Today is the 27th day of Lent. 
 
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.   
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from the Book Revelation, chapter 11.

    
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: 
“The kingdom of the world has become 
    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, 
    and he will reign for ever and ever.” 
And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: 
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, 
    the One who is and who was, 
because you have taken your great power 
    and have begun to reign. 
The nations were angry, 
    and your wrath has come. 
The time has come for judging the dead, 
    and for rewarding your servants the prophets 
and your people who revere your name, 
    both great and small— 
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” 
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm. 
 

The book of Revelation, with its epic apocalyptic imagery, stirs great emotion. Maybe those emotions are unsettling. Nations raging against God. God rewarding the faithful and judging the dead, destroying those who destroy the earth. Flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, earthquakes. Notice what this imagery stirs up in you.     
 
Maybe we feel fearful of these images because we realize that we are small and out of control. But keep in mind that these images in the book of Revelation were given to bring comfort to those who were small and out of control. It’s a reminder that God will make everything right again when we can’t. This is the moment when his reign and rule are fully established. As you hear the passage again, imagine your voice added to the voices in heaven that proclaim “he will reign forever and ever”!  

When we pray “your kingdom come, your will be done”, this is what we are praying for—that God’s reign and rule would be fully established in the world, and in our lives. As we close our time, think of one area of your life, or a situation in the world where God’s kingdom has not been fully established. Pray “your kingdom come, your will be done” over that situation.  
 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.   
 
Music - Let Your Kingdom Come - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)