Category: Prayer Starters

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Your Victorious Right Hand

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Today’s Verse: Isaiah 41:10

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Have you ever wondered just how personally God is involved in your life? I have. However, not often – because there are mornings, or times, like this morning more often than not when He reveals that He is more involved than I can even imagine. – Allow me to paint the picture …

I woke one morning last week to find this verse in my inbox from ‘ourdailyverse.com’ in my inbox. I subscribed to these verses a while back as a means of having a prayer starter for my mornings, but more times than I can count they have been exactly what I have needed for that moment of the morning or at sometime throughout the day.

This particular morning happened to follow a night of struggling greatly with fear – after waking from a dream. The fear pinned me to the ‘ground’ and truly shook me! I called on God, I whispered His name and the name of Jesus – over and over. Peace and sleep eventually came and the voice of the enemy ceased – but when I woke he sought to shake me again with the reminder of the dream – but God met me with this verse – these beautiful words that reminded me that not only is God with me, and will strengthen me throughout any given day, and hold me up with His victorious right hand – but that He always knows just what i need and when! This was more than a reminder that He cares and goes before me through life’s battles. It was a vivid reminder that God is greater than anything that makes me anxious!

Worship and Prayer

*As I was panting this picture for today’s post – this song of worship came to mind and turned into my morning prayer – May it be a blessing💜

Check out today's inspiration @ 'our daily verse'
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

The Spirit God Gave

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Today’s Verse: 2 Timothy 1:7

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

In Paul’s day, it was Timothy that seemed to need the encouragement that God didn’t want him to live in fear of doing the work He was called to do. Instead, Paul reminded Timothy, that the Spirit God had given them, and all believers, was one that filled them with power, love, and self-discipline. In other words, Timothy had no reason to be timid for he had been empowered to live out His calling. The same is true for us today.

My first remembered experience with this verse was at VBS, not one that I attended but one I was co-leading. I was tired and stressed from some personal things going on in my life, I wasn’t feeling prepared, and definitely not strong enough to lead, love, and deal with all that goes into VBS as I had committed to do. Today’s verse “just happened to be” the theme verse for the week. God knew that just like Timothy, I needed to remember that while I might be nervous and feel too weak to lead, He had given me His Spirit – equipping me with not only the power to lead, but with love for the kids and all involved, as well as the discipline to stay committed and focused on Him, and boldly share the Gospel with the children. And, as a bonus, He daily renewed my strength and filled me with immeasurable joy when I was able to personally lead one of the children to the Lord. 

Check out today's inspiration @ 'our daily verse'
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Through Him…I Can

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About a month ago I subscribed to “Our Daily Verse” – which is simply that, a daily verse I receive in my inbox every morning around 6:30. Each verse comes with a short comment from the host as well as a quote, song, and picture of the day. I use the verse as a morning prayer prompter, and then I watch for ways that God chooses to use it in or through me during the day. In full disclosure, depending on the busyness of the day, I sometimes forget the verse by mid-morning or afternoon, but at the close of the day I try to circle back to it and reflect on how it may have applied to my day or been used to encourage someone else.

– To bridge the gap between studies and keep us journeying through the Word – I will be sharing one of these daily verses and a link to their content, past or present, for the next two weeks. I believe you will find them a blessing and look forward – with hope – to hearing your comments, thoughts, or questions.

Verse of the Day: Philippians 4:13

I started this morning reflecting on this empowering truth from Philippians 4:13 …

The thoughts and prayers it prompted …

Father, you are good! You have given me Jesus and You have given me Your Spirit and through them I can not only draw near to You but I can do all “this” — All that You have called me to and/or allow in my life. You – Father, Spirit, Son – You are my STRENGTH, my SONG, my HOPE and my JOY! Oh, how I worship You.

You make me brave when I am afraid – You whisper peace and You give grace for each moment and fresh mercies every morning! When I am weak You are strong – When I don’t know the way You show me – When I hurt You comfort me – When my body fails I look to You for healing power – When I am tempted You show a way of escape – And when the storms come You walk with me through the waters and hold me up so I that I am not overcome by them!

I rejoice in these words by Oswald Chambers –

“God does not give us overcoming life: He gives us life as we overcome.”

Through Christ You empower me to live – to endure – and to walk in confident HOPE that all of Your promises are “Yes and Amen in Him” who has overcome the grave; and through whom I can do all things!

