A Loving Reminder: Keep Going

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9 NIV)

Some think that becoming a Christian means that we will not face trouble. At the first sign of trouble, they become easily discouraged giving up. Thinking, 'I am a good person, I serve, why is this happening to me?' 

We will face many trials throughout our lives, physical and emotionally. Jesus himself tell us that we will face troubles, but at the same time reminding us that we are not to give up because He has overcome the world. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

We need to condition ourselves to keep going. To keep it moving. To get up every time we fall.  God doesn't promise us that while we are in the world we will be trouble free.

He promises us:

He will never leave us

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)

Peace in Him 

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3 NIV)

Strength in Him

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29 NIV)

Rest in Him

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 NIV)

He will fight for us

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14 NIV)

Father, I come boldly before your throne, standing on Your promises!  We may be hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. Struck down but not destroyed! Father I lift up my lovelies that are out in the battlefield. I ask that you fulfill your promises over their lives. I pray that they be not afraid knowing that You are with them. I pray that You keep them in perfect peace. I pray that You strengthen my lovelies that are weary and in need of an increase in power. Give them rest where rest is needed. Let my lovelies be still as you fight for them! Father thank you for your promises. Your Word says that it will not come back void so we declare your promises over those that are in need of Your desperate touch! (so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11 NIV)) Father I pray this in your powerful name, Jesus. 

A Loving Reminder: Encourage Yourself

Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:7-8 NIV)

So many of us find ourselves feeling like David did in Psalm 143. Feeling tired of waging in this spiritual war, and at the edge of sliding down into a pit. Needing a quick touch from God, a quick answer, and when it doesn't come speedily, our spirit starts to fail, and doubt starts to set in. 

What I love most about David, is that he encouraged himself. He had no problem saying 'Lord! Lord! I need you now! Come quick for I can't do this alone' (my paraphrase). But right after the expression of his pain, he would remind himself who God is! 

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. (Psalm 144:1, 2 NIV)

Father, I come boldly before your throne, thanking you for your unfailing love. Father let us be more like David. When we carry our pain to you that we do it knowing, and reminding ourselves who you are! That you are our rock, our fortress, our stronghold, our deliverer, our shield. That you hide us in the shadows of your wings. That as we pray without ceasing, that we remind ourselves of your promises, of your unfailing love, and of our past victories. Father, I lift up those lovelies that have lost their hope, those whose spirit has failed. Let this morning bring them word of your unfailing love, let them put their trust in you. Let them entrust their lives to you and only You. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen!

Like You Promised - Amber Brooks

http://youtu.be/RIGdDTMWyZw

A Loving Reminder: Take Captive Every Thought

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)

                            

This world is a noisy place. It's so easy to get wrapped up in all the 'he said', 'she said' we hear throughout the day. We base our beauty and our importance on what the culture says is beautiful, and how many likes we get on social medias. We fill our minds with junk from songs we listen to, and images we see. Even when the music stops and the images are long gone they remain in our thoughts. They become one with us, we eventually start acting out what we see and what we hear. 

Worse is listening to those who are suppose to love and protect us talk us down. I've had to ask myself why is it easier to focus on the things the world says than it is to focus on the things God says about us? Why is it easy to believe when someone says we are worthless, but it's difficult to believe that the Word of our creator says "We are fearfully and wonderfully made;" (Psalm 139:14 NIV)

Lovelies we must take our thoughts captive. We must start filling our thoughts with uplifting, Godly things. We should take inventory on what we feed on throughout the day, and make the necessary changes. 

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Father, I come boldly before your throne, thanking you and praising you for your unfailing love. I am fully aware that we are in a constant spiritual war. I thank you Father that you have equipped us with the divine power to demolish strongholds! (2 Corinthians 10:4). I choose to put on your full armor. The armor that is especially designed for us, for times such as these. I stand firm with the belt of truth, my breastplate of righteousness, my feet fitted with readiness, my shield of faith, my helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit -Your Word! (Ephesians 6:10-18) Father I lift up my lovelies whom may have put their guard down, those lovelies who are tired, who are walking hopeless, and faithless. I ask you Lord that You intercede on their behalf. Send a legion of angels to protect them. Cover their minds. Remove all things that are not of you! Father take over, take control, take over their thoughts, their hearts, their soul. Meet them exactly where they are. Reveal yourself to them in such a way that there be no doubt that You are the Great I Am! Restore their soul so all who know them will know that You are God! In your powerful name, Jesus! 

