively not sit back and wait until the conditions are ideal because the working of God are a mystery. but also be diligent in your labor. Be sure to diversify because Solomon challenges us to sow our seed and he commends those who diversify their investments and labor diligently that we must work hard at every task. And I'm glad that when we trust God for the result, it may be that God will bless both. And I'm glad that when Jesus' parable of the talents teaches the same truth promoted by Solomon in this passage of Matthew chapter 25, verses 14 through 28, Jesus commended, he rewarded the stewards who invested what their master had entrusted to them, and he condemned the servant who did nothing. because the lazy servant did not lose his master's assets, he returned to his master exactly what had been committed to him. But he did not invest the assets and he did not give them the opportunity to increase and multiply. And so, Solomon's advice is very practical in dealing with business and investments. It's talking about the resources of time, talents and natural abilities, spiritual gifts given at salvation, financial resources, the message of the gospel, the seed of God's holy word. We've got to take the resources of Christ that's been entrusted to us and invest them in his work. And he commands us to sow our seed, to give him the five loaves and the two fishes. And when we're faithful in giving him our resources, he will use them to produce eternal fruit and dividends for his kingdom. Imagine in the parable of the talents, one day our master will return and he will hold us accountable for how we've managed and multiplied what he has placed in our hands. Paul described us as builders in 1 Corinthians 3. We're building upon the foundation of the gospel what has been laid in our hearts and lives, amen, and I'm glad that every one of us, he said in 1 Corinthians 3, verse 13, he says, every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it. Behold, it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man's work for what sort it is. Well, we must not take a cautious position in sowing or building. We must not hesitate or delay. Christ could return at any time. and souls hang in the balance. And we'll never reap a spiritual increase if we do not sow our seed. If we do not cast our bread upon the waters, we must be diligent and work while it's day because the night is coming when no man can work. And so I'm glad part of our commitment to Jesus as Lord and our commitment to invest our money, our time, our energy, and the endeavors that will pay dividends is Ecclesiastes here in chapter 11 is right, we, must tell the whole story. And we must know that the coming of the Lord Jesus is the event toward which all our living and giving and saving and spending is the main point of interest. Because if God feared men and women in the Old Testament days felt that wisdom demanded sound investment of what they had, how much more should we today of the New Testament as Christ's return approaches on all of us? And so, I'm glad that we look and we see the practical guidance for finding true fulfillment is number one, take bold steps and make wise investments with your resources in verses one through six. Embrace the calculated risk. Use what you have to create opportunity. But secondly, in verses seven and eight, we need to appreciate and delight in every season of your life. We need to treasure each moment and find joy in the journey of knowing life is a gift itself because When we look at the wonderful word of God, and each and every one of us, as we begin to pursue, verses seven and eight tells us, truly, the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. Verse eight, but if a man live many years and rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many, all that cometh in vanity. And so, We need to appreciate and delight in every season of our life. And I'm glad that we can enjoy our life as believers and as human beings, we should enjoy all the years. But the solemn reason is every stage of life offers pleasures that cannot be relived. Enjoy life because every day you are able to see the sun and light as sweet as joy. The days of the sun and the light can be interpreted as one of three things, as the days when we can see the light of the sun compared to death when our eyes are closed in the darkness of the grave. and as good and joyful the days of our life compared to the trying, sorrowful days of life, but also as the youthful years when we're living in the daytime of our lives compared to the years of old age when we're living in the nighttime of our lives, because we have the view of what Solomon will say in verses one, two, and three that interprets the figures of speech. And so I'm glad later on the days of light, the youth are sweet. And so enjoy life because every year of your life is to be celebrated and enjoyed. And so for the very sixth time in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon exhorts us to a joyful life. Rejoice in them all that he talks about because of the unique special joys in every stage and age of life. Childhood holds joys that can't be found only in the minds and the eyes of the innocent, trusting, carefree children. Adolescent holds the joys of some new profound independence. the interest in the opposite sex, and so young adulthood years of marriage and having children followed by unparalleled joys of watching your children grow up, their senior years and reaping the good seeds sown in earlier of life, and that heaven is nearer and dearer than ever before. Life, all of it, is to be celebrated and enjoyed. And so, enjoy life because the dark days ahead, the trials, the suffering, the death will be many. Solomon is stressing that the younger years of a person's life hold pleasures that cannot be enjoyed in the later years of life. The advancing of age brings changes, physical, often mental limitations that prevents us from enjoying certain things. And so Solomon advises both the young and the old to recognize that we're going to grow older and not have either the ability or the opportunity to do many of the things that we can do now. that our strength and our abilities decline, our senses will be dull, our physical capacity will diminish, and the days of darkness will be many. But in light of these, we must keep in mind that the days of darkness, and older age, and even more limitations, they're coming. It's just a matter of time. Enjoy life, because all that is coming in the future is