Tag: prayer

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The One Worthy of Praise!

Every day I will praise you.
I will praise your name continually.
The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise.
No one can fathom his greatness.

Psalm 145:2-3
Praise is a choice

Praise is a choice, a way of life. It has a focus and a reason and when the focus and reason are good and right, when they are the LORD and His greatness, when they are real – then the praise will never end – for God will never cease to amaze us, even in the midst of our suffering.

How then should I live?

It is good to read and even pray through the Psalms but to truly apply them we must seek the relationship with God and the knowledge of God that the Psalmist has. Otherwise our focus will be only words on a page – quickly forgotten or laid aside because they hold no real value.

My Prayer Response

Father, truly no one can fathom, or understand, Your greatness! But from the time I was given even a glimpse of Your greatness I learned to say – with or like the Psalmist – LORD, You are great and worthy of PRAISE; and I am certain I will praise Your name and deeds forever!

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Help in Weakness

Today’s Reading: Romans 8:18-39 (SOAP – 8: 26)

 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

Romans 8:26
The Holy Spirit and the Believer

Have you ever reached the point, either because of tiredness or emotions or even sin – that you just couldn’t or didn’t know how to pray? I have, more times than I can count, which is why I love the truth of this verse. Even more, I love that God has provided a way for us to always connect with Him, even to the point that He will provide the content of our conversation through the intercession of His Spirit. The Spirit plays many roles in the lives of believers and even in the lives of unbelievers, whom He convicts of their sin (Jn 16:8), Two of my other favorites are:

  • Ever feel like you can’t remember God’s Word? Well, the Spirit remembers and according to John 14:26, He has been sent to teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus said. I don’t know about you but I forget more and more these days – so I take great delight in this role of the Holy Spirit in my life
  • I also love that He is the reason that we are able to bear fruit of the new nature God has given us. Because of the Holy Spirit we are able to show love, have and spread joy, live in and know peace, be patient in trying circumstances, be kind and good, faithful and gentle, and practice self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

If you’d like to know even more about what the Holy Spirit does and what it means to “walk in the Spirit” visit gotquestions.org/Spirit-walk.html and dig deeper.

The One Who Intercedes

Paul has just finished writing about hope and how big of a part it plays in the believer’s life, from salvation to strength to carry us through times of suffering. Here, he continues that same thought line only this time he says, “In the same way as the “hope” works – the Spirit works to help us in our weakness. Whether physical or emotional or spiritual, like knowing how or what to pray for – the Spirit’s job is to intercede on our behalf and according to God’s will (27) – so it’s a win-win!

How then Shall we live?

Just as I/you live in “HOPE” of the promises of God through Christ – we need to live in the power of the Spirit for all of life’s needs. We need to trust that God has provided, through the Holy Spirit, all that we need to live a godly life. (2 Peter1:3-4). Perhaps Paul’s best instruction about the Spirit is found in chapter five of Galatians where we find these helpful and inspiring words: 

 But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.   Galatians 5:16-25
Prayer Prompt

Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you that He works in us, according to Your will. Just as You have taught us to put our hope in You, help us to live by Your Spirit and trust His guidance – in prayer, in relationships with others, in living out Your will and call upon our lives in this world. Thank you that He helps us in our weakness and empowers us to live the godly life. We are most blessed!

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Weeping and Destruction

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 2:1-22 (SOAP 2:11)

My eyes are worn out from weeping;
I am churning within.
My heart is poured out in grief

because of the destruction of my dear people,
because children and infants faint
in the streets of the city.

Lamentations 2:11
Destruction Takes a Toll

Jeremiah weeps at the destruction but he isn’t simply crying. He is physically and emotionally impacted because of the destruction of his people. This is personal and Jeremiah is greatly affected.

Applying the Word

Like Jeremiah, we should be greatly affected when God’s people or His work are impacted by suffering, regardless of where the suffering comes from. We should mourn and experience great emotional and even physical unease. Jesus taught in Matthew that those who mourn like this over sin will be blessed, Matthew 5:4. Whether it is over our own sin or the sin of others we should be broken by anything that breaks the heart of God. When we mourn like this we will find ourselves caught up in the lament and we will be moved, like Jeremiah, to pray or to call on others to pray.

Prayer Prompt

Father, break our hearts for what breaks Yours! May we not fail to pour ourselves out before You – for only You can heal and make right ! We believe this in Jesus Name, Amen!’

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The Bondage of Fear

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The Bondage and Battle of Fear

The bondage of FEAR is a great and scary thing. It is real beyond words and until one has been captive to it you can not understand it. IT sneaks up on you and grabs hold of you before you realize it. You try to shake it off but it whispers to you and tightens it’s grip with every whisper of worry and doubt, or truths you can’t control and lies you choose to believe.

