Time For A Reset?

 

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit,and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”John 4:23-24 NIV Bible Gateway 

A new year is upon us a time for making resolutions or bucket list items you want to accomplish. Perhaps one of biggest is to allow your spiritual heart to be reset if you have left your first love Jesus Christ. 

One of my best experiences years ago was going to a New Year’s Eve watch night service where we prayed in the New Year. Kind of taking stock of the previous 364 days and deciding with God’s help what you want to do differently. Another great thing is a Day Alone With God otherwise known as a DAWG day where you go somewhere safe and away from home to alleviate distractions and just get quiet before God and Holy Spirit allowing you to hear from them. 

As you prepare to enter 2024 what do you need to lay on the altar before God? 

PRAYER: Help me as I seek to let junk from 2023 go and focus on a new year. Guide me to those who could use a prayer or a hug. Teach me to be still and change things up to get closer to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Toss The First Stone

Jesus straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."John 8:7

It is so easy to judge and condemn and cast the first stone so to speak. Similarly to this account of Jesus telling those who caught a woman in act of adultery He says basically okay so if you are sin free go ahead and throw a rock at her.

None of us is without sin that is the point. Many people classify sin with the sexual ones being the ones they classify as worse but God still forgives a repentant heart no matter what. Repent means to ‘turn away’ and stop sinning.

Our nation needs great prayer as some sins have been justified by making laws that say they are okay. Only God makes those kind of decisions. We are to love one another and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus forgive me when I have judged another and tried to puff myself up as righteous in the process. I know sin of any kind breaks your heart. Help me mind my own business and continue your pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Honoring Your Parents

 

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” Exodus 20:12, NIV

When you marry scripture says to ‘Leave and cleave‘ and a successful marriage requires that. It does not mean to forget your parents but to remember your allegiance is to your spouse.

Nowadays nursing homes or assisted living seem to be the way busy children take care of mom and dad in their later years of life. Not everyone does this but it seems to be almost a given that adult children don’t really want bothered with mom and dad so why not find ‘a place for mom’ as the TV commercial says. There are exceptions to situations such as when an elderly parent won’t move and the child can’t move there. This example not good for grandchildren.

“Well what if my parents were jerks and abused me then what?” Matthew 5:44 says “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. As you begin a new year making resolutions why not resolve if your parents are still alive to do something special for them.

PRAYER: I loved my mom and dad and I love my children and my grandchildren. I pray for those I know or don’t know with strained relationships whose heart aches almost daily. Give them peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Happily Ever After

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.Hebrews 13:4

Today is our 46th wedding anniversary. Marriages take work. Many don’t realize that and bail out or have affairs or overspending and debt ruins marriage.Also drug or alcohol addiction is a killer of marriage too.  Remember it is the children who ultimately suffer. 

This devotion not meant to guilt you if your marriage or marriages did not work out but to let you know God heals wounds and broken hearts and other issues in life and sometimes he restores a broken marriage and the couple remarries. He offers restoration and forgiveness. 

Love and respect is what it takes. Kindness and putting the other first. Being honest, I certainly am not perfect and have much to learn. But marriages are to be celebrated. If you can have devotions together that probably would help too. Anyway man and woman are to put God in the center of the marriage and if they forget this element it is tragic for them and for any children they have. Run your race to win with your wife or husband along side you. 

PRAYER: Thank you for freedom and for the gift of marriage. Society tried to say marriage could be for same sex couples and we allowed it to be cemented into law. Forgive those who are confused or rebellious. Set their hearts free. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

NOTE-

The following is copied from Crosswalk. It helps me maybe will help you as well:

Father, help me to be the [husband/wife] you have intended me to be. Show me where I need to improve. Help me to be a better communicator, help me to love my [husband/wife] better, and help us both to grow closer to You and to each other. In Your presence, we renew our wholehearted choice to love. Bless this holy commitment with courage, strength, tenacity—and most of all joy! With You, we can build a successful marriage. In Your name, Amen.

Note- many never had a good example of a great marriage in their childhood. Ask God to help if this is your case. 

