Everything in Prayer

 

     Does God really need our prayers to make decisions? I believe in His ultimate authority and fore knowledge; He understands even our future prayers and plans accordingly. If you have others praying for you, receive it as a gift. Through some of my darkest days in the past, the power of others praying for me and my family, was felt physically and emotionally. Those prayers held us up and gave us strength.

    The Spirit of the living God will give you the words, and the ability to match your words to His will. When you say you will pray for someone, take it seriously. Prayer brings solace and comfort, strength and hope. Just as we will never comprehend the ways of God, we will not always understand the answers to our prayers. But He listens and He moves and He cares.

     Our prayers move the hand that moves the world. The Bible tells us to pray about everything, and in doing so, we know God will give us peace.

     Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your need known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

     God promises us peace in Christ. This peace is unlike anything the world offers. This peace is so deep, it transcends our human understanding. Have you felt this kind of peace during a time in your life when peace seemed virtually impossible? 

     The verses above remind us to give EVERYTHING to Him in our petitions and our prayers. And as we do, we can thank Him in advance. Thank Him for listening. Thank Him for working. Thank Him for His peace even before you feel it. And let your worries become His to solve. Be anxious for nothing.

Jesus,

We need Your peace today. We offer up all that is weighing us down and ask for our worries to be swept away by Your Spirit. Give us a sense of Your presence and Your ways. They are beyond us. We need You.

Amen

 

Morning Prayer

 

     I rise with the birds. Early mornings have always been a favorite time of day for me. This time finds me writing, praying, praising and reading, a great way for me to begin a new day. The power in praying for others is meaningful and mysterious.

     God controls the universe. He knows the words we will speak before we say them (Psalm 139). He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:111). He numbers the hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7). This intimate knowledge He has of us and His creation is higher and deeper than we can comprehend. (Isaiah 55) He watches over every single creature, including each bird (Matthew 10:29)

     And yet, He uses our prayers.

In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

     I love this verse in Psalm 5. Lay your requests before Him each day and wait expectantly. Believe God will answer. Believe He is working. Believe He is ahead making a way. He hears your voice.  He loves spending time with you.

     Jesus loved spending time with His heavenly Father when He walked the earth., He understood the need for prayer. He often went to a solitary place to pray. Beginning the day with God will allow us to give the day to Him, trusting He will lead us in the right way.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went to a solitary place, where He prayed.  Mark 1:35

     When I rise in the dark, early mornings, I love thinking of Jesus walking the earth, praying just as I do. Give it all to Him today.

Lord,

Thank You for the times we pray. As we lay our requests before You, we trust You to work.  You understand us more than we understand ourselves. Give us others who need prayer, so we may lift them up to You.

Amen

 

The Word Day and Night

 

Keep this book of the law always on your lips, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8

     With the word of God living within us, we can wake each morning, walk through our days and reach out to welcome the night, living in the light of Christ. God told Joshua to meditate on His word day and night, to follow the instructions given. God desires the very best for us.

     He teaches through the tough times, through the difficult people, through our suffering and through our joys. He is there. His word is always available for every occasion. Store up heavenly treasures for your benefit. Teach them to your children.

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 11:19

     What a great privilege it is to tell others about God. When we have Scripture memorized, we can teach them, gain strength from them, and pass them on. The Bible is a gift available to us. Here are the verses from the beginning of our week.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Lord,

Would you write these verses on our hearts? Jesus is Your word. Everything in the Bible leads to Him. He is our Redeemer, our Shepherd, our Rock, our Salvation, our blessed hope.

Amen

The Word as a Weapon

 

     Did you know the word of God may be used as a sword? When Satan interrupts our thoughts, when we feel trapped by temptation, unsettled with worry, filled with discontent or doubt, God’s word will fight for us. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, His weapon of choice was His very own words. Satan left Him alone, knowing he was no match for the power found in Scripture.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:17

     God’s word is so powerful, it will move into our bodies and demolish any strongholds that have been set in our minds or hearts in the past.

