Wish, Hope, Pray, Believe, Trust, Thank God

 

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.Jeremiah 17:7

Do you ever find yourself wishing for something in your life  instead of being thankful for what you already have?

God bestows blessings on you and you may not even realize it.  Every day the ability to breathe, to get out of bed, to live in a comfortable home, to have friends that care for you and so forth. 

It is easy to look at others and think their life is so wonderful and ideal when in fact you don’t know. Stop wishing and instead believe in transforming power of God in your life to set you free from a dissatisfied spirit. 

PRAYER: Lord your blessings are new every morning. Forgive me when I have not said thanks for just another day of life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Trust. Don't Freak Out!

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Recently  I got the idea for this title and subsequent devotion when a praying friend said she was trying to trust God and not freak out when it came to waiting for a certain medical test result to come back. Waiting on news such as this can humanly make us conjure up all sorts of scenarios that don't necessarily tend to bring peace and comfort. Even if they do turn out bad in earthly terms does not mean the outcome is going to be bad. God has ways of using things to turn situations around. 

So what do you do if you lose your job, find out you have cancer, or end up getting sued by someone? Human nature says to get scared and worry. Those two reactions are not on God's agenda of things to entertain. As hard as it is, the first thing to do is to talk to God in prayer. Confess your fear and ask Him to help you trust Him no matter what. Don't start feeding your mind with worse case scenarios. Get into the word of God which should be a daily habit anyway and search scriptures to bring you peace. God is a God of comfort and He will see you through.

Just like the word 'through' we know this is not a permanent thing. God will in fact be watching over the situation for His purposes. 

PRAYER: Lord God no one likes to get bad news that devastates their life but if we only hang on we can maybe see the bigger purposes in all that is going on. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Whew!

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

We have all lost things in our lives. If you haven't you are a rare creature. I had been on a roll and had not misplaced anything in a while and felt like maybe I had passed the 'peace test'. But then it happened. I looked at my wrist as I was entering a local eating establishment  and my Fitbit was missing. I tried to stay calm. Much better than in the past. I left quickly and retraced my steps. I prayed and had prayer sisters pray. Searched my car. Returned to the coffee shop and it had been turned in. Oh happy day! Honest people. 

Life requires us to maintain cool emotions. Both my sons are in career fields that require calmness and cool thinking. Maybe your job requires you to stay cool and collected as well. Getting all flustered about losing objects does not bring them back any quicker. Sometimes it is necessary to resolve that no matter what, you will move on. Do not let it wreck your day or your life. Don't let missing things tear you apart. I know this is easier said than done especially when looking for keys, passports, birth certificate, adoption papers, car titles and other things like those. But still, fretting does not do one thing to help you or get the object back.

To help maintain a life of calmness and be able to function well at work and at play give your care to God. Fuming does not help but only creates more tension and stress. Ask God to help you. He is only a prayer away.

PRAYER: First of all thank you for helping me find most things I have lost. Thank you for honest people that turn things in that do not belong to them. Help me stay cool when I should misplace things in the future. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Hurting? Move On Would You?

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it;if a foe were rising against me,  I could hide.But it is you, a man like myself,my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers. Psalm 55:12-14

Hurts in life occur. Rejection by a friend or loved one for unexplainable reasons is one of the hardest to endure but yet one I have had to go through more than one time. I say, "Lord what is it I am to learn from this lesson" and those who dislike me would say "take the hint girl". 

Broken relationships of any sort hurt God immensely. He would rather us dwell in unity. Since creation and the fall, people have been at odds with each other. Many verses in the Bible attest to this. I always say when bad junk happens to me I have new writing material so I guess am very thankful for being "emotionally bruised" by a few former friends. Satan is overjoyed at all kinds of relationship problems. If only true believers could not let this happen. Growth does come through problems in life though.

Do not let people have power over you and rob you of your joy. Cling to those friends who love and appreciate you, warts and all. We can not make everyone like us. Run to Jesus and pray for your enemies. That's in the Bible!

PRAYER: Lord help me to learn from problems in life and hurts in life. I love you and love the people on this Earth, even those who hate me. Help me as I seek to remain focused on you and not get down on myself. In Jesus' name. Amen

National Prayer Time

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. Psalm 33:12

Today in the United States we are observing the National Day of Prayer. As much as atheists and others try to abolish God and prayer from this country we were founded on principles in God's word. This nation cannot survive without God's intervention. When men try to be more powerful than God it is a recipe for disaster. Making up our own rules for what is right and wrong, as is happening now with marriage,  is also not a good thing. The Bible is pretty clear on what is right and what is wrong and evil. 

