Freedom Depends on Prayer

 

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

What do you know about the story of the Pilgrims? I was taught they lived in the Netherlands for a time to escape religious persecution until their children began to be more Dutch than English. I heard about the Speedwell that leaked causing them to return to England and load everything on the Mayflower. I even knew about the Mayflower being blown off course but, not until my children were in school did I begin to learn some of the most miraculous happenings. 

In the midst of a storm more than halfway across the Atlantic, the main crossbeam supporting the mast cracked. The sailors scrambled to prop it up but nothing worked. The Pilgrims began to pray. Mr. Brewster remembered the great iron screw of his printing press (Marshall, Peter; The Light and the Glory. pp118,119). A great iron screw for a printing press? Why would Pilgrims need such a thing? Mr. Brewster brought a printing press to print Bibles, likely copies of the 1599 Geneva Bible. The great iron screw did the job of holding the crossbeam together to get the Mayflower on across the waters. And so begins the voyage to hide Christ's church in the wilderness protected from the persecutions of Europe.  

A long hard winter followed the landing of the Mayflower, but the Indians, who died of disease, left a store of corn. This small stockpile of corn sustained the Pilgrims until spring planting. But they knew nothing of planting in this new world. They knew nothing of hunting and fishing in the vast wilderness. One day an Indian walked into the Pilgrim's village with "Welcome". Welcome? No screams or raised tomahawk? No unknown language? In perfect English he greeted the Pilgrims with "Welcome". (Squanto by Eric Metaxas). Though half the passengers of the Mayflower had died that winter, still God was preserving a people to bring the gospel to the new world and establish the laws that would be the founding document of the US Constitution. That document was the Mayflower Compact. 

Throughout the history of the United States, the hand of God is obvious in times of war and peace. One of the main reasons could be the call to prayer. Washington called the nation to prayer and so did Lincoln.  But since the Supreme Court misconstrued the Constitution to mean freedom from religion instead of freedom of religion, we've been on a downhill slide that goes faster every day. Is all lost? No, President Trump has once again, called us to prayer as a nation.

II Chronicles 7:14 tells us that there is a way out. Not by the device of man but by the power of God. Read the passage again. 

We must humble ourselves, realize we are not in control. 

We must pray and seek God's face. It doesn't take a preacher to pray, just willing people who talk to God with all sincerity. 

We must turn from our wicked ways. What is that? The 10 Commandments say we shall have no other gods before the Lord God. What do we do in place of worship? When was the last time we read our Bibles or attended church, or prayed? Is our language riddled with profanity? It's not just a habit. 

The rest of the verse says, turn and God will listen and heal our land. What needs healing? 

Heavenly Father, our land seems to be almost in collapse, yet you have given us the way of escape. Just as you provided and protected the Pilgrims working miracle after miracle for them, you will do the same for us when we turn from our wicked ways and turn our hearts to you. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Rededicate250,Thoughts on Moving Forward

 

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

Many people have prayed, I among them, and agonized over the condition of our country. Many breathed a sigh of relief and felt the answer to those prayers after the last election, but friends, prayer warriors should not let down their guard. We cannot say, "Oh, the battle is over. We can relax now." On the contrary, there is yet much work to do and prayers to be prayed. 

One of the things the Lord has laid on my heart is a return to reading God's word—not just reading but studying it so that we know how to humble ourselves and pray for God's forgiveness and direction for our nation.

This week I offer a short reading on which you can easily expand, a thought and a prayer for each day.  This week may we truly rededicate our nation and ourselves, It's a great time to start reading and studying our Bibles, humbling ourselves and rededicating ourselves as well as our nation, thanking Him for all His blessings on our families and our nation and asking forgiveness of our transgressions that grieve His heart. 

As you study, make a few notes about the things God is revealing to you.

Monday Reading:
      Exodus 36:5,6 The people were so excited about the work of the Tabernacle that they brought in more than was needed. Moses had to give a command to stop bringing things for the Tabernacle.

What a wonderful situation to find ourselves in. When has the offering ever been too much? When has a congregation been so excited about God's work that they had to be told their gifts were enough?