meaningless, and it does not fully satisfy, last, or endure. If people expect to find meaning and purpose in life of their old age, they're going to be disappointed. Solomon is a very prime example of that. And so, those who are older cannot find any meaning or purpose or fulfillment in their later years. Now, we could still have the blessings of life. But our greatest productivity they're going to be in the past when we're younger. Solomon is leading to a conclusion that will tie everything together. As he nears the end of his message, he looks back at the main point and he says everything under the sun is meaningless, unsatisfying, empty, and futile. and he sought the true meaning of life in every possible way, yet no matter what he tried, it failed to bring him meaning or genuine satisfaction. And he admonishes the warning that the senior years are no different. Many are going to be deceived and thinking that somehow in the twilight years, all the wrongs of their lives will be righted. But you need to remember that the days of darkness are coming, and when they do, Life apart from God will still be empty. And without Him, life only gets worse, not better. God makes the difference and He alone gives satisfaction, fulfillment, and meaning to life. And so, whoever you are, no matter who you are, it will not change. And so, lastly, as we talk about practical guidance for finding true fulfillment, the last thing, as we talked about taking bold steps and making wise investments with your resources in one through six, We talked about in verses seven and eight, the appreciate and delight in every season of your life. But in verses nine and 10, we close with this thought of our devotion. Rejoice in your youth, but live responsibly, keeping God's judgment in mind. Because we can be happy, we can enjoy life as a young person, but we've got to live wisely and remember God's coming judgment. Solomon, as he counsels the younger generation in Ecclesiastes chapter 11, he's telling us some things like, live life to the fullest and follow your heart and your eyes in verse 9. Because here we read, as he tells us, and he says some things that only he can tell. He said, Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes. But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. And verse 10, And therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity. And so, You know what? He's telling us, live life to the fullest, but follow your heart and your eyes. And so deep within the age bodies of many people lie the spirit of a young person, trapped, imprisoned by the bars of age. And they long to do the things they used to do, but they cannot. And they long to do the things that they never did and never will do. Young person, listen to me. If your heart desires to do something, do it. But if your eyes see something you would like to try, try it. Follow your dreams, experience all of life, adventures and excitements that you can while you can. But many times we place limitations and restrictions on ourselves that God has never placed. And remember that he richly provides all things for us to enjoy. When I was in the military, I had the best time of my life. I'm going to tell you, I enjoyed doing some of the dangerous things I did, and I did them for my country. And I'm telling you, even so, there are only limited period of time when we have the strength and the ability to do so. God approves as long as we obey his holy word. And through Solomon's words, God gives the liberty to live life to the fullest. And so, but when he says this in verses nine and 10, in verse nine, he's saying, make wise choices. Because what did he say? He said, now rejoice, oh you young man, in thy youth and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of the youth. But listen, and walk in the ways of thine heart and in the sight of thy eyes. Listen, here it comes. But know thou, that for all these things, God will bring thee into judgment. And so, we've gotta make wise choices and remember that everything we do will be judged by God. And so I'm glad, know that all these things that God will bring us to judgment. And so young person, before you engage in those things that promise happiness, before you act upon those things that appear enjoyable, before you follow the desires of your heart and your eyes, remember that God will judge you for your behavior. And therefore you must let your behavior be molded by the realization that a solemn reminder that you bring balance to your life and stir you to obey God's holy commandments when you do so. While you're young, you can enjoy all the life has to offer as long as it falls within the boundaries of God's word. Don't step outside of God's lines. Don't cross the fence into sin. Do nothing that will cause you to shrink back from the flaming holiness of God's presence because you must, will, and I guarantee, face his judgment. You cannot experience the joy Solomon prescribes when you indulge your fleshly appetites in disobedience to God. You may enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, according to Hebrews 11, 25, but your joy will be handicapped by a sense of God's coming judgment on that sin. And if we abandon ourselves to the fleshly desires and never know true happiness or joy, God has made our souls to suffer a sense of uneasiness and emptiness, but never being fully satisfied until we place our trust in him. And so, young person, Banish sorrow and anxiety from your heart. Remove it, turn it aside, because it troubles the spirit. It cause anger, grief, and irritation. And don't let the cares and worries of the world rob you of the enjoyment of life God intends for you to have. Take life seriously, but not too seriously. Solomon's advice through the book of Ecclesiastes is not to act foolishly, but to advise. you to be lighthearted and not heavy hearted, and carrying a load of worries and cares because anxiety and worry will always be present in all of our lives. But we must act intentionally to cast those disturbances from our minds and hearts. And I'm glad that as we put away evil or trouble, every one of us, when we look and realize, We've got to deal with that sorrow because all of us have sorrow. 