Prayer

My 53 years old idea of praying is tremendously different than my 10-year-old prayers, my 16-year-old prayers, and even my 27-year-old prayers. Those 16-year-old prayers were such a temporary 911 alarm type of prayer and it modeled the selfishness I was living out during that time in my life.  As if to petition my own self-created "god in a box."  I would pull Him out - just to answer my every little whim.  Or I may have pulled Him out only WHEN I was afraid. Or while needing something that was never meant to fill my heart. Through the years as I read His WORD, I have come to know Him so personally.  In such a way that was not evident at 10, 16, and even 27. It was just another step of learning the ropes.

 

Prayer is a love language between you and your Heavenly Father.  Prayer exemplifies a relationship between the two of you. A humbled dependency upon the One who created you. Prayer is a PRIVILEGE. It is also one that I am growing in. There is freedom in Christ and when I read His WORD I grow in my confidence of who He is and how much more I really need Him. In I Thessalonians 5:17 - it teaches us to pray without ceasing.  Do not give up and continue strong. Just as the runner stays his course, so must we in our faithful prayers. His love for you and me does not waver. Thank you, Jesus, for loving us and teaching us how to pray.

💞

#prayer
#godissovereign
#shereadstruth
#jesusinme
#biblestudy

Wait Upon the LORD

Waiting. Praying. Waiting. Sounds like zero to me. As if I were sitting in the middle of a freeway, in a rocker, watching the cars ride by while the sun rises and sets, as the weather comes and goes.  Feels like nothing being accomplished. However, what's really taking place when we learn to lay the things of this world down before God and pray. Really pray. In the book of Daniel 10 ... there was a delay.  Scripture indicates that Daniel's prayer was heard by God on the first day he prayed. Nonetheless, there was a delay.  There was an agent of the devil that caused a delay of 21 days.  Then, Daniel was told by the messenger that he was "loved by God." Sometimes, there are reasons for delay.  Many times in which we cannot see.  Stay strong and continually believe that God is working on your behalf. There are things that take place during the waiting. Shaping. Molding. Changing. Sharpening.  All for His purposes. All for His glory. For your benefit.  

Proverbs 3:5-6

Wrestling. 3 a.m. kind. You know when the days have been long and overwhelming. Seemingly defeating at times. No time for real rest - just getting by. All leading to Him - the one that I TRUST. The real HOPE that I have. The real CONFIDENCE that I lean on. The everlasting strength I possess - is in Christ alone. 

When the world sleeps, He is always with me. (Joshua 1:9) Thankful.
I will trust in Him with all my heart and I will not lean on my own understanding ... I will continually acknowledge Him in all my ways for He will make my path straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

#shereadstruth
#godissovereign

Wept, Mourned, and Prayed

Taken from the book of Nehemiah 1:4 out of God's Holy Word ...

Nehemiah had just received words from his brother and the men of Judah about the people, the Jews, who had been taken captive and their walls were broken down and the gates were burned with fire.

Nehemiah writes - "WHEN I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned, for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven."

Speechless after reading his words ... I cried out to God and confessed - "Father God, has my heart  become so cold that I weep and cry so little over your people ... let alone pray for them like Nehemiah did. Father forgive me ..."

Sought God by asking Him - "LORD why am I NOT brought to tears over these things?"

Remembering the most recent devastation in our country - the wildfires in Malibu,  California.  Assuredly,  I felt sorrow for them. Admittedly,  I prayed ... lightly. Confidently I asked the LORD for my heart to be moved for His people and to pray for them. Weep over them. Fast for them ... if I don't  - WHO will?

The whole purpose to read and study God's WORD is so we can get to know Him and commit to seeking His will for our lives. Learn His character. Praise Him for the great things He has done!

Surely, I was prompted to pray - Psalm 139:23 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful ways in me, And lead me in the everlasting way..."

If you are searching for "the way" to the everlasting - seek Him through His word and prayer. He is Faithful and He promises to reveal Himself to those who earnestly seek Him.

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

To LIVE Is Christ

Each year - I begin with a deeper pant for the LORD Jesus.  In Psalms  42:1 it renders  "As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."  He is continually in my heart and on my mind as I go throughout the routine of my day. I don't fully understand it all, but I know it's real. I long for it more and more. To be perfectly honest with you - I cannot turn off what God has started in my life. He continues to prove Himself daily. Seek me He says in the word of God ... and you will find me. He's in the Word. He shows up in places I didn't even realize He was there. 

Knowing and Doing Job 28:28

How many times have I known what to do - but didn't do it? More times than I can count. More times than I am truly willing to admit. To be totally honest - until I really wanted to be like the LORD - I continued to CHOOSE my own way. I chose my own decisions. Until I had a heart that really desired His will and not my own - I continually walked in the way of the sinners. The scoffers. The path of the unrighteous. In other words, without the LORD as my savior - I was lost. Wandering ...

