Tag Archives: self-control

Prayer for Today

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Trust in God

April 23, 2015

 

Father, as Your children purpose to climb out of the muck and mire of the world system that we’ve put ourselves in, we’re going to need Your divine help in the area of our finances. Too many of us are over extended and underwater with our credit, mortgages and other payments.

We confess we have not been good stewards of what You have given us. We have sought after things we really didn’t need and as a consequence of our greed, we have placed ourselves in financial binds. Forgive us!

Father, we need Your wisdom regarding climbing out of these financial holes. Do we file bankruptcy? Do we go to credit counseling? Do we allow our homes to go into foreclosure? Do we allow other bills to go by the wayside while we pay off one debt at a time? We need an individual plan that fits each of our needs. Father, we are looking to You and You alone for our help.

Father God we know Your Word says You will supply all our of needs, not our greeds, according to Your riches in glory in Jesus Christ, so, even as we are climbing out of our financial holes, we are assured of Your blessings on our lives. Our needs will be met in Jesus name.

Lord God, we know Your Word says, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…” As we climb out of this hole please help us help each other. Help us love one another and help us to encourage one another. Father, we need You now, more than ever. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Scripture References:

 Job 12:13                                             Romans 13:8

Proverbs 15:27                                 Philippians 4:19

Proverbs 28:25

Luke 12:15

Luke 16:1 – 13

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Prayer for Today

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forgiveyourself pickup shadowLenten season challenge: Read the scriptures that are referenced at the bottom of each prayer every day during this Lenten season!

 

March 23, 2015

Father, today I feel overwhelmed! It’s like everything is coming down on me at one time. I can barely breathe! I’m too busy for my own good!

Father I feel like I moved from having a full plate of things to do, to having an overflowing platter of things to do. I can’t even figure out what to do first because everything and everyone is screaming, “ME FIRST!” I feel like my life is spinning out of control. I just want to yell “STOP!” and hit the restart button so I can begin again.

Father I need You! I need You to give me an inner calm and an inner peace so I can think. I need You to help me figure out all the stuff I have going on in my life and help me decide what I need to do verses what I can give to someone else to do. Father, help me focus on You so You can focus me.

I know I’ve done this to myself and I am not ashamed to say I need You to help me sort out the mess I’ve made. I will do like Jesus, I will pull away from all the stuff and listen for You. I know You will tell me what I need to know, You will give me inner calm and peace and You will help me not to get into this predicament again if I listen and follow You. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Scripture references:

Psalm 29:11

Psalm 37:7

Isaiah 26:3 – 4

Lamentations 3:19 – 26

Matthew 14:23

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Spiritual Night Travel

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Pillar of fire“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” Exodus 13:21

Has God ever required you to travel at spiritual night? Moving forward without the full plan to use as your guide or compass? He has required me to travel by spiritual night on more than a few occasions and I can tell you the journey took some time to get used to.

I am a planner. I believe in guidelines, timelines, procedures and schedules. The first time God required me to travel in spiritual night I was rebellious. I didn’t know where He was trying to take me or for what reason. I didn’t have a plan or know the purpose of the journey so I set down and wouldn’t move. I told God, “I’ll do what you tell me to do when you tell me what the end result is going to be and give me a plan!”

God began closing doors and locking windows in my life. And if that weren’t enough, He started turning up the heat making it impossible for me to stay where I was, so I took the only way of escape He left me.

Then I realized the way He had left me was dark because I hadn’t been that way before, I didn’t have a plan nor any experience to cling to during this time. I didn’t know how to travel this path but it was the only path God had left me. Everything else was cut off.

I cried out to God but there was only silence. I prayed but there was no answer. I resolved to go back to the way I had come but I couldn’t because all roads leading back had been blocked. The only way I could go was forward, but how?

Even in our darkest times, during our spiritual night travels, God provides a pillar of fire to lead us. It may be on your coffee table or your night stand. You may have left it in your car from the last time you went to your house of worship, but it is your pillar of fire by night. It is the word of God!

In Exodus 13:21 the pillar of fire guided the people through the wilderness and assured them of God’s presence. That’s what God’s word does for us! Are you in a wilderness experience in your life right now? If so, here’s some light for you to walk in:

You are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm – Ephesians 1:3

You are chosen by the Father – Ephesians 1:4

You are God’s workmanship – Ephesians 2:10

You are victorious – I John 5:4

You are an overcomer – Revelation 12:11

You are healed – I Peter 2:24

You are more than a conqueror – Romans 8:37

God has given you the ability to produce wealth – Deuteronomy 8:18

God hears you when you call – Isaiah 65:24

 

“We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light. Come where the dew drops of mercy shine bright. Shine all around us by day and by night. Jesus, the light of the world.” George D. Elderkin

Prayer for Today

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February 20, 2015

Father God, today I purpose to walk into my full potential in everything with my whole heart. I will not operate holding back or reserving anything that needs to be expended in order for me to fulfill my appointed course in You today.