A Loving Reminder:

The heavens declare the glory of God;  the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  (Psalm 19:1 NIV)

This past week my family and I had the pleasure of visiting with friends on the Island of Anguilla in the British West Indies. Our first evening there we had dinner at Meads Bay Beach. As we watched the sunset my little girl turned and said to me, 'mommy look God painted the sky'.  She then got closer to the water and sat on the sand taking it all in. 

Yes, the skies proclaim the work of his hands, God painted the sky. It was 

breath-taking. How wonderful it would be if we could all have some quiet time, sit, meditate, and see God's glory with child like eyes. 

Father, thank you for allowing me to see the work of your hands through the eyes of my daughter. I pray that you give us all child-like eyes so we can see your glory in the things we take for granted daily. Let us lose focus of our every day hassles, even if just for a few minutes and indulge in the works of your hands, that surround us daily. May we find time to take in a sunrise or a sunset. Let the heavens declare Your glory and proclaim the work of Your hands. In your precious name, Jesus 

A Loving Reminder: Remembrance

A Loving reminder: 

Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. (1 Chronicles 16:24 NLT)

It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River. Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ (Joshua 4:20-22 NLT)

I had a beautiful sister in Christ whom encouraged me to journal my prayer request and the answers to my prayers. I love to document the awesome things I've witness God do in my life. I like to call them my 'twelve stones'. In times of hurt, grief, and waiting, I have my 'twelve stones' to remind myself of God's Faithfulness. 

Unfortunately we quickly can forget the things that God has done in our lives. I confess that this past weekend I found myself in a moment of hurt, of waiting, of grieving, of fear and I had to be reminded of God's hand over myself and my family.  

Instead of focusing on the pain in the hurt, the anxiety in the waiting, the struggle in the grief, focusing on the things God has already done brings peace. 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Thank you Father for your faithfulness!! I fail you daily but you never fail me! I choose to remember all the wonderful things you have already done for me and if you choose to do no more, you would have already done enough! I lift up any of my lovelies that are struggling. Father remind them of your faithfulness over their lives. Remind them how you delivered them from different situations.  Give them spiritual eyes to see that what they otherwise cannot see. You are still seated in the throne and in full control. We are limited but You are limitless. Nothing is impossible for You. In Your powerful name, Jesus, Amen! 

A Loving Reminder: God goes before us

A Loving Reminder: 

I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. (Isaiah 45:2 NIV)

What a beautiful reminder to know that when you walk in the will of God, He makes a way where it sometimes seems impossible. 

In life we face many mountains. 

Mountains of financial difficulties.

Mountains of loss.

Mountains of pain.

Mountains of uncertainty.

Mountains of change.

Mountains of worries.

We see the mountains ahead of us and we become overwhelmed with anxiety and concern on how we will get over them.  

But God says  'I will go before you and will level the mountains'.

He will make a way, a path for you to get through. 

But God says 'I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron'. He will make doors open for you to get through. 

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV)

Father, I come before You with a grateful heart, knowing that in all walks of life, as long as I remain in Your will and not mine, You go ahead of me. Father I lift up those lovelies to you that may be facing mountains today. I pray that You give them spiritual eyes, revealing to them how big YOU are. Showing them You are bigger than any mountain they can ever face. That You have gone ahead of them paving a way for them to get through. Your Word says that You will go before us and with us and that You will never leave us or forsake us. Let my lovelies choose to stand on the promises You have laid before us, in Your Word. Father fill them with a peace that goes beyond their understanding. I pray this in Your precious and powerful name, Jesus, Amen!

