Prayer

August 10th- Colossians 4:2

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Colossians 4:2

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

Paul tells us to dedicate ourselves to prayer. Why? Because prayer is our direct line of communication with God. Through prayer we talk with God, give Him the desires and sorrows of our hearts, lift up others and their needs, confess our sins, and thank Him for our blessings. By dedicating ourselves to prayer, we open the door to a deeper relationship with the Lord through intimacy and trust. And when we pray we invite God into every aspect of our lives, seeking guidance, strength, and comfort in times of need. It aligns our hearts with the Father’s will and reminds us of our dependency on Him. Regular and devoted prayer transforms our perspective. It enables us to see life’s challenges through a spiritual lens. Prayer keeps us aware of God’s presence and encourages a spirit of humility. God is always ready and anxious to hear from His children. So pray. Tell God what is in your heart and mind. He’s always listening!

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August 2nd – Colossians 4:17

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Colossians 4:17

“See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”

In Jeremiah 1:5 God says, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” Each of us was purposely and hand created by God with specific gifts. And we are to use those God given talents towards completing the work the Lord gives us. Whether they be spiritual, intellectual, or practical, we are to use our talents to advance God’s kingdom and bring glory to His name. We all have a calling that is ours alone. Through prayer, reading God’s Word, consulting others, and following the prompting of the Spirit, we can discover that calling. And when we do, we are to passionately dedicate ourselves to fulfilling it. Whether through acts of kindness, teaching, preaching, serving, or any other form of ministry, we are called to use our gifts diligently. Finding great joy in knowing that our labor for the Lord is not in vain. Because by doing so, we become instruments of God’s love, grace, and truth. So desperately needed in our darkened and depraved world of today.

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June 13th – 1 Kings 8:34

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1 Kings 8:34

“then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.”

Many times Israel sinned against God. And just as many times God forgave them. Many too are the sins of our country. Like Israel we have disobeyed God, embraced wickedness, and turned aside from the Lord. Yet thankfully, God’s forgiveness is not limited to only the nation of Israel. It’s available to any country that humbly turns to Him, acknowledges its wrongdoings, and seeks His mercy. And our country is in desperate need of repentance and forgiveness. During the dedication of the temple, King Solomon prayed for God’s mercy and forgiveness for the people of Israel when they sinned against Him. We too need to be interceding for our country. Praying our leaders make decisions based on God’s will. That her people will repent from evil, and that God will not remove His hand of blessing from us. Asking God to forgive our transgressions and guide the nation towards righteousness, unity, and peace.

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May 19th – Hebrews 4:16

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Hebrews 4:16

When it comes to prayer, God isn’t looking for mealymouthed, wish washy, timid followers. He’s looking for strong, bold, prayer warriors. Those who know that because we are loved and accepted by God, we can come before Him anytime, anywhere, asking for anything, without fear or hesitation. But boldly coming before the Lord requires confidence, honesty, surrender, and persistence. Confidence means having unshakable faith and trust in God’s character and promises. Honesty means bringing our true selves before Him, without pretense or hiding. Surrender means knowing the Lord always knows best, seeking His guidance and direction above our own. And persistence means not giving up or being discouraged when we don’t see immediate answers or solutions. Being bold before God isn’t about being disrespectful or demanding. But reverence and humility, combined with confidence and trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness. And an invitation to approach Him with freedom, faith, and love.

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May 16th – 2 Chronicles 7:14

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2 Chronicles 7:14

As hard as it can be, change is a good thing. Especially when it comes to our walk with God. Even if at times it’s one step forward two steps back, our relationship with the Lord is to be one of perpetual motion. And repentance is just the thing to bring about growth and change. True repentance involves four things. First is humility. When we sin against God we need to come before Him with a truly sorry heart. One that hurts because it hurt God. Next is prayer. Jesus gave His life to provide an open line of communication between us and God. And we need to use it to confess the wrong we’ve done. Third is to continually seek God’s face. This means studying His Word and striving to live according to His commandments. Finally, we need to turn from our wickedness. It isn’t enough to just apologize for the sin we commit. We need to literally change the sinful behavior. If we take these steps, God promises to hear us, forgive our sins, and give us healing, change, and a deeper relationship with Him.

