Prayer

The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer. 

~Psalm 6:9

The scripture above was written by David who was praying for God to help him overcome his enemies and to have compassion on him.  David could certainly pray.  He was the prototype of a "prayer warrior," literally!  But David's words in this psalm and many others could easily be said today.

It makes me take a look at my prayer life, and to get another cup of coffee, but that really has nothing to do with this post.  Does my prayer life need some work?  Am I happy with my prayer life?  The simple answer is no.  I definitely need some help in this area!  It's just like I have friends to call but don't do it.  Is there a reason that my prayer life is lacking?  I could say that it is because I don't know what to say, or my mind wanders or my 4 year old needs something, but those are just excuses and lame ones at that.  The Lord is waiting for me to pick up the proverbial phone and get down on my knees and really have a good long talk with Him.

Dearest Father in Heaven, thank you for being there for me.  Please help me to take some time every day to really pray to you, to praise you and to listen to you.  I ask this, fully committed to you, in Jesus' name, Amen!!!!!

God's Pleasure

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 

~Ephesians 1:5

What brings pleasure to God?  When I decided to stop living my life for me and called out to God to take over, that brought God pleasure.  But how many times have I forgotten, in the course of my daily life, to realize that something I have done brings a smile to The Lord?

That is where having a "relationship" with my Father in Heaven comes into play.  Sure, I read the bible every day, attend a great church with fantastic people, but am I making time to develop the relationship between me and God?  When I find myself sitting down with no distractions, no baseball on TV, no kids asking anything of me, do I reach out to God and have a conversation with Him?  When I have nothing to ask of Him, just simply to talk, do I call on my Father?  These are the things that can cement a relationship.  These are the things that I think gives God pleasure.  

Dearest Father in Heaven, please forgive me for not taking the time throughout my day to build on our relationship.  I thank you ever so much for wanting to have that relationship with me, but it will only deepen if I want to put in the work.  And I do!!  I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!!!

Radical

Jesus leads us into a place of radical grace where we are able to celebrate the hope of experiencing God’s glory. 

~Romans 5:2 (The Voice)

Grace is amazing.  Grace is unmerited.  Grace is about any positive adjective you can think of.  But grace is...radical?  I liked the scripture above, but decided I would look up the definition of radical to really understand it.  And to my surprise, it had nothing to do with surfing or skateboarding!  That is a joke.  A very un-radical joke...

The definition of radical as an adjective is: "Relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough."  Wow!  Grace IS radical.  Can you imagine anything more far-reaching or thorough than eternity?  Because we get eternity when we accept God's free gift of Grace!  

Dear Father, please help me to be aware at all times of how radical Your Grace is.  It is nothing I deserve or am rewarded for.  It is given out of love.  I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!

God's Masterpiece

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  

~Ephesians 2:10 

"God's masterpiece."  Wow!  The more I ponder that saying, the more I praise God for including me in that saying.  I should walk into a coffee house or even the dry cleaners (if I owned clothes that would benefit from dry cleaning) and shout "I am God's masterpiece!"  

But that would be boasting, even if I am blown away by the awesomeness of that phrase!  To think, with all I've done wrong, that I could still be his masterpiece.  What I should proclaim is that "I am God's masterpiece...and you can be too.  And here's the way you can..."

God, thank you for accepting me warts and all.  Thank you for making your Grace free to me.  All I had to do was ask.  God, please help me to let other people know about how great it is to be one your masterpieces!  I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!!

Patience and Self-Control

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
~Galatians 5:22-23

In reading this today I keyed in on two words, "patience and self-control."  I don't mind saying that I need both.  Patience with my kids and self-control over eating.  My kids are a blessing, I just wish I could see that all of the time.  It would sure help my relationship with them.  And when I eat, I tend to go way overboard.  Eating is fun, but in moderation.  Moderation - A word I know nothing about!!!

Dear Father, thank you for reaching me with this verse today!! Please let the Holy Spirit work within me to give me patience and self-control.  Please allow me to experience all of the things you listed in the verse.  I long to be the type of person that you would enjoy having as part of Your family!  I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!!