Check out today's inspiration @ 'our daily verse'
Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters

Endure Suffering …

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based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w6d3

Today’s Scripture: Romans 12 / SOAP: 12:2 and 12

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 12:2

Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. 12:12

Romans 12:2 and 12
Observations

In verses nine through twenty-one, Paul basically makes a list of things that Christians should do, or ways they should live, in order to please God. He starts with the importance of love without pretense (9), and ends the list with instructions to not be overcome with evil but rather to overcome evil with good(21).

Verse twelve, the second of our SOAP / focus verses, is so important to our study that I wanted to share this Scripture ‘nugget’ I found by Bibleref.com – I encourage you to really take the time to carefully read through this explanation of “rejoicing in hope and enduring suffering,”as well as the role prayer plays in it all.

The first command to Christians is to rejoice in hope. Often, we resist instruction about what we should feel: that we should change our attitudes to be joyful. The idea here, though, is more about declaring ourselves as having reason for joy. It’s not a command to be happy, but to have the right perspective on our situation. We should agree with God that our hope is worth rejoicing over. What hope? Paul is referring to the hope of the redemption of our bodies and being united with our Father forever once our adoption is complete (Romans 8:23–24).

The next command is to be patient [endure] in tribulation or affliction. This becomes much easier if we are keeping the other two commands. Those who see their future worth celebrating and who pray to the Father continually will have a much easier time being [enduring] during hardship. Paul is not downplaying the genuine pain of those experiences. Life can be unpleasant, and not all moments are happy moments. Yet Paul has pointed out that the struggles of life on earth are not worth comparing with the glory to come (Romans 8:18). So, we wait with patience (Romans 8:25).

The final command of the verse also connects with Paul’s thoughts in Romans chapter 8. We’re commanded to be constant in prayer, or to keep praying continually. During any time of suffering, while waiting for what we’re hoping in, we should pray. Prayer brings a connection with our Father through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26–27). He hears, understands, and helps in response to even our clumsiest attempts to communicate with Him.

Keep in mind that none of this is possible without the transformation of our minds, which is the focus of verse two, our other SOAP verse. In a recent message by one of our pastors, this verse was explained as such: “God wants a transformation, meaning a continual moving toward God, and allowing Him to change and renew the way we think. However, prior to this transformation we must be intentional to guard ourselves from being “conformed to(or to copy the behavior of…) this world.” Pastor Yates went on to clarify that being conformed to the world involves a continual renunciation of God for the ways of the world.”

Application

Consider these applications found at Bibleref.com and from Pastor Yates’ sermon …

Bibleref – 12:2 / “…God may continue to provide us with pleasure, possessions, and status in various forms, but he urges us to learn how to look at life with a new question: What does God want for me? What is truly a good, acceptable, and perfect use of my life for His purposes and not just for my own?”

Pastor Yates –

“God wants a presentation” –

We are to …

  • be a living sacrifice
    • “a vehicle through which we serve Christ”
  • be set apart for God
    • to be holy as He is holy=====
  • be pleasing to God (Malachi 1:6-8_
    • “second best is not pleasing to God”
  • be a true worshiper
Prayer, Response to God’s Word

Father, Your Word is living and active and life-changing when we yield to Your instructions. Help us to faithfully present ourselves to You as living sacrifices … to live set apart for You, pleasing You by really loving others. Help us to hate what is wrong and hold tightly to what is good, to work hard and serve You enthusiastically, being eager to show hospitality. Let us rejoice in the hope we have in You, patiently endure – even in our suffering, and to always keep praying. If we are persecuted may we bless our persecutor and not curse them – and may we even pray for them to know God’s blessing. Remind us to be happy with those who are happy, to weep with those who weep, and to live in peaceful harmony with all people – as much as is possible with You. Guard us from vengeance or paying back evil for evil, and in all of this may You be glorified – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

 

Going Further

Enhance today’s reading with the LGG Blog Post

More on Romans 12

Romans 12:2

Romans 12:12

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Listen With More Than Your Ears