I Surrender All-Do You Really?

 

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV Bible Gateway

Having coffee with a dear friend one day we were discussing the old hymn ‘I Surrender All’ and what the lyrics said and whether she and I really did surrender all or do we still hang on trying to make things work our way and not God’s. 

How about you? You can pray and pray but ultimately the test is letting go and letting God do a work like He promised. Let the Holy Spirit fill you in your quiet time as you allow Him to transform you from the inside out. 

Satan will do his utmost best to throw you into an emotional frenzy. Don’t allow him to manipulate you or your thinking because you are a child of the most High God. 

PRAYER: Father forgive me when I pray then start fretting and stewing over stuff. I hope in you and I know your ways are higher than mine. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

No Room In The Inn

 

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.Luke 2:7

Almost all people are familiar with the Christmas story prior to Jesus’ birth Joseph could not find a place for he and Mary to stay as all the Inns in Bethlehem had no vacancy. Consequently they ended up in a stable with animals. 

What a place for a king to be born in the feeding trough for farm animals but that was the plan all along. When Innkeeper after Innkeeper told the couple there are no rooms there was no choice. 

How about you? Do you have ‘room’ in your heart for Christ or do you push Him into a back closet somewhere. Only you can answer that honestly. Maybe you know it is time to reconnect. Perhaps the Bible bothers you so you won’t even read it or maybe you don’t know where to start. My friend Jesus’ has not gone anywhere and He has room for you so why not make room for him. 

PRAYER: Christmas is a nice time of year but it is about so much more than what our culture tries to depict. Forgive me Lord if I ever have the wrong attitudes at Christmas. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Fruit Of Womb Is Blessed

“And she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”Luke 1:42

Merry Christmas everyone. I pray this day isn’t one you dread and if things don’t fall into the perfect Hallmark scenario you relax and can praise God. Today we celebrate a baby Christ Jesus who was born to die imagine that.

Mary’s womb was really blessed. She carried the Christ child. Imagine what must have been going through her head trying to understand all that transpired.

You may not be a Christ follower or think Christmas and Easter are the only days to really get ‘religious’ but why not try asking God to come and fill you and take away any doubts and fears or denominational hang ups and truly worship Him.

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for coming to earth as a baby and then saving us from our sins. Many still mock you today and I pray for hearts to be changed and the truth to set people free. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Feeling Wilted?

But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
 they will run and not grow weary,
 they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV Bible Gateway

About this time of year you may be feeling a little run down and ready for this season to be over. Isn’t that sad that the saviors birthday would evoke any wrong emotions but for those who tried to have the perfect Christmas you could get let down if it doesn’t materialize. 

Try something. Learn to say no to the unnecessary. If you got a gift but didn’t return a gift it doesn’t matter. The people who give aren’t expecting stuff. Relax and ponder what this season is really about. 

Try to be still and fix your mind on Christ, not bad news, bad stuff, or fears. Talk to God, just have a little chat. Jesus is the reason for the season. 

PRAYER: Father I thank you for being able to talk to you in prayer and to show kindness not just at Christmas but anytime. I give you my fears as I know you the Master planner are working on things. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Standing On Faith

For we live by faith, not by sight.2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV Bible Gateway

When Mary was told by an angel she was going to have the Christ child she had to believe in Faith as she had never been with a man. Sarah had to believe in Faith for a baby as her womb was dead at age 99.

Faith also applies when it comes to healing and trusting God for miracles or what seems impossible without Holy Spirit intervention. I have two close friends and an acquaintance battling cancer now all believing in faith for a miracle. If you are praying for friends or family don’t ever doubt because God can and does still heal and does it for his purposes and his glory.

What do you need to trust God for today? If you are battling an illness now cry out to God and ask Him to use you to glorify Him through this difficult time.

PRAYER: Lord I lift up those I know struggling with a scary medical diagnosis that you would keep their thoughts positive and centered on you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

#BG2

Have You Slipped Up Spiritually?

 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.Psalm 51:10 

Have you had a hiccup in your walk with the Lord? Maybe you have slipped away from your first love, Jesus Christ. 

