Category: Prayer Starters

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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!

Posted in God is good, Prayer Starters

A Different High Priest

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Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the Son of God, and he remains a priest for all time. Hebrews 7:3 (NET)

Father, you are good! And in your goodness, You have given me a Great High Priest. – One who is not born of human descent but sent from heaven. One with no beginning or end – in the order of Melchizedek. One without Sin! One who not only offers a sacrifice on my behalf but who is my sacrifice. Whose Righteousness covers me. Whose peace and love fill me. And one after whom I am being transformed. There is much HOPE in Your goodness and in my Savior and High Priest – Jesus Christ! May His love and light shine brightly through me – today and every day.

Posted in God is good, Prayer Starters

The Privilege of Prayer

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Father, You are good. Again, this morning, I am reminded of Your goodness through Your Word that is filled with Your invitations and encouragement to pray. You, the Most High God – Creator and Sustainer of Life, have invited me to pray. What an amazing privilege it is to be Your child, to be invited into Your presence – not just to hear from You but to converse with you – and not only at certain times but continually (Col. 4:2). The invitation comes with the promise that you will hear and answer according to Your perfect will – because You CARE (1 Peter 5:7), because You KNOW our need (Matthew 6:8), because – YOU. ARE. ABLE! (Ephesians 3:20), and because You are loving and kind, full of mercy and grace and compassion of Hope and strength and joy and peace that will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus! (Phil 4:6-7).

I am blessed by Your goodness and the privilege of prayer! You know the desires of my heart Father, but let this not deter me from asking, seeking, and knocking, from telling You my needs or anxious thoughts and cares. And when I ask, let me not doubt but believe – and expect – not my will but Yours to be done. For I know that You are able to do immeasurably more than I ask or even imagine. And may I never forget that this privilege is mine only through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ and my faith in Him.

What a Friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
what a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer

O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
Bing Crosby

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Replacing Complaints With Praise

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When my girls were little, we sang a Scripture song by *Steve Green called “Do Everything Without Complaining.1” It was from Philippians 2:14 and was a great teaching tool for those times when they complained about something or someone. In all honesty, it was a teaching tool for me as well, and the verse has stuck with me/us all these years. Now, the Spirit is quick to use it to convict when complaints start flowing. The idea Paul was seeking to convey to the Philippians was that when we are complaining and arguing, we are opening ourselves (the body of Christ) up to criticism. He encouraged them to live clean and innocent lives as children of God so that they would shine as bright lights in a crooked and perverse world. 

The words were simple and repetitive*, but when it came time to put away toys, do homework, or clean their room, it was an effectively catchy measure of warding off the complaining and arguing that would sometimes ensue.  

*Do everything without complaining.

Do everything without arguing

so that you may become blameless

and pure children of God. (repeat)

As adults, our complaining may not always hinge on having to take out the trash or do the dishes; it’s more likely to revolve around life’s daily frustrations. While the girls and I no longer sing the song, we have learned to look for God’s fingerprints and blessings throughout the day. We name them and share them and strive to focus on them, particularly when the hurts and disappointments or inconveniences of life arise. Naming the blessings sets our minds on God, His goodness, His mercy, His grace, and His love, and the list goes on and on. When this happens, our complaining tongues are replaced with praises, and peace and contentment soon triumph over the frustrations and disappointments. 

Today, let’s echo the prayer of Crisswell Freeman* – “Lord, I can either count my blessings or complain about my disappointments. Today, help me to focus my thoughts upon my blessings, my gifts, and my opportunities. Amen2” 

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“Just Keep Praying”

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How many decisions do you make in a given day? How do you make them? Which ones do you pray about and which ones do you simply make? These were some questions that came to mind after reading my prayer starter verse this morning.

This morning’s prayer starter is from James 1:5-6

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

In the Disney movie “Finding Nemo”, there’s an adorable blue fish whose name is Dory. Dory is a bubbly, happy, but very forgetful fish who delivers perhaps the most memorable and often repeated line of the movie: “Just keep swimming”. I mention her because I borrow the line frequently when facing situations that are difficult as a reminder to keep going. I have also revised it many times to say “Just keep praying”. Someone’s sick … pray. Someone is hurting … pray. Someone is in need … pray. The lost need Jesus … pray. You lack strength … pray. Wisdom is needed … as suggested in our verse this morning … pray. Just keep praying.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul said it like this – “Pray continually”. This can be a daunting statement until we understand the meaning behind it, that it is God’s invitation and desire for us to walk and talk with Him throughout the day. Time with God isn’t relegated to a church pew or your ‘closet’, nor is it limited to before meals or bedtime. Prayers do not have to be limited to the “BIG things of life” either – actually, in 1 Peter 5:7, Peter said that we should “cast all our cares on God because He cares for us”. The idea isn’t that we walk around with our heads bowed or stay on our knees all day – the idea is that we have an open line of communication with God throughout every day.

So, my encouragement is this: Pray big prayers, pray long or short prayers, pray whispered prayers or journaled prayers. Pray believing, expecting, and knowing that God hears and cares and answers the prayers of His children. Just keep praying.

