Tag Archives: blessings

Prayer for Today

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Ask believe receive

July 17, 2015

Father God, I trust You and my faith in You does not waiver. My issue is waiting for You to manifest what I need after I’ve prayer, waited, prayed and waited some more. I know You will do “it”, but when? This is the sticking point of my faith.

Forgive me for worrying and fretting when things don’t go the way I think they should. Forgive me for grumbling and complaining when Your timing doesn’t coincide with my timetable.

I trust You Lord. I have faith that You will so everything You said You’d do. I’ve allowed the reality of our microwave society to creep into my relationship with You and distort my perception of time.

I trust You and have faith in You, but too often I allow bad judgement or bad decisions that I’ve made to put me in a bind and then I expect You to run to my rescue. Over time, I’ve put myself in bad situations but, I want you to get me out of the mess I’ve made in an instant. Forgive me!

The truth is, You don’t operate on the world’s timetable and, for my own good; hopefully to teach me a lesson, You allow me to be uncomfortable so I can learn to be content with what I have, be content with where I am and involve You in my decisions.

Father, it is not my intent to operate with a lack of faith. Please help me to wait. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Scripture References:

Psalm 27:14       Psalm 130:5        II Corinthians 5:7

Psalm 37:1 – 8   Isaiah 30:18        Philippians 2:14

Psalm 40:1          Romans 10:17

 

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Hold On – Part I (Revised)

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waiting on God under tree

Psalm 27:1 – 2

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.”

 

There is an old Sam and Dave song that has a hook that says, “Hold on, I’m comin!’” Thankfully, we did not enter into our Promised Lands with Sam and Dave. If we had, when we were in trouble, we would have had to wait until they got to us before they could help.

We entered our Promised Lands with God the Father, who is always with us. In fact, Deuteronomy 31:8 states God goes before us, therefore, we do not have to be afraid nor discouraged because God is always with us. If God had a song like Sam and Dave’s His hook would be, “Hold on, I’m here!”

We don’t have to worry if God is going to rescue us from our enemies. We don’t have to fret about God’s showing up on time. God is with us even when it feels like our enemies are overwhelming us and He never needs to be rescued. He’s always the mighty one. There is nothing and no one greater than God and He will never leave us!

All of us had to fight to get into our Promised Land. We had to fight our pasts, our disappointments, our worries and our anxieties.  We had to fight our low self-esteem, our heartbreak and our intimidators. Through all of these things, God was with us. By God’s grace and His mercy we made! Through hard-fought battles, most won but some lost, we made it.

Here we stand on the soil of our Promised Land, and guess what? We still have to fight! Just like the Israelites had to fight when they marched into their Promised Land; they had to battle at Jericho, Ai and other enemies, so do we. The good news is, just like God was with the Israelites, He is with us! He is our very present help in the time of trouble.

DO NOT GIVE UP NOW! God has been and will continue to be with you. He sees what you’re going through and He’s right beside you helping you get through it. This is not the time or the place to give up! Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. God is with you. Remember His hook, “Hold on, I’m here!”

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

 

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Dying on the Vine

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Tomator rotting on vine

I Corinthians 12:4-6

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in men.”

For the first time in my life I decided to grow a vegetable this year. I was talking to the farmer where I purchased my flowers and told her what I wanted to do and she suggested a table top tomato plant. She said they were easy to grow, easy to maintain and I could put them someplace where I would see them every day so they wouldn’t die on the vine.

She was correct on all points: the table top tomatoes are easy to care for and maintain, plus they sit on my deck so I see them every day and I can watch them as they flower, fruit and mature right before my eyes. If only our spiritual gifts were as easy to grow, maintain and watch. Maybe then so many Christians wouldn’t allow their gifts to die on their spiritual vines.

There have been several times I almost gave up writing Daily Prayers and Words for Today. I often thought “no one reads them any way” or “what I’m doing isn’t helping anyone” or, and here’s the best excuse I had for giving up this portion of my ministry, “who am I to try to help people live a fuller life in Christ. I struggle with stuff every day, how can I help them?”

During these times of defeat I’d still write the Daily Prayers and the Words for Today but I wouldn’t send them out. Then, I’d get an email from someone saying, “hey, where’s the daily reading?” Sometimes I’d know the person but often times I didn’t. I realized that what God had me doing in this portion of my ministry was important and helpful to people other than just me. And, if I continued to be selfish with what God was giving me, then the fruit that other people needed would die on the vine in my spiritual garden.

