Category Archives: Prayer

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May 25, 2014

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Prayer, Trusting God

Who’s on Your Speed Dial?

Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. [Psalm 105:4 (NLT)]

Do you remember the “Seinfeld” episode about one’s placement on the speed dial of someone else’s phone? Following a bad date, Jerry discovered that his name had moved from seventh to ninth position on his girlfriend’s phone. “This speed dial’s like a relationship barometer,” was his conclusion.

Our pastor told the story of a church council that was dealing with a rather vexing problem. In fact, there was so much discord that the survival of the parish was at stake. During a particularly contentious council meeting, the minister suggested that they pause for some prayer. A stunned church elder responded, “Good Heavens! Has it finally come to that?”

My point? Who is first on our speed dials? Is God the first one we call with our problems or the last resort when all else fails? If He’s not number one, there’s something wrong with our relationship. Let’s keep him in first place and remember that, if we chat with him daily about the little things in our lives, it’s much easier to hand him the big problems when they arise.

Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness. [H. Jackson Brown, Jr.]

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. [Colossians 4:2 (NLT)]

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May 7, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, Fear & Doubt, Prayer, Trusting God

Trusting Him

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. [1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)]

Last week, I had a meltdown in the grocery store. I stood in an aisle and quietly cried. The tears had absolutely nothing to do with the frustration of not finding what I wanted in a strange store; they had everything to do with not trusting God. I’d made the mistake many of us Christians do of “talking the talk” but not “walking the walk.” I speak and write a great deal about trusting God but I’m nowhere near as good about giving up control and truly putting myself and those I care for into his loving hands!

Let me back up a bit. In the space of a few days, my husband went from the onset of symptoms to tests and diagnosis to a finding that surgery is necessary. Scheduled later today, the surgery is microscopic and the prognosis is excellent. Nevertheless, this puts a “monkey wrench” into our plans for the next month or so. As we left the doctor’s office last Thursday, we started planning and rescheduling and reorganizing our lives. We said all the right things about having faith and trusting God and even thanked Him for good medical care. But, I mistook acting calm and trusting for being calm and trusting. As I got busy rewriting our calendars and making new arrangements, I forgot the most important thing: prayer! Oh, I’d said my usual prayers and even added my husband to my prayer list but I hadn’t really talked with God about my fears and all of the “what ifs” that were racing around in the back of my mind. That’s what the tears were about in the middle of the store. I finally had to admit that while I could take charge of changing appointments on our calendar, I couldn’t take charge of my husband’s health and the future. I had to truly turn it all over to God and trust him fully with our tomorrows.

O Lord, thank you for the challenges of life and the lessons they bring. Forgive us when we act like we’re the ones in charge. We hand you all our worries and fears, trusting that you will enable us to handle whatever the future brings.

Perhaps what our Father would have us learn is that worry is not for Him to take away, but for us to give up. [From “Vital Signs” by Kathy Herman]

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. [Psalm 31:14-15a (NLT)]

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May 3, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works, Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

You Can’t Please All of the People All of the Time

But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you. [James 1:5 (NCV)]

Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking… [Colossians 3:15a (NCV)]

I recently completed a birthday gift for one of my grown children: a photo book filled with forty years of pictures. What with scanning, editing, sorting, compiling, and captioning, this project took several months. At one point, what started as a labor of love simply became labor. What went wrong?

In an attempt to make the “perfect” gift, things had gotten out of perspective. Not only was I concerned about the recipient’s reaction to the book, but I also agonized about everyone in the extended family as well. Would they like it? I second guessed each photo choice and its placement. Did I have too many shots of one person or not enough of another? Had I covered each event to everyone’s satisfaction? Was everyone represented? Did everyone look good in every photo? Would my idea of humor be funny to others? I began to dread sitting at the computer and, as my deadline approached, I had a heavy heart.

Finally, I did what I should have done in the first place: turned this project over to God. He reassured me that if my true motivation was love and if I followed His guidance as I worked, every choice would be the right choice. He reminded me that my best effort is all He asks of me and it is all anyone else should expect. Perfection is not required, just love. From then on, before logging onto Shutterfly to work, I said a brief prayer asking God for His guidance. The last twenty pages went faster and far more smoothly than the first eighty, simply because I let love motivate me and trusted God to guide me.