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Well, this has been a “full-disclosure” kind of week for me here on the blog. Sharing with you the struggle I have with listening and the love I have for words has been a bit humbling for me. So, it is good to end the study with the revelation, that as much as I enjoy words and talking, as I read through some of the words in today’s devotion, God allowed me see that I am equally comfortable to “sit in silence” and that while it is true that I love words and a good conversation, I do not feel the need to “fill every space with words,” That being said, it is obvious I still have much to work on in the listening department and have been blessed with the thoughts and instructions and Scriptures given with every point. I pray you have been as well. I hope you’ll take the time to read through this final point and truly consider that while “learning to really listen to others is hard work – for a Christ-follower, it’s vital to our mission as God’s ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation.” – Simply put, according to Gotquestions.org, “The ministry of reconciliation involves the proclamation of the gospel and its assurance that forgiveness of sin is available in Christ.” This is “the work believers have been given to do and the message they declare: ‘you can have a restored relationship with God through Jesus.” Me – from the Inside out

5. We Must Count the Cost of Remaining a Poor Listener

For some people, listening comes naturally as their personality is to be less verbal. Others may feel they have nothing to offer in a conversation, so they listen more than they speak. After all, God did give us two ears and only one mouth!

Whether we are quiet in nature or a person who is uncomfortable in silence and feels they must fill every space with words, learning to really listen to others is hard work. For a Christ-follower, however, it’s vital to our mission as God’s ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 – “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

The way we listen can either draw people toward God or push them away. Even in our attempts to tell others about Jesus, we can talk too much in the uncomfortableness of a gospel presentation. Are we focused on downloading information and our beliefs without stopping to listen to the questions people are asking? Good listening skills can help us slow down and reduce our anxiety to win a convert. Instead of talking constantly, we need to hear what the other person is sharing about their own hearts and where they are in their spiritual journey, trusting Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit will give us the right words at the right time.

Listening well tells others they are valuable to us, and illustrates they are valuable to God. Just as God patiently listens to our prayers with His heart of compassion, we must learn to listen with more than our ears. Let us humble ourselves to close our mouths often, and when we do open them, make sure we speak timely words that produce life, hope, and peace in the hearts of the listener.

Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

God’s Way of Listening

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How Can We Model the Love of Christ through Good Listening? [part three]

“God invites us to cast all our cares and anxieties on Him, because He truly cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).” – If you’ve read many of my posts or heard me teach, you know this is one of my favorite go-to-verses. The knowledge that God cares for us and invites us to bring Him “all of our cares and anxieties” truly changed my life in my late teens and again in my early thirties. This is when I learned that God actually, invites us to “cast our cares/anxieties”, [get rid of them] or – to [let Him handle them]. This means trusting Him with it all and leaving it all at His feet – knowing that He is able to do so and believing He cares about us enough to do it. He has set the example of listening. You can read all the ways He does this and the great depths He went to, to make it happen in this third part of our series on listening. Me – from the Inside Out 🦋

As posted on biblestudytools.com

by – Sheila Alewine

We Must Practice God’s Way of Listening

One of the greatest privileges afforded to those who have placed their faith in Jesus is the opportunity to take the concerns of our heart to the Father. God invites us to cast all our cares and anxieties on Him, because He truly cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). We are invited to draw near to His throne to find grace and mercy in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). This invitation is extended only on the merits of the finished work of Christ on the cross, who literally opened the way into God’s presence by His sacrifice (Ephesians 2:17-18; 3:11-12).

God loves to hear the prayers of His children. He longs to be gracious to us (Isaiah 30:18). He has made Himself available and accessible to hear our prayers anytime and at any place. When we approach Him to pour out our concerns, we can be assured He hears, He listens, and He has compassion on us.

As our perfect example, we must strive to imitate the patience and compassion of God in our interactions and conversations with others. Just as we desire and long for God’s face to be inclined toward us when we pray, we ought to give others that same attention.

Psalm 40:1 – “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.”

James 1:19-20, 26 – “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. … If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.”

Matthew 7:12 – “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Posted in God is good, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, The Attributes of God

When I Remember

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The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Father, You are good! I am reminded this morning that one of the many facets of Your goodness is Your faithfulness – indeed Your Great Faithfulness! Truly, as Your prophet wrote and the great hymn proclaims, morning by morning new mercies I see. Your faithfulness stands out to me as I recall that all I have needed YOUR HAND has provided. Without fail, I find strength for today and bright HOPE for tomorrow when I remember how You’ve pardoned my sin and filled me with a peace that endureth! Surely these are some of Your chiefest blessings to me – with 10,000 besides!

