Category: Prayer Starters

Posted in God is good, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Father You Are Good …

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And because You are good – ALL is well with my soul. Sin and shame are covered in the blood of Your Son. Fears are covered with Your peace that passes all understanding. Sorrows are comforted by Your all-compassionate LOVE. Needs are met from Your glorious riches that have been given to me in Christ Jesus. Through Him Your mercies are new every morning and I find Your all-sufficient GRACE daily meets me where I am – to offer love, forgiveness, guidance, wisdom, strength, and everything I need for life and godliness. – In the light and presence of such goodness – is it any wonder that my heart sings and resonates with the words of this song?!

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

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Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

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My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

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For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

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But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

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And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
Posted in From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

A Faith that Moves Mountains

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James says it like this, Dear brothers and sisters, whenever you face troubles consider them an opportunity for great joy, for you can trust that when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow, so let it grow – because when your endurance is fully developed you will be perfect and complete needing nothing, James 1:2-4. The Psalmist said it like this, I have set the Lord always before me and because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken, Psalm 16:8. And, as a Holocaust survivor, Corrie ten Boom said, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” I believe we will all face, have faced, or even now are facing ‘troubles’ in our lives. I am learning the truth of James’ statement, the troubles of this life -whether big or small – help deepen our faith.

Faith may not change our ‘situation’ but fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our Faith certainly changes our perspective.

Fears are turned to peace, comfort replaces sorrow, where there are desperate needs we witness gracious provision; and when the thing needed is not provided – it is through faith we wait or through faith that we learn to do without. Through the eyes of faith, we witness miracles or walk in hope where none seems possible. Through faith we love the unlovable, forgive the unforgivable, and we cling to what is good rather than turning to the wrong we may desire. In faith, we turn to God when a doctor delivers unwanted or unexpected news. Through faith, we sit by the bed of a loved one or walk the halls of the hospital. With faith, we rise out of bed in His strength – even when we feel too week, sad, or lonely to go on, and in faith, we say good-bye to those God calls home. As John wrote in 1 John 5:4, and the old hymn repeats … “Faith is the victory that has overcome the world.” Faith doesn’t just move mountains it moves hearts closer to God. We lean on Him through our troubles and we find that He is trustworthy and true – and so when the next trouble comes we run to Him – through this habit the roots of our faith are deepened and we are made stronger – until God’s love runs deeper than the deepest pit of hatred and death … and we are able to consider the hardest of situations a joy because we know that God is with us … and the very knowledge of His presence keeps us from being shaken. This, my friends, is a Faith that moves mountains. Me – From the Insideout

Posted in Prayer Starters

Trust God’s Wisdom

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Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it,
but folly leads to the discipline of fools.

Proverbs 16:22 NET

This morning’s prayer starter by Criswell Freeman was absolutely perfect and such a needed reminder and source of encouragement for what we are facing in the world and in our individual lives. I have chosen to share it in its entirety. I have included a few definitions of some of the words in the proverb – since I found them helpful for myself. I pray it is a blessing to all who read it and that You will seek, know, and choose God’s wisdom, peace, comfort, and guidance every day.

*Insight: wisdom, knowledge, understanding

*Discipline: 2A branch of knowledge, learning, or practice

*Folly: a foolish act, idea, or practice

Microsoft Bing dictionary

“Where will you place your trust today? Will you trust in the wisdom of fallible men and women, or will you place your faith in God’s perfect wisdom? When you decide whom to trust, you will then know how best to respond to the challenges of the coming day.

Are you tired? Discouraged? Fearful? Be comforted and trust God. Are you worried or anxious? Be confident in God’s power and trust His holy Word. Are you confused? Listen to the quiet voice of your heavenly Father. He is not a God of confusion. Talk with Him; listen to Him; TRUST Him. He is steadfast, and He is your Protector, now and forever.” Criswell Freeman Prayers to Start Your Day, #67, p65

Dear Lord, You are my Teacher, Help me to learn from Your wisdom. And then, let me show others what it means to be a kind, generous, loving Christian. Amen.

Criswell Freeman- Prayers to Start Your Day, #67, p65
Posted in Bible study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Malachi 4:2-3 … Leaping for Joy

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The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.

2 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. 3 On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Malachi 4:1-3

The Coming Day of Judgment

Have you ever read a passage of Scripture and then read it again only to say – huh? Sometimes you just have to use a commentary or call someone smarter than you. I opted for a commentary with today’s passage from Malachi, and before I finish this I won’t be surprised if I need to call someone. .

Reading through several trusted commentaries I learned that the phrase – “The sun of Righteousness” in verse 1 typically refers to the coming Messiah. I reread that first verse and the phrase “healing in His wings” jumped off the page, revealing, yet again, the HOPE that comes from being in Christ – belonging to God. Reading on through verse 2 with this fresh awareness I found myself smiling at the scene – where, in stark contrast to the wicked, described in verse 1 as being consumed — roots, branches, and all – we, who fear His name, are set free – “leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture”. As I mulled this one over – I was reminded of one of my favorite verses “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free …” Now, I don’t know if a Bible scholar would put these two verses together in any way, but for me, one highlights the other – for I am no longer bound or held captive by the law of sin and death instead, I live in freedom because the Messiah came to set me free. Oh, how I love when the Old Testament meets the New Testament, or visa versus, and defines its or at least shines a light on it.

