A Loving Reminder: Faith In Action

A Loving Reminder:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Every night before going to bed I pray over my seven year old daughter, but she seems to have nightmares often.  Yesterday she visited a Native American Museum with her camp. She came back a little sad because she didn't have money to buy a 'dream catcher'. I tried to assure her that all she needed was God. That when she wakes from a nightmare that she is to pray to God that he fills her with peace and for Him to take her nightmares away, and she replied "I do ask Him to take it away and He doesn't!" 

This morning I confessed to my prayer partner that I often feel like that. I have a pain that I ask God to take away but He doesn't. lovingly she said, "I'm determined to have these quiet times with him (God), someday he will fix me." 

What a loving reminder, to see Faith In Action, to have confidence and hope in things not seen. 

Father, I come humbly before you, asking for your forgiveness and grace. Forgive us for the times that we lose faith and hope because we don't see change right away. Your word says that your grace is sufficient for us. Help us to never forget that. I pray for my lovelies who like me are in the waiting for something. That you remind us that you have already done enough. That you pour your grace over us and that we not cease to put our 'Faith into Action'.

Thank you Father for your loving reminders. In your powerful 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: True Friendship

A Loving Reminder:

Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice, likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel. Proverbs 27:9 

My lovelies,

We should choose our close friends wisely. I have a close friend whom I don't have to pretend with. We are as transparent with each other as we can be. We are kindred spirits. We always point to God, holding each other accountable, even when the truth stings. Proverbs 27:6 says Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. Because she and I know each other well, we are able to pray for each other with true intention.

Our sisterhood blossomed during a very dark time in my life. She brought God's light and love with her. God used her to draw me back to him at a moment when I started walking away. She is a sister that was born for a time of adversity.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

We all should have at least one friend whom we could be completely honest with, knowing that we will not be judged harshly, but instead have the Truth spoken to us lovingly. 

Father, I come before your throne with a grateful heart and full of praise. I thank you for the friend that You placed in my life, knowing that she will always point to you. I thank you that I have someone I can be fully transparent with knowing that she will not judge me, but lovingly speak Truth to me. Father, I pray that I too be that friend. Not only for her but for others as well. Father I ask that you appoint heavenly friendships for all of my lovelies. Friendships that are transparent and always speaking truth. Friendships that bring wise sincere counsel, but most important friendships that always point to you. In your precious and powerful name, Jesus, Amen! 

Seeds sown in good soil

A Loving reminder:

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” (Mark 4:18-20 NIV)

Lovelies, we are constantly surrounded by distractions in this world, quickly losing focus on the promises that are embedded in the Word of God. Instead we concentrate on all the issues that we are facing, putting all of our energy into making are problems bigger than the God we serve. We become distracted by what others have and questioning why we are not as blessed as 'they', losing sight of the blessings that have already been given to us. 

Focusing on these things, keeps us from living a purposeful life, and being fruitful. We Hear the Word of God but it doesn't apply to our lives. 

We cannot witness to someone who needs healing if we don't believe that there is healing for ourselves. Nor can we be a witness of God's sufficient grace  to someone who is less fortunate, if we don't believe it for ourselves and we constantly live desiring what other's have and always wanting more.

 

Father, I come boldly before your throne thanking you for the grace that covers my lovelies and myself. I pray father that we be more like the seeds that are sown on good soil, growing deep roots, during our trials, hearing Your Word and accepting it. I pray that we go forth, being examples of Your promises, and becoming walking testimonies, sowing seeds and speaking life into others, as we walk along in our lives. In your precious name, 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