Heavenly Father, at this time of rededication, may our thankfulness for all you have done be demonstrated in the enthusiasm we show in working for Your kingdom. May Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Tuesday Reading
       Exodus 37:1, 10, 25, 29 These verses demonstrate the responsibilities of Bezaleel. God chose him to do a mighty work but he is actually an unknown figure. His faithfulness to his calling has affected the understanding and worship of God for millions of people for thousands of years.

Can others look at my work and see my faithfulness to God's calling? How is my faithfulness or lack thereof affecting others? Surely everything we do affects others.

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me a work to do. Help me to be faithful to Your calling regardless of how much or how little credit I receive. You must increase and I must decrease. Be glorified, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday Reading:
      Exodus 38:8 The women brought their brass mirrors to make the brass laver, a place for the priests to wash their hands. Have you ever noticed women when they pass by a mirror, even in a store? We have to stop and check ourselves.  Beautiful hair, clothes, and make-up can all be a mess if a woman doesn't have a mirror to check herself. The women of Israel gave their most prized possession. They humbled themselves before God, putting aside their vanity for the building of the place of worship.

Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to the things I put before worship, before praise, before witnessing. Help me to humble myself for Your work. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Thursday Reading:
       Exodus 39: 18. The names of the tribes of Israel covered the priest's heart. His shoulders bore the weight.

Are God's people on my heart? Are the lost on my heart? Do I have a burden for people, or do I just complain about the situation?

Heavenly Father help me carry a burden for repentance among Your people and a burden to see the lost saved. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Friday Reading:
      Exodus 40:34. The people had followed God's directions. They had set up the tabernacle in God's order. He had descended on it. He guided their way day and night.

When our lives are clean God abides and directs our way. When we allow sin to enter in the Spirit departs until our lives are clean - forgiven. I John 1:9. We cannot do a work for God if we harbor sin.

Heavenly Father, direct my path that I might walk in Your way. May my life be pleasing unto You. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Saturday Review

    Pray. Review your notes. Is the Lord leading you in a specific direction? Has He revealed a work that needs strengthening or a new work to begin? Pray again. Choose a direction for next week's readings.

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 

Numbers 6: 24-26

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Praying God's Promises

 Photo by pixabay.

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord. 

~Genesis 4:26

Why do we pray? Is it just because we think we should or are we praying for the things God has promised?


A friend of mine related how her pastor used the verse from Genesis 4:26 to help them see how God honors His promises. Seth was Adam and Eve's third son. In Genesis 3:15 God promised to send the Savior to bruise Satan's head though Satan would bruise his heel. Satan immediately began a plan to derail God's promise. God gave Adam and Eve two sons, Cain and Able. They taught their boys to make the blood sacrifice of an animal for the forgiveness of sin just as God had made the sacrifice for them. However, Cain felt his hard work should be good enough. When God rejected Cain's sacrifice of his crops, Cain was angry and in jealousy killed his brother. The righteous seed of Able was destroyed and Satan thought he had won the war early.


Adam and Eve did not lose faith in God's promise. Nor had God turned his back on his promise. Eve conceived again and Seth was born. Once again Adam and Eve taught their son to have faith in God's promise, to make the blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. There is no mention of Adam and Eve's other children following the Lord except in a lineage of Godly men and their families to Noah. When all the world went their own way every thought was evil. But Noah believed God and found grace in his eyes.


When we pray today, do we hold to God's promises or are we simply making rote prayers in vain repetition like the heathen to their idols?

Remember your first prayer of faith in God's promise? 

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

• We know we sin daily. What is God's promise? I John 1:0
• We pray for the salvation of our family. Do we stand on the promise of Acts 16:31?
• We pray for the sick. Why? James 5:16
• If we ask for healing does that always mean we are healed on this earth? The saved are winners either way. Psalms 116:15
• Do we pray for our leaders, even those with whom we disagree? I Timothy 2:1-4
• As conflicts arise more and more in the Middle East, do we love Israel enough to pray for her? Psalms 122:6

God makes us a promise of blessings with each prayer we pray. 

What an awesome God we serve.

Father God, we love you and thank you for your promises and blessings. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). In Jesus's name. Amen.

Prayer for the Millions

 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. 

~Mark 14:38 NIV 

A friend reminded me that 2000 years ago, the same moon that shines down tonight, shined down on a garden called Gethsemane near Jerusalem. Twelve men, Jesus and eleven of His disciples came there after the Passover supper to pray. Jesus asked His disciples to watch and pray that they not enter into temptation.  Jesus went a little farther, about a stone's throw away, and began to pray. 