The next part is still puzzling to me, but what I did notice was the description of God as – “the LORD of Heaven’s Armies” is the same reference of hope that the Psalmist used in our reading from Psalm 46 on Friday. Remember? He was referenced as being “on our side”. This picture goes with the commentary I found in my NIV study Bible for Malachi, that says –

“These last verses of the Old Testament are filled with hope. Regardless of how life looks now, God controls the future, and everything will be made right. We who have loved and served God look forward to a joyful celebration. This hope for the future becomes ours when we have trusted God with our lives.”

NIV Study Bible Note on Malachi 4:2-3

Some 400 plus years after these words from Malachi, the Messiah was indeed born, and with Him came the deliverance that had been promised and long-awaited. As believers today, we revel in the freedom received through Faith in the One who was born of a virgin, suffered, bled, and died for our sins, and rose again from the grave – delivering us from the bondage of sin and death. He is our Hope, the Anchor for our soul, and the reason we can proclaim with confidence – God is in control! I have nothing to fear! Christ, “the Sun of Righteousness,” is the reason we wait with confidence and not dread of the coming day of judgment when we will stand before God in the Righteousness and freedom of Christ and we will echo the words of the Psalmist and of Malachi – The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is on our side!

Posted in Bible study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Psalm 40 – The Rescue

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I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help. 2 He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing.

Psalm 40:1-2

God is good! I know I can completely rely on Him – because He is Trustworthy. This isn’t just book knowledge for me. I have tasted and seen His goodness for myself. Even as the Psalmist said, I have turned to Him – I have cried out to Him and He heard my cry. I have been in the watery pit, sinking in the slimy mud – with no vision of hope or proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” – BUT He rescued me! He sat my feet on the Rock and gave me secure footing. He pointed me to Jesus, the Anchor of my soul.

I am forever grateful for His goodness, mercy, and love. I am thankful that He rescued me and is always teaching me to TRUST. I can look back over the course of my life and see that He has been training me to not give into the doubts that inevitably come with pain and suffering, or disappointments, or the unknown factors of this life. He has led me often to the teachings of Paul to ‘put off” what doesn’t belong in the believer’s life and to “put on” what pleases Him – that which is good and right and honoring to Him … Trust over doubt … peace over fear … kindness and forgiveness over anger and bitterness … love over hate … godly desires over fleshly ones – and the list goes on. I have learned that just as salvation is dependent on God, so to is the practice of putting off and putting on. I can’t do it in my own strength, but the One who knows my heart and mind, the One who wants me to be safe and secure has placed His Spirit in me, giving me all that I need to live a godly life.

His divine power has given us everything we ne3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4

Prayer: Father, I am thankful to know that You will never leave me or forsake me. I know I can depend on You come what may. May this confidence be reflected not only in my words but in my actions and countenance as well – so that others may see and know You – the true, living, and TRUSTWORTHY God – In the name and power of Jesus – Amen!

Posted in Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Psalm 97

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For You, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth: You are elevated above all gods.

Psalm 97:9

This verse by itself is a wonderful reminder that God, our God, is not just the Most High God over all the earth but that He is over all other gods. However, when we read it in the fuller context of what the Psalmist wrote we find descriptions in verses 1 through 7 – word pictures of His greatness and power not only over His creation but carved images and those who worship them. We see Him reigning, the earth having cause to rejoice. We get a glimpse of His throne made of righteousness and justice and when we look closely we will see His saving power as He is victorious over His enemies and His glory is revealed!

The light of His glory brings shame to those who create and/or worship other gods; and it reveals not only His power but the lack of power in all other gods, who themselves are subjected to worship Him, as the Most High God. It is this picture that leads us to understand the depth of the Psalmist’s words that acknowledge the LORD as the Most High, and assigning to Him preeminence over the earth and all other gods.

It is also this verse that sheds light on the words that follow and gives us cause to heed them –

You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of His faithful followers; He delivers them from the power of the wicked. The godly bask in the light; the morally upright experience joy. You godly ones, rejoice in the Lord. Give thanks to His holy name.

Psalm 97:10-12

Because God, our God, is the Most High God we are called to a higher standard. A standard that not only recognizes evil and avoids it but one that sees it as an offense to God and hates it. Our realization that He is the Most High God should equally spur us on to live faithfully for Him. We cannot just avoid and hate evil but we must choose righteousness – living and loving like Jesus. He faithfully loved God above everything else, He loved us more than self – even to the point of death, He served God and others, and did good so that others would see and glorify His Father in heaven. When we live and love like this we will know freedom from the power of sin, we will know protection from our enemies, and we will experience the joy that comes from walking in His light and we will rejoice – giving thanks to His holy name.