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If you haven’t read this morning’s “After Thoughts” from today’s Scripture reading – you may want to – to fully appreciate my statement that God seems to be making a point with me about the benefit of encouragement. It will also help you understand why today’s prayer starter was another fingerprint from God. 💜

My daughters and I love to look for and share God’s fingerprints with one another. We do this because we have learned that they are a source of encouragement. This morning I was reminded through a prayer starter that it’s also good to look for opportunities and ways to encourage one another.

Let me repeat the words of “Criswell Freeman” from my reading this morning: “Are you a continuing source of encouragement to your family and friends? One of the reasons God put you here is to serve and encourage other people …”

To verify that this aligns with Scripture consider Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 where he tells the believers to encourage one another and build each other up. Or, the words from the author of Hebrews, who said: Encourage one another daily as long as it is called today so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness (13:24). Encouraging others is definitely a purposeful part of the believer’s life and is beneficial to both the giver and the receiver.

Why? Because not only does it allow God’s light to shine through us – which means He is glorified, but also because, as Proverbs 16:24 says: “Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”.

So here’s my encouragement for today – let’s look for opportunities and ways to encourage others – friends, family, neighbors, a member of  your church family and even strangers. It can be as simple as a kind word or “applauding” them for a job well done, helping with a need or sending a text or a card in the mail. Make plans to encourage someone you know who is going through a difficult time or ask God to show you opportunities throughout the day and be spontaneous with the encouragement – or both – see how many people you can encourage in one day and watch for the encouragement God will send you 💜



Posted in Prayer Starters

Making Peace With the Past

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Are you holding on to the past? Maybe you’re so lost in the good memories that you’re missing out on enjoying the present opportunities to make new ones. Or, perhaps there are pieces from your past that haunt you and taunt you – invoking emotions of fear or resentment and regret – or even anger or bitterness. These emotions can stem from past decisions or words spoken or things left undone. They can also stem from things others have said or done to you. Whatever they are and wherever they come from they are not meant for us to dwell on.When writing about making peace with your past, Criswell Freeman said it like this: “Since we can’t change the pains and disappointments of the past, why do so many of us insist upon replaying them over and over again in our minds? … Obviously we can’t change the past. It is what it was and forever will be. The present of course is a different matter. Today is filled with opportunities to live, to love, to work, to play, and to celebrate life.” To the Israelites, God said it like this: “Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old, look, I am about to do something new…” (Isa 43:18)

If we allow the past to take us captive we will miss all of these opportunities. We will get caught up with trying to recreate or undo or find ourselves trembling in fear or seeking revenge. The apostle Paul had many things to regret in his lifetime but he also said he had many reasons to put confidence in his flesh – he describes both in the third chapter of Philippians but concludes with this summation: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained [perfection], instead I am single-minded: forgetting what is behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14). I know of no better way of making peace with my past or not living in past accomplishments or enjoyments than to fix my mind on God and the opportunities He sets before me today in living out His call on my life and the hope of eternity. Concerning the former, Criswell Freeman concluded: “Instead, live in the precious present, where opportunities abound and change is still possible.”

Father, thank you for the reminder this morning that holding onto or living in the past – for whatever reason – only serves to keep my mind distracted from You. The enemy’s goal is to steal and kill and destroy. He knows that if I am distracted from You I will not know Your peace and instead will follow after my own desires or wallow in sorrows or bitterness or anger and regrets. Christ came so that I might have life and have it to the full – but this is only possible when my mind is stayed on You – for in You there is perfect peace. So, help me to not dwell on the past events of my life, or pay attention to the things of old but instead fix my eyes on You – so that I do not miss where you lead or what You do 💜 In Jesus’ Name –



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Why we need to Recharge

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For me this was another perfect starter for the days we are living through. Does anyone remember the song from the 70s called “Pass it on”? “It only takes a spark to get a fire 🔥 going and soon all those around will warm up to its glowing – that’s how it is with Gods love – once you’ve experienced it … you want to pass it on…” can you imagine what would happen if we lived these words of Paul?! How we would be affected and how we would affect the world (believers and non-believers) around us? 🙌 praying for our batteries to be recharged and sparks to fly 🙏😁


Prayer starter by Criswell Freeman – Smith freeman publishing (Prayers to Start Your Day)

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Which Message?

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The Following Prayer Starter is shared from “Prayers to Start Your Day” by Criswell Freeman, Smith Freeman Publishing.

Good morning ☀️ for the sake of peace I almost skipped this particular prayer starter – but seeing how it feeds so perfectly into our current “Know Love” study I am trusting it is meant to be shared. I am praying for openness as you read and an understanding that this is not meant to bash “the media” – not to focus our attention in the media but rather to remind us where our true focus is to be. I believe that media can be, and is often, used for good. However, there is no denying the truth of the statement that it can distort the truth and draw our mind to focus on the world. In this “2020 culture” may our prayer daily echo this mornings starter: “Lord, help us to focus not on the world’s [message], but on the message of Your Son.”


Journey Through the Word
In This World