God's Will, Not Our Own

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."  
~Matthew 26:39

How often do I pray that MY will be done?  Fortunately not as much as I used to, but I still find myself dipping into the ME well from time to time.  I think it's human nature to be concerned with what happens to us.  It is a very earthly perspective.  

But, God knows what is in our hearts.  He knows the way I would like to see things unfold, but if it isn't in God's plans for it to happen, then it won't.  And that is where I need to put my Faith into practice.  I need to have faith that God will do what is right, even if that's the exact opposite of what I would hope for.

Dear Father, thank you for letting me come in prayer before You.  It is awesome that You would allow that line of communication to be open and that You care enough that listen to my prayers.  As I sit down to pray every day, please let me focus on Your will, not my own.  I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!!

You Never Know...

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
~Matthew 24:42-44

The Lord is coming.  Maybe not on Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, but he is coming! Do I know when?  Absolutely not.  Am I keeping a calendar to check off the days?  No.  Do I look out my window several times a day to see if I can spot Him?  Nope.

But the one thing I TRY to do is live by His word everyday.  That way I can be ready for the coming of Jesus.  It is said that God only knows what you do when no one else is looking, so I TRY to be doing what God would expect from His children.  Sometimes I fall short of that goal, but if I pray, read and meditate on the bible and show love to everybody, I will train myself to do what God likes to see.  Then, I will be ready for the Son Of Man.

Father, thank you for the promise of Heaven.  Thank you also for the gift of Your son.  Help keep me on the right track through out my life here on earth so that I can be ready when You decide the time has come for Your return.  I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

God's Word

Good and upright is the Lord;therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
~Psalm 25:8-9

I am very grateful that God teaches people in the right way to be. But how does He do that?  It's a simple answer (but I'm am just starting to understand completely).  The Bible is the answer.  And I will accept "God's Word," if this were a game show.  That probably wasn't funny!!

Psalm 25 also states, "Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,and my hope is in you all day long." (vs 4-5)

To me, that is why I need to read and meditate on the Bible more often, as many times a day as I can.  I am also learning that the meditation part is pretty important  too!!  I used to just read the bible as I was reading a novel or biography, never really taking the time to let it sink in.  Those days are over.  If I am having trouble with a piece of what I have just read, I read it again and if I need to, I ask God to reveal what He is saying in the text in front of me.

Father, I know that you have given the Bible to use as a way to communicate Your laws and what is right in Your eyes.  Never let the thirst for Your word die out within me.  Please be there while I am reading the bible - to ask you questions and to give special thought to what You are saying.  I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!!!

Satan

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”  Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

~ Matthew 4:8-11

Have I ever had that type of face-to-face encounter with the devil?  Of course not.  But, Satan does affect my life.  I am talking about sin. The devil delights in it. As I have begun to grow in my faith, I have learned it's ok to say what Jesus said to the devil, "Away from me Satan!!"

I can say that because I know that God is on my side.  If I need further encouragement I can go to Him in prayer or read His Word.  God loves me, despite my failings.  It's great when your tag-team partner is God!!!

Father, I praise everything that you have done in the heavens and on earth.  You even had time left over to create me.  I am very thankful of that fact and I want only to do good in your eyes.  Please be with me morning, noon and night so that I can not be tempted by Satan.  Amen!

A Work In Progress

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.

-Psalm 119:9-11

I read Psalm 119 last night.  It is a long Psalm, but Ezra was saying things that I wanted to say to God.  I truly do seek to follow You with all my heart.  I know that sometimes I will not meet that challenge, but that's ok if I rely on the Lord and ask for forgiveness and strength in those times that I have failed or do not measure up.

I am a work in progress.  Although, I think I am a very slow work in progress. I am a Yugo trying to keep up with God who is driving a Ferrari.  I have no idea where that came from!!  But, I think you know what I am saying. As long as I keep my eyes and heart on God, I believe that everything will work out for the best.  

