Inspirationals For You : July 2014

Sunday, 20 July 2014

You Don’t Have to Pretend to be Strong

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

We all have moments when our trouble feels big and our faith feels so small.

I think of the story in the Gospels when a man who couldn’t walk was lowered through the roof by his friends and placed at the feet of Jesus. We all get to the point sometimes when we can’t take another step. There’s no shame in that, and you don’t have to pretend to be strong.

Let those who love you carry you. Tell them what you need. Ask for help. See that as an act of courage—not of weakness. Because that’s what it is.

And your part? Simply being willing to be laid before Jesus. You can come to him with your questions, your fears, your hurts. He is still there. He still cares. He has not forgotten you. And he never will.

You don’t need to be stronger. You don’t need to have more faith. You don’t need to pretend everything is okay.

You only need one thing: to be willing to receive.

Jesus can take it from there. He will find a way for you to be carried as far as you need to go. Then he will look at you with eyes of love and heal your heart, your life, in the ways only he can. Be still, friend, and wait. He’s even closer than you realize—he always has been

By Holley Gerth

Be Thankful in All Circumstances

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

“..singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, the Father.” (Ephesians 5:20)

“..singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. and whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:16-17)

“at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…
suddenly there was a great earthquake..” (Acts 16:25-26)
In the end times, ingratitude will characterize many people. People in general will become more wicked and less grateful.
“For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy.” (2 Timothy 3:1-2)

“although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:21)

People will complain about their circumstances, hoping for some “lucky break” to help him. With a big ego, he thanks himself for who he is, thinking that everything comes from his own efforts. The thankless person despises the idea of grace.

It is sad to see Christians who always seem to be stressed out, dissatisfied, depressed, and unhappy about their circumstances. Are we giving thanks to God every day for His grace?

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

As Vonette Bright said, “When we express thanksgiving and gratitude to God, peace flooded our hearts, and He provided the solution.
Always be thankful…especially in crisis. God can turn your tragedy to triumph, discord to harmony, and defeat to victory.”

In the Old Testament (Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11-36), thank offerings and peace offerings were to remind God’s people of their need to be thankful to God.
They would bring a sheaf of grain and some oil and wine as thank offerings.
These were symbols of the Lord’s provision, a reminder to thank Him
for His grace and mercy in supplying all they have.

by Joshua Lim

Feed My Sheep

“Do you love me?…Feed my sheep.” John 21

After the disappointment, humiliation and desperation of recent days, Peter is thrilled to be sitting with his precious Jesus. With the early morning sun glinting off the waves and the aroma of grilled fish filling the seaside air, Peter is ready to once and for all declare his love for the Master.

Fulfilling Jesus’ command to feed His sheep as proof of Peter’s love seems at first glance like an easy obedience: do what I’ve trained you to do. But the ministry of feeding lambs and sheep is a lot like feeding babies and toddlers. They turn up their noses at healthy strained carrots. Stewed spinach is spit out over the high chair tray with force and velocity. And sprayed egg yolk leaves irremovable stains. Peter—and all involved in the feeding ministry—soon discover that sheep do not always gobble down what we offer.

But we stay faithful to the task whether it is teaching pre-schoolers in Sunday School, weary people in the pew, or children in our families. The promise God gave to His people hundreds of years ago remains true: my word that goes out from my mouth…will not return to me empty, ?but will accomplish what I desire? and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11). And so we keep feeding those sheep.

Lord, I admit that feeding your sheep is often discouraging and disheartening. Help me look on the sheep you’ve placed in my life with your eyes.

Name three people—three “sheep”—God has specifically placed in your life. List a few of their “difficult” circumstances, then imagine how Jesus would approach and live with them.

By Marilyn Ehle

The Secret of Contentment

Read: Philippians 4:4-13

In today’s reading, the apostle Paul says he has learned the secret of experiencing contentment in all circumstances, good or bad. Does it surprise you that he wrote this when he was in prison, unsure of his future?
We’re often discontent even when all is going well. Consequently, we wonder how it’s possible to be truly content during our most difficult trials, especially when there’s no end in sight. So what is genuine contentment? Paul is speaking of a freedom from worry and frustration about everything in life–even unfulfilled desires.

It’s usually when we cannot control or change our situation that we feel discontentment. As long as our satisfaction depends on whether certain things actually work out, we’ll allow circumstances to cheat us out of peace. I’m not saying there’s some spiritual stage where you will never again experience anxiety or frustration. But what matters is how we respond when those feelings grip us.