As Jesus prayed, He began to sweat great drops of blood, so much so that it ran down and fell on the ground. He prayed for the death sentence upon Him to be removed, but only if it were the Father's will. No one wants to die, but no doubt Jesus had seen the agony and torture of a crucifixion. Even more than the crucifixion was the burden of the punishment for our sins that was upon him. He loved the Father and He loved us. He was willing to die that death if there was no other way to save us. You see, Jesus has also seen the torture and agony in the pits of hell that lasts far longer than a crucifixion. Hell lasts for all eternity.  

When Jesus returned to His disciples, they were asleep. He woke them up and asked again that they pray. The second time He found them asleep and woke them. The third time, He let them sleep. He knew the men and officers from the chief priests were on their way with Judas. The agony was just beginning. 

At this Thanksgiving season, have we taken the time to ponder what really happened over 2000 years ago? We're busy cooking, visiting, and eating Grandma's special dishes; stuffing ourselves into sleepy obliviousness. Have we allowed ourselves to be lulled to sleep while Jesus agonizes over souls that daily are going into the pits of hell? When is the last time we have agonized over lost friends and loved ones, over countries and nations, peoples and races? Jesus asks us to stay awake and pray so we don't enter into temptation, the temptation to just let life go on as normal. 

Heavenly Father, help us not forget the millions who are lost, who are fighting for their survival, who have never heard the gospel. Help us not forget You have commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel. We know you do not intend for us to leave anyone out, friend or enemy, Jew or Gentile. Help us remember the Pilgrims came here to freely worship the Lord. They reached out to Native Americans and later to others who settled here, both Jew and Gentile, black and white, all with whom they came in contact. Help us Lord to look around us and share the Gospel with all those You put in our path. In Jesus's name. Amen.

A Prayer for Our Country

 

 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 

~ Timothy 2:1-4 NIV

I'm tired. I'm weary of all the anger and arguments about everything. Everyone is offended. Everyone is angry yet no one seems to know the answer. We don't have answers but I know the One who does. Shouldn't we be asking Him and seeking His answers?

My friend recently introduced me to the picture book A Prayer for Our Country written by our senate Chaplin Rear Admiral Barry Black (Ret.) I immediately fell in love. I kept thinking this is exactly how we need to teach our children to not only love our country but to pray for our country. It’s also a good model for us as adults.

Chaplin Black helps children see how to put feet to their prayers by:

• ·         showing love to others around us.
• ·         giving praise and thanks to the Lord for the day.
• ·         Giving thanks for the strength within us, our family, and our friends.

The prayer acknowledges God as our Creator and encourages us to be thankful for His creation which shows us evidence of God’s love. The prayer also acknowledges our blessings of food, clothes, and shelter. The illustrations show children how to share those blessings with those less fortunate.

The prayer asks that the Lord show us how to use every part of us to bring joy to others.

• ·         We recognize God as the Good Shepherd.
• ·         We ask to be taught to use words wisely, words that heal, not hurt.
• ·         We ask to recognize that every person is made in the image of God.
• ·         We are reminded that God is not a respecter of persons which helps us understand the need for unity.
• ·         We recognize we have problems that sometimes cause us to feel lost and overwhelmed.

The illustrations challenge children to care for each other, and to show love and respect because of the word of God.

We know God is in control. He chose us. With God’s help, we do our best even when no one else is looking.

Chaplin Black ends the prayer by letting children know God is close and chases away the darkness. He ends the prayer by saying, “in Your loving name.” There is no mention of Jesus but here’s one of the many opportunities we as parents have to teach our children about God’s love.

• ·         What is the loving name of God?
• ·         What verses could be used with this book to encourage children to memorize scripture?
• ·         What talents do our children have to share?
• ·         How can we be the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities?

Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.

President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address

Chaplin Black and his illustrator Kim Holt give us the perfect example of what we can do for our country. May we enter into the celebration of our country’s birthday this Fourth of July with prayers and supplications.