For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

     Are you stuck in negative thinking, with a critical spirit, with becoming discouraged? Look at the words above from God for you and for me. This powerful sword of the Spirit moves in and takes over our long-held attitudes and thoughts and changes them into the thoughts of God Himself. I could use that every single day! Let’s be brave and let God take over as we take in His words for us.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Lord,

Help us to wield the sword of the Spirit, to conquer Satan’s hold on our lives, to overcome strongholds, to devour bad attitudes, to become more Christ-like to others. We believe.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Word in our Minds

 

     Our minds are renewed, refreshed, transformed and settled in peace through God’s word. Without it, our minds become jumbled, filled with fret and worry, with anxious thoughts and with critical attitudes towards ourselves and others.

     When we fix our thoughts on Christ, our lives begin to change. As life takes us away into busyness, distractions, work and activity schedules, phones, media, television, parties, (add more to this never-ending list), our minds can easily be moved away from the mind of God, forgetting what is available to us, to keep us grounded and faithful.

     Take heart from the following verses as we set our minds above all that is around us into the heavenly realms.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:6

Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Ephesians 4:23

     Let these verses dwell richly in your minds and in your spirits. These beautiful verses will bring us back, with the Spirit’s help, into the mindset of Christ. We can think and act more like Him, and we can and will be filled with power and love and a sound mind.

     Let’s set our minds, fix our thoughts, on Jesus and His word.

Father,

We thank You for the God-breathed words that fill our minds and hearts. We ask that our minds be renewed. Give us the ability to listen for Your voice as we move through our days, living in the love and hope of Christ.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

The Word in our Hearts

 

Your instructions are written on my heart. Psalm 40:8

The law of their Lord is in their hearts. Their feet do not slip. Psalm 37:31

     God’s instruction book for us is alive and powerful. If our hearts are filled with God’s word, we can rise above the world around us to gain the wisdom of our Creator. The Holy Spirit will guide us into writing the thoughts and commands of our Heavenly Father on our hearts. He has promised to do so.

“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be My people.” Jeremiah 31:33b

     When God’s words are etched in our hearts, we become a willing participant in His ways, more and more able to walk in His will, His perfect and good will. He will keep us strong and faith-filled as we walk in the world around us. As the verse above says, “Their feet will not slip.”

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11

     Think about filling your heart more and more with God’s wonderful instruction book of life. His word is meant for our use.

All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Lord,

Let Your holy scriptures fill our hearts with power, wisdom, strength, comfort and encouragement. We need Your steadfast presence each day. Help our minds to take it in and our hearts to keep it safely hidden as a treasure to be taken out and savored again and again.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

The Word is Christ

 

Let the Word of Christ dwell among you richly…Colossians 3:16a

     Does the word of God live richly among you and within you? Scripture verses are like treasures written on our hearts. A few years ago, two dear friends and I read, studied and meditated and memorized God’s word together. The meditation and memorization was based on a book by Robert J. Morgan, called, “100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart.”

     In one of the opening chapters he writes about the Bible, “It’s a force to be reckoned with, containing intrinsic power, high enough to give us insight, deep enough to give us peace, wide enough to mold our personalities, and strong enough to bear us through horrendous days.”

    I want to encourage you (and motivate me) to memorize Scripture. The word of God is powerful, uplifting, filled with wisdom and given to us for our use each day. When we memorize Scripture, it becomes available to us at any time of the night or day.

     When we can pull Scripture out at any given time, it can be used as a light for others, as a lamp for our path, as a relief for us from anxiety or worry, as a word of hope for our future as a comfort when we are burdened. Remember, the word of God represents Jesus Himself. Here is a great verse to memorize. Give it a try.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

     This verse reminds us that Jesus was with God from the beginning. He is eternal. He was and is God! He is embodied in God’s word from beginning to end. A verse to go along with this one reminds us that Jesus walked as one of us. This eternal God came to save us.

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

     The apostle, John, was an eyewitness to the glory of God. Jesus Himself, the word became flesh, in His full glory. And He is grace and He is truth.

