Lord Jesus, you are that promised "seed" from Genesis 3, you are the Christ, that long-expected king from David's line as you promised to him in 2 Samuel 7, you are that prophet like Moses that will turn Israel back to the Lord their God, and you are Adonai, the very God of Israel made flesh.

As another year passes and I slowly succumb to your curse on humanity to return to the dust from which you made us, give me still more wisdom and understanding of the bigger story that my little life is a part of. Would you give me grace to be faithful to you through the joy and pain, the highs and lows, the ease and the suffering, the plenty and the lack, and all else that awaits me in 2018.

My life and breath are in your hand, and all that I have is from you.

Fill me with an awe and a fear of you that would embolden my witness of you and all you’ve promised through your covenants with Israel. Keep me humble and repentant, and fill me with an even greater eagerness for your return to raise me from death, rule from Jerusalem, and restore all things.

I miss you Jesus, and things will never be right until you are here.

Amen.