May I forever proclaim Your faithfulness – for whether I find myself – in plenty or in want… in the calm or in the storms of life… on the mountain tops or in the valleys… in the midst of exceeding joy or unspeakable sorrow – this one thing I know for certain … Great. Is. Your. Faithfulness. 💜

Me – from the inside-out 🦋

Posted in From the Insideout, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

These Stones Remind Us

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Happy Memorial Day friends. Tomorrow we will start the next leg of our journey through God’s Word – but today I wanted to share this post. Please understand, I don’t want to distract from the true purpose of Memorial Day, which is honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. However, because our relationship with God is vital and important to us, this post about memorializing His faithfulness seems fitting to share on a day called Memorial Day. May it be an encouragement and blessing – 

A Prayer to Remember His Faithfulness
By Ashley Moore … as published on iBelieve.com 5/26/23 

“We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” – Joshua 4:6-7, NLT

The hand of God was undeniable when we purchased the land where our family now resides. I wanted our kids to grow up with a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness and provision. Have you ever set up a memorial to remember God’s faithfulness? A friend of ours got a tattoo with the number of stripes that Jesus got when He went to the cross to remind him of the sacrifice of our Savior. One author I know keeps a running list of things she is thankful for so she can easily recall God’s faithfulness. My husband and I set up a stack of stones at the end of our driveway so that when our children and future grandchildren asked about them, we could retell the story of God’s provision. 

When God instructed Joshua, the nation of Israel’s leader, to get stones from the river to stack as a memorial, He wanted the people to have a visual reminder of His past faithfulness. God wanted the people to have a way to endure their present and future struggles based on His character and not their feelings. And God knew that His people would forget if they didn’t have some reminder. And we, too, are forgetful people. 

  • We forget where we put our keys. 
  • We forget the plans we made for dinner with the neighbor. 
  • And we forget the thousands of ways God has been faithful to us.

We don’t want to lose our keys, so we only hang them in a particular place at home. We would hate to stand up our friends accidentally, so we put a reminder in our calendars about dinner. And because our relationship with God is vital and important to us, we need to memorialize His faithfulness. 

So maybe you want to stack stones, put marbles in a jar, or write reminders for yourself. Whatever you do, never forget how faithful God is, has been, and will be to you in the future. And every opportunity you have, share why you set those reminders up with those around you too! May none of us neglect to memorialize His faithfulness. 

Let’s pray

Dear Lord, We thank you for your faithfulness. Scripture tells us You are faithful from one generation to the next (Psalm 119:90). We see Your faithfulness to the Israelites, Gentiles, foreigners, and the people and nations alive right now. Thank You for the practical ways You instruct us to remind ourselves of who You are and what You’ve done for us. Lord, forgive us for forgetting all the many ways You have come through for us time and time again. And Lord, forgive us for becoming entitled to Your goodness and grace. Lord, we praise You for Your never-ending mercy and that Your Word never fails (Luke 1:37). Thank You that You never leave or abandon us, and You sealed us for eternity with You by giving us Your Spirit (Hebrews 13:5; Ephesians 1:13-14). Lord, thank You for the visual reminder of Your ultimate act of faithfulness to us on the cross. God, if You’ll do that for Your undeserving children, will You not be faithful to care for our lesser needs? You are good, only good, and always good. Would You help us find creative and practical ways to remember Your faithfulness? And would You give us the boldness to speak about Your faithfulness out loud to all who see our memorials and ask about their meaning? Lord, help us to bring it up even if they don’t ask. Jesus, prepare the hearts of those with whom we will have these conversations to be receptive to Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Posted in From the Insideout, God is good, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

I Bless Your Name

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Today’s Prayer Prompt: Psalm 103:1-5

Father, You are Good! You forgive all my iniquities. You bring healing to my mind, my body, and my soul. You have redeemed my life from the pit. Father – You crown me with Your faithful love and compassion. You satisfy me with good things and I am renewed like the eagle who soars on the wind. My soul blesses You LORD – All that is within me blesses Your Holy Name!

I bless You LORD – my Father and my God – my Creator, Healer, and Sustainer of life and I do not – no, I will not forget ALL these benefits. They are unmerited favors – gifts from Your grace, poured out from Jesus, Your Son and my Savior+. Yes, oh yes! You are good and all that is within me blesses Your Holy Name!

Me-From the Inside Out🦋