Father,

Give us more and more of Your precious word. The word became flesh and lived among us. It is Jesus, sent from You, eternal God and the Son of Man.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Beyond

 

     Look beyond the stars this weekend to the heavens. The purposes and plans of God are beyond what we see and touch. As we fumble through this life, seeking answers to unanswerable questions, think on our Holy God. We won’t understand the fallen world around us and the suffering we experience. But God redeems, He reminds, He restores and He renews. Think beyond the stars to His truth.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Philippians 4:8

     The words above speak volumes in opposition to what we see and hear in the world around us each day. Look above and beyond to what is pure and excellent, what is lovely and true, what is praiseworthy. It is Jesus. Think about such things.

Jesus,

We thank You for reminding us of what is true and lovely and excellent. Keep our minds steadfast on You today and always. Restore our hearts to trust You.

Amen

 

 

Life Shared

 

     There is a Swedish proverb that reads, “Shared joy is double joy, shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” God created us to share life together. He designed marriage, along with the gift of children, for some. He created friendship and family and love.

     When our lives are filled with deep connections and commitment to one another, it becomes more manageable to navigate what can be a treacherous journey at times. When I was a little girl and something wonderful or something awful occurred at school, I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my mom and dad. They had answers. They congratulated, comforted and corrected me along the way.

     Now, I share my deep concerns and deep joys with my family and friends.  What a blessing and a privilege it is to be open and authentic with those we love, listening and lifting one another up with encouragement and hope. As many of you know, our grandson, Gavin, has been seizure-free for three years now. We continue to thank God and thank everyone for their powerful prayers. It is a miracle.

     Walking alongside others throughout our lives is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile. If you find yourself alone, remember God is your constant companion. You can run to Him with all that is in your heart and He will find others to surround you. Here is a verse to take along with you as you go through this day.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15

Lord,

I thank You for all of the people in my life, my husband and children, my sons-in-law and my grandchildren, my friends and acquaintances and my extended family. Keep all of our eyes open to those in need. Show us how to walk beside others, even for a little while.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Spiritual Blessings

 

     September was a time of warm weather, bright sunny skies, long walks, boat rides and patio dining with friends. Ahhh! The last vestiges of summer were savored. At the same time, there is unrest and devastation around us.

     It is tough to maintain our peace with political hatred and violence, and the heartbreaking news of hurricane damage and lost lives and livelihoods. What do we do when we can’t find peace?

     Focus on the inner workings of Jesus. Keep going back to Him where peace, joy and hope reside. It always and forever goes back to Jesus. He is our firm foundation, our anchor in the storm, our truth through the turmoil. Let’s step into the world He offers with some Scriptures and take in some peace of mind.

     God offers us spiritual blessings not found anywhere else. When our world is changing and appears out of control, our God remains steadfast and unchanging.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 117

     The spiritual blessings offered from Jesus are heaven-sent!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms, with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Father,

We thank you for our heavenly blessings, for the good gifts that are given only through and by Your Son, Jesus.

Amen

 

Needs Met

 

     What do you need today? Comfort? Peace? Love? Hope? I think we could all use the above, and all are freely available through Jesus. Jesus is there to meet our every need. He knows you better than anyone. Read through Psalm 139 and notice His nearness, His ability to understand what we will say before we say it, His presence surrounding us day and night.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen

     He meets our needs abundantly! His grace will be enough right now. Breathe it in and be blessed. The inner heavenly blessings of life with Jesus will be enough.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen Philippians 4:23

 

     I challenge you to focus on Jesus more than the world around us this week. To think about His Spirit within you, to understand you can be different in a world gone mad. Remember, the risen Christ lives within you as a believer. Read more Scripture over more news. Pray even when you don’t feel like it. You will be blessed. What goes into our hearts, will be revealed through us in Him.

Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs4:23

     Don’t allow the bitterness and anger to intrude on your peace. Guard your hearts and minds to remain above the world around us. Maybe it is just such a time as this we can really make a difference. Listen to these words written to us. During these times, it is so easy to get caught up in the chaos and hate.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

     You have the power and strength with the help of the Holy Spirit to be set apart, to shine with Jesus, to walk in kindness and compassion. Not easey. I am writing to myself more than for anyone else this week. Do what you can to change the world through Him.

Lord,

We sure need Your guidance in the days in which we live. Help us to draw all of our strength from You, to guard our hearts and our minds, to fill ourselves with Your kind of love, which is so needed right now. Help us all.

In Jesus name,

Amen