Dear Father, my heart is on fire for you; let my mind always do the same.  I know that Your ways are what You strive for us to follow and I pray that you will help me seek Your guidance and repentance as I start on this long journey to become more like You.  I thank you and ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!!

God is right there! Go pray to him.

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 
~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Prayer.  It's such an awesome thing we get to do.  We can praise God, ask for his blessing, talk to talk Him and confess our sins.  And the best part is, we can do this anytime of day or night for as long as we want.  

I say all of these things and feel blessed that I get to go before the Lord with my prayers and praise, but how often do I really do it?  I know that God is waiting to hear my prayers but why do I sometimes not pray?  As I am learning to walk closer to God, I need to be much better about praying.  I need to just sit down (or kneel down...) and just praise him. 

Sometimes, I need to focus solely on Him, not my little earthly things.  Or, if I am having a problem, who better to talk to then God?  If a friend or loved one has something going on in their lives, pray about it.  If the sky is the bluest it's ever been, I need to stop right there to thank and praise God for it.

Dear Father, I know that I do not pray as often as I should.  I get distracted by earthly pursuits such as TV, instead of just sitting down and praising you or just talking with you.  As I go further and deeper in my Christian life, I need to pray about everything.  I ask Your help to make that happen.  I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!

One Step Back

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. 
~Psalm 86:5

Our God is a very loving and patient God.  If you need reassuring of this fact, you just need to look at most of the Old Testament.  God put up with a lot from the Jewish people, but in the end he remembered his covenant with Moses and delivered them into their own land.

Just a few weeks ago, our Pastor gave an INCREDIBLE message about the 12 Steps of a Christian Backslider.  I  am not too excited to tell you that I have had been through every step!  But, there was a way to deal with that.  And, it only required ONE step!!!  We must realize what we have done and ask the Lord to forgive us.  Seriously, just one step!!!  That's how much God loves us all and wants to have a strong relationship with us.

Father, it is amazing to me how much You love us and long to show us that love.  I have taken that one step back and rely on You and Your word to continually show me how to live. Father, I love you and the things you have done for me and will do for me.  Amen

The Great Commission

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever.  Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out!  Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. 
~Psalm 107:1-2

The Great Commission!  All of us who have believed in Christ are asked by Jesus Christ to go and share The News (as opposed to Huey Lewis' News and the NY Times) with everyone.  Grace is such a small word but it means a ton.  Jesus Christ died for your sins and even mine.  We could never do enough good things in our lives to earn this type of kindness from God.  It is solely by Grace that we receive eternal life. 

And who would I not want to tell about this great gift from God!!  I used to call my best friend when I was younger on Christmas to share with him all the things I had received as presents and that he received.  I should definitely hope that I would do the same thing about a gift that was given by God!!!   

But, I do not.  As I grow in my faith, that is one thing I do not do.  I am hoping that will change.  It would be so great to lead people, even just one, to a path where they would follow Jesus Christ!!

Father, I thank you for your Grace.  I could never deserve to meet you in heaven, but your endless love as provide me a way to come home.  Please let me go out and talk about how good you are, the wondrous things you have done and wait awaits your followers.  God, I love you and ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!!!!

What is He Saying to me??

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
~Romans 12:1-2

As I begin to get VERY serious about God, I naturally wonder what He is saying to me with each verse.  I hope that God sees my body as a living sacrifice to Him.  He created me and I long to be pleasing to him.  Just as you would not hope to disappoint your parents with what you do, I would not wish to disappoint my Heavenly father.  

I can hope to please Him by telling everybody about him, his grace and how awesome God is.  I can hope to please him by living the way He wants me to.  Showing love to the people I meet and living the way that His word says I should live.  And, I can hope to please Him by thanking him daily for what He has done for me.

I am looking forward to my mind being transformed for Him!!!

Father, thank you for this time to study Your Word and what it means.  Please continue to transform me into someone that you would be happy to call your son.  I love you and I ask this is Jesus' name, Amen.