With the new year right around the corner are new chances to start over be it in fixing a relationship, forgiving someone even if they have not asked, or running from a sin that is pulling you away from Christ. 

Stop striving and ask God to restore the joy of His salvation to you. 

PRAYER: Lord I love what you love and hate what you hate. Forgive me when I have turned my back on you and done my own thing. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Saying No To The Flesh

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.Galatians 5:16 NIV Bible Gateway

So what exactly is the flesh? It does not necessarily mean skin but referring to things mankind gets involved in that drag he or she away from the truth in God's word. Worldly desires and so forth. 

The flesh means things that are not fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. The flesh causes earthly passions and desires leaving the Holy Spirit out of the equation. The flesh embraces the modern culture above God's truth. 

Today there is a war between truth and lies and Satan the father of lies has even convinved or tricked some church denominations of his new brand of truth and they are gobbling it up. Be alert as the enemy prowls around and seeks to devour you it says in 1 Peter 5:8. Stay grounded in truth and you will be able to recognize and pray for those being drug into the pit of lies. 

PRAYER: Father help me discern truth from lies. Help me show kindness to those poeple who are taking the bait as it is only through kindness that evil will be defeated. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

The Comparison Monster

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.2 Corinthians 10:12

Perhaps you are one of the super secure people very content and never desire the life or things others have. I think the Bible calls it coveting in Exodus 20 Ten Commandments. But this coveting could also be wishing you could do things or go places others have gone without taking stock on how good your life already really is. 

The enemy is the culprit behind discontent and comparison. Not being grateful and thankful for the huge amount of blessings you already possess. Your life is like a vapor here today gone tomorrow and God places each of us in places to glorify and serve him not whine and complain. 

How about you? Do you desire what someone else has or are you content with what you have? At Christmas time when the well meaning family letters come in the mail instead of feeling cheated when you hear of someone’s experiences just say thanks to God for what he has done in your life. 

PRAYER: I thank you Lord for life, good health, great opportunities in life. Help me stop wishing for anything else but be content. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Are We There Yet-An Awakening?

 



If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.2 Chronicles 7:14

There has been much speculation in the Christian community about revival and perhaps the return of Jesus. Especially with the recent uprising in Israel. 

Bible prophecy seems to be getting fulfilled before our eyes. Scripture tells us no one knows the day nor hour. (Matthew 24:36). 

Are your affairs in order so to speak? Do you know positively that if you took your last breath the next moment you would see the face of God? 

PRAYER: Lord I need you in my life 24-7 when things around me are going nutty I need you for my peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Thank You For Thorns In My Life-Seriously?

To keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me.  2 Corinthians 12:7

I love the writings or Christian author, speaker and recording artist Joni Eareckson Tada and in her devotional entitled ‘A Spectacle of Glory’ her December 14 writing was referring to self glory and thorns. 

What are the thorns in your life? Can you really be grateful for them? Things that are hurtful, jab you, hurt your feelings, make you want to quit. Many times things happen only because the enemy is trying to get you to cave in and stop praying seeing no real hope. 

Look back on life at experiences you have had. Are you the one who is seemingly wanting glory or do you want God to have it. Next can you now see that many things that you might have felt like were hurting you may have had a valid reason? Ponder that and have a great day. 

PRAYER: I thankyou for each and every situation whether good or bad and help me to focus on you Lord and not my messy situations. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

All Things?

We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”. Romans 8:28

Do all things really work for the good for those of us who trust Christ as our savior? All things, that can encompass lots of bad stuff so sometimes it is hard to wrap your mind around this verse. 

But if you believe scripture and know God has your best interest at heart then you can relax knowing that things will be okay and can be used by God for His purposes. 

Just trust God is going to take care of things and don’t get angry and sign up to be a cheerleader for Satan. 

PRAYER: Father I give you my life and ask you to purge anything in me that is not of you. I give you my concerns over family members and ask that you do work things out for Your good. Draw those to you who are far from you wandering in the wilderness. Release them from Satan’s grip. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Light Of The World

 

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”John 8:12 

Jesus is the true light and scatters the darkness. Light is much greater and penetrating than darkness. 

