January 6, 2020

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March 14, 2020

Declarations to Pray Over Fear and Anxiety

In the midst of these uncertain times, I felt led to write this prayer for you. You can download it here if you’d like to print it out.

Abba Father, Jehovah Rapha, God our Healer, we come before You today praying against fear. Your Word tells us the TRUTH about fear. You have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound, disciplined mind (2 Tim. 1:7). We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). Lord we declare these verses … these promises from You … over our hearts today.

I will never leave you or forsake you, My daughter. Deut. 31:6

In Me, you are more than a conqueror. Romans 8:37

Greater is the One who lives in you, My daughter, than the one who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4

I am your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, do not fear, My daughter. Though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Do not fear! Psalm 46:1-3

Cast your burden upon Me, and I will sustain you: I will not allow My righteous daughter to be moved or shaken. Psalm 55:22.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Though an army encamp against you, My daughter, your heart shall not fear; though war arise against you, you will be confident … For I will hide you in My shelter in the day of trouble; I will conceal you under the cover of My tent; I will lift you high upon a rock. Psalm 27:3

Father, we stand on these declarations as the living, active, penetrating, powerful Word of God that will not return void but will accomplish what You desire and achieve the purposes for which You sent it. Help us to BELIEVE and WALK CONFIDENTLY EVERY DAY in each of these promises from You.

Lord, guard us from the enemy who whispers into those secret places where we’re prone to fear and doubt. Lord, help us first to recognize the enemy’s schemes, and then to stand and call upon Your power that indwells within us, and the weapons with which You’ve armed us, to fight every lie, temptation, and threat Satan throws our way. We put on the Armor of God … the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God), the shield of faith, and the shoes of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:10-18). And, we walk in the fullness of Your love … Your perfect love that drives out fear (1 John 4:18)!

We also pray for wisdom from Heaven for our country’s leaders, Father. Eradicate fear and keep it from taking root so they can make reasoned, not reactionary decisions. We pray for all who are on the front lines … for their protection, for strength to endure, for wisdom only You can bring, for protection against all sickness, especially the Coronavirus.

Father, don’t let the devil gain a foothold in our hearts or the hearts of Your people across the world. Jesus warns us of the schemes of the devil. That he is the divider, the father of lies, the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy … to keep us from trusting God, especially in these uncertain times, where everything that makes us feel safe and that we hold dear … health, security, safety … seems to be falling away day by day. But the rest of that verse tells us that JESUS came so that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). So we may live FREE from fear. FREE from anxiety. FREE from hopelessness. Because, God, You are our hope!! You are our Peace. You are our Strength. You are our Portion. You are our Sustainer. You are ENOUGH!

God, Yours are words of life – of truth. We speak them into our fears. We soak in them, we pray them back to You. Make them so very much a part of who we are, Father, that they replace every negative, fearful, anxious thought. Give us strong, bold and courageous hearts, like You gave Joshua, when fear came near (Joshua 1:9). Give us Your peace that passes all understanding to guard our minds in Christ Jesus and supersede all fear! (Philippians 4:7). We put our full trust in You for You are Faithful and True … ALWAYS! We ask this in the Name of One who crushed the serpent’s head, the Alpha and the Omega, our Lord, Savior and Redeemer, Jesus. Amen.

5 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

August 19, 2019

Back to School Prayer for You

I remember like it was yesterday. The myriad of emotions that overwhelmed my heart the first day of school. First, it was elementary school. Then middle school. Then high school. Now, my Lauren is married … no more school. And, my sweet Bo is entering his last year of college. He leaves Monday.

Ya’ll I don’t feel that old!

It seems only yesterday, I was pushing them around Target in the shopping cart … Lauren in her Belle gown and sparkly shoes. Bo with his Bob the Builder tools strapped around his waist.

A few days ago, I shared one of the hardest parts about being a mama with a few friends. A divided heart. Joy filling one half for the good things that lie ahead. The other aching for that which will never be again.

But, I reminded them, and myself, this is God’s plan. His way. Mama’s sending their babies off is the way it’s supposed to be. Whether it’s college or to make their way in this world, God loans them to us for a time, and then they’re His.

