Recently, I was gathering up prayer requests of several of my new sisters in Christ. As I started to pray for each person, I remembered reading earlier in the day in my devotional that there is power in God's Word and to use scripture in my prayers. So I was immediately drawn to Philippians 4:4-7, because there was a common thread within all the prayer requests, anxiety and worry and the need for peace.
So I took those verses and turned them into a very personalized prayer for all of my friends.
Here below is a condensed version of the prayer, I hope everyone who reads it, finds encouragement and strength in it!
Dear Father in Heaven,
I thank you for blessing me with this study of your precious Word! And for these new sisters in Christ, for bringing us together to uplift and encourage each other in our walk with you, Lord! We are so blessed Father, you lavish us with your love and comfort, your mercy and grace and forgiveness, so much more than we deserve. But we are weak Father and our spirit battles with our flesh. Please give us all strength,Father, to conquer over our flesh! So that we can be all that you have created us to be, walking in righteousness, so that we can bring honor, glory and praise to you and you alone!
I pray for all my sisters in Christ, who are all struggling with worries and concerns and are uneasy about their health, their husbands, their children, their unsaved family members, their fellow co-workers, their jobs, and their own strength and faith within their Christian walk.
Please remind us to rejoice! Again, I ask you, help us, remind us daily, of how awesome you are and how much you love us, so that we always remember, to rejoice in you, our Lord! Lord, you are near! And may we always realize you are so very near, so very present, in every aspect of our lives! I ask you Lord to lay your hand on each of these women, as you know each of their hearts and the issues they struggle with, remind them they are not to be anxious about anything! But in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to present their request to you, God. And through our prayers, Father God, fill us, as you have promised, with your peace God, which transcends all understanding, and guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus!
Remind us over and over, each day through scripture, through fellow believers, christian songs, devotionals, by whatever means, Father, that you are so very near and waiting for us to turn our worries over to you and let you take care of them, as only you can, and we cannot. Teach us daily Father, to truly surrender all our burdens to you! I pray in Jesus precious name, amen!
Over 300 times in the New Testament, God commands us not to be anxious!
Philippians 4:4-7
"Rejoice in the Llord always. I will say it again; Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
God Bless and have a wonderful day!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Devotional - Beware of the Amalekites!
For he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have
war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
E X O D U S 1 7 : 1 6
By Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby
The Amalekites were the persistent and relentless enemies of the Israelites. When the Israelites sought to enter the Promised Land, the Amalekites stood in their way. Once the Israelites were in the Promised Land and seeking to enjoy what God had given them, the Amalekites joined the Midianites to torment the Hebrews in the days of Gideon. It was an Amalekite that caused the downfall of King Saul. The Amalekites continually sought to hinder the progress of God’s people and to rob them of God’s blessing. Thus God swore His enmity against them for eternity.
As you move forward in your pilgrimage with the Lord, there will be “Amalekites” that will seek to distract and defeat you. God is determined to remove anything that keeps you from experiencing Him to the fullest. If your commitment to your job is keeping you from obedience to Him, God will declare war against it. If a relationship, materialism, or a destructive activity is keeping you from obeying God’s will, He will wage relentless war against it. There is nothing so precious to you that God will not be its avowed enemy if it keeps you from His will for your life. King Saul mistakenly thought he could associate with Amalekites and still fulfill the will of the Lord. You may also be hesitant to rid yourself of that which causes you to compromise your obedience to God. Don’t make the same mistake as King Saul. He did not take the Amalekites seriously enough, and it cost him dearly.
war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
E X O D U S 1 7 : 1 6
By Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby
The Amalekites were the persistent and relentless enemies of the Israelites. When the Israelites sought to enter the Promised Land, the Amalekites stood in their way. Once the Israelites were in the Promised Land and seeking to enjoy what God had given them, the Amalekites joined the Midianites to torment the Hebrews in the days of Gideon. It was an Amalekite that caused the downfall of King Saul. The Amalekites continually sought to hinder the progress of God’s people and to rob them of God’s blessing. Thus God swore His enmity against them for eternity.
As you move forward in your pilgrimage with the Lord, there will be “Amalekites” that will seek to distract and defeat you. God is determined to remove anything that keeps you from experiencing Him to the fullest. If your commitment to your job is keeping you from obedience to Him, God will declare war against it. If a relationship, materialism, or a destructive activity is keeping you from obeying God’s will, He will wage relentless war against it. There is nothing so precious to you that God will not be its avowed enemy if it keeps you from His will for your life. King Saul mistakenly thought he could associate with Amalekites and still fulfill the will of the Lord. You may also be hesitant to rid yourself of that which causes you to compromise your obedience to God. Don’t make the same mistake as King Saul. He did not take the Amalekites seriously enough, and it cost him dearly.
The Armor of God
We believers face battles everyday, against evil. The enemy wants us to turn away from God, and attacks us especially when we are most vulnerable.
There are attacks from the world, and there are also battles we fight within ourselves.
The below verses spoke to me this week in powerful way regarding these battles we face. I am sharing with you, so when you come up against these battles, you might also be equipped to defend and concur victoriously in Jesus!
Sometimes the battle comes in the form of those who don't yet believe...who don't yet understand, and "attack" us and our faith. We have to remember that it is not the person, it's the enemy feeding them lies...
In those times of "persecution" from others remember to respond in love! (nobody can make an argument against a loving response!) Just as Jesus would do! Then immediately pray to God so you can draw from his strength and put on the armor He provides! Then turn to His Word (dive in deep!) for wisdom, strength and encouragement...it's the only way to triumph! **See Ephesians verses below**
Ephesians 6:10-18
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of god so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Then there are other times when the battle comes from within ourselves. Whether it be a sin we struggle to overcome or falling prey to the enemy's lies.