The verse that has just opened my eyes literally has just jumped off the page ... It comes from the book of Job.

 "And to man He said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.' "
Job 28:28

If I am unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ - I must be willing to share Him with everyone I meet. Get out of my comfort zone. Walk away from that sin that pushes me back down in that pit. I want not only wisdom ... But I want understanding as well. For me ... it's the point of contact. Where the rubber meets the road. Where tread begins - taking that verse from God's Holy Word AND applying it to my life and seeing it come to life. Wisdom AND understanding - LORD I desire this today. In Jesus' name I pray - amen!

Philippians 4:13

There are so many negative forces that pull us downward. I was a part of a leadership course a while back and we proved it was easier to pull someone down by way of physical force than it was by pulling someone up! If we are going to be strength AND courage depositors - we will have to live on purpose. Do life with force and strength to combat the negativity and ugliness in this world.

When I was 16 I didn't know that much about praying scripture ... but I took one verse and clung to it because of the treacherous waters I was continually wading through. When I felt scared, lonely, hurt, or broken, I would speak it over and over to myself. At the time, I wasn't into writing as much as I enjoy now - so I was basically praying it. It was a reminder to me that no matter what I faced - the LORD Jesus was with me.

That verse is this truth - "I can do ALL things through Christ which strengthens me" ... Philippians 4:13 I can ... Be an encourager, I can ... Be a wife to my husband, I can ... Be a Mother to my daughter ... I can face every single challenge and know that Christ is my strength.

You can too ... Everyone that calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved. He is your strength. Your provider. Your everything. Just call upon His name!

Pray and Believe

Two weeks have passed .... I prayed. I believed. There was no where else I really could go with my request. Except to God. God the Father ... God the Son... And God the Holy Spirit.

When things are serious ... I write my prayers out. It was serious ... no funny business here. No jokes. No laughter ...

With every situation I've ever been in where I have had to rely only on God - I've writen. I've verbally prayed. I've cried out to Him. When His daughter is in pain - she comes to Him with her requests and let's them be known unto Him. He hears ... because He draws near to me. It is a praise report that He entirely met this mountain and said "not my will" for her to face this alone. Because she's mine ... because she believed... I am causing my favor to go before her and she now she will see my glory.

My Father in heaven ... He loves me like this!

Psalm 34

This week I have ran closely with the words TRUST and BLESS and PRAISE …

Do I TRUST Him?  DO I bless Him at all times?  Do I Praise Him even in the dark?

I was led to Psalm 34:1-4 which reads

“I will bless the LORD at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad…

O magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together…

I sought the LORD

And He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

Have you called out to Him in your distress my friend?

Or have you been tricked into thinking – ah, I can handle this – no reason to bother

The LORD … He is busy.  Love, He sings over you!  He desires to have a close relationship with you.  In the hiding place is where He speaks. In the shadow

Of His wings are you covered.  (Psalm 91)

GO to Him for your rest. Your refuge. Your peace. Your everything … Even when the smoke is too thick to see through.

Even when it’s 2 am and sleep is nowhere around - because life is hard.

Even when nothing seems to be working … In the midst of the storm – I will trust Him.

I will bless Him. I will praise Him.

Praise confuses the devil my friend.

Praise moves the heart of God and He hears you.

Have you ever stopped to realize you live in His presence continually?

He is with you always. He never leaves you.

This is exactly where David was in Psalm 34 – he was crying out to God with

Everything on the inside of him that pleaded for the LORD’S help.

David was a man after God’s own heart. He knew he couldn’t do it alone. David would live his life – with the LORD’S name and praise on his lips … even in a conversation with someone.  How are we to live?  Without calling out to Him?

So he called on the ONE that could deliver him … the one that would protect him.

His healer. His deliver. His mighty God. WHOM shall I fear?

How about you? Are you still trying to do it all alone?

DO you still think – you’ve “got this.”

Call His name for He’s waiting to hear you call out.

This week i heard one of my favorite bloggers talk about Bible Journaling as "art worship" ... i said "wonder why it's art worship" - without disagreeing, just saying it aloud to myself. 

Last night there was something that would not allow me to stop until I finished 

Psalm 34 in my Bible Journal.  

Laugh if you will, but scripture does speak about us coming to Him as a child. 

Therefore - I offer you my art worship in true child like form. 

HOW i long to produce a beautiful Bible Journal one of these days. 

Until then ... this is my purest and probably most passionate moments

because i was powered by the Holy Spirit through some

truly amazing worship songs as i painted this...

My hand - it represents my hand lifted high in praise and worship in my own prayer closet. 