It’s a never-ending cycle. Whether it’s kindergarten, middle school, high school, college, weddings or grand babies.

And, times have changed too. It’s scary to send your children out into the world. Schools and workplaces are not the safe places they used to be. My son’s school had an active shooter last spring that took the lives of two students and injured several others (one a manager on his basketball team). It’s frightening.

What brings me peace is knowing God, their Abba Father, is watching over them. His Word tell us that He is El Roi, the God who sees them (we find this name of God in the story of Hagar in Genesis 16:13). His eye is always upon our children. Our heavenly Father promises He will never leave them or forsake them (Romans 8:35-39). He promises He will be with them every minute of every day…

He knows when they sit and when they rise
He perceives their thoughts from afar
He discerns their going out and their lying down
He is familiar with all their ways.
Before a word is on their tongue He knows it completely …

Where can they go from His Spirit
Where can they flee from His Presence? (Psalm 139)

He is with them.

I read further in Psalm 139…

All the days ordained for them were written in His book before one of them came to be!

Sweet sister, God is in control. Our God, the Author of Life, the Blessed Controller of All Things, the Sovereign God of the Universe, is in complete control of our babies. Hallelujah!

Below, please find a prayer I wrote and have shared on my blog before. I thought I’d share it again. Please personalize it for you and your family to make it your own.

Heavenly Father, I praise You as the Creator of every good and perfect gift … the greatest of those gifts are my children, Lauren and Bo. Thank You for Your promises in Psalm 139. Keep my mind fixed on those promises as I send my precious ones out into this world to live the plans You have for them this next year. Father, please hide Your Word in their hearts so that when they need to recall a Truth, it will be there. Make it their greatest desire to please and obey You in all they say and do? Teach them in the midst of the pressure of being on their own, whether school or work, to trust in You with all their hearts and lean NOT on their own understanding and to acknowledge You in all their ways so You direct their paths. Keep my children pure by leading them to live according to Your Word. Clothe them in humility and teach them to put others first. Father, as You did with Your own Son, grow them in wisdom, and stature, and favor with You and with man? Teach them to wake up each day with gratitude filling their hearts. Living this verse, “This is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it,” no matter what their day may hold. I ask this all in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

If this spoke to your heart, come back for my next post. I’ll share specific verses to pay over our children and link them together in a prayer. It’s a prayer my friends and I prayed each week to close our Bible study time last year. God moved in mighty ways as we prayed His living and active Word.

If you want another prayer resource, click here for a more comprehensive prayer I’ve written for our children and our schools.

Finally, please share your favorite verse to pray as you send your kids off, whether to school or for their next steps after high school. Let’s fill the comments with God’s Word to encourage one another as we unite our hearts to pray for our children.

Blessings,

8 Comments Filed Under: Encouragement, Prayer

May 27, 2019

Join our summer Online Bible Study!

Happy almost summer!! I want to share some fun news with you. More than share, I’m inviting you to participate!

Please join me, and my friends at Proverbs 31 Ministries, for our summer Online Bible Study using my first book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner.

Of all my books, this one’s most precious to me. It’s the book that shares how God transformed the most tragic event in my life to be a beautiful backdrop to the ministry to which He’s now called me. In the pages of Hidden Joy, I’m gut honest about my anger with God. I question even believing in a God who could allow such horrific events to happen in the lives of His children.

Thankfully, even as I challenged and wrestled with God, He never gave up on me. In fact, as I opened His Word, He drew me closer. God saw the things I couldn’t see. Over time, He revealed them to me. He gave me truths, promises, and even answers to the questions I asked. Not all the answers. But, the answers He gave were enough to restore hope. To help me believe in and trust Him again.

Do these words resonate with you? Do you long to find freedom, hope and healing from events, emotions, circumstances and people that hold you captive? If you long to see the beautiful in the broken places in your life, please join us!

Our six-week study kicks off on June 17 and will help you:

Shift your heart from “Why God?” to “I trust you, God.”
Diminish the enemy’s lies by replacing them with Truth as you discover God’s character in His word.
Intensify your prayer life as you learn how to pray from a place of Scripture declaration.
Overcome the feelings of fear and frustration that hold you back as you unlock freedom by claiming God’s promises.