Each and every day when you get up, in addition to other prayers you offer to God be sure to remember to pray for this nation. Some of those reading may not live in the United States so  pray for your own country and its' leaders. God is the one who gives us our freedom. It is not from mere men. He will only stand for man's arrogance for so long. 

If we continue to 'spit in God's face' so to speak, our blessings will not continue. When people wake up and get so busy they have no time for talking to God or reading their Bible then they are on a slippery slope of not being prepared for the days ahead when things will get rough. 

Today stop where you are and give thanks for this great land and what we have been blessed with, much we take for granted sad to say. Then pray for God to use you in a mighty way to help be a witness for Him. 

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for this country. I thank you for the Founding Fathers who acknowledged you and prayed to you as they founded this great land. We pray for revival in the hearts of men. In Jesus' name. Amen.

PRAY, PRAY, AND PRAY SOME MORE!!

Feel like giving up and quitting? Wondering why God does not hear your prayers? Starting to just give up on the whole "church thing" thinking God does not care and why should I bother with going to church and praying anyway? Friend, God does care for you and it is the enemy Satan who puts the thoughts in your mind that he does not. Satan's trick is to get you to blame God for everything bad in life. Satan is the destroyer and thief, not God! God is the God of Hope and Love.

First off going to church does not a Christian make. Many people feel that is all there is to it. Find a church that is vibrant and alive and you can go and grow in Christ not just one to check the block off. Do not necessarily go to the denomination you are 'used to' as it is not about a denomination anyway but it is about being closer to Jesus. Next, keep on praying and keep on believing. Prayer does indeed change things and bring peace of heart and mind. In the midst of the struggles of life God is indeed there. He does not abandon you.

Luke 18:1 is one of my favorite verses and it simply says to "Pray and not give up". Are you able to do that? Jesus loves you my friend. Stop what you are doing now and "talk" to Him in prayer.

PRAYER: Father I thank you for being my guide, protector, the lifter of my head. I thank you that when the enemy comes in to drag me down you are there to lift me up. I thank you that you are a 24/7 on duty God who I can always pray to around the clock. Forigve me for any doubts I have ever had. I trust in you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link and be assured that God does love you and hear your prayers.

http://youtu.be/Rkkw8RhH9ck

DON'T BE AFRAID TO PRAY

Recently I was watching the Christian group "Casting Crowns" in concert on Trinity Broadcasting Network. It was an awesome time of praise and worship!

Lead singer Mark Hall of the group said in church he grew up in people were all sick but no one had problems. So in other words day to day struggles were not shared.

Some of you who maybe go to smaller churches where people speak out prayer needs.Usually they are all about someone sick but in fact no one says "Pray for so and so to be delivered from alcoholism" or "pray for little Johnny who is having problems with bullies at school" or "pray for this certain young man who is a prodigal". This is not to say you have to say everything "bad" in your life but if your church has altar prayer go up and pray. Let God know your needs. I am not meaning to make light of those who are ill but the point is, what other burdens do you carry?

Share your praises too! It is great to hear answers to prayer. You know it says in Psalm 22:3 that "He inhabits the praises of His people." In your prayer time at home try getting on your knees if you are able and lifting your hands up to him. Cry out "Lord you are Holy and mighty. I thank you for hearing my prayer."

It seems that those "hidden problems" everyone has stay hidden. Some people do not even share some prayer needs with their closest friends perhaps fearing condemnation. That right there is a lie from the enemy as a true friend loves you regardless. Find an accountability partner to share your prayer concerns with. It will give you so much freedom.

When your heart is breaking and you just don't know where to turn cry out to Jesus.

PRAYER: I cry out Holy, Holy, Holy Lord. Heaven and Earth are filled with your glory. I know you know the concerns on my heart and I know you have a plan and are working things out in your time. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below and praise God in song.

http://youtu.be/VU_rTX23V7Q

GOD NEVER IN SPAM FOLDER

In communicating with each other, especially through electronic media, sometimes messages are not received or they may come across the wrong way.

Not so with God. We are always connected to Him and not in His "spam" or junk email folder, if He in fact had one. He waits to hear you and wants you to "talk" to Him.