Interestingly enough - whenever i placed the palm of my hand onto the page and lifted it up - the 

cut out looked identical to a heart. I decided to paint the heart red - but after I painted it 

it almost looked as though i had planned it.  

The hearts on my fingertips are my heart 

during worship leaned towards Him - the one that made me.

The one that spoke my name into existence before the earth was made.  

Since i love to write, I always begin my art journaling with writing. 

I write the verses out onto my notes. I look up other 

key passages that may be associated with it. 

I pray for God to teach me what His will would be through His Word 

and sometimes things will speak loudly ... then i realize what I am hearing 

is what He is speaking to my heart.  

Bless the LORD even in the hard times for He is always with you ...

 

Isaiah 6:3

Yesterday was run day. Meaning - errands to the bank, grocery store, gymnastics, Wal Mart - just a typical day that was full with busyness. The whole day my heart, soul, and mind continued to lean towards the LORD and HE knows my heart. I'm a home body that loves quietness and peace. It's a sure fire way to hear from the LORD. No radio. No tv. No nothing... how I love my Word spread out on the counter as I look thru the Bibles and compare the translations. As I was on the way to another stop ... I ran into this ...

My heart was so grateful and  in an instant - He knew my love language ... meaning I'm missing my peace and quiet time with Him and the day has been too hectic for my liking. So He loves on me with His glory. 

When Isaiah came into His full awareness of his sin - he saw himself with unclean lips. I have been there. I have also witnessed God's love, grace,  mercy and forgiveness first hand. There's no choice but to render your heart to Him once you've experienced His love. When I saw this sky yesterday - I was ushered into His presence and the fullness of joy overflowed. "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory." Isaiah 6:3

When I see this beautiful sky - His glory is present. The whole earth is full of His glory and images such as this - is living proof. I pray that He continues to reveal Himself to you ... day by day. 

Do You Want Peace?

On a recent trip to the lake, I walked out on a pier. Alone. As you can imagine, it was so breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful - all I wanted to do was extend my time as long as I could. As I sat there, I spent a few minutes alone with the LORD Jesus in His presence - right at the water's edge. As my eyes danced across the lake, I was reminded of those times in scripture where it talked about how Jesus would steal away from the crowds just to be with His heavenly Father. In a world that drips of chaotic chaos ... I long for quiet, peaceful moments in His presence where I gain His strength. His love. His perfect peace. Sometimes in a moment of worship, I extend my hand while eyes closed ... I think - if I could only touch His hem, I could be healed. Healed of the pains and hurts of this world. Healed from the insecurities that plague me. Healed from the anxiety that scours this earth. Peace is something that is on the front burner for me right now. I want it. I want to share it. Paramount - I want expose it. 

Recently I read the following words:  "Peace follows grace" and instantly I thought of "offer grace" if you want peace.  It doesn't take too long to turn on the news or read the newspaper and realize - we are deficient in peace. Our society has become so angry. Always in such a hurry.  So keyed up. So intense. So I asked myself "when" was the last time you offered grace?  Hmmmmmm.....well, if I said I offer grace every second of my life - I would have to be telling a not so. As my mother would say.

The Word of God teaches in I Corinthians 1:3 "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ."  There you have it - Peace follows grace. IF you are like me, maybe it's been a while since you've cracked open a dictionary and searched for the word GRACE.  After doing so - I learned grace is "divine love," good will, pleasing, Mercy, and a favor rendered voluntarily. Not demanded. Nor bought. Or made to. Just render it - at your own free will.

Let's put this one into practice. Go home. Go to your work place. Or better yet - go out into the streets somewhere. Anywhere. Offer up someone some grace. Or better yet - volunteer a favor to someone.  See how it feels to offer it.  This is what Paul was concerned about when he wrote to the church at Corinth.  The Apostle Paul endured challenges, hardships, daily struggles, and trials. To top it off - he had a genuine concern for his brothers and sisters in Christ. When they suffered, so did he. It wasn't about making himself look good. Or he wasn't trying to impress.  As I was reading this - it struck me that Paul himself was "rendering a favor" - voluntarily by having a true concern about his fellow man. He loved them genuinely and wrote to encourage them in their walks with the LORD.

Today, as you read these words - don't just walk away from them and forget them.  Today, read them, and if you could - would you write them down?  And then ... could you take it one step further - take it out to the street and look for a way to do something for someone else?  It could be that maybe you would open the door for a family member that wronged you. Or could it be that you pay for someone's meal at the market place or even in the drive through line?  Better yet - maybe you could offer someone a smile that you see doesn't have one.  It's up to you.

The book of James teaches us to not just read the scriptures - but to put them into practice.  Be doers of the Word - James 1:22.  Go ahead, just do it. Let me know how it works out for you. Grace and peace to you.