As you sing “Silent Night, Holy Night, All Is Calm, All is Bright” during Christmas think of that, God is bright! Darkness may try to creep in in the form of lies, getting too busy for things of the Lord but in all the hustle and bustle of this holiday don’t forget what it is all about. 

Your neighborhood may be decked out with Santa’s, snowmen, candy canes and so forth but if you have children or grandchildren make sure they are aware of whose day it really is. 

PRAYER: This day is ever so special and the excitement of the secular side often drowns out the main reason for celebration. Teach me to slow down Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Don't Shrink Back

 

We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10:39

Have you given up on church, small group, personal quiet time and God? Many people can get extremely discouraged and just feel lethargic when it comes to their walk with the Lord. 

Perhaps issues are accentuated by the frivolity of this season making it hard to cope with your true  emotions. Maybe you feel you are expected to be jolly and bright and when you aren’t you think something is wrong with you. 

Don’t put the baby Jesus on the back burner as you run around decorating, baking, attending open houses and parties but make a way to incorporate him into the festivities after all it is His BIRTHDAY. Take time to relax and slow down maybe go alone to a park or coffee shop. Enjoy the reason for this season. 

PRAYER: Lord at time I feel lost and lonely at this time of year and try to slow down and ask what is really necessary. Guide me as I can help another get closer to the Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Be A Sturdy Branch

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”John 15:5 NIV Bible Gateway

Such a profound verse and great word picture. Think of a tree in your yard and you cut branches off and eventually they produce nothing but are good for fire kindling at best. 

You and I as followers of Christ are like those branches. If you stay ‘attached’ to the vine the source Jesus through fellowship, prayer, quiet time and so forth you will continue to grow in Christ, but if you step away and in effect say “I don’t need a savior” we’ll then you are on your own. 

I know people who have turned their backs on not only church but on God as well or there are those who like to edit the Bible to taking out offensive parts. God’s word is not to be edited to fulfill our fleshly desires. If you know of a denomination that has done this continue to pray for their deliverance and that more people won’t be led astray. 

PRAYER: Father I am grateful you have been with me even in times when I jilted you and did my own thing. Thank you for redemption. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Who Me? Worry? Not A Chance. Yeah Right.

 

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”Matthew 6:34

I try to not worry and cast my cares on God and perhaps you join me doing the same thing. But when our timetable and God’s don’t match up look out!

Be still is all I can say. What causes you to worry? Worry doesn’t change a situation it just makes you sick at heart. You have to really trust God has it. I don’t always do it cause it is a discipline to not obsess and to really allow God to work.

What have you been praying for and for perhaps quite a long time?? All I can say is hang in there and don’t allow Satan to make you think your prayer isn’t being worked on in the heavenlies.

PRAYER: Thank you that I know prayer works. Sometimes it takes much patience and at that time I know you are doing a work in my heart as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Battleground

 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NIV Bible Gateway

Quoting from 8 November  devotion from Nicky Gumbel on Relative Media app says “sooner or later every believer discovers that the Christian life is a battleground, not a playground.’ Just how true this does ring. There are reasons bad things sometimes are allowed to happen. 

Some people can’t understand the logic behind a baby dying, a teen suffering cancer, or many other things that happen. All I can say is we live in a fallen imperfect world. Ever since the sin in the Garden of Eden mankind chooses to be his own master in many cases. 

What are you dealing with right now? Are you mad at God or do you still praise and thank him for how he redeems things? This Christmas season we reflect on a baby in a manger who lived on this earth 33 years then died a brutal death for our sins. Just remember every day to count the many blessings you do have. 

PRAYER: Father I thank you that you love us and care for us when we are going through difficult times. I thank you for my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

#BG2

Just Go!

 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.1 Corinthians 9:24

Stop procrastinating and do what you have to do. I am guilty of it be it finishing a project, getting together with a friend or 

whatever it is, in my case finishing my second book or starting to run on a regular basis  again. 