Many of you have asked if I’ll host more online studies on my blog. Because I’m on staff with Proverbs 31 as the Online Bible Studies’ Biblical Content Specialist, I’m unable to host studies on my personal blog. BUT, I’m actively involved with our Proverbs 31 Ministries’ studies and would LOVE LOVE to have you join us!

Each week of the Hidden Joy study, I’ll do a video teaching with some of my dearest friends. We’ll publish three blog posts a week (I’ll lead the Friday blog post). We’ll have Facebook small groups (they fill up fast) and an amazing Facebook Community page. We also have a teaching series you can purchase for a small charge that takes you deeper into the material we study in the book. Joel Muddamale (First 5) and I will open the teaching series teaching on Spiritual Disciplines.

Invite a friend, a few neighbors, even your Bible study group to join us!!

Giveway Now Closed!

Congrats Janet (ripnred) and Julie Woodman, you won! Please watch your email from my assistant Kim Stewart to get your mailing address. Enjoy!

To celebrate our upcoming study, I’m giving away one copy of Hidden Joy AND one copy of my newest book I Am Loved. Comment below and let me know if you’re joining us for the study and why. I’ll choose two winners this Friday (so the winner of Hidden Joy will receive her copy before the study starts). U.S. Addresses only please.

Blessings to you!

P.S. If you haven’t yet read (or listened to) my Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion today, you can read it HERE. I pray it encourages you that your brokenness can be a backdrop to a beautiful testimony.

111 Comments Filed Under: Hidden Joy On-Line Study, On-Line Bible Study

March 21, 2019

Celebrating YOU for Praying God’s Promises

Friends, what a blessing these past few weeks have been. Soaking in God’s Word. Praying God’s Word. Sharing our hearts and prayers for one another. I absolutely love this community of women. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

I’ll probably be quiet for a while due to the wedding just around the corner, but I will be back!! If the Lord lays something on my heart, though, I will share it for sure.

I pray God continues to speak to, and minister to you, through His Word.

Giveaway Winners

Congrats to Carol Taylor and Elsie (ehkappler). You are our winners!

Carol, you won a copy of my I Know His Name Bible Study book and DVD. Elsie, you won a copy of my I Am Loved Bible Study book and DVD.

Please check your email from my assistant, Kim Stewart, and reply with your U.S. mailing address and we will get it to you within the next few weeks.

I am Loved, a Bible study on 1 John by Wendy Blight.

Blessings to you,

10 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

March 13, 2019

Praying the Promises of God Week 4 – Fear and Peace

Friends, words don’t seem enough to express what fills my heart for the prayers, scriptures and messages you sent. I’ve been overwhelmed by your love and tenderness during this time of grieving.

It’s been a hard, but sweet, time for our family, and the new family God has brought into our lives. It’s never easy to lose a parent, but for Morgan (my daughter’s fiancé) to lose his mom at age 27, just months before their wedding, it’s been devastating. But, our God has been so very present. The day we were heading to his sweet mama’s visitation, Morgan sent me this text when I reached out to check on Him.

Thank you. I feel His presence around me everyday.

Sweet friends, I know that’s, in part, because of your faithful prayers. Thank you!

This week, I’m sharing Scriptures, and my thoughts, on fear and peace. Two areas in my life where I’ve experienced great struggles. Each time, without fail, praying God’s Word brought freedom and hope.

I pray the same for you as you work through these verses as time allows.

Fear

Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Isaiah 35:4 “Tell everyone who is discouraged, Be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue….”

Psalm 27:1 “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?”

Deut. 3:22: “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”

Thoughts the Lord brought to mind …

Do not be afraid, My child. I’m always with you. I will never leave you. I will help you through what you’re walking through and hold you in the palm of My hand.

Know fear is not from Me. I give you My Holy Spirit. In My Spirit, you have access to My power, My love and My mind. My Spirit is stronger than anyone or any circumstances you face. Remember, greater is the One who lives in you, which is Me, than the one who lives in the world.