We all have spiritual fruit which grows out of our gifts. EVERYONE has at least one gift, according to I Corinthians 12:11, given to us by the Holy Spirit and, the Holy Spirit made the determination of who got which gift.

Sometimes we allow our fruit to die on the vine because we don’t value the gift we’ve been given. Selah!

“All these are the works of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”

I Corinthians 12:11

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Prayer for Today

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C S Lewis Quote

June 30, 2015

Father, at the beginning of the year, we made plans, set time lines and set goals for what we wanted to achieve this year. As we look at our plans we see some plans are behind the schedule we had set or some things we wanted to do have not been done at all. These realizations can cause us to feel like failures or to feel like we’ve not obtained everything we’ve been pursuing and, if we’re not careful; these feelings will cause us to give up. Remind us that our plans must take a backseat to the plans You have for us. Nothing we’ve planned is better than what You have already ordained.

Everything is not going to go the way we’ve planned, but we’re sure that everything will go the way You’ve ordained. Help us mature to a point that, when what You’ve ordained overrides our plans; we do not fret, complain or grumble. Instead, we rejoice knowing that You have our best interest at heart.

You planned our perfect path long ago and You know what’s best for us. You will perfect us until we fit into Your perfect plan. Thank You Lord for caring so much about us that You planned for our greatness. Therefore; we press towards the higher calling, which is in Christ Jesus!

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Scripture References:

Proverbs 19:21

Psalms 65:9

Isaiah 25:1

Philippians 3:14

 

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Weeds or Roses

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Good as Gold
Matthew 13:24 – 28

‘“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.  “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’  “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.”’
For the last few days I have been working in my backyard. This year I decided to plant roses in the back portion of my yard which meant I had to removed grass and weeds from the place where I wanted to roses to go.

I hate weeds and they are always around! I had to use a small pitchfork and hoe in order to loosen the weeds so I could pull them out by hand because I needed to remove the roots of the weeds. It has taken me two hours a day for three days, to area clear the grass and weeds and, I’m not done yet.

A big problem with converting an area this has been allowed to grow weeds unchecked is the roots of the weeds have a head start over my roses. The roots of the weeds are mature and well established while the roots of my roses are new and immature. If I allow the roots of the weeds to remain in place they will overtake my roses and choke them out.

We have weeds that have been planted in our hearts and minds. Our weeds have been planted by the words of others. Then, without our consent, the weeds in our hearts and minds talk to us when we true to do something new.  Our weeds say things like; “You’re not good enough.” “You will never make it, you just aren’t that smart.” You’re ugly/fat/too tall/too short, etc.” “You can’t do anything right.” “They will never accept you.”

On and on the weeds our enemies have planted in us lie to us. YES! They lie to us in an effort to choke out God’s purpose for our lives. In John 10:10 Jesus says, ‘“The thief comes ONLY to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”’ The enemies job was to kill our lives; destroy our dreams, chock out our hope and dash our desires for greater against the rocks of their lies. Our job is to plant and cultivate God’s word in our hearts and minds, which will uproot and destroy the weeds of the enemy.

It is time to take back our land that has been overrun by weeds. It’s time to uproot the lies we have been told down through the years and replace them with the truth of God. Then and only then, will we blossom, even in the wilderness.

Isaiah 35:1-2a

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing…”
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Prayer for Today

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bookends

May 22, 2015

Father, everyday Your children have a spiritual choice to make; whether we’re going to operate with Your bookends of grace and mercy or, if we’re going to operate with Satan’s bookends of fear and doubt.

Your bookends hold together Your Word, Your promises, faith, love and hope in our lives. Satan’s bookends hold despair, depression, hopelessness, anger and anxiety for our lives. The choice of what bookends we want in our lives is ours, individually, to make.

Lord, help us as we make the wise choice to live under Your blessings and evict fear and doubt out of our hearts, minds and spirits by utilizing Your Word of truth just as Jesus did on the Mount of Temptation.

Father, help us as we accept everything that comes with living under Your blessings for our lives. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture references:

Deuteronomy 11:26 – 28

Matthew 4:1 – 11

 

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Prayer for Today

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Climbing out of pit

April 22, 2015

Father God, You have given Your children everything we need to live a full and productive life. You have given us Godly wisdom. You have given us courage and boldness. You have given us the ability to produce wealth; not only material wealth but spiritual wealth. You have given us the power, the authority and the dominion to rule and rein in the earth.