A Loving Reminder: Stand Guard

A Loving Reminder: 

But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:9, 13, 14 NIV)

I recall having a conversation with a loving sister in Christ about how hard life is. One thing she said still resonates in me. She said "Life is hard, but life without God is harder". I think often how much I run in prayer to God for refuge throughout my day, for myself and for others, and then I started to think of those who don't truly know, understand, or believe in the power of the one who created them. The power of the awesome God who fights for us and our homes. 

Lovelies, one thing is for certain, threats will come. They come in all shapes and forms, and sometimes they come disguised. We must remain united and diligent about being on guard daily through prayer and intersession, to meet the threats that come to us daily. 

But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36 ESV)

Father, thank you for the reminder that you are the Great and Awesome God that fights for us and our families. I ask that you give us the strength and stamina to be on guard day and night in prayer, not only for ourselves but for each other. Let us meditate on your promises from morning to night, that when the heaviness of the world falls on our shoulders that we be able to withstand it through your grace. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen! 

A Loving Reminder: First thing in the morning

A Loving Reminder: 

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3 NIV)

How I start my morning makes all the difference on how my day develops. When I start my morning with a grateful heart, praising God and covering myself with His Word, my day seems to go smoother. I have spiritually nourished my soul and I am better prepared for the attacks of this world.  But on days that I'm rushing out my door and I don't give God my first, I am ill prepared and I am a mess. 

Father, I come with a grateful heart before your throne. I give you thanks and praise that You gently wake me up each morning before sunrise and I get to spend that waking moment with you. You hear my praise, my thoughts, my desires, and my sorrows. I lay them down on your throne early in the morning, and in exchange You sustain me through my day. Thank  You father, that you never fail me. When I sleep you are there and when I wake your presence is the first thing that greets me. I pray that my lovelies experience what it is to be greeted by You every morning. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen! 

A Loving Reminder: A prayer for you

A Loving Reminder:

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, (Philippians 1:9) 

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. (Proverbs 3:13, 17, 18 NIV)

My lovelies, It is important that we seek God and read His Word with intention of growing more in relation with Him. I love the Word because its full of great advice that still holds true today. 

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. (Proverbs 4:26 NIV)

Father, I come before you, thanking you and full of praise, for allowing me to have a relationship with you. Thank you for showing me the difference between being religious and walking in relation to You and your Word. I pray that my lovelies and myself seek you in all things and at all times. That they seek You in every decision they make, in every step that they take. I pray that we grow in your abounding love, that we grow in knowledge of You and your will for our lives and discernment to go forth in all we do and say. I pray this in your precious name, Jesus, Amen!

A Loving Reminder: Never Changing

A Loving Reminder: 
Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11 NIV

Lovelies, so often we depend on the ever changing things of this world. Things like jobs, money, the homes we live in, people we love and trust. Putting all of our energy into them, not thinking that from one morning to the next it can all change. We can lose our jobs, we can go bankrupt, our homes can be destroyed in an unexpected natural disaster, we can lose a loved one or become disappointed by someone we loved and trusted. 

One thing is for certain, our circumstances will change, people will walk in and out of our lives; But, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Thus says the Lord : "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:5-9 ESV)

Father, I come boldly before your throne, grateful for your faithfulness, and your unfailing love. Forgive us for the many times we rely on the things of this world, and putting our trust in man, rather than relying and putting our trust on You and what your word promises us.  Teach us your way, teach us to rely on Your faithfulness. Lord give us an undivided heart. Father I pray for a heart that aligns with Your word and Your will for our lives. Your word says Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7) Thank you Father for giving us something solid to stand on. I pray that You may dwell in our hearts through faith, so we grow rooted and grounded in your love.  In your precious name, I pray, Jesus, Amen.

A Loving Reminder: Resting on God's Promises

A Loving Reminder: 

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:20-22)

How beautiful is the Word of God. I love that this verse says 'for no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.'  It doesn't say His promises are a maybe (uncertainty) but that they are "Yes" (definite) in Christ. 

Through Christ, God fulfilled the most important promises of all. The promise of a savior, the promise of salvation. Guaranteeing whats to come!  