Hey Kids:

I always looked forward to the Fourth of July. Dad would grill hamburgers for us. We had fresh tomatoes from the garden and watermelon from a nearby stand. We would turn on the sprinkler and spend the afternoon dripping with water and juice. We often ended the day with a churn of peach ice cream. Have you ever sat on a churn of ice cream while someone turned the handle until wouldn't turn any more? Then the sparklers and firecrackers came out after dark. 

Do you know why we celebrate with fireworks? Do you know the words to The Star Spangled Banner? 

Have you learned about the struggles of men like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison as they and others came together to write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with its Bill of Rights? 

Prayer was always a part of their time together as they planned for our new nation. May we also make prayer for our nation a part of our daily lives. 

 

Thy Kingdom Come

Ask of Me, and I will give You

The nations for Your inheritance,

And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

~Psalms 2:8 NKJV

I praise the Lord for all the reports of the outpouring of His Holy Spirit across this nation and around the world. I haven't visited any of the publicized meetings but I know the Holy Spirit visits us whenever we invite Him into our presence wherever we are. This awakening is not just for one university or one town. The Lord says to ask of Him, ask in the name of His Son, Jesus and He will give us the nations for Jesus's inheritance. 

Isaiah 11:9 says " They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

With the advent of technology in the last few years, it is now possible to cover the earth with the knowledge of moment-by-moment happenings. What is our responsibility in these times?

Number 1 must be to cover all that is happening with prayer. With every publicized event, every prayer that goes up, Satan is screaming and yelling "NO!"at the top of his lungs. Case in point, the Grammys. I won't even go there to describe the horrific visuals Satan broadcast to the world. But God gave us wonderful images of people praising, worshipping, and coming to salvation all over the world. 

~Psalms 40:3

Number 2 must be to talk about the Lord and all that is happening to those around us. I was in a thrift shop last week. I overheard friends talking about witnessing to mutual friends who thought they were Christians because they grew up that way. We don't know the conditions of the hearts of others if we are not engaging them in loving, meaningful conversations. I'm so glad these friends were able to lovingly correct the mistaken idea that we can be Christians just because we were brought up "that way".

~Luke 3:8

Number 3 must be to walk the talk. When others see us behave in a dismissive manner, use hateful words, and ignore those in need, we run the risk of being hypocrites. ~Luke 18:11

God wants the world to be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. He isn't willing that anyone should perish and yes, there is a hell prepared for the devil and his angels. However, those who reject Jesus, God's Son who willingly died for them will also be condemned to an eternity in hell.~Matthew 25:41

There has been much talk of a rapture in my lifetime. Let us think if that were to happen, who would it benefit? Only those who know the Lord. However, if we, like our faithful fathers who died as martyrs in ages past, are willing to walk through "the fire" to see our friends, loved ones, and yes even strangers come to know the Lord, how much greater would our joy be in heaven. ~Luke 15:6,7; John 16:33

Heavenly Father, we pray for the vision to see the earth filled with the knowledge of You and of the sacrifice your Son, Jesus, made for us on the cross. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name. Amen. ~Matthew6:9

He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

~Micah 6:8

A Prayer for Our Country

 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 

~ Timothy 2:1-4 NIV

I'm tired. I'm weary of all the anger and arguments about everything. Everyone is offended. Everyone is angry yet no one seems to know the answer. We don't have answers but I know the One who does. Shouldn't we be asking Him and seeking His answers?

My friend recently introduced me to the picture book A Prayer for Our Country written by our senate Chaplin Rear Admiral Barry Black (Ret.) I immediately fell in love. I kept thinking this is exactly how we need to teach our children to not only love our country but to pray for our country. It’s also a good model for us as adults.

Chaplin Black helps children see how to put feet to their prayers by:

·         showing love to others around us.

·         giving praise and thanks to the Lord for the day.

·         Giving thanks for the strength within us, our family, and our friends.

The prayer acknowledges God as our Creator and encourages us to be thankful for His creation which shows us evidence of God’s love. The prayer also acknowledges our blessings of food, clothes, and shelter. The illustrations show children how to share those blessings with those less fortunate.

The prayer asks that the Lord show us how to use every part of us to bring joy to others.

·         We recognize God as the Good Shepherd.

·         We ask to be taught to use words wisely, words that heal, not hurt.

·         We ask to recognize that every person is made in the image of God.