This is something that the apostle had to learn. Paul endured amazing suffering, from shipwrecks and hunger to unjust imprisonment and beatings (2 Corinthians 11:24-30). He had gone through countless situations that were uncertain, extraordinarily painful, and seemingly hopeless. But he finally discovered that contentment could not be dependent upon his circumstances.

How do you respond when circumstances are out of your control? Do you get angry? Do you try to escape? Does despair make you want to give up? Paul chose to give his anxieties to Jesus in exchange for peace that “surpasses all comprehension” (Philippians 4:7). That same peace is available to you!

By Dr. Charles Stanley

What You Think about God

One evening I asked a group of Pioneer Girls what was the first thing that came to their mind when they thought about God. One girl answered, “An old man with a long beard, sitting on a cloud.” That was how she perceived God.

I often wonder what older adults think about God. A.W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” It is so important that we have the Biblical image of God and not someone else’s.

Dr. William R. Bright wrote the following about God.

1. Because God is spirit, I will seek intimate fellowship with Him.
2. Because God is all-powerful, He can help me with anything.
3. Because God is ever-present, He is always with me.
4. Because God knows everything, I will go to Him with all my questions and concerns.
5. Because God is sovereign, I will joyfully submit to His will.
6. Because God is holy, I will devote myself to Him in purity, worship and service.
7. Because God is absolute truth, I will believe what He says and live accordingly.
8. Because God is righteous, I will live by His standards.
9. Because God is just, He will treat me fairly.
10. Because God is love, He is unconditionally committed to my well being.
11. Because God is merciful, He forgives me of my sins when I sincerely confess them.
12. Because God is faithful, I will trust Him to always keep His promises.
13. Because God never changes, my future is secure and eternal.

What comes to your mind when you think about God? Write it down. Is it Biblical? Do you need to rethink your view of God?

May You take the scales off our eyes to see clearly how wonderful and loving You are, Oh Lord! Amen.

By Katherine Kehler

Praising God

“Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!” Psalm 66:2

It isn’t optional whether we’ll praise God or not. God is most worthy of praise, and every Christian, as the recipient of His grace, has been given both the wonderful opportunity and the obligation to praise God daily. Although we have no set of rules governing daily praise and we have no commandment prescribing certain hours to sing or give thanks, the law written on our hearts teaches us that it is right to praise God. The unwritten urgency comes to us with as much force as if it had been recorded on tablets of stone, or handed to us from the top of thundering Sinai.

Yes, it is the Christian’s duty to praise God. It is not only a pleasurable exercise, but it is the absolute obligation of our lives. Don’t think that because you’re going through difficult circumstances that you are free to avoid your duty to your gracious God by choosing not to sing songs of praise. You are bound by His love to bless His name as long as you live, and His praise should continually be on your lips.

You are blessed in order that you may bless Him. “The people I formed for myself,” God declares, so that “they may proclaim my praise.” (Isaiah 43:21) If you do not praise God, you are not bringing forth the fruit which God rightly expects from your hands.

So don’t let your harp just hang on the wall, but take it down, and make music with a grateful heart. Stand up and chant His praise. With every morning’s dawn, lift up your prayers of thanksgiving, and let every setting sun be followed with your song. Overflow with praise! Surround the Earth with an atmosphere of melody, and God Himself will
hear from heaven and gladly accept your song.

“Even so I love Thee, and will love, And in Thy praise will sing, Because Thou art my loving God, And my redeeming King.” (St. Francis Xavier)

Question: When is it most difficult for you to praise God, and why?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon,
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

Rest

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God . . . For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.”
Exodus 20:8-11 (NLT)

Why is resting so hard for us to do?

It seems we always need to do, do, do and go, go, go. Even when we’re relaxing or on holidays we can’t seem to let go of the agenda.

If we’re not doing, going or achieving, we feel like failures. We see ourselves as lazy. Unproductive. Fruitless. We take pride in our busyness. We boast about how long and hard we work.
And we ignore the fourth commandment.
Do you realize that this commandment is right up there with not committing adultery and stealing?
But aren’t we more likely to admonish adultery and stealing than we are taking a day of rest? Why is that?

We justify and excuse our lack of obedience and rationalize that working seven days a week isn’t really wrong, it’s what we have to do to survive. Wasn’t this really just a suggestion, a recommended way of living?

I confess this is one of my biggest areas of weakness. I find it difficult to stop and rest. It seems there’s always something calling my name that needs to be done.

But as I reflect on this passage, I can’t help but see this resting command as a gift from my Heavenly Father who knows what I need better than I know myself. I just need to receive it and use it!

Sabbath rest isn’t a suggestion or a good idea, it’s a command from our Heavenly Father who loves us deeply. Will we hear and obey?

