Category Archives: Prayer

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September 20, 2014

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Faith & Hope, God's Plan, God's Promises, Prayer, Worry

A GODSEND

We don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself speaks to God for us. He begs God for us, speaking to him with feelings too deep for words. God already knows our deepest thoughts. And he understands what the Spirit is saying, because the Spirit speaks for his people in the way that agrees with what God wants. We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan. [Romans 8:26b-28 (ERV)]

The three of us had been trying to solve a difficult situation for most of the summer. No solution seemed quite right. Not knowing how we were going to deal with this problem, I had simply given it to God, praying that He would guide us. We didn’t know what we needed exactly but surely He would provide whatever it was. As our deadline for a decision approached, we began to fret over finding the correct resolution. Suddenly, we realized the answer was looking us in the face. God had provided exactly what we required! Some would say it was a stroke of luck to find the answer to our prayers, a person, at a time in her life when she needed us as well. Luck had nothing to do with it. This person is truly a Godsend. I have no doubt that God saw our need, and hers, and set a series of events in place over the summer that brought us all together at exactly the right time.

Thank you, Lord, for your provision and for knowing what we need far better than we ourselves do.

I am praying to you in my time of trouble. I know you will answer me. [Psalm 86:7 (ERV)]

I will answer them before they call for help. I will help them before they finish asking. [Isaiah 65:24 (ERV)]

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September 14, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Peace of God, Prayer

GET SOME REST

9-15-14 REST53-cropWEBCrowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.” [Mark 6:31(NCV)]

I read the above verse and walked over to my laptop; I had the perfect meditation to write. Then a voice told me, “Stop! Read the verse again!” As I did, I realized the verse was meant for me at that very moment. It wasn’t time to start writing; it was time to stop and spend time with Him. It was time to rest in His presence and so I did. Instead of writing, I took a much needed break. I took a long walk along a remote country road and savored His presence. Sometimes, we need to halt what we’re so busy doing and take the time to be taught and healed, loved and blessed, rested and restored.

Father, help us be diligent in our work for you but stop us when, instead of being productive, we are simply busy. Never let us forget the most important thing is to spend time with you.

Guide us in our daily life and remind us when it’s time to restrain our activities so we can spend quiet time resting at your side.

I will take care of my sheep and lead them to rest, declares the Almighty Lord. [Ezekiel 34:15 (NCV)]

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September 10, 2014

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Prayer

HOW DO YOU GET TO HEAVEN?

And when you pray, don’t be like those people who don’t know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing, thinking that God will hear them because of their many words. [Matthew 6:7 (NCV)]

Remember the old joke, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” The answer, of course, is, “Practice, practice, practice!”

In his book Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcom Gladwell posits that it takes 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to master a skill. He’s not speaking of senseless repetition or only choosing to work at skills one has already attained, but rather serious, mentally challenging and deliberate practice. Perhaps that’s why some of us don’t seem very good at prayer: we haven’t practiced nearly enough! Sure, we’ve said prayers for many years, but we probably haven’t diligently practiced praying. I’m not sure that a quick grace thoughtlessly repeated before a meal or a relieved sigh of, “Thank God!” even count! There’s probably been a good bit of mindless repetition and lack of concentration in many of our prayers. Most likely, we are pretty practiced in praying for ourselves, fair at praying for others (when we remember), but we could definitely spend more time on praise and thanksgiving (especially when times are tough). I suspect that both soul searching and confession definitely need lots of work. Does practice make praying perfect? Probably not, but it sure will make mindful praying a habit!

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. [Martin Luther King, Jr.]

Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God. [Colossians 4:2 (NCV)]

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August 13, 2014

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Prayer, Thanks & Praise, Trusting God

HE’S OUR FRIEND; LET’S TREAT HIM LIKE A GOOD ONE!

And so it happened just as the Scriptures say, that Abraham trusted God, and the Lord declared him good in God’s sight, and he was even called “the friend of God.” [James 2:23 (TLB)]

Have you ever required a favor from someone who is just a passing acquaintance? Have you ever had to share intimate details of your life with someone you don’t know well? Have you ever let a friendship go by the wayside only to discover that you need that friend’s assistance or advice? It’s not easy, is it? If we’re not in the habit of calling on God with good news, it becomes increasingly difficult to call on Him in difficult times.

On the other hand, have you ever had a “friend” who only calls when he or she wants something from you? They never call to share their good news, only the bad, or only when they have a need you can fulfill. How does God feel when we only call Him with bad news and an urgent request for his speedy intervention?

Let’s not be “fair weather” friends with our Lord. After all, He’s there for us in all weather conditions: hurricanes and calm, downpours and drought, tornadoes and blue skies. Let’s call Him regularly and share both joy and sorrow, success and failures, thanks and petitions, faith and despair.

But God is my helper. He is a friend of mine! [Psalm 54:4 (NLT)]

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August 6, 2014

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Obedience, Prayer

LISTENING

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. [Psalm 5:3 (NLT)]

I expect God to listen to me, but do I listen to him?
When he calls, do I answer?
When he speaks, do I hear?
When he commands, do I obey?
Perhaps it’s time to remember why He gave me two ears and only one mouth!

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. [Epictetus]

Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. [Psalm 143:1 (NLT)]

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August 3, 2014

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God's Plan, Prayer, Trusting God

HIS FATHER’S PLAN

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” [Luke 2:49 (NKJV)]

When Jesus tasted the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and died. [John 19:30 (NCV)]

Even Jesus had to follow a plan: God’s plan. Jesus knew what he had to do, he did it, and he knew when it was completed. God has plans for us, too. Too often, however, His plans are not the plans we have in mind. Instead of asking God to bless the plan we make, let’s ask God to make our plan be the one that He blesses!

This agrees with the purpose God had since the beginning of time, and he carried out his plan through Christ Jesus our Lord [Ephesians 3:11 (NCV)]