·         We are reminded that God is not a respecter of persons which helps us understand the need for unity.

·         We recognize we have problems that sometimes cause us to feel lost and overwhelmed.

The illustrations challenge children to care for each other, and to show love and respect because of the word of God.

We know God is in control. He chose us. With God’s help, we do our best even when no one else is looking.

Chaplin Black ends the prayer by letting children know God is close and chases away the darkness. He ends the prayer by saying, “in Your loving name.” There is no mention of Jesus but here’s one of the many opportunities we as parents have to teach our children about God’s love.

·         What is the loving name of God?

·         What verses could be used with this book to encourage children to memorize scripture?

·         What talents do our children have to share?

·         How can we be the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities?

Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.

President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address

Chaplin Black and his illustrator Kim Holt give us the perfect example of what we can do for our country. May we enter into the celebration of our country’s birthday this Fourth of July with prayers and supplications.

Hey Kids:

I always looked forward to the Fourth of July. Dad would grill hamburgers for us. We had fresh tomatoes from the garden and watermelon from a nearby stand. We would turn on the sprinkler and spend the afternoon dripping with water and juice. We often ended the day with a churn of peach ice cream. Have you ever sat on a churn of ice cream while you turned the handle until wouldn't turn any more? Then the sparklers and firecrackers came out after dark. 

Do you know why we celebrate with fireworks? Do you know the words to The Star Spangled Banner? 

Have you learned about the struggles of men like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison as they and others came together to write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with its Bill of Rights? 

Prayer was always a part of their time together as they planned for our new nation. May we also make prayer for our nation a part of our daily lives. 

 

 

Refresh Your Prayers

I'd like to introduce you to my friend Lori Hatcher. Her new book, Refresh Your Prayers, is helping my prayer life grow in faith, making it soar in the truth of God's word. I hope you enjoy the sample from her new book. If you leave a comment I will put your name in a random drawing for a free copy of Refresh Your Prayers. Following my blog will give you another entry and sharing on social media will put your name in the hat again. Just let me know in the comments how you shared. 

We all know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares five-minute story-driven devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise
Available now at Amazon.com, Christian Book.com, and wherever fine books are sold.

Learning to Trust

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 4:40

Our dog Winston was the biggest scaredy cat in the canine world. We credit his timidity to his time in “The Big House.” The runt of the litter, seven-week-old Winston was malnourished and mangy when someone dropped him off at the animal shelter.

Thankfully the animal control officer was married to Grace, the president of the animal rescue league. He told her about the tiny, freckle-faced puppy, and she saw potential in him. Eying his patchy fur and protruding ribs, she announced, “I can cure his mange and fatten him up. He’ll make someone a great pet.”

Until his mange cured, Grace kept Winston isolated. By the time we adopted him, he’d spent a large portion of his life alone. We weren’t surprised to discover he had trust issues.

Imagine what it would be like to go from an isolated crate in the corner of a room to a big wide world bustling with sights, sounds, and smells. Falling leaves sent him running for cover. Sudden noises caused him to hide under the nearest piece of furniture. One day we were playing in an open field when a plastic grocery bag blew his way. He bolted like Sasquatch was chasing him.

Winston reminds me of myself in the early days of my faith. God didn’t rescue me from The Big House, but He did rescue me from a dark and hopeless future. He cured my sin sickness and promised to take care of me all the days of my life.

But I had trust issues. At the first rustle of change or clatter of trouble, I ran for cover.
Like the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee, I cried out, “Teacher, don’t you care about me?”
I was convinced—God was sleeping, and I was going to drown.

I had to extend lots of love and patience to persuade Winston to trust me. When scary things frightened him, I called his name, dropped to my knees, and opened my arms wide. “Come, Winston,” I said. “Come to me. I’ll protect you.”

Before long he learned to run to me instead of away from me. One day I walked him on a busy street to condition him not to fear traffic noises. In the distance a fire truck roared our way. Seeing the threat, I dropped to my knees, wrapped my arms around him, and covered him with my body until the truck howled past.

“Don’t be afraid,” I whispered into his trembling ear. “I’ve got you.”