Heavenly Father, I confess my lack of obedience and rationalization with this command to rest. I’m sorry for excusing my disobedience and justifying myself because I keep the other commandments. I want to walk in ALL Your ways not just some of them. Amen.

Thought: Remind someone you love to take some time to rest this week. Remember, it’s not just a good idea, it’s a commandment.

By Kristi Huseby

You Are My Savior

“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.” Psalm 25:4-5
As we realize how vast, and BIG, how far beyond our understanding God is, we may need reminding that He really wants to be in personal relationship with us.

The God of Heaven sent His Son, Jesus, to span the gulf between His vastness and our sinful, unworthy selves. He waits for us to issue the invitation to make our hearts His dwelling place.

As He declares over you, “I AM GOD”! He brings it up close and personal.

“YOUR Savior.” In essence He is saying, “I am here to show you my way right where you walk; to teach you and to use my truth to guide you as you focus on me in this day. Let your confident expectation be in ME all day long. Keep your eyes in today and do not run ahead into tomorrow. I will walk with you and save you from despair and destruction, from a frantic life and even from yourself.”

When we open our hearts and lives to this very personal Savior He gives an overwhelming confident expectation in EACH day as we arise to say, “You are God, my Savior”!

Sit for a moment and repeat that great truth. Let it soak into your being.

“You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long!”

Thank you Lord God, that You have saved me and I can be confident all day as You walk with me, guiding my way. Amen.

Thought: Ask God to show you where He is at work around you.

By Gail Rodgers

Take Time to be Holy

“By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13

God created you. He loves you and wants to spend time with you. Each day should include time to pull away and be with Him.
One of my favorite hymns says, “Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord; Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.” William Longstaff, the writer of this hymn was neither a pastor nor a songwriter. He was an English businessman who took his faith seriously.

As the world rushes on around us, we need to pull apart and take time with the Lord, not just on Sunday, but every day of the week. We need to spend time in secret with Jesus alone.

Then He directs our paths and makes the crooked road straight. We should not run before Him, but rather let Him be our guide and let Him calm our soul. As we abide in Him, the Lord surprises us by making our work more fruitful than we expect.

Will you abide in Jesus today?

Lord, lead me deeper with You. Help me to grow as I pull apart for quiet time with You. Lord, I want You to be a part of all I do. I want to live for You.

Thought:
Think through the significant decisions you are facing. Are you including God in the decision process, intentionally seeking His wisdom. Bring these decisions before Him today. Renew your commitment to take time for prayer and to meet Him through His word.

By John Grant

You are an Overcomer

You are an overcomer
in spite of the nay Sayers
the dream killers and all
of the liars!

You are an overcomer
and you shall walk
worthy of your calling
For God Himself is with
you!

You do not have to be
afraid.

Remember as you yield
all of self will to Abba
Father, Jesus Christ
will reign on the throne
of your heart.

Do not retaliate
instead display the
Love of God.
For you are an overcomer,
Through Jesus Christ!

by Margaret Mullings

Learning to Trust the Master

A man and his dog are in the same car. The dog howls bright-moon-in-the-middle-of-the-night caterwauling howls. The man pleads, promising a daily delivery of dog biscuit bouquets if only the hound will hush. After all, it’s only a car wash.

Never occurred to him (ahem, or to me) that the car wash would scare my dog. But it did. Placing myself in her paws, I can see why. A huge, noisy machine presses toward us, pounding our window with water, banging against the door with brushes. Duck! We’re under attack.
“Don’t panic. The car wash was my idea.” “I’ve done this before.” “It’s for our own good.” Ever tried to explain a car wash to a canine? Dog dictionaries are minus the words brush and detail job. My words fell on fallen flaps. Nothing helped. She just did what dogs do; she wailed.
Actually, she did what we do. Don’t we howl? Not at car washes perhaps but at hospital stays and job transfers. Let the economy go south or the kids move north, and we have a wail of a time. And when our Master explains what’s happening, we react as if he’s speaking Yalunka. We don’t understand a word he says.
Is your world wet and wild? God’s greatest blessings often come costumed as disasters. Some of you doubt it. How can God use cancer or death or divorce? Simple.
He’s smarter than we are. He is to you what I was to four-year-old Amy. I met her at a bookstore. She asked me if I would sign her children’s book. When I asked her name, she watched as I began to write, “To Amy ...”
She stopped me right there. With wide eyes and open mouth, she asked, “How did you know how to spell my name?”