I think Satan probably is the instigator of laziness and loves when you and I mope around not finishing or starting things we have to. As this decal on a car read ‘Just Go’ or giddyup and get moving. Stop the excuses. 

During this time of year it is easy to get involved too much and set sail on a frantic pace and for what reason, is the baby Jesus benefiting from our non stop to do Christmas list? Give yourself permission to be still and adore the savior and think of what this season is really all about. 

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for the ability to be free to go places, do things, meet people and help me not neglect projects I have waiting. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Numb While Waiting

 



If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” James 1:5

Do you wake up somedays and just can’t get into a good rhythm with time with the Lord? You sit still but no words come. 

God can help you and He understands you. As a campaign during last years Super Bowl said “He Gets Us”. 

Put on some praise music, get going with a project. Don’t feel guilty when this may happen. Many apps like The You Version app can help you get back on track. 

PRAYER:I praise your name Jesus. I thank you for the beauty of your creation. I pray for the lost and confused and ask you help me be gentle if ever confronted about the reason I have hope. In Jesus’name. Amen. 

Taking Offense

 

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11

 

Have you ever found yourself offended at something maybe to the point you break a friendship or even a family tie?

 

It is terribly disheartening to take offense and sometimes the offense can be against a Christian brother or sister. Call it offense or call it anger it is one and the same.

 

The enemy is the author of an offensive spirit. It has happened so much in these past few years. Be kind if someone does this to you and pray for a peaceful resolution and healing.

 

PRAYER: Father forgive me for when I took offense and I pray for those people who allow Satan to manipulate them. In Jesus’ spirit. Amen. 

Do Your Ears Itch?

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Today  there may be churches who are not preaching the true word of God but delivering a message people want to hear cause their ears itch so to speak. The culture may have influenced even pastors and priests that they need to ‘cave’ and accept what society says is ok even when the word of God is crystal clear. 

The enemy is definitely on the war path to destroy Christian’s, the Bible, our families, life in the womb, and to deceive people with twisting God’s word. It started in the Garden of Eden when the Serpent asked Eve “did God really say”. 

Let’s face it, people like their ears tickled. They want their own version of truth. Satan comes for killing, stealing, and destroying it says in John 10:10. The sooner you and I realize he is not a comic strip character and you have power with the Word of God against him the better you will be. 

PRAYER: I rejoice in knowing that Truth is way better than Satan’s lies. I know Satan is a destroyer and I refuse to stand by and watch him destroy and lie to my family. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Feeling Guilty That Your Heart Aches?

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.Ephesians 6:10-11

Christmas time seems to accentuate family separation, medical issues, comparisons, and so forth. I know when I get caught up in a cry fest I realize I am an audience of one, well make that two as Jesus is with me. 

The ability to be still and to keep your mind centered on things above is essential this time of year so you don’t end up at a pity party. And once you snap out of it do you ever feel guilty because there are people with way bigger issues than you? 

This is where the enemy comes in rearing his ugly head trying to attack you at your weakest points and weakest moments. You have to stand your ground realizing once again this is a spiritual battle waged between you and Satan. He wants you to cave in and become a puddle of tears. Stand firm guarding your mind with the word. 

PRAYER:Father I thank you for making me who I am and giving me the gifts you have given me. Help me to remember it is Satan poking at me when I start to get messed up. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

How Was Your Day?

 

This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

My son and his wife have this thing they started where at end of day around the  supper table each one tells how their day was. On my recent birthday right on cue soon to be 3 year old Emma asked how was your day and what did you do? 

My friend maybe your day hasn’t started or maybe you are reading this after sunset so how was your day? Was it filled with joy or did you have heartache? 

Try to intentionally  focus on good things and push the dark parts out of your dat away. Try to concentrate on the joy of the Lord and what you can do to be kind to another and not just because it is the  Christmas season. Make your days something to write home about. 

PRAYER:Today I thank you for getting up and breathing. I thank you for the freedom I enjoy. I thank you that you have provided me with so much so help me bless others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Cyber Monday? How About Jesus Monday?