God did the same for me. As I prayed and He answered, I learned to run to Him whenever anything frightening entered my world. When I brought financial needs, sickness, and relationship troubles to Him in prayer, I saw Him respond. When the leaves of uncertainty rustled, I shared my fears with Him. When unemployment, a wayward child, or a troubling situation roared into my life, I sought protection in His mighty arms and found comfort and help.

As He answered my prayers and responded to my needs, my trust grew.
“Don’t be afraid,” God whispered to my trembling heart. “I’ve got you.”

Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to pray about everything. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if God met my needs; kept me free from sickness, pain, and sorrow; and intercepted every problem before it touched my life?

If He did, though, I’d never learn to trust Him. My faith would be as malnourished as Winston when Grace rescued him. I’d take every good gift for granted and never recognize that it came from the generous hand of my heavenly Father.

In heaven, nothing will make me afraid, and my faith will become sight. Until then, my fear drives me to pray, and God’s answers grow my faith.

As Winston learned to trust me, our relationship grew sweeter. No longer plagued by fear and distrust, he could freely enjoy the life we shared.

As I’ve learned to trust God, our relationship has grown sweeter too. I’ve learned He’s not asleep on the job. He’s aware of all my needs and is fully able to meet them. This knowledge frees me to face life with confidence.

Jesus asked His disciples two questions in the middle of the storm. He asks us the same: “Why are you so afraid?” and “Do you still have no faith?” Because faith pleases God, I’m learning to embrace every need that sends me running into His arms. No matter what threatens, I find them always open. 

Uncommon Power

God calls me to pray so I can learn to trust Him.

Praise Prompt

Father, thank you for patiently teaching me to love and trust you. I praise you for being trustworthy, faithful, and good. Grow my faith, Lord. When trials and trouble enter my life, help me run to you first. In the strong name of Jesus I ask, amen.

Live It Out

List all the ways God has provided for you in the last week. In the last month. In the last year. List everything from the air in your lungs, to the clothes on your back, to the roof over your head. Think also of the nonmaterial gifts. Has God been faithful? Remember this the next time you feel afraid. Run to Him and grow in faith and trust.

Lori Hatcher is a pastor’s wife who lives delightfully close to her four grandchildren in Lexington, South Carolina. She’s the author of several devotional books including Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise. She’s also a blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Refresh . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).


Taken from Refresh Your Prayers: Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise by Lori Hatcher© 2022. Used by permission of Our Daily Bread Publishing®, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. All rights reserved. Further distribution is prohibited without written permission from Our Daily Bread Publishing® at permissionsdept@odb.org.

Blessings in Disguise

 

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 
Psalms 105:1

You know that picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walks into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn, and beans, and pumpkin? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t anyone ever tell you about Squanto?

Mining for Truth

 Photo courtesy of Matt Seymour

 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

Have you ever been gem mining? My grandson always loved swishing a pan of sand in the water and finding little gems. The water helped the sand pass through the sieve, leaving the goodies in the pan. If the sieve had a hole in it or was coming loose from the side, the gemstones would slip through and be lost. That would never do. We needed a good sieve so he could come away with a nice pocket full of rocks.

Just like with gem mining, we need a good sieve in life.  It's often hard to figure out the truth. We hear so many versions of "truth". We see so many video clips trying to convince us of "the truth". We read so many "facts" to demonstrate "the truth". We need a good sieve to pass all this information through. One with no holes or loose edges that would allow an untruth to pass through. 

 Jesus said that God's word is truth. How do we filter everything through God's word? It's hard to understand. It's a big book. We don't have time. My grandson didn't pour water over the pan of sand and just wait for the gems to appear. He had to swish it and dip it again and again. Each time swishing and taking out little treasures until he had devoured the whole $15 bucket. So too, we must take little bits, letting the Water of Life swish over the words, revealing the gems a few at a time. Here are a few tips I use:

• Commit to reading one chapter each day, just one.
• Pray before reading to commit that chapter to God's revealing.
• Look for the gem, the one thing God is speaking to you about in the chapter.
• Journal your find.
• Write an application for yourself.
• Write a prayer about that application.
• Share your gem with someone else, a spouse, your family, a friend, etc. 

One find leads to another. As soon as my grandson finished one bucket of sand he always wanted more. When you begin to find the gems in God's word and apply them to your life and the things you hear and see and read, you too will be hungry for another chapter of truth. 

Blessings, 

Gail