Lord, help us to remember that we need to be more concerned with pleasing you than with pleasing anybody else. May we keep in mind that the only reaction over which we have any control is ours. Thank you, for your gift of love and for blessing us with encouragement, confidence, and guidance when we share that gift with others.

Do everything in love. [1 Corinthians 16:14 (NCV)]

Please yourself…then at least someone will be happy with your decision. [From “Deep South” by Nevada Barr]

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May 1, 2014

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Holidays & Holy Days, Prayer

National Day of Prayer: Let Us Pray

Also, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. This is true because if two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them. [Matthew 18:19-20 (NCV)]

Today is the 63rd National Day of Prayer. The theme is “One Voice, United in Prayer.” Today, this one prayer, written by Anne Graham Lotz will be read simultaneously throughout the nation. Perhaps you will join in saying this prayer today.

Then if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, if they will pray and seek me and stop their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land. [2 Chronicles 7:14 (NCV)]

Lord of the Universe. Lord of this planet. Lord of the nations. Lord of our hearts. On this National Day of Prayer, we look to You…

In the darkness, You are our Light.
In the storm, You are our Anchor.
In our weakness, You are our Strength.
In our grief, You are our Comfort.
In our despair, You are our Hope.
In our confusion, You are our Wisdom.
In time of terrorism, You are our Shield.
In time of war, You are our Peace.
In times of uncertainty, You are the Rock on which we stand.

We make our prayer to You using the words of the prophet Daniel:

O Lord, You are the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments. You are merciful and forgiving. You are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame because we have sinned against You, and done wrong. We have turned away from Your commands and principles. We have turned away from You.

Yet You have promised in 2 Chronicles 7, that if we–a people identified with You–would humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways, then You would hear our prayer, forgive our sin and heal our land.

So we choose to stop pointing our finger at the sins of others, and examine our own hearts and lives. We choose to acknowledge our own sin–our neglect and defiance and ignorance and even rejection of You. This day we choose to repent.

In response to our heartfelt repentance, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Father of Jesus Christ, in keeping with all Your righteous acts and according to Your promise, turn away Your anger and Your wrath from the United States of America. Hear the prayers and petitions offered to You on this National Day of Prayer, as we give You our full attention. Give ear, our God, and hear; open Your eyes and see. We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy.

For the glory of Your Name hear our prayer, forgive our sin, and heal our land.
We ask this in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ who offers us salvation from Your judgment, forgiveness for our sin, and reconciliation with You through His own blood shed on the Cross. Amen.
[2014 National Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz]

 

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April 9, 2014

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God's Grace & Love, Prayer

You’ve Got Mail!

Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” [Psalm 27:7-8 (NLT)]

Last night, I discovered a “hot spot” in the city park, making it even easier to keep in touch with the world. Of course, I discovered it when I furtively checked my email during a band concert. With our smart phones, IPads, and computers, we are rarely out of contact with our friends and acquaintances. Most of us check our email (or Facebook page) several times a day. Do we check in with God nearly as much? I know I don’t!

Prayer is more than a ritual; it is building and maintaining a relationship with our Lord. We talk, text and email our friends all day long, so why do we spend so little time talking with Him? We don’t need a hot spot to check in with God! Today, every time I check my email, I’m also going to check in with God to see what He has to say to me!

It’s not enough to splash a little prayer on in the morning or to run through a sprinkler of God’s mercy now and then. It’s not enough to double our spirits in an hour of worship on Sunday or to dash into a drizzle of teaching every month or so. Our souls need to soak in God’s presence. It’s no luxury, this time we spend in the healing waters of God’s grace. It’s neither excess nor indulgence to immerse ourselves in communion with our creator. It’s a spiritual necessity if we want to become the people God has created us to be. [Penelope J. Stokes]

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April 8, 2014

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Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

His Voice is Powerful!

The voice of the Lord rolls over the water. The God of glory thunders. The Lord shouts over raging water. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. The Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. [Psalm 29:3-5 (GW)]

Oh Lord, if your voice is so loud and mighty, why do we seem to have such difficulty hearing you? Is it because, sometimes, you also speak in a whisper? Help us to listen for you at all times and in all places.

As the Lord was passing by, a fierce wind tore mountains and shattered rocks ahead of the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire. But the Lord wasn’t in the fire. And after the fire there was a quiet, whispering voice. [1 Kings 19:11b-12 (GW)]