 

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

  

Recently advertisers promoted Cyber Monday as a follow on to Black Friday. At this time of year everything is about shopping, shopping, shopping. No wonder people get bent out of shape and feel stress. 

I for one am not a lover of shopping. I know it is expected of me at this time of year so I try to relax and just let things happen. Giving is a sign of love and we give gifts at this time of year probably because the wise men gave gifts to the Christ child. Just a guess. Remember to be a cheerful giver whether it is money in the offering plate or a gift to a friend or total stranger. 

So as you go about the next few days try to relax and enjoy the season for what it really is. Find some time for peace and if you don’t have a nativity scene get one to remember the reason for the season. 

PRAYER: Lord I love this season for what it truly means and that is remembering the birth of a savior. In your name I pray. Amen. 

The Sarah Syndrome

Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’Genesis 18:1

Most every believer probably is familiar with the story of Sarah and Abraham waiting for the promised child but you also know Sarah took matters in own hands and the consequences we feel to this day with the hatred between Muslims and Jews. 

Have you had the Sarah Syndrome? 

I fight it all the time. I am not so sure that men suffer from impatience like women do but I may be wrong.I try to be still and stay under my husbands umbrella so to speak and when I don’t heed his protective demeanor then something bound to backfire. 

How do you and I learn to be still and to be patient? Letting God be the pilot not the co-Pilot and trusting if you pray and wait things will be okay. What prompted me to pen this devotion was me blowing it again. Oh Father help me trust you have things and I don’t have to be Holy Spirit Junior. 

PRAYER: So many women in the Bible couldn’t wait on God and it resulted in disastrous results. Help me wait, learn to stay under your covering and my husbands’ as I then will be on right path. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Culturally Programmed?

 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

Are today’s young people being culturally programmed to accept sin as normal? As I sit and write in this coffee shop in Boise there is a rainbow flag hanging just a few feet from me displayed in the front window. I could choose to let it bother me or to go inside and show God’s love. 

God is the judge but everyone who isn’t in a coma is quite aware of the past few years things we get exposed to to try to desensitize us and make it normalized.I think an American flag would be much nicer but I don’t sound off. 

Point is you and I are called to not point fingers but to pray for the thousands who have been misled and for those tricked into a new morality which isn’t moral at all. God loves everyone and God’s house is for everyone but there are consequences to not following his word. Pray for anyone you know on a slippery slope that God opens their eyes.

PRAYER: The truth does set people free. A smile  also can set people free. Help use me Lord to represent your kingdom. Help those following false gods or ideologies and believing Satan’s lies. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

When Numbness Invades

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

I am not sure what you are going through but it seems everyone is. When you become concerned over something at times you may feel numb and not know what to say to God. Sound familiar? 

You do greatly are waiting for a change or an answer to prayer and in your quiet time may just sit in your special place and think but not speak anything. Believe me I know because that has been me lately then all of a sudden I said “Hey Satan I am not going to be muted” and then started to cast off wrong feelings and thinking. 

I said Father you know what is needed in this situation and only you can do it. Break the chains of darkness in__________ life and bring ministering angels to _______. At times you have to tell the devil to shut up. Just do it. You will feel better. 

PRAYER: At times my heart becomes so heavy and burdened I just feel like what do I do next. Help me get involved in someone else’s life so I am not always whining about my own. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Stages Of Lonely

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6

Most everyone has been lonely at one time or another so it is a common emotion. When I first arrived in Kuna, Idaho I felt isolated and alone. Covid restrictions had eased somewhat but still not knowing anyone it was difficult to be a social butterfly. 

There are people around you everyday who are just wanting someone to say hi or invite them to do something. Probably one scenario is in a nursing home.  Often times our lives become to self consumed and busy that reaching out is not on our radar. 

Even just sending a greeting card or picking up the phone to say hi. Invite a friend to coffee. Stay off social media as much as possible for in the long run there is no reality or joy found there. Get into God’s word starting with the book of John. Rejoice for the life you are given. 

PRAYER: Lord God thankyou for loving me and being my best friend. I give you all my wrong feelings and ask that you help me to be strong and run my race to win. In Jesus’ name. Amen.