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April 29th – Colossians 4:2

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Colossians 4:2

There’s no quicker way to get out of a stale relationship with God than to have a purposeful, meaningful, and dedicated prayer life. Some Christians definitely have God’s anointing when it comes to prayer. They pray easily, fervently, and persistently. And their prayers are filled with complete assuredness that God will answer their pleas. But for others, prayer doesn’t some so easily. To them prayer may feel awkward, or they worry they’re doing it wrong. Still others are too proud or too ashamed to come before the Lord. But far from a duty, prayer is privilege reserved for God’s chosen. It’s a direct line of communication and unbreakable bond between the Father and His children. There is no special formula, ritual, or words that have to be said. All God wants is for us to come to Him in complete and humble faith. Through the blood of Jesus Christ we have unlimited access to the Father and His throne. And He wants to hear from us!

 

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April 14th – Proverbs 19:2

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Proverbs 19:2

Missionary Jim Elliot once said, “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.” Even the best of us fall victim to making choices in haste and without first seeking God. And more times than not, these choices lead to mistakes which in turn lead to unpleasant consequences. That’s why Solomon warns that having strong desires or ambitions without having knowledge or understanding isn’t a good thing. This means that it’s not enough to just  want something. We also need the know how and understanding necessary to make good and wise decisions that line up with the will of God. Because rushing or acting too quickly can lead to mistakes and missed opportunities. So to stay on the right path, and avoid the mistakes of life, we need to check everything with God first. Through prayer, reading His Word, and following the prompting of the Holy Spirt, we can rest assured we are making the right choices.

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January 10th – Psalm 66:20

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Psalm 66:20

I love how psalm 66 starts out with songs of praise to God for His glory, greatness, and works. Oh how easy it is to sing such wonderful songs when we feel surrounded by God’s glory. Those times we experience a spiritual, physical, and emotional closeness with Him. Usually it’s due to a received blessing, answered prayer, or a need fulfilled. We feel as if we’re walking on a cloud. Our hearts are filled with the joy, comfort, and warmth of fellowshipping with our Lord. And in our thankfulness we swear to never again forsake God, vowing to faithfully follow His will. Then life goes on, and it’s business as usual. And slowly our focus wanders away from the Lord. But the joyful news is this. No matter how much we forget or reject God, He never does the same in kind. Never will our Heavenly Father withhold His precious love, time, or attention. Nor ever turn a deaf ear to our prayers.

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January 7th – Psalm 41:12

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Psalm 41:12

There is a quote that warns, “not everyone you fight is your enemy. And not everyone who helps you is your friend.” Throughout our lives we will experience hurt, betrayal, and disappointment at the hands of others. And in those moments we have a choice to make. Will that pain make us better or bitter? Better is using the hurt to grow closer to the Lord, and softening our hearts to the pain and needs of others. But bitter takes glee in retribution and seeing others misfortune. And it turns a blind eye to the suffering of another because its focus is only on self pity. We all fall short and sin daily against God. Yet from His wonderful love, He extends to us His unmerited grace and mercy. And He calls us to show that same grace and mercy. To repay evil with kindness, curses with blessings, and mistreatment with prayer. (Luke 6:27-28) And most importantly of all, if we see a need to meet that need. The way God meets all of ours.

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December 11th – Psalm 66:20

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Psalm 66:20

Don’t you hate it when you’re trying to reach someone and your call goes straight to voicemail? That never happens with God. Through the privilege of prayer, we have a direct and open line of communication with the Lord. And no matter how long it’s been, He picks up on the first ring. Because God is always excited to hear from His children. For He’s been anxiously waiting, ready and eager to receive our call. Some Christians mistakenly believe that God only wants to hear from us about the big stuff. But the truth is, He cares about every area of our lives, big and small. So much so that one of the many wonderful names of God is El Roi, the God who sees me. Our Lord never slumbers nor sleeps. His eyes are always watching over the righteous, His ears always listening for their prayers. Not a moment goes by where He takes His eye off of us. For He is the One who, “keeps us in life, and does not allow our feet to slip.” (Ps. 66:9)

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