Gods Word is full of promises to us. They are treasures, full of declarations that are infinitive. 

'I AM': Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. (John 14:6)

'I Will': I will walk among you, and I will be your God and you will be my people. (Leviticus 26:12)

'So Have I': As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (John 15:9)

Remind yourself who God is and what He promises you. 

Personally, I hold on to the promises behind His names. I rest knowing that He is who His Word says He is.

He is Yahweh Tsebaoth - Lord God of Host 1Samuel 17:45-46 

He fights for me!!

He is El Kanna - The Jealous One Exodus 34:14 

He relentlessly pursues me!!

He is Sar Shalom - Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

He covers me with His peace!!

He is Elohim - God Mighty Creator Genesis 2:4 

He made me wonderfully and with a purpose!!

He is Yahweh Roi- The Lord is my Sheperd  Psalm 23:1 

He brings me back everytime I wander!!

He is Yahweh Tsuri - The Lord My Rock Psalm 62:2 

He steadies me, I will not be shaken!!

He is El Roi - The God Who Sees Me Genesis 16:13

I cannot hide from him! He sees me in my strengths and He sees me in my weakness!!  

He is Yahweh Rophe - Our Lord who Heals Psalm 103:3 

Your my healer!!

He is Logos - The Word John 1:14

He stands behind his name!!

He is The Great I AM - Exodus 3:14

What is difficult for The Great I AM. He is everything,  in everything, at all times.. 

Father, 

I come boldly before you thanking you for who You are. You are everything to me! You are my maker, my healer, my protector, my strength, my peace. I thank you for the many promises you left behind for me. It is written that You are not a man that You should lie so, I choose to stand firm on your promises. I surrender myself completely to you knowing that you created me for Your purpose and that you know what's best for me, even if I don't always understand it. Always give my lovelies and I spiritual eyes to see beyond what is physically in front of us and to never lose focus of you and your promises. You remain the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank you Lord for you are good and your love endures forever and ever. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen

A Loving Reminder: Transformation

A Loving Reminder: 

They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:23-24 NIV)

My lovelies,  I'm always filled with hope when I read about Saul's personal encounter with God. God met Saul right where he was. God encountered Saul, a Pharisee in the midst of his journey of Christian persecution, revealing Himself, and bringing forth transformation. We later come to know this man as the disciple Paul, whom God used to bring life through the sharing of the Gospel, to the very same people he was trying to destroy.

If God can transform, Saul, a persecutor of the Christian church, and use him for His glory, I imagine what more God can do in my life. But more so I think about what He can do for our unsaved loved ones. 

Father, I come boldly and humbly before your throne, praising You for You are the Great I AM, the God Almighty, Creator of All. I thank You for meeting us exactly where we are. You come to us in our deepest pits and You reveal yourself to us. Who can remain the same after having a personal encounter with You.  Thank you for the continual transformation that takes place in our lives, so we become more like You.  Father, create in us a clean heart, renewing a right spirit within us, and sustaining us, as is written in Psalm 51. 

Father I stand on behalf of our loved ones, placing them at your feet asking that You reveal yourself to them. Asking that You meet them exactly where they are, wherever that may be, giving them that personal encounter like that, that you gave Saul on the road to Damascus. Confronting them, and removing all doubt that You are who You say you are. 

Thank you for the hope that Your Word brings us. Nothing is impossible for You. Thank you Father, for all you have done and for all that we have yet to see you do. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen. 

A Loving Reminder: Bridegroom

I will betroth you to me forever;

I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. 

I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. Hosea 2:19 - 20

My Lovelies, I love meditating on the names of God. One of my favorite names is Bridegroom. Often I like to envision The Lord stretching His hand out to me saying:

"Ali I am your Bridegroom, I have betrothal you. I have paid the price for your life. Ultimately I AM the one who full fills your need for intimacy. I AM the one who draws you out of isolation and loneliness by uniting myself to you."

What a beautiful thought, to know that we are God's Beloved, that we are his Bride. 