Yes, the bondage of FEAR is real and it is scary! Those that know it understand – they know that you can’t “just” shake it off – you can’t “just” ignore it. It’s grip is tight and it must be battled with sword and shield and truth. It can be fought and defeated for sure but not alone. Victory requires the Spirit of God but is better still with God’s army of supporters. The Aarons and the Hurs of your life that can come to your aid or those of the household of faith who faithfully walk with you and pray circles around the “fear” until it falls captive in obedience to Jesus Christ! (2 Cor. 10:5).

It can be a long and weary battle, you may see the enemy fall only to meet him at the next corner. Fear can be cloaked in health issues, in pain, in needs, in pride or dangers and a host of other phobias. But no fear is greater than our God – and that is the first step to every battle with fear. The belief that God is greater than all powers and entities of this world. Only this belief will allow us to say to our fear, like David did to Goliath, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel…” (1 Samuel 17:45). The same God of whom the Gospels boasted when they taught – “Nothing is impossible with God!” (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37), and of whom Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Experience God’s Peace

Are you plagued by worry or anxiety? Hear (don’t just read) the words of Paul – who was persecuted, threatened, beaten, imprisoned and yet wrote … “Don’t worry about anything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for what He’s already done. THEN you will experience Gods peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7). These are two of my life verses – and I can say from experience, the truth they teach and proclaim has loosened endless grips of fear from me and lowered countless prison bars that held me captive. The words themselves aren’t magic. You can’t just read the words and get results; you have to know the words are true. This happens when you get to know God – when you see Him part the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to cross safely – and then watch as He releases it on the enemy who pursued them into it. It happens when you see Daniel survive the lion’s den or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego the fiery furnace. It happens when you watch them crucify our Lord but see Him alive on the third day. There is no limit to the power of our God – whatever you are facing He is greater and able to overcome it or to bring you through it. We only have to be still and know (and remember)that He is God, another of my life verses, Psalm 46:10. When we don’t know the answers and can’t see a clear or hopeful path or a way out of our situation – we must keep the Lord always before us and say, “because the Lord is at my right hand I will not be shaken,” Psalm 16:8. It is during these times that God allows us the opportunity to practice walking by faith and not by sight – or feeling for that matter, (2 Cor 5:7).

Able to Steel, Kill, and Destroy

Fear is a ferocious giant, an enemy like no other, a predator and captor – it is able to steel, and kill, and destroy us … IF we allow it a foothold. The key is choosing not to give fear a foothold – to stay alert – to be prepared with the truth – ready to take captive every thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and make them obedient to Jesus Christ! The victory is ours through Him who has already overcome the enemy on our behalf!

To borrow a line from a Veggie Tales song – “God is bigger than the boogieman … and He watches out for you and me! … I know whatever’s gonna happen that God can handle it.”

Does fear or anxiety or worry have you trapped? Let me offer this one last encouragement – from the words of the Apostle Paul … “and now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Breath Prayers

A truly helpful exercise to make a daily habit (morning, noon, and night – and any time anxiety creeps in): Take a deep breath in through your nose and as you inhale think (I am weak) then exhale thinking (God is strong) … repeat/inhale (be still and know) exhale (that He is God) … repeat (I can do all things) exhale (through Him who strengthens me) repeat/inhale (do not be afraid) exhale (for I am with you) … four times at least three times a day will honestly change your life in more ways than I can count or share here. You can use any number of scripture combinations – keeping in mind that the purpose is to refocus from self to God.

Me – from the inside out 💕

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A Packaged Deal

Suggested Reading – John Chapter 7

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.”

John 7:28-29
History, Rituals, and Irony

Jesus challenges the Jewish people with this statement from verses 28-29, a statement that brings into question who they are – basically a rerun of the conversation He had with the Jews He addressed in Jerusalem, noted in chapter 5. Both conversations took place during the 7-day “Feast of Booths”, also known as the “Festival of Tabernacles”. The Festival was a celebration commemorating Israel’s journey through the wilderness. Because it was rich with history and rituals the crowd would have been large and the city crowded which means this conflict would have been all the more intense and public. Don’t miss the irony, a festival where God’s people are celebrating their ancestor’s journey through the wilderness and they’ve just been told by Jesus, the Son of God, that they don’t even know God.

The rituals of this festival reminded the people of how God had provided for Israel during their journey out of Egypt. 

Bibleref.com @ John7:2
Where in the world

The people contