“[A]nd one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5).

Only One has overcome sin, death, and the devil.  Only One is worthy of all honor and praise.  Only One is the judge of the living and the dead.  The One has bid You come and follow Him.  The One has said that your sins are forgiven.  The One has set you upon a path to become like Him.  Come through the One and know life as He created it to be lived.  Do not weep but rejoice in God your Savior.

Lord, You have called me to come with You.  You have set before me the path of everlasting life.  Guide me, dear Lord, according to Your will so that I may not weep over this world that causes my lament.  Let me see the hope You give by faith so that I may walk humbly on the path You have set before me and rejoice in my Lord..  Lead me now and always to look to You, the One who is worthy to open the book.

Lord Jesus, You suffered more than I will ever know to set us free from sin, death and the devil.  Help me to take up my cross and follow You.  Guide me in the goodness You give, knowing that in You alone is hope.  Help me to stop weeping as if I had no hope and live in the hope and joy You give.  Lord, take away from me the sinful desire that wants to tell You what to do.  Help me look to You, my rock and my salvation, and follow as You lead.  Amen

“Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it” (Revelation 5:4)

What do you do in moments of utter frustration?  Do you give up hope?  We forget that the Lord is Lord of all, and nothing is impossible for God.  The point here is that only the Lord is worthy.  He is not asking us to be worthy, but how many spend their spiritual lives trying to be worthy?  The Lord has saved you by grace; now live the faith He gives you to walk with Him each day.

Lord, why do I make my life in the faith so difficult?  I revert to trying to obey the law which I constantly break.  The law is good, but I cannot fulfill it.  Not that I should not always seek to obey, but that I should not make that my first priority.  Lord, you ask that I learn how to humbly walk with You, my God and Savior.  Today may we begin anew so that I may learn how to walk with You?  Teach me again that the load is easy, and the burden is light.  Teach me whatever it is that I need to learn.

Lord, I cling to the cross and look to You.  I do need the help that only You can give when I realize that I am unworthy.  Either that, or I beat myself up for not being worthy, thinking somehow that I just need to learn how to do it differently.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of living that trusts You above all things.  Lead me to see what You are doing more clearly so that I may follow You more closely on the path You have set before me.  Amen.

“And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it” (Revelation 5:3).

No one can or ever will be able to do what the Lord alone can do.  Who is worthy?  The One who knows all things.  Who can peer into the book of life?  The Creator of life.  Know the Lord and know life.  If this surprises you, look again in your own heart and see the plagues of every sinner.  We want to be in the center.  Pride, lust and envy corrupt the heart.  There is only One who is worthy, and He alone is the Judge and Savior.

Lord, I do not even know the full depth of all that goes on in my own heart let alone what is going on in the universe.  Of course, You are worthy.  You are worthy of all honor and praise.  Lead me, Lord, according to the Father’s will to live the life You have given me by Your grace. Guide me in the way of  discipleship so that I may live in the promise You give of life eternal.

Lord Jesus, Savior of all who believe, lead me all the days of my life so that when I witness You open the book, I will rejoice, and be glad.  Help me to live for life’s sake, not because I will gain anything, but because You have already given me all things necessary.  Lead me Lord all the days of this life until we meet face to face in the fulness of time.  You are worthy of all my honor and praise.  Amen.

“And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”  (Revelation 5:2)

Are you worthy?  Ask yourself that question before proceeding onto anything else.  Of course, you are not worthy.  We should humble ourselves and not be as the proud and arrogant who jump in and take charge.  We are called to be leaders, but there is only One commander.  The Lord alone is worthy to open the seals.  The rest of us who have spent our lives learning to obey should also learn to have humble and thankful hearts.

Lord of all, the One who knows, what can I say to You?  You know my heart and its condition.  Guide me in Your goodness to continue the journey of being transformed by the renewing of my mind.  Lead me into the fruit of goodness which is necessary for eternity, and crucify my pride.  You alone are worthy of all honor and praise.  Let me not take one bit for myself, but always give it to You.

Lord Jesus, You know how much I need to move from where I am to where I need to be.  Guide me, Lord, on the path You have set before me and do not let me linger over the small things.  Transform my heart and kill the pride in me.  Let what You have given me be used for Your purpose.  May I give You thanks and praise all the days of my life.  May my name be found in Your book.  Amen.

I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1).

The One who is, was, and shall be knows what will happen.  It is already written.  He sees.  He saw you yesterday and he sees you now.  He knows all because He sees all.  You have always had freedom to do as you will.  The question is whether you will give your will to Him and let His will be done in you.  Those who do so are the ones whose names are written in the book of life.

Lord, like Jacob, I do wrestle with You.  I want what I want, and I want it the way I want it.  I blame You when things do not turn out as I like, and I do not accept my own part in things.  Yet, by grace, You have given me promises so that I may live into the new man who does Your will on earth as it shall be done in heaven.  You are the judge I will face.  You who know all things know me.  I cling to the cross and look to You, dear Savior,  for the help I need.