There may be some who are reading this who see prayer as something only priests, preachers, rabbi's or other knowledgeable people do. My friend, prayer is for everyone. Jeremiah 29:12(NIV) says 'Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.'

You think maybe your prayers are going into some heavenly "spam" folder because they seem not to be answered or at least not like you think they should be. Trust me when I say God has a plan. Isaiah 55:9(NIV) says 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'

Are you able to trust God? Can you pray and leave the rest to God? Remember too, to make sure your heart is right with Him as often iniquity may separate you from Him. Psalm 66:18 makes this point when it says 'If I had cherished sin in my heart the Lord would not have listened.'

Call out to Him today as it goes right to His "inbox".

PRAYER: Thank you Lord that you love me and you want me to talk to you in prayer. I am sorry Lord for not trusting you to hear and answer prayers. I realize it is in your time and your way. Give me the strength to wait. In Jesus' name. Amen.

THE NUMBER YOU HAVE DIALED IS NOT IN SERVICE

I don't know about you, but it sure is frustrating to call a number on your phone only to receive the recorded message which says "the number you have dialed is no longer in service. Please try the number again or call your operator for assistance. This is a recording." The modern version probably does not say "dial" as today we "punch" in numbers and not "dial" them. Never the less the point is the same which basically is "sorry that person can not be reached". 

There is someone much higher and greater that can always be reached. He is never gone. He does not slumber or sleep. He is always ready day and night to come to your aid and that of course is Jesus. 

Psalm 121:3(NIV) says 'He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber.' Jesus is a 24/7 around the clock friend and counseling service. There is no toll free number you have to call to get Him. You simply call out to Him in prayer. He hears you. Hebrews 4:13(NIV) says 'Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.' Wow, isn't that great to know?

So call on God in good times and in bad times. Jeremiah 33:3(NIV) which is often called God's phone number says 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' God speaks to us through his word primarily. You can not "hear" Him if you do not make time to be still and listen for His voice. 

Today why not make it a point to get alone with God and read His word and listen to His voice. He is there waiting to hear from you.

PRAYER: Today Lord I cry out to you. I know you are waiting to hear from me each day. Sometimes I just get too busy and forget to sit down ad be still and "talk" to you in prayer but let other things squeeze you out. That makes Satan happy but you very sad. Forgive me Lord. thank you for hearing my prayers. In Jesus' name.Amen.

ORANGE SUITS...PRAY DON'T CONDEMN

Most every state in America probably utilizes "good conduct" prisoners to pick up litter on the highway. When you drive by these males and females they usually are dressed in an orange jumpsuit and carry a large garbage sack. Is your first reaction to be scared? Perhaps you wrongly judge them? Maybe you are thinking they get what they deserve. Has anyone ever stopped to think maybe they need prayer?

These individuals could be incarcerated for a variety of reasons. We
know the break down of the family contributes to many crimes in
society today. But do you know a perfectly honorable person who may
never have done a bad thing in his or her life could end up there for
accidentally shooting someone or a vehicular homicide that was never
planned ? Maybe a mental health issue drove them to commit a crime.
Maybe a car wreck and someone sues. Not all are your typical hardened
criminals ending up at the mercy of the courts but those from
respectable families as well.

Next time you are going about your day and pass a group of these
individuals why not pray for them. Pray for the court system to be
fair. Pray for them to get necessary rehab or treatment. Pray for
healing in their family situation. Pray for them to come to know Jesus
in their heart. Pray for their life to be turned around. Pray also for
families they may have committed a crime against to be able to
forgive.

1 Corinthians 6:11(NIV) says 'And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.'

PRAYER: Father help me to not judge and condemn others but to truly have compassion for those who are locked up and pray their lives may be turned around. I know any person can find themselves in this situation so help me when I am driving down the road and see these prisoners to really say a prayer for them to come to know you as their savior. Keep me Lord on the right path of life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below for a song to start your day.

http://youtu.be/ipwEtvWL_3c


Book reading suggestion: When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent

PRAY....IT'S NOT ILLEGAL!!! EXCEPT IN SCHOOL

 

In the aftermath of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado a school teacher was being interviewed about how she sheltered several students underneath her and one said to her "Don't let us die" and this teacher said they would be okay. She said at that time she prayed,even though illegal in school, and she prayed OUT LOUD. Oh horrors! The atheist folks from the Separation of church and state club, not sure of their exact name, will probably go after her. This is the group that even tried in my own area to get a football team to stop praying before a game. Give me a break! This borders lines on being ridiculous and a serious affront to religious freedom.