I am your rescuer and defender! I am your stronghold. So, you should fear NOTHING! I will never leave you or forsake you. Take refuge in Me.

Peace

Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.”

John 14:27: “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”

Psalm 55:22: “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”

Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 91:1-2: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

Psalm 4:8: “In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”

Thoughts the Lord brought to mind …

Don’t let your worries overcome you, My daughter. Pray about each worry. Bring it to Me with a heart of thanksgiving. I will carry your worries for you and, in return, restore the peace that is yours in Me. It’s a peace that will guard your heart and mind forever and always when you surrender every worry to Me.

Cast your cares upon Me. Don’t you know how much I care for you? I will carry them for you. My Spirit, My power, My love will sustain you. Trust Me.

My Spirit lives in you. The fruit of My Spirit fills you. Peace is part of that fruit. Believe My promise. Walk in My promise. Then, you’ll live abundantly in My promise.

I will keep you in perfect peace when you trust in Me. When you keep your eyes fixed on Me. When you stay in My Word.

I pray these Scriptures minister to your heart. If you’re currently struggling with fear and/or peace, or you’ve struggled in the past and come out the other side, leave a comment sharing the Scriptures that spoke to your heart from our post or your own Scriptures that have helped you. Next week, please come back to visit. I’ll announce two names, chosen from the comments left over the last four weeks, to win some fun gifts.

If you’re just joining in the series, you can catch up here: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3.

38 Comments Filed Under: Bible Study, Encouragement, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

February 27, 2019

Delaying Praying the Promises Week 4 One Week

Sweet sisters, I’m taking this week off to be with family. I shared a few weeks ago that my daughter, Lauren, is engaged to be married in early May. In late December, her fiancé’s precious mother, Bess, suffered a severe stroke at age 59. Thankfully, she lived near them (and her other son and his wife), so they were able to spend the last 2 months by her side.

Bess went to be with Jesus on Tuesday. God has been so very near. But losing a mama at age 27, just 2 months before your wedding is hard. We’re navigating something we never expected. I’m putting into practice the very verses we’ve been studying. Isn’t that like our God? He always goes before us and prepares the way.

Below is a picture of my girl and her sweet fiancé.

Love you girls!! I’ll be back next week!

16 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

February 20, 2019

Praying the Promises Part 3 – Trust and Surrender

Welcome to Week 3 of Praying the Promises of God! Thank you for the beautiful prayers you left in the comments this past week … your personal prayers and the ones you prayed for each other. What a precious gift to see God’s Word consuming the prayers in each and every comment.

In each of these posts, I include a section entitled, “Thoughts the Lord brought to mind.” Please know my heart. I am not adding to God’s Word with these thoughts. They are my words, not God’s. They come as I’ve spent time soaking in the passages, allowing God to minister to my heart through them. I then share what I’ve experienced about God’s character, His heart, His Word and His promises. My prayer is that these thoughts will help you listen for the Lord’s voice as you spend time with Him in His Word. He does speak to His children. As my dear friend Marilynn Chadwick says, sometimes He whispers and sometimes He roars.

This week, we spend time with the words Surrender and Trust. Oh, these are two of the hardest things to do when walking through trials with God. These words come into play most often when we find ourselves in the “wait room” with God. We’re struggling to trust His timing. His answer. His perceived silence. I’ve walked through each of these waits and am in an especially hard one right now. One thing I’ve learned on this journey, if we don’t run to God, we’ll run away from God. And, that running will take us to an even lonelier, darker place. A place we drift deeper and deeper into uncertainty and doubt.

I have to continually remind myself that in God’s presence is peace and rest and so much more. So, even when we can’t see, feel or hear God, HE IS THERE! He has promised us in His Word He will never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6, Matt. 28:20, Heb. 13:5).

God instructs us to go to Him when we’re in trouble.

James 5:13 “Is anyone among you in trouble, let them pray.”

Psalm 50:15a “… call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you.”

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Surrender

Surrender means to yield, relinquish, submit. To raise the white flag. To release the tight grip we have on what we want and place it in the hands of our Abba Father, who is more than able to carry the load.