Lord, let all pretense leave me.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that only by Your grace – Your death on the cross – do I have any hope whatsoever.  Even then, I will face You who knows my heart.  Lead me, O Lord, to walk humbly in Your presence and to be guided by You, the author and finisher of my faith.  As I walk up to Your throne, may I see a smile and not a frown.  Amen.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (Revelation 4:11)

Worthy is the LORD.  There is no other who is worthy.  He holds all authority and has all power.  In this age, the struggle is to give no honor to others where it is not due.  Do not throw your pearls before swine.  Do not denigrate the Lord by giving to others what belongs to Him.  Be led by the Lord and know that He alone is the One worthy of your honor and praise.

Lord, Creator of all that exists, I cannot even begin to comprehend all that this means.  Lead me according to Your goodness to know that in You alone is my hope and a future.  Guide me to not only look to You but submit to You in and for all things.  You know all that is needed.  You have provided grace upon grace so that we can be with You forever.  Teach me how to praise You.

Lord Jesus, You are worthy of all worship that I can give You.  You have lifted me up so that I can walk in Your presence.  Yes, I can hold my head up, but let my knees buckle in praise of You knowing that I am always in Your presence.  You are worthy of all the praise I can muster.  Help me learn how to live a life of praise and thanksgiving.  Guide me in the right way of living that You have given me.  Amen.  

“[T]he twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying” (Revelation 4:10)

The greatest amongst men are nothing in the presence of the Lord.  This world is fueled by pride.  People want to be on top, in control, directing the lives of others.  There is no room for pride in the presence of the Lord.  Who can give anything to the Lord?  Has He not created all things?  You can only give Him what was His in the first place.  Give Him your praise.  Praise the Lord while you have your being.

Lord, help me to not fall into the trap of pride.  So many seek what they can never have.  No matter to what position You appoint me, may I always be willing to throw it at Your feet in worship.  You alone are worthy of all honor and praise.  You have done all that is needed.  You have given us what we need to be in Your presence.  Lead me Lord to humbly submit to You in and through all things.

Lord Jesus, You humbled Yourself unto death, even death on a cross.  Lead me, O Lord, to humbly walk with You wherever You direct.  Guide me to not think too highly of myself, but to humbly do what You give me to do.  Through all that may come in this world, establish me by grace in the way of life You have created.  Continue to lead me so that I may be where You are and become as You have made me to be.  Amen.

“And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 4:4)

Those who will be eternally in the Lord’s presence give Him thanks.  You will be thankful for what He is doing.  Why wait?  Why not begin learning how to give thanks to the Lord.  He is good and His love endures forever.  He has made all things and He has called you into His presence to live according to His never-failing word.  Come then and join with those who are giving, glory, honor, and thanks.

Lord, I often do not have a good attitude.  Help me and change my attitude so that I may learn how to give thanks in every situation.  I may not like what is going on, but You have promised that there is purpose for everything.  Help me to trust Your promise above every circumstance.  Lead me in the way of living life heading toward the eternity You promise.  Lead me and teach me the way to live the true life You give by grace through faith.

Lord Jesus, You who are worthy of all praise have come so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, dear Lord, in living life today with honor and thanksgiving.  Help me to see the steps I need to take and then help me to take them.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to live into this life of promise.  You, who are forever, have invited me into forever and by Your grace I shall arrive there to be with You.  Thank You Jesus!  Amen.

“And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come”  (Revelation 4:8).

From all parts of creation, and with full sight and knowledge, the faithful come to the place set apart, eternity, to worship the One through whom and for whom all things were made.  He invented time and all things.  He watches time.  He knows what He has made and there are those whom we do not know, but He does.  Come into His presence and join those who praise Him day and night.

Lord, I look at what seems odd to me and I stop.  Help me to see things as they are and to move beyond freezing up when I encounter what I do not know.  You already know me.  You see me on the timeline.  You see all my yesterdays, today and every tomorrow I will live in this life.  Guide me dear Lord to not stop along the way.  You have called me to walk in the way of salvation.  Lead me where You know I need to go.

Lord, the path is clear for You.  You have not promised that all will be the way I want it. But  You have promised that it will all work out for good.  Help me to understand that there is purpose in everything.  You see it and You are calling me beyond this life to come and join in the worship of eternity.  Lead me now and forever in the promise You have given me and help me to see more clearly with each step.  Amen.

“The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle” (Revelation 4:7).

A forceful being, a calm productive being, an image bearer, one who sees the whole terrain: are these not representative of the attributes of our Lord?  Are these not the attributes the children of God are to acquire?  The Lord is always instructing us, encouraging us to continue the journey of our faith.  Our temptation is to stagnate and think we’re done.  Until you meet the Lord face to face, there are things to be done.

Lord, You have given me a new life and You expect me to live it.  Guide me, Lord, in how to live life.  You who see all things know where I am and where You are taking me.  Lead me along the path of salvation so that I have the fortitude of a lion, the consistency of the calf, abide in my humanity, yet keep my eye upon all that You are doing and what is going on around me.

Lord Jesus, I have heard many things that describe these passages.  They titillate and encourage me to think freely about things.  But You have come to bring discipline to my mind.  Help me, Lord, to do less speculating and more applying of the things You give me to do.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and help me to walk the steps of faith that You have placed before me.  Amen.