Posted in God is good, Prayer Starters

Eyes Fixed on Jesus

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for Him He endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Father, You are good. I see Your goodness often in Your perfect timing, and this morning’s devotional passage seems to be perfectly timed. On this day, when the world calls us to fix our eyes on presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and the outcome of an election – Your Word reminds us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Yes, we will vote today – many have already voted – but in Your goodness help Your children to not be fixated on these two men, or on the news cycle surrounding them, or the outcome. Instead, let us focus on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith – and on You – our Sovereign God who is in perfect control and who is working all things together for the good of those who love You and have been called according to Your purpose.

There are, as in every election, vastly different opinions on who should be the President. However, there is only one good and trustworthy, sovereign God who not only knows the outcome – but is in complete control of it.

Mary Ellen Black

Father, in Your goodness I plead Your protection on this day – May Your people honor You with their votes and their attitudes. May the words of our mouths and the actions of our lives bring you glory and honor and not shame. may they be an encouragement and example to those who watch and listen. May our eyes stay on Jesus so that we don’t grow weary and give our hearts and mouths over to fear and complaining or slander. Father, I plead Your protection not only over our behavior and words but from the actions and out-cry of the nation following the outcome. We live in a nation that has become more and more violent – a violence that no longer seems to respond even to the ‘laws of the land’. We need Your help to unify and to protect us from anarchy! Father, we cry out for the salvation of the lost – for wicked hearts to be made righteous – for even as I pray, Your Spirit reminds me the problem isn’t as simple as Democrat vs Republican, but rather the condition of the heart and the positioning of our eyes. May the eyes of Your children be on You, no matter what the outcome of this election is, for only then will we know Your perfect peace and shine as bright lights amid, as Paul wrote*, a crooked and perverse society.

“Praise the name of God forever and ever,

    for he has all wisdom and power.

21 He controls the course of world events;

    he removes kings and sets up other kings…

Daniel 2:20-21a

Posted in God is good, Prayer Starters

Vision Check

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By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him[a] for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure. 26 He regarded abuse suffered for Christ[b] to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on[c] the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.  Hebrews 11:23-27

Father, you are Good, Amid the distractions of the morning, the frustrations and hurts and concerns of this morning and the past week – in the middle of it all I am reminded that You are God and You are good. You are TRUSTWORTHY for You are FAITHFUL and TRUE! Help me, like Moses, to keep my eyes focused on You, looking forward to Your promise of life everlasting through the Messiah, Jesus Christ! Help my vision not be blurred by the pleasures and privileges of this life or blinded by the sufferings. Instead, help me to look to You above and before everything and everyone – and in this, may You find pleasure and be glorified!

Some trust in chariots some in horses but I will trust in the name of the name of the Lord, my God. Psalm 20:7

Posted in God is good, Prayer Starters

A Perfected System

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Old Rules about Worship


Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the Holy Place. 3 And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. 4 It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail. 6 So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties. 7 But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the Holy Place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing. 9 This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They served only for matters of food and drink and various ritual washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came.
Hebrews 9:1-10

Christ’s Service in the Heavenly Sanctuary

 But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, 12 and He entered once for all into the Most Holy Place not by the blood of goats and calves but by His own blood, and so He Himself secured eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

15 And so He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance He has promised, since He died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant. 16 For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive.

Hebrews 9:11-17

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Father, You are good! In Your goodness, You bought me with a high price and made a WAY where there was, or seemed to be, no way. Because of Your goodness, we no longer need the Tabernacle of long ago because You have made us Your Temple. The Tabernacle was good and beautiful in its purpose and design and it pointed Your people to the better WAY, the Messiah, yet to come. However, as they knew then and we see clearly now – the gifts and sacrifices they made could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. So, You, in Your goodness, took away the need for the regulations, rituals, and animal sacrifices that were a part of the Tabernacle ‘system’ – by sending the promised and long-awaited Redeemer, Jesus Christ. The sinless Redeemer, Your only begotten Son, was a PERFECT Sacrifice whose death, burial, and resurrection made a WAY! He conquered sin and death and made THE ONLY WAY for us to enter into Your Presence and be the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. So that, now through His eternal sacrifice and Your gift of His Spirit in me, I AM ABLE, with a clear conscience, to WORSHIP You in Spirit and in TRUTH, to walk in FREEDOM from sin and to live for You as His WITNESS! Yes, Father, You are good.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Posted in God is good, Prayer Starters

The Better Covenant

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For the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation—for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 21 but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”— 22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office,24 but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. 25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Hebrews 7:19-26

Father, You are good! And what greater way to see Your goodness than through Jesus Christ, our Guarantee of a better covenant. The covenant of GRACE rather than law! I see Your goodness in Him who saves completely (perfectly) those who come to You through Him. Because He lives forever – interceding for us who have through FAITH believed. I see Your goodness in providing a better Priest — One who, Himself, is HOLY, and separate from sinners. The One who is exalted above the heavens and who offered Himself as a sacrifice on my behalf!

Yes Father, I see Your goodness – the depth of it – through JESUS CHRIST – my Lord!