When battling within ourselves, remember that we can do everything through Him who gives us strength! We need to choose not to give in to the weakness, but draw on God's strength. We have the power of the Holy Spirit in us, who with His breath, raised Jesus from the dead! We just have to draw from that power! We need to reject any unholy thoughts and ignore the lies we are told, and read aloud the truths we find in His Word!
**See 2nd Corinthians verses below**
2nd Corinthians 10:4-5
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
I pray we all continue to stand firm on the rock of Christ always!
In Christ,
Jennie
There are attacks from the world, and there are also battles we fight within ourselves.
The below verses spoke to me this week in powerful way regarding these battles we face. I am sharing with you, so when you come up against these battles, you might also be equipped to defend and concur victoriously in Jesus!
Sometimes the battle comes in the form of those who don't yet believe...who don't yet understand, and "attack" us and our faith. We have to remember that it is not the person, it's the enemy feeding them lies...
In those times of "persecution" from others remember to respond in love! (nobody can make an argument against a loving response!) Just as Jesus would do! Then immediately pray to God so you can draw from his strength and put on the armor He provides! Then turn to His Word (dive in deep!) for wisdom, strength and encouragement...it's the only way to triumph! **See Ephesians verses below**
Ephesians 6:10-18
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of god so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Then there are other times when the battle comes from within ourselves. Whether it be a sin we struggle to overcome or falling prey to the enemy's lies.
When battling within ourselves, remember that we can do everything through Him who gives us strength! We need to choose not to give in to the weakness, but draw on God's strength. We have the power of the Holy Spirit in us, who with His breath, raised Jesus from the dead! We just have to draw from that power! We need to reject any unholy thoughts and ignore the lies we are told, and read aloud the truths we find in His Word!
**See 2nd Corinthians verses below**
2nd Corinthians 10:4-5
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
I pray we all continue to stand firm on the rock of Christ always!
In Christ,
Jennie
Monday, April 20, 2009
God Brings us Through!
We will all walk through difficult times in life….but the key word is through.
God will not leave us there, He will bring us through it!
And then, He restores us and gives us rest!
So there is nothing to fear, God is with us!
Psalm 23:1-4
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
God Bless!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!
We celebrate today, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Our redeemer lives! And because He rose from the dead, and paid the penalty for our sin, we now can live too! And live forever in eternity!
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave is only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
John 10:10
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Choosing to believe in Jesus and follow Him, grants you access to wonderful blessings from God! He gives you overflowing peace, love, joy, forgiveness, grace, mercy and everlasting live in Heaven!
Happy Easter!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Jesus Suffered More
Another beautiful poem, written by Kathy,
but the words are always given to her by God.
This one I find most appropriate during this Easter weekend.
“Jesus Suffered More”
Having suffered endless pain
I lived the story well
But my Jesus suffered more
As He descended into hell.
Oh, death has surely grieved me
Left me searching, broken, bare
But my Jesus suffered more
Through all of it he was there.
I have committed the vilest sin
Even forgot that God existed
But my Jesus suffered more
When on the cross He persisted.
There have been spiritual battles
And far too many I have lost
But my Jesus suffered more
He paid the horrific cost.
Lovers came and misled me
Filled a lonely heart with desire
But my Jesus suffered more
Proved all of them the liar.
My body has been brutalized
I am sickened to the core
But my Jesus suffered more
Only God could survive, endure.
I have truly been forsaken
Not deserving in His sight
But my Jesus suffered more
He was crucified that night.
I have cried until exhausted
Could not stand upon my feet
But my Jesus suffered more
Then made my soul complete.
No tears, no sorrow, no crying
I will fall on bended knee
My Jesus suffered, suffered more
To give peace and life to me.
His life brings everlasting joy
As I walk through Heaven’s door
The truth of all my sorrow speaks
That my Jesus suffered more.
Kathleen Higham
Friday, April 10, 2009
In Due Time
Another awesome poem by Kathy!
How thankful I am for His sacrifice and offering to save me!
In Due Time
by Kathleen Higham
First God was our Maker
A God we cannot see
A Creator, a Counselor
He came for you and me.
Almighty and all powerful
Yet He became a man
In due time He died for us
To fulfill His Father's plan.
Suffering unimaginable pain
He bore to save the lost
Our Messiah, Jesus Christ
Never questioning the cost.
Humbling Himself on the Cross
His majesty and His power
In due time He conquered
Even through His darkest hour.
Now I wait for Him to come
To touch a heart so broken
There is a quiet patience
When His words are spoken.
The Maker came, created
The Messiah told the story
In due time He'll come again
His majesty in all His glory.
Waiting here in joyful hope
When every knee will bow
In due time, get ready friend
For He could come right now.
by Kathleen Higham
First God was our Maker
A God we cannot see
A Creator, a Counselor
He came for you and me.
Almighty and all powerful
Yet He became a man
In due time He died for us
To fulfill His Father's plan.
Suffering unimaginable pain
He bore to save the lost
Our Messiah, Jesus Christ
Never questioning the cost.
Humbling Himself on the Cross
His majesty and His power
In due time He conquered
Even through His darkest hour.
Now I wait for Him to come
To touch a heart so broken
There is a quiet patience
When His words are spoken.
The Maker came, created
The Messiah told the story
In due time He'll come again
His majesty in all His glory.
Waiting here in joyful hope
When every knee will bow
In due time, get ready friend
For He could come right now.
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