I cast down excuses, lies deceptions, denials and procrastination. I throw off guilt, shame, laziness and slowfulness. I run full tilt into that which You have designed for me today. In Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture references:

Ephesians 3:17 – 20

Romans 1:8 – 10

Proverbs 14:8

II Corinthians 4:2

Ephesians 4:17 – 25

Psalm 139:16

Prayer

 

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Not Mine! All His! Part I

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“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” II Timothy 1:6 -10 (NIV)

In common vernacular, Paul was telling Timothy, who was timid person, “You’ve got to come out of that timidity and do what God has called you to do. Don’t allow your gifts to smolder and slowly burn out. No! Fan them into a flame so people can see them burn. You can’t hide what God has given you. Get out of your comfort zone! God didn’t save you, empower you and give you His grace so you can hide! No! You’ve got to get into the battle!

When we give God our minds, bodies and spirits we are saying we no long lay claim to ourselves. Everything about us, strengths, weaknesses, insecurities, pride, gifts, talents and even our fears are not ours anymore; they belong to God.

Nothing we call ours is ours any more. Our spouses, children, homes, jobs, all our belongings belong to God. Everything God has given us is at His disposal to teach, correct or bless us. In other words, we don’t have the authority to tell God “no” any more. Everything God says goes!

Stop fighting God! Staying in your comfort zone is not an option any more. We have to let the light of our gifts shine knowing they are going to attract good and bad attention. We’re going to have fight against our internal enemies and our external foes in order to fulfill our destinies.

It’s time for us to stop sitting on the sidelines watching others fight their fight of faith. It’s time for everyone to get into the battle! Are you ready?Sword Sharper than Two Edge Sword

Oh, What A Friend – Part II

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From the book: It’s Still Relative (The Word of God for Today’s World)

“You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:14

In our earthly friendships there is a level of equality between friends. Not so in our friendship with God. It is through my relationship with Jesus that we have friendship with God but God is not our equal even through he’s our friend. Here’s why we not equal to God:

1. His standards are always right.

2. His word is always true.

3. His promises are always kept.

4. God has never, and won’t ever, make a mistake.

5. Gods’ will has and will always prevail.

6. Gods’ way has been and will always be perfect.

7. Gods’ decisions are based on the whole picture and not limited to a specific amount of knowledge.

No one is God except God. No matter how much we pray, how many times a week we fast or how much we give to the poor, we are not God. We are sinners, saved by Gods’ grace. We are given new mercies every day by the unmerited favor of God through Christ.

Our role model for living a life of friendship with God is Jesus. In order to have a true friendship with God, we must do what Jesus did. First, Jesus spent quality time with God (Luke 22:39 – 41). Second, Jesus counseled with God about decisions that needed to be made (Luke 6:12 – 13). Third, even though Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, he walked humbly before God. (John 5:30). The fourth thing Jesus did to strengthen his friendship with God was to think of other more than he thought of himself (John 22:42).

Jesus’ death was not about his friendship with God, it was about OUR friendship with God. Jesus knew unless he died and atoned for the sins of the world, we would never have the opportunity to reconcile with God. Jesus knew unless he died human kind would never have the opportunity to form a friendship with our Creator.

Jesus did the hard work regarding our relationship with God. He bought our salvation by his sacrifice. It is our responsibility to nurture our friendship with God and to cultivate our relations with him by following Jesus’ example of spending time with God, seeking God’s counsel before we make decisions, walking humbly before God and caring about others more than caring about ourselves.

It is a blessing to sing the old spiritual that says, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grieves to bear. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.”

 

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Oh, What A Friend – Part I

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From the book: It’s Still Relative (The Word of God for Today’s World)

“You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:14

There is a song by Walter Hawkins that says, “If you ever need a friend that sticks closer than any brother I recommend Jesus, Jesus because he’s that kind of friend. He will never, never forsake you. Even though he every thing there is to know about you. I recommend Jesus, Jesus because he’s that kind of friend.”

Friends have things in common. Shared interest like shopping, cooking, sports or books. There is something that causes them to be drawn together – hence they get to know each other and begin to share. Out of that sharing a friendship emerges.

Over time a simple association turns into a friendship, which turns into a closer relationship until there forms a mutual level of knowledge about each others character traits, like and dislikes. You get to know each others concerns, strengths and weaknesses.

Jesus gave us the ability to have a friendship with God. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit so we can have a relationship with a Holy God. Jesus gave us righteousness so we have that trait in common with the Righteous God. Jesus gave us the mind of Christ so we can understand the secrets of God’s words and live in His truths. Jesus came to give us eternal life, so we can live with our friend, God, forever.

Jesus does not lessen God so He can be our friends. When we accept Jesus as our savior, he elevates us so we can become friends of God. Jesus gives us everything we need; holiness, righteousness, peace, love, joy, self-control, etc. so that we have the traits of God  and can take on his characteristics.

Jesus didn’t come to compromise God so that we can live anyway we want and still call ourselves Christians. Jesus did not come to lower God’s standards to the world’s standards. NO! Jesus came to elevate us to God’s will for our lives.

Are you living up to your friendship with God?

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