She was awed. You aren’t. You know the difference between the knowledge of a child and an adult. Can you imagine the difference between the wisdom of a human and the wisdom of God? What is impossible to us is like spelling “Amy” to him. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

I keep taking Molly to the car wash. She’s howling less. I don’t think she understands the machinery. She’s just learning to trust her master.

Maybe we’ll learn the same.

Question: How can we trust God at times when we are confused, frustrated, or just don’t understand where our life is taking us?

By Max Lucado

A Commitment of Words

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 (NASB)

I sit at a Junior High lunch table feeling self-conscious about my braces and wondering if I will ever have a boyfriend. My thoughts are interrupted by a group of girls behind me. “Oh, she wants to be cool but she’s not,” says one. The others laugh and add similar remarks. My back stiffens and I stare ahead, sure they’re talking about me.

But then someone says, “Shh, here she comes.” A girl slides into a seat next to the rest of the group and they welcome her like they’re all BFFs. She has no idea she’s just been the topic of conversation. Or does she? Somewhere deep inside her doesn’t she realize that if her group talks about everyone else then of course at some point it’s going to be her turn too?

The only way to make our sisters feel truly, deeply, heart safe is to never talk critically about anyone. No gossip. No condemnation. No judgment. Not even disguised as a prayer request. Is this hard? It’s one of the greatest gifts we can offer to each other.

By Holley Gerth

Food for Thought

“Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (ESV)

It is easy to begin to read Chapter 8 in 1 Corinthians and wonder what in the world this has to do with me today. The reality of the situation is that it has a lot to do with us, as long as we understand that Paul was not just addressing an issue about food.

This underlining issue that is repeated over and over again in Paul’s letters is fear. Fear of ‘am I good enough for God, and am I living the Godly life right, and what do I need to do to be right with God‘?

The opposite of Love is Fear, according to God’s Word; not hate. Hate is a fruit or a by-product of fear. (Just a side note…God tells us in a variety of different ways to not have fear over 300 times in His Word). When we speak to others, and to one another; we either speak from Love or from fear. Likewise in our thoughts and in our actions.

Fear allows the knowledge we gain to puff ourselves up; fear that we are not good enough, or insufficient. Fear causes us to point fingers and look down on each other so we can puff ourselves up in our own self-sufficiency. Love however, only builds up. Love lifts one up rather than holding or pushing them down. Love is full of Grace, while fear is full of condemnation.

Paul is affirming in this Scripture that we are to not let fear bind us in our own self-worth. Our identity is found through Christ Jesus as sons and daughters of God; not based on our knowledge, or on us following a set of rules. Fear will always bring following the rules, and our failure to do so into our lives; serving as a hindrance from the Grace we have in Christ. A hindrance that divides His Church, and our relationship with Him.

Ask yourself today…is there a fear of something that is consuming your thoughts and actions in your life? Do you feel you have to do things, or live a certain way based on fear rather than Love? Take these things to Jesus today, and lay them at His feet. Ask for Him to free you from them and then rest in His Loving arms.

By Rev. Daniel Forster

God, You Are My Strength

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm73:26). “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by an assignment you’ve been given?

I had committed myself to speaking at a women’s retreat but as the day was fast approaching I thought, what am I doing? I don’t have the energy to drive that far and to speak. But I hated cancelling at such a late date.

It always amazes me how God speaks to me at such times. I picked up a magazine and happened to read, “When God gives you a task He also gives you the strength and resources to finish it.”’

I began to pray as David did: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm73:26). David never prayed, “LORD, give me strength,” like we get it bit by bit. Rather, he prayed, “Lord, You are my strength.” For every challenge that we face, God is our strength. So I began to pray, “Thank you, Father, that You are my strength.”

In a wonderful way, God provided a driver and we had a great meeting. It always amazes me how far beyond myself I can go when I depend upon His strength.

Weakness is a bonus not a liability when you see it as an opportunity to be more dependent upon God.

Father, I thank you that you are my strength and all that I need for today. For you are my help and my shield. (Psalm 33:20)

By Helen Lescheid

The Power of Grateful Prayers

Posted: 16 Jul 2014 01:01 AM

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace.” Philippians 4:6-7a (NLT)

In Philippians 4:6-7 we find one of the most difficult verses in the entire Bible to obey: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace” (NLT).
It’s not easy to stop worrying about the often-scary, everyday parts of our lives, but God tells us how in the next part of the verse: “Pray about everything … and thank him for all he has done.” Grateful prayer brings peace. God says, when you start to worry, pray.
Parents understand the power of grateful prayers. Most parents wouldn’t appreciate their children always making requests without saying “thank you” for what they’ve already received. God sees it the same way. He wants us to ask him for what we need and want. More than 20 times in the New Testament, we’re told to “ask” him. But he wants us to ask with gratefulness.

