Prayer

January 10th – Psalm 66:20

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.

January 10th – Psalm 66:20 Read More »

January 7th – Psalm 41:12

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

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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September 25th -1 John 5:14-15

1 John 5:14-15

We as Christians are in a battle for our very souls. The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that there is a great spiritual war waging around us even as we speak. As such, we are commanded to be courageous warriors in God’s army. Soldiers armed against the Enemy’s attacks, and at the ready with our spiritual weapons. And some of the greatest ammunition we have is prayer. Prayer is an unbreakable bond between us and God. 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! James 4:2 tells us we don’t have, because we don’t ask. So today I challenge you to ask! Go to God in prayer. Give to Him your heart and all it holds. And have unshakable faith that if it is His will, He will see it done!

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September 18th – Esther 4:14

Esther 4:14

Esther was a young queen in over her head. Told by her cousin Mordecai about the prime minister’s plot to kill the Jews, the fate of her people laid heavy on her small shoulders. Yet Esther knew where to go; straight to God. For three days and nights Esther sheltered in His presence through prayer and fasting. And as she grew closer to the Lord, Esther received the wisdom and courage she needed to save her people. Life is hard. And trying to do it on our own is near impossible. But thankfully, as Christians we never have to face anything alone. Because God is there welcoming us to come to Him. To spend time in His presence, bathing in His strength, mercy, and guidance. A place of refreshment, the arms of the Lord is where we experience His perfect peace. Where we find the answers we seek, the wisdom of God’s counsel, and the warmth of His unconditional love.

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August 25th – 1 Timothy 2:1

1 Timothy 2:1

When someone we love hurts, our first instinct is to want to jump into action and fix the problem. Because their pain is our pain. And our world won’t be right again until theirs is. But what about those times when we can’t make things better? What do we do then? We do one of the greatest and most powerful things we can, we pray. There is great strength in prayer. For as James tells us, the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16) Petitioning God on behalf of another is faith in action. We’re laying the hurt of our loved ones at His feet, and asking Him to take action. And having full confidence that God will do what we can’t. Although it can be hard to, “let go and let God”, we have to remember that as much as we love the people we pray for, God loves them even more. And getting on our knees, praying that He will work powerfully and mightily in their lives, is how miracles happen!

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may 22nd – Galatians 6:7

Galatians 6:7

Have you ever said to yourself, “If only I had..?” or, “I wish I didn’t…!” The Bible is filled with story after story of those who made both wise and unwise decisions. And the consequences of their choices. It also teaches us a very important Biblical principle. We reap what we sow. That’s why before we sow, we need to first seek counsel from the Lord. Because by doing so, we save ourselves from reaping a life filled with regret. So how do we receive God’s advice, power, and grace? By applying practical principles. These include surrendering our will to His. Meditating on His Word. Spending time in prayer. Having patience in waiting to hear from Him. And finally, trusting completely in the answer He gives. Each day we find ourselves facing decisions to be made, both big and small. And with each one God wants us to come to Him.

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May 4th – Ephesians 3:20

Ephesians 3:20

Have you ever prayed to God and been absolutely blown away with the abundance of His answer? The apostle Paul tells us instead of being surprised, we should anticipate our Father to go above and beyond what we ask of Him. For we serve a God who loves to bless exceedingly those who abide in Him in faithful obedience. The Lord wants us to come to Him in prayer with all of our needs. Because He cares about every detail of our lives, both great and small. And when we do, we need to be bold, expectant, and prepared for an answer that will be far greater anything we could imagine! Today go to God in prayer with boldness. And prepare to receive superabundant blessings!

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April 3rd – Exodus 33:14

Exodus 33:14

It’s a busy world out there. With work, families, and life in general, no wonder we get anxious, stressed, and tired. And that’s the condition our Enemy likes us best. Because usually it’s when we are at our most vulnerable. Which is why it’s so important for us to take time to rest. Physical rest, but also soul rest. We rest our souls by spending time with God. That includes reading His Word, prayer, and seeking His presence. God Knows the rest we need. And when we come to Him, we will find relaxation, peace, and restoration; everything we need to conquer the Enemy. And everything we need to not just survive, but thrive in a chaotic world! So no matter how busy your day, I urge to take a moment to truly rest in God’s presence.

April 3rd – Exodus 33:14 Read More »

April 22nd – Mark 1:35

Mark 1:35

Everyone needs a little me time. Time away from everyone and everything. Our Lord and Savior was no different. Everywhere He went people swarmed Him. And so to refresh and reflect, Jesus turned to God in prayer. Throughout the gospel, before preparing to take on God’s calling, we often find Jesus slipping away alone. Off for some valuable one on one time with the Father. And we should follow our Lord’s example. For we cannot answer God’s call if we have nothing left to give. Which is why it’s so important that we too, recharge our batteries. And we do that by spending time with our Heavenly Father. Through prayer, His Word, and God’s still small voice, we have all the strength and energy we need to accomplish His will. For like Dr. Charles Stanley says, “We can be tired, weary, and emotionally distraught. But after spending time alone with God, we find He injects into our bodies, energy, power, and strength!”

April 22nd – Mark 1:35 Read More »