I have been around long enough to be able to pray in school and even have the Gideon's give out free Pocket New Testaments. I am not sure they can do that in public schools today. What are these people who oppose prayer so afraid of? It is sad to me to think of the many adults today born after 1963 who may have no idea what I am talking about. If we keep allowing our religious freedoms to be trampled on someday we may find ourselves having to hide to read our Bible or face jail time. This is no joke. It has happened in other countries where the nation has forgotten God.

Our enemy Satan is doing his "thing" and that is working through deceived people to try to remove anything remotely Christian from the United States. We are in a battle for the soul of this country. Even some who do not have time to check my facts would beg to differ with me thinking we are fine. Others grow up perhaps and are led astray by some textbooks that may have removed any mention of our Christian heritage and have come to believe what they see written by these book companies.

Prayer is not going anywhere. 1 Peter 3:15(NIV) says 'But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.'

I am not sure where I heard it but it was said "As long as there are tests there will be prayer in school." Isn't that the truth? I have been blessed for over 16 years to be a part of Moms in Prayer International (formerly Moms in Touch International). This ministry, which was founded by one mom in her Southern California living room in 1984, prays for school children, their teachers and faculty, and the schools they attend all the way through college. There are even groups for career children and military. Check them out at www.momsinprayer.org.

2 Timothy 3:1-6(NIV) says 'Remember this! In the last days there will be many troubles, because people will love themselves, love money, brag, and be proud. They will say evil things against others and will not obey their parents or be thankful or be the kind of people God wants. They will not love others, will refuse to forgive, will gossip, and will not control themselves. They will be cruel, will hate what is good, will turn against their friends, and will do foolish things without thinking. They will be conceited, will love pleasure instead of God, and will act as if they serve God but will not have his power. Stay away from those people.'

Satan is after the very soul of this country and it's children. Stand firm in the battles ahead for we know there will be religious persecution. We are seeing it now. The "uninformed" do not think this scenario can happen in the United States but it can and it is starting slowly. You have maybe heard the saying "Give a man an inch he will take a mile?". Well my friend we are in a battle of good and evil. Stay in the word and stay on your knees. We are not unaware of Satan's schemes.

PRAYER: Lord I thank you that I have the ability to pray. I thank you no power on earth can take away that freedom. Evil men may try to stop us and shut me down but I have my freedom through you alone. I pray for those individuals who are leading others astray and do not know you as their Lord and savior. I will pray and not give up as it says in Luke 18:1. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Click on link for awesome song about prayer.

http://youtu.be/gArr7gyiMBY

 

YouTube - Videos from this email

JUST LISTEN, WOULD YOU?

How many of you are perfect listeners? I know there are some people and they truly can tune into you and hear what you are saying. I have to admit, I need to be a better listener and some of my friends and family can attest to that. It is not that I do not want to listen but I get distracted at times, by what, I do not know.  This is frustrating not only to me but to the person who is talking. It comes off like you do not care or you would listen. Sometimes I truly do not hear. This from a lady who studied to be a professional listener as a counselor. 

Guess who is a good listener? Jesus is! He never spaces out, butts in, forgets what you just said or has to ask you to repeat yourself. Nor does He have to apologize to you for seeming uninterested. As a Christian we should be striving to be conformed to Christ's image in all the areas of our life. If you are weak in this area why not humble yourself and ask God to intervene and help you. 

The Lord is good and merciful, full of compassion. He loves you with an everlasting love. He does not like you to be hurt or sad. He wants you to experience the joy only he can give. He wants to "talk" to you daily through His words in the Bible if only you would make time for Him and pick up our Bibles each day. We need to listen to what He is telling us in the word.

Also He is standing by at any time waiting to hear from you in prayer. The Bible says in Jeremiah 33:3(NIV) 'Call unto me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' Psalm 91:15(NIV) says 'He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.' Jesus does hear us, truly hear us, when we call out to Him. He listens. He knows your pain. He cares for you. If a friend means well but does not really "hear" what you are saying go to Jesus. He is really ready "at all times" and will take your call.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I love you. I want to try to be more like you and one of the areas I need help in is to be a better listener. Help me Lord when a friend needs help to listen to them and show support. Father I thank you that you are the best example to me for how I should listen. Father God help me not be distracted by things that do not matter but help me as I seek to show your love and mercy to others. In Jesus' name. Amen.