The Bible urges us to be specific in our requests — and our praises. Instead of a simple “thank you for everything,” he wants us to tell him what we’re grateful for. When I say to my wife, “I’m so grateful for you,” she tells me to be specific. She likes to hear what I appreciate about her and what I’m grateful for about her. God does, too. So when you pray, tell God what you’re thankful for. Prayer is one of the most important ways we tell God “thank you.”

Thanking God in advance is a big step of faith. When we have the faith to thank God ahead of time, miracles happen. The more thankful we are, the more God works in our lives. The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of his people. He uses our thanksgiving as an instrument of power in our lives.

So, what are you thankful for?

Talk It Over:
- Why do you think gratitude is so important for our spiritual lives?
- Being as specific as possible, for what are you thankful to God? Spend some time in prayer thanking God for those things.
- What are some ways you believe God will bless you in the future? Thank God for those things even before they happen.

By Rick Warren

HYPOCRISY IN HEARTLESS WORSHIP

HYPOCRISY IN HEARTLESS WORSHIP

Matthew 15:7-9 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: '"These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules." (NIVUK)

True worship is all about giving honour and glory to God. We can only do that if our hearts are awed by His majesty and holiness, being deeply grateful for His mercy and grace. Worship should express the conviction that He is infinitely more valuable than we are, and yet He loves us. In worship our horizon should be filled with God. But, alas, much religious activity is really centred upon a desire to be great, expressed in human activity, following tradition which God has never prescribed.

Jesus criticised 'religious worship' as being heartless. Even though they would sing divinely inspired songs and read the God-given law, they were not worshipping. They wanted to feel good about their religious activities, and they manipulated God's Word to ensure that they gained personal advantage from their religion. Their worship-centre was themselves; and when their leaders taught, it was to glorify themselves.

That kind of worship is vain. It is not worship at all. God is not glorified. It is play-acting - the Greek word for that gives us the English word 'hypocrisy'. Jesus said that their so-called worship was stripped of any value because their hearts were so far away from God. Even though their words were what God wanted to hear, they did not come from their hearts; they were lying to God. They satisfied their own traditions but failed to satisfy God.

Although we may say that could never apply to us; think again. Prayers repeated automatically, music which satisfies our emotions, teaching which elevates the teacher, acts of service which draw attention to the 'servant': all these are hypocritical. God deserves better. When tradition is bigger than Scripture and worship is self-satisfying, alarm bells should be ringing but we cannot hear them. We need God to show us how hypocritical we have become; and then we need to repent. Repentance is the first act of true worship.

Prayer: Lord of all. Thank You for this warning which causes me to look at my own desires and motives. Forgive me for my wrong desires which make me hypocritical in my worship and self-centred in my service. Please help me to be awed by Your majesty, overwhelmed by Your power and humbled by Your grace. Turn my heart from myself so that I will worship You without any hypocrisy. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Prayer Journey

Have you ever taken the time to evaluate your journey with God? Are you growing in your love relationship with Him? You may be thinking, “Can you really know if you are growing spiritually?”

Yes, there are ways you can evaluate your spiritual growth. One way is to think through your prayer journey. Are you praying more? Because prayer is talking with God, ask yourself if your communication with Him is getting better.
I encourage you to take the time to think through your prayer journey. The following are some of the elements in my prayer journey that show me if I am growing spiritually:

Trust in His Promises
Am I trusting God and His promises more that I did twelve months ago?

“Up to this time, you have not asked a single thing in my name; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be full” (John 16:25).

Ask Specifically
Am I asking for specific things, or do I pray generally? You will recognize when your prayers are answered if you ask specifically.

“For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him. And then helping you do what He wants” (Philippians 2:13).

Intercession
Am I praying for others on a regular basis?

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone” (1Timothy 2:1).

Cultivate a Quiet Heart
Do I have a quiet heart? Panic and peace cannot occupy the same place.
“When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?” (Job 34:29).
Resting, Trusting, Leaning
Do I trust and rest in God, or do I let circumstances determined my feelings?
“But I have stilled and quieted my soul...” (Psalm 131:2).
Thankfulness, Praise and Worship
“A single grateful thought toward heaven is the most complete prayer.” – Gotthold Lessing

Spiritual Warfare
Do you dress yourself with the armor of God each day?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 5:12).

Pray Without Ceasing
Talk to God about everything.
“Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

“The real reason for prayer is intimacy with our Father.” – Oswald Chambers

Father, we know You want to have a close, growing relationship with us. Lord, we also want to know You more. Deep within our souls we want to know You. Amen.