Isaiah 42:3-4: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching, the islands will put their hope.”

Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Psalm 61:1-3 (David’s cry to God): “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth, I call to you. I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.”

Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

2 Corinthians 10:5: “… ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Thoughts the Lord brought to mind …

Surrender your broken places to Me, My child. They are opportunities for you to experience Me in all My fullness and for Me to display My glory.

Always filter your hurt through My unconditional, everlasting, abundant love and compassion.

Invite Me into your pain. I will bind your wounds. My healing balm will soothe your wounded heart and soul.

Surrender everything to Me. Let it all go. I will carry it. My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in your weakness.

Trust

Psalm 31:14-16: “But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God. My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.'”

Psalm 46:10: “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’”

Psalm 119:89: “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Matthew 28:18: “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Thoughts the Lord brought to mind …

No circumstance, person, place, hurt, or sickness is outside My reach or beyond My control. Nothing burdening your heart is too hard for Me. Trust Me.

Trust Me with Your past. No sin is too great that My Son’s shed blood will not cover. In Me, you’ll find no condemnation, only grace.

My Son gave His life for you. We both love you with an everlasting, lavish love. Never doubt that. We settled that on Calvary, when My Son poured out His blood and the veil was torn. So come to Me. Trust Me with all your heart. Don’t lean on your human knowledge and understanding. Submit whatever you’re clinging to Me. I will show you the way.

As we close today, sit a few minutes with these verses and passages. Invite the Lord to lead you to one or two verses to sit and soak in. It might be a few minutes. It might be 15 or 30 minutes. If you have time, read it in context with what comes before and after the verse. Maybe do a Google search, or look at the Concordance in the back of your Bible for more verses speaking to the same truth or promise. We’d love to know the verses you chose and the ones you found. And if you want to share, let us know what you heard from the Lord.

Finally, if you have any questions about what we’re doing today, please leave a question, and I’ll help as best I can or, with this amazing community, another one of our sisters may help too.

Can’t wait to hear from you!!!

34 Comments Filed Under: Bible Study, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

February 13, 2019

Praying the Promises Part 2 – Struggling with Unbelief

Friends,

Wow! Your response to Part 1 of our series, Praying the Promises of God, amazes me. I love how you shared your stories and the passages that have ministered to you. And, I’m deeply grateful for the words of encouragement you left for me. They truly bless me as I continue to teach God’s Word and slowly work on my next book on prayer. Your comments reveal how women not only love to pray but desire a deeper understanding of prayer and a more active prayer life.

This week our topics are “The Word,” “God’s Sovereignty,” and “God’s Provision.”

THE WORD

Luke 24:31-32: “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’”

Jeremiah 15:16: “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”

Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.”

Words the Lord brought to mind …

Give My Spirit Lordship over your heart and My Word Lordship over your mind.

Ask Me for fresh manna and new revelations as you meet Me in My Word.

Beware of only ingesting My Word; digest it so it soaks to the marrow of your bones and becomes part of who you are.

My Word is health to your body and healing to your bones. Don’t neglect feeding your body and your soul. I created you; you are precious to me, and I know what you need.

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY (God is in control)

Matthew 28:17-18: “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”

Colossians 1:16-17: “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together”

Job 26:14: “And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”

Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'”

Isaiah 46:9-10: “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’”

Words the Lord brought to mind …

Every season has its own beauty, look for it! I am there in your midst. Look for Me. Not one thing you are walking through and experiencing is out of My control. I see you.

Don’t miss the wonder of I Am. Of who I am. I Am the One True God. There is no one greater or more powerful. Trust me with all that burdens your heart … that you can’t understand … that you feel you cannot bear … because I am over it all, and I am enough.

I am completely faithful with each place I walk you through, the valleys and the mountaintops. With each place, trust me because I’m drawing you closer to Me.

GOD’S PROVISION

2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-10: “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ – the things God has prepared for those who love him—These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.'”

Ephesians 3:20: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Psalm 107:8-9: “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

Words the Lord brought to mind …

I am Jehovah Jireh, your Provider. What I want most is to give you more of Me. Delight yourself in ME, and I will give you the desires of your heart.