1 Peter 5, 7 says, cast all your care upon him for he careth for you. But Solomon moves from the troubles of the spirit to the troubles of the body. And young people must cast off the evil troubles of their body. And I'm telling you, don't let your mind even think about doing them. The drugs, the alcohol, the tobacco, the overeating, the sexual immorality, all of those that are emotional, mental, spiritual, draining to your body. The unnecessary pain and the destruction to the body. Because those that abuse their bodies while they're young will pay the consequences for them for the rest of their lives. Many a football player get in an accident that it messes up their entire life for the rest of their life. But, You know what? All of us try to have fun and youth is fleeting, but it's always not satisfying because Solomon was saying that being a youth and the sense that the period in our life that even though that we have a message throughout the book that all the pleasures and the enjoyments of youthful strength are meaningless and unsatisfying and empty apart from God, the pleasures and enjoyment of youth do not last and they don't bring permanent fulfillment. Age Solomon reflected on his days gone by And Solomon had an extraordinary resources and opportunities to enjoy the finest things in life. And he had used those resources to live life to its fullest, enjoyed every conceivable pleasure. And as a result, Solomon lived through the tragic consequences of his disobedience. And when he faced death, it was the apprehension that facing God's judgment would not be pleasant. If you live a holy life as a young person, you'll have nothing to worry about in old age. Sin sown in youth will reap painful consequences, but sowing God's word in your heart will reap precious dividends. And so, I'm glad that the wisdom of young people enjoying life within the limits of their consciousness of God's will and coming judgment will be a great proven experience. To cultivate a joyful heart while we're young more than likely will be cheerful people through all of our days. And as we learn to trust God in our youth and from the step of faith, We will undoubtedly be victorious when trials come, and we must walk with the Lord on a day-to-day basis, and learn to do this from childhood has a great advantage over the one that must begin a life of faith in later years. When we grow older, our bodies become pain and weary, our minds adverse, and our hearts saddened, and our steadfast faith that goes from childhood to the years ahead. And so the devotion that all of us must have that we look in life today. I'm glad. Rejoice in your youth, but live responsible, keeping God's judgment in mind in verses nine and 10. And then we can pursue happiness with wisdom, staying mindful of the accountability of God, amen. And so each and every one of us, I'm glad. that he says, rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes. But know this, that for all things, these things, God will bring thee into judgment. But lastly, therefore, in verse 10, remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity. And so, God's wisdom is beyond our understanding. And I'm glad that joy of the youth, the sweetness of life, the reality of fleeting days, the gratitude for every season, the freedom with accountability to rejoice. I'm glad that each and every one of us, as we get ready and as we close out, I'm glad the mysteries of God's ways are not meant to frustrate us, but to deepen our faith. And as Solomon, it reminds us we cannot fully comprehend the work of God, yet we can trust him. Through creation, the Spirit's work and our faithful obedience, he reveals his goodness and invites us to live by faith, amen. And so I'm glad that we can all do so. And I'm glad also that when we look, imagine that a river without banks, it floods and destroys everything. Boundaries provide direction in life, and so it is with God's moral boundaries in our lives. A young man that inherited a fortune only to squander it all in extravagant living, leaving him empty and despairing, the tale mirrors the tension in the book of Ecclesiastes. of the enjoyment of life versus the vanity of indulgence. Every one of us as we go through life, life is filled with God's gifts, but they are best enjoyed within his boundaries. True joy is found not in indulgence, but in reverence, obedience. And like a skilled gardener, God prunes what hinders our growth and sets boundaries to keep us flourishing. We've got to trust him and embrace the abundant life that he offers to Christ. And so each and every one of us, as we go forward, God knows exactly what it is that we need as the time comes. And so, History and scripture repeatedly warn the danger of all the delays. There was a man that waited until retirement to pursue his dream of traveling, only to discover that his health had declined to the point where he couldn't enjoy it. And life without remembering our creator during youth leads to missed opportunities for rich God-centered life. And so I'm glad that each and every one of us When we look and we realize that God knows exactly, we see, we got to remember our creator in every season of life and the nature of our youth and the certainty of life's ends. As we close out, I hope that you enjoyed the practical guidance for finding true fulfillment. to take bold steps and make wise investments with your resources in verses 1 through 6. And to appreciate and delight in every season of your life in verses 7 and 8. And then to rejoice in your youth but live responsibly, keeping God's judgment in mind in verses 9 and 10. to stay within the boundaries of God's way that he has for us, amen. And so I'm glad when we enjoy God's gifts, but yet we enjoy them within the boundaries of God, true joy is found. And I'm glad that as we close out, Lord, thank you for giving us the plans In your perfect wisdom, we thank you for the gift of your Spirit that moves us in ways that we cannot see, but we know the work is evident in all of our lives. Help us to walk in faith, sowing seeds of obedience, trusting you with a harvest for those who have not yet been born of the Spirit. We pray for salvation for them and for those who know you to lead them into a deeper, trusted, greater faithfulness, Father. Thank you for the boundaries that protect us and the gifts that bless us. Help us to live in freedom, rejoicing in the life that you've given us while staying rooted in your truth. And Lord, teach us to number our days and to live in your wisdom. May we remember that you not only in times of trouble, but in every breath of our existence, we draw those who are far from you and inspire us to remain steadfast in our faith. and let us live our lives to be a testimony to your eternal name. In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. you