Father, it is true that You have given us all of these things but, most of us don’t live up to the greatness You have bestowed on us. Most of us live from pay check to pay check because we’re too afraid to walk by faith and fulfill the destiny You have placed in our hearts and minds. Many of us live sad, depressed and less than productive lives because we’re trying to live like the world system says we’re supposed to live.

Father, too many of Your children are trying to live down to the level of the world rather than living up to the Kingdom of God.  You’ve called and positioned us to live life to the abundant, yet we wallow in the muck and mire of the world. Forgive us!

Father we need Your help to climb out of the pitfalls of this world. Father, help Your children we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture References:

Genesis 1:26                                      Proverbs 3:13                    Colossians 1:12 – 14

Deuteronomy 8:18                        Proverbs 22:5                   II Peter 1:2 – 4

Psalm 9:15                                          Ecclesiastes 2:26

Psalm 40:2                                         Ecclesiastes 3:11

Psalm 138:3                                        Isaiah 11:1 – 3

 

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Prayer for Today

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Tree by water 2

April 6, 2015

Father, Your Word says whatever I say AND believe I will receive. I believe that Your Word is truth and that Your Word can never fail. So today I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that I am extraordinary. I am everything You say that I am.

Your Word says I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ my Lord. I am the head and not the tail. I am the first and not the last. I am above and not beneath. Your Word says that I am like an olive tree, flourishing in the house of God. I am like a tree planted by the rivers of water; evergreen and abounding with fruit, and because I trust in You Father, I am blessed and highly favored and through Christ I have overcome the world therefore, nothing is impossible for me.

Lord today and every day I will confess what You say I am. I will rehearse Your Word over my life and I will recite Your blessings as I walk before You and wait to see You perform Your Word in my daily life. I will purpose to live up to Your expectations of me.

I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture references:

Deuteronomy 28:13 – 14

Psalm 52:6 – 9

Jeremiah 17:7 – 8

Mark 11:22 – 24

John 16:33

Romans 8:37 – 39

 

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Prayer for Today

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Underserving but thank you JesusLenten season challenge: Read the scriptures that are referenced at the bottom of each prayer every day during this Lenten season!

March 5, 2015

Father it feels like I come to You every day looking for something, asking for something or expecting something from You. Starting today, before I ask You for anything or expect anything from You, I’m going to thank You for what You’ve done for me. I’m going to tell You how grateful I am that You’ve treated me better than I deserve.

I thank You for forgiving me all my sins. I thank You for not holding the frailty of my humanity against me. I thank You for Your patience and for loving me even when I wasn’t loveable. Thank You for blessing me and making me a blessing to others. Thank You for looking beyond my faults and responding to my needs.

Thank You Lord for giving me chance after chance to get my life in Christ right. Thank You God for Your love, grace and mercy that covers the multitude of my sins, both known and unknown. Thank You for loving me back to wholeness in You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture references:

 Genesis 12:1 – 3               Ephesians 1:7

Psalm 19:12                        Hebrews 4:16

Psalm 32:1                          I Peter 4:8

Luke 6:37                           I John 1:9

 

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Prayer for Today

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Moving towards lightLenten season challenge: Read the scriptures that are referenced at the bottom of each prayer every day during this Lenten season!

 

March 4, 2015

Father, I am three months into the New Year and the things I promised I would make a priority, coupled with my desire to look more like Jesus, are beginning to feel like a job more than a blessing. I struggle with choices. I beat myself up when I make a mistake. Sometimes I feel like the changes I am trying to make are making things worse instead of better.

The guilt I feel when I miss the mark and shame for falling short are beginning to take their toll on me mentally and emotionally. I’m starting to listen to those voices in the back of my mind telling me the changes I want to make aren’t worth it.

Help me to remember that You don’t condemn me. In fact, because of what Jesus has done, I am set free from condemnation. You didn’t create me to be a robot; mechanical, living without feelings or emotions and perfect in all I do. No, You created me to be who I am, made perfect through my relationship with Your perfect son, Jesus Christ.

Father help me not to be so hard on myself. Help me to appreciate the journey You have for me. Help me to rely on the finished work of Jesus as my perfection. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Scripture references:

II Samuel 22:31 – 33

Romans 8:1 – 2

Colossians 1:28

Hebrews 10:1 – 10

 

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