We have so much to thank God for but how often do you really do it? Perhaps at meal time you utter a 'God is great prayer' and 'thank you for this food' but is that the only time you really say thank you to Jesus?
The Moms in Touch prayer ministry which I have been a part of for over 16 years now, has taught me the importance of thanking God for the answer to prayers. Each week we thank the Lord in our prayer time for the answers to our prayers. All of us need to get in the habit of making a list of sorts for all the wonderful things the Lord has done for you. Try it. Get a piece of paper and just start thinking of all the things the Lord has done for you. After a while it will be hard to stay in a pit if you have been feeling 'blue' and down in the dumps.
Here are some common examples you may overlook. Thank you for clean water that comes out of my faucet each day when in many countries they have contaminated water.Thank you for the access to health care we have in America and the wonderful doctors and nurses to care for us. Thank you for cars to drive to get us around, although many do not have cars even in America those who do are blessed. Your car may be a junk heap but if it gets you there praise God. Thank you for farmers who work hard to grow the food that is in the grocery stores for us to buy and eat. Thank you for sunshine and rain. Thank you for the four seasons we have to enjoy. Thank you for friends and family. Thank you for a bed to sleep in at night when in many places people do not have a bed, even in some places in America. Thank you for freedom. So you get the idea. Just sit quietly and think of all the wonderful things the Lord has done for you. And think of the ways he has answered your prayers as well.
1 Corinthians 15:57 says "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Proverbs 21:31 says "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD." Other verses about thanksgiving and thanking God abound in the pages of the Bible. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." That is right, it says in ALL things. Tall order perhaps but God says to do it. Sometimes things that seem bad at the time lead us to wonderful awesome breakthroughs in our life.
Are you thankful today? If not try doing this 'thanksgiving list' and do it daily. Do not wait til it is the Thanksgiving national holiday to be thankful for the Pilgrims, turkeys and pumpkin pie and the family you are gathered with and the friends around you. Make every day Thanksgiving Day.
PRAYER: Lord I am ever so grateful for the gift of life. I am thankful for the parents who gave me life and raised me. I am thankful for being able to freely wander about in my country. I am thankful to have money to spend to be able to buy things. I ask you Lord to forgive me when I have not said 'thanks' for all you have done for me and acted like a spoiled ungrateful brat. I want to make each day a day of thanks. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Note: Please take time to listen to the following praise song dealing with thanks to God! Click on link and turn up speakers.
http://youtu.be/JwN_2nO5B24
Also here is a link to the Moms in Touch prayer ministry which has taught me so much about prayer. You do not need to be a mom to benefit from their 'four steps of prayer'. http://www.momsintouch.org/
Showing posts with label Lords' Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lords' Prayer. Show all posts
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
THY KINGDOM COME
When you say the Lord's prayer do you ever give much thought to the part when you say "thy kingdom come, thy will be done?" At times when you are enduring junk in your life you probably wish the kingdom would hurry up and come.
The kingdom is what we are waiting for when Jesus returns to take us to be in glory. We should try to have that kingdom here on the earth. So much corruption is occurring on earth today if we do not turn back to God and obey his laws as found in the Bible the kingdom may be here before we know it. It is something to look forward to. Let's look at this prayer in it's entirety.
The Lord's Prayer is one of the most commonly memorized prayers of all time. It is found in Matthew 6:19-23 and it says " After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
Say the prayer out loud to yourself in a 'non church' setting and think about what the words mean. I will paraphrase it in the 'Becky version' meaning no disrespect. "Hey daddy up in heaven. Your name is above all names and so great!! I am anxious for your kingdom to come as it is going to be so neat to live in a land without sin. Things have to happen here on the earth before you do decide to return so have your own way Lord and keep us patient and protect us while we wait. Thank you for providing enough food each day to sustain me. Sometimes I am not very grateful for it. Sorry. Forgive me when I have hurt or offended someone. I want to be more Christlike. My desire is to forgive all people. I know when I am tempted to do wrong it is not from you and you have a way to escape if I would only read the Bible and know the truth. Protect us from the attacks of the enemy who is roaming around like a lion seeking who to destroy. Your kingdom is awesome, powerful and wonderful and has no end. Amen!"
Romans 14:17 says "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Are you experiencing true joy in your life? Are you peaceful? God can give you his joy and peace here on earth while you wait for the heavenly kingdom if only you would ask Him. Romans 15:13 says "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Turn those difficult areas of your life over to Him and keep trusting and praying.
Why not let God be in the drivers seat so you can experience his true peace and joy and his kingdom here on earth?
PRAYER: Lord I want to do what pleases you. Many times I think I have given you the controls and let you handle things but I start stressing and freaking out and obviously have not given you total control. I want you to have total control Lord and I do not want the devil to gain a foothold in my life. I resist Him and want to walk with you. In Jesus Name, Amen!
The kingdom is what we are waiting for when Jesus returns to take us to be in glory. We should try to have that kingdom here on the earth. So much corruption is occurring on earth today if we do not turn back to God and obey his laws as found in the Bible the kingdom may be here before we know it. It is something to look forward to. Let's look at this prayer in it's entirety.
The Lord's Prayer is one of the most commonly memorized prayers of all time. It is found in Matthew 6:19-23 and it says " After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
Say the prayer out loud to yourself in a 'non church' setting and think about what the words mean. I will paraphrase it in the 'Becky version' meaning no disrespect. "Hey daddy up in heaven. Your name is above all names and so great!! I am anxious for your kingdom to come as it is going to be so neat to live in a land without sin. Things have to happen here on the earth before you do decide to return so have your own way Lord and keep us patient and protect us while we wait. Thank you for providing enough food each day to sustain me. Sometimes I am not very grateful for it. Sorry. Forgive me when I have hurt or offended someone. I want to be more Christlike. My desire is to forgive all people. I know when I am tempted to do wrong it is not from you and you have a way to escape if I would only read the Bible and know the truth. Protect us from the attacks of the enemy who is roaming around like a lion seeking who to destroy. Your kingdom is awesome, powerful and wonderful and has no end. Amen!"
Romans 14:17 says "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Are you experiencing true joy in your life? Are you peaceful? God can give you his joy and peace here on earth while you wait for the heavenly kingdom if only you would ask Him. Romans 15:13 says "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Turn those difficult areas of your life over to Him and keep trusting and praying.
Why not let God be in the drivers seat so you can experience his true peace and joy and his kingdom here on earth?
PRAYER: Lord I want to do what pleases you. Many times I think I have given you the controls and let you handle things but I start stressing and freaking out and obviously have not given you total control. I want you to have total control Lord and I do not want the devil to gain a foothold in my life. I resist Him and want to walk with you. In Jesus Name, Amen!
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