I wait eagerly for the day that God will rejoice over me as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isaiah 62:5)

Father, I come boldly, but humbly with praises from within the deepest part of my soul thanking you for your unfailing love. Your word says that You will betroth me to you forever. That you will betroth me in love, compassion, and faithfulness. Thank you for your perfect love. There is no love like yours. I pray on behalf of myself and my lovelies that when we forget that we are loved that You remind us of your promises to us. That you remind us that we are your beloved and that you delight in us, and that you rejoice in singing over us. (Zephaniah 3:17)  May we keep our lamps full with oil as we await the arrival of you, our Bridegroom. In Your precious name Jesus, Amen.

My Beloved by Kari Jobe

http://youtu.be/2H9delPTKbI

A Loving Reminder: Because I Love You

A Loving Reminder: 

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:1-2, 4, 10, 11, 13 NIV)

My, Lovelies, this past weekend, I was reminded of God's wonderful love for me, of His love for us.  How great it is to remember that: 

He has ransomed me. (Isaiah 43:1) 

He has called me by name. (Isaiah 43:1)

I am His. (Isaiah 43:1)

He walks with me through high waters. (Isaiah 43:2)

He walks with me through the fire. (Isaiah 43:2)

I am precious to Him. (Isaiah 43:4)

I am honored. (Isaiah 43:4)

I am loved. (Isaiah 43:4)

I am a witness. (Isaiah 43:10)

I am chosen. (Isaiah 43:10)

Apart from God there is no other. (Isaiah 43:11)

Nothing and no one can take me away from His hands (Isaiah 43:13)

God is so personal.  My favorite part of these verses is 'because I love you'.  Because I love you, says The Lord. Re-read the list of reminders again slowly, meditating on each one. Think about what each one means to you. 

Father, I come boldly before your throne full of praise and just grateful. 

You are perfect love. 

Thank you for the ransom you've paid. 

Thank you for calling me by name.

Thank you for reminding me that I am yours.

Thank you for walking with me through my trials and pains.

Thank you for reminding me that I am honored, precious, and loved. 

Like you there is no other. I pray on behalf of my lovelies, that they are daily reminded of your unfailing love. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen

A Loving Reminder: True Worship

A Loving Reminder:
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:3 NIV) 

My lovelies, when I reconciled with The Lord, I thought I knew what true worship meant. I thought that singing along with every song in church and attending every Sunday church service meant I was worshipping God.  

As the years went by, and God started to deal with me, in bringing forth transformation He started stripping things away. He has required me to surrender it all. Myself, my family, my time, my dreams, my hopes, all I aspired to be. I have struggled and still battle with things God ask of me.  I may not completely understand all He requires of me or even agree with them, but I will put all my trust in Him, and continue to offer my praises onto him. 

It is great to praise God when your prayers are answered. But how much more is your worship worth when you can still praise God in the midst of physical pain, in the midst of emotional pain, in the midst of loss, in the midst of trouble. 

Relative to the expensive perfume that Mary poured on the feet of Jesus, my worship to God is expensive, it's cost is measured in my submission to His Will. 

I worship because, I trust that He is the One True and Living God. I trust that He is my Kinsmen Redeemer, and I belong to Him. No matter the circumstances that surround me in the moment, worshipping Him is where I find my peace and my joy, even more so in my moments where I find myself in an emotional hole. 

Father, I come boldly and humbly pouring my praise and worship onto you like the bottle of Mary's expensive perfume. You and only you know the cost of my worship. I pray that the fragrance of my worship reaches you in the heavens. We look at the exterior but you look at the heart, you know what We have had to surrender, and the things we have yet to submit to you. Father I pray that you lead those who find themselves in any situation into an experience of true worship. That even in moments when they don't feel like worshipping because the weight is so heavy, that you strengthen them to lift up their hands in praise. Father I pray that they receive the healing, the joy and the peace that comes from true worship.  Let our praise, and worship along with our prayers be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in your presence, as it says in Psalm 141:2. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen.

Alabaster Box by Cece Winans

http://youtu.be/4Ls8ZfeBmHA