I am the God of all grace who longs to give you an unlimited supply of My riches.

Don’t try to do this on your own. Come to Me, My child. Remember in Me, you lack nothing.

I may provide differently than you have asked. Trust Me. I know what is best for you. Be thankful and invest where I have you. You will be blessed when you do.

I am the All-Sufficient One.

It’s God’s sovereignty and provision I seem to struggle with the most. I ask and pray for things that seemingly align with God’s Word and His good plans for me or my family. I tell Him if He answers my prayer, He’ll get all the glory. It will point others to Him. It will grow my child’s faith. But, then, that specific answer never comes. Sometimes, it’s quite the opposite. That’s hard.

It’s in those places I have to trust God’s sovereignty. A sovereignty I know is bathed in love. It’s not a hammer. It’s not cold and calculating. It’s not ruled by harsh decrees. God’s sovereignty flows from a Father’s heart consumed by lavish love for His children. A God who promises to give us the desires of our heart when our desires align with His. That is the key. We’re on a journey of sanctification … of God working in and through us to mold and shape us to become more like Jesus. So, when God withholds that answer or answers it differently, we must trust God is protecting us. What we are seeking will not be beneficial or productive to our process of becoming more like Jesus.

Oh, friends, as we leave today, know your prayers are heard by the One whose love runs deep for you. Who gave His only Son for you. Who placed His Spirit inside of you so you would never ever be without His presence. Let’s commit to trust Him with our unanswered prayers today.

Write your prayer of commitment in the comments. It can be as short as 3 words: “Help my unbelief.” After you share your prayer, read the prayer above yours and pray for her. WE ALL BELIEVE. But sometimes we struggle with unbelief in the “waiting room” of prayer. So, let’s pray for a mighty move of God in our community this week as we boldly ask God to help us with our unbelief, remembering and claiming the promises above.

107 Comments Filed Under: Prayer, Spiritual Growth

February 6, 2019

Praying the Promises of God Series

Hi friends,

It’s been a while since I’ve sat with you, and I’ve missed you! I’ve been planning my daughter’s wedding (yay!) and writing a four-week study on prayer that I’ll be teaching with my pastor’s wife, Marilynn Chadwick, for the next four weeks. Wish you were here in Charlotte to join us!

As I was preparing my lessons, you came to mind. I decided to share a few of the topics over here that I’ll be teaching during the study because I know you girls love you some prayer!

We’ll begin with my favorite aspect of prayer, and that is standing on, and praying, God’s Word. So over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a variety of topics (see below) that arise when we set our hearts on praying the promises of God. Scriptures we need to build our confidence. Scriptures we need when we’re desperate to hear or see God. Scriptures we need to restore our hope and trust in God.

Topics for this series:

Standing Firm in the Wait
God’s Sovereignty
The Power of God’s Word
Pain and Suffering
God’s Provision
Release and Surrender
Trusting God
Seeking Wisdom
Hope in the Hopeless

Each week, I’ll cover a few topics, share Scriptures that have spoken to my heart as well as a few thoughts to encourage you.

Let’s start with “Standing Firm in the Wait.”

STAND FIRM

Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

2 Chronicles 20:15, 17: “This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s and you will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you …. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'”

Mark 4:39: “[Jesus] got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”

1 Corinthians 16:13: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

Words the Lord brought to mind…

Stand firm in Me. I am the One who fights your battles, my daughter.

Come to me. Sit with me. Be still. I’m with you in the wait. I’m your hope in your battle.

I am the Commander of Heaven’s Armies. I am the Lord your Banner. Call on Me. Trust in Me. I will not forsake you.

Do not fear anything, my child, for I do not give a spirit of fear. Be strong and courageous. You are safe and more than a conqueror. I am your Deliverer!

I’m thankful you’re joining us for this series. Please don’t stop by and run off quickly. It would bless me AND our community if you would take a moment to leave a comment. Maybe share a verse on one of the topics of the day that means something to you. Add to our treasury of Scriptures. Or, share a time when God carried you through a time of need by praying His Word. Your stories will equip and encourage everyone who gathers here.

At the end of our time together, I’ll choose two names from the comments left during this series to win a few fun surprises!!

Join me for Part 2, Praying the Promises – Struggling with Unbelief

200 Comments Filed Under: Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Uncategorized

November 14, 2018

Sharing a Prayer to Pray for Your Children

I’m so excited you stopped by today! I’m sharing the fruit of one of the great passions of my heart … prayer … more specifically praying for our children.

If you lack confidence in praying, which many women do, this post is for you! I want you to know that all God needs to engage with us in prayer is a willing heart. He does the rest. Anyone who knows and loves Jesus can pray!!

Praying for our children is a form of intercessory prayer and one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. In fact, our Abba Father invites us to do just that:

“Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer, pleading for your children.” Lamentations 2:19 (NLT)

He also makes a great promise as we offer prayers for our children:

“The prayer of a righteous [woman] is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b (NIV)

The key to the powerful and effective prayers James speaks of is praying God’s Word. Why? Because we’re laying God’s promises before Him and appropriating them for our children. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that when we pray the Scriptures, we’re praying God’s living and active Word into our children. It’s like we’re planting living, active, penetrating seeds that God then activates to do His Kingdom work in their lives.

I’ve created a prayer model for you, and you can find it here. But, let it be just that. A model. Use it and make it your own. Ask God to help you personalize it. Open your Bible and allow Him to lead you through the Scriptures. Sit, soak and listen. When you pinpoint the Scriptures that speak to you, pray them back to God. I know it sounds complicated, but it’s really not.

Below is an excerpt from the prayer I’ve written for you. You’ll see how easy it is.

Father, I pray ______________ will know how extravagantly and unconditionally You love her, that You will never leave her or forsake her, and that You gave Your Son so she could have life forever with You.

Father, I pray _______________ will call upon Your Son, Jesus, and confess Him as Lord and Savior of her life and desire to have a personal relationship with Him.

Father, thank You that You created _____________ with a specific plan and purpose for his life. Thank You that he is valuable and precious in Your sight. Father, give him the mind of Christ that is his in You and help him to fully know and love who he is in You and this great plan You have for him.

Father, I pray _____________ will treasure Your Word above all else. Give her a hunger to read, learn, and love it and live her life according to it.

Father, I pray _____________ will honor his body as Your temple and keep himself pure in every way. Instill in him the truth that he is created in Your image, worthy of Your highest and best for his life.

Father, may Your Truth reign supreme in __________________’s heart and mind. May she live according to Your Word, not the lies of this world. Daily renew her mind with Truth and keep her thoughts centered on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise.

Father, teach ______________ to trust You with all his heart, lean not on his own understanding, and in all his ways acknowledge You so that You will direct his path. Protect _______________ from being a people pleaser. May he stand confidently in who he is in You! Guard his mind so he doesn’t throw away his confidence because it’s his confidence You richly reward.

Father, plant Your love, Your presence, and Your Word deep within ____________’s heart. May Your Word reach into the marrow of her bones and ignite an unquenchable passion. Cause her to love You with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength and let NOTHING override that passion because when she knows, loves and lives Your truth, it changes everything.

Father, just as Jesus grew, grow my children in wisdom and stature and favor with You and with man. Grow my child to be person of character, integrity, honesty and a good name. Thank You in advance for all You will do in and through my prayers. I ask this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

I’ve included lots of examples here because I want you to see how many ways you can pray for your children. I simply took a truth or promise of Scripture and incorporated it in a sentence with a place to insert your child’s name.

Sweet friend, praying this way for your children will build your faith and your prayer life. Pray BOLDLY and CONFIDENTLY because you’re praying the mind and will of God as revealed in His Word.

You can use this same method to pray for your husband, friends, family and anyone else for whom you feel led to pray.

As we close our time together, I would LOVE for you to share a verse of Scripture or a prayer in the comments that you pray for your children. How wonderful it will be to plaster this page with Scripture we can pray for our kids!! And don’t forget to print out your copy of this prayer here. Feel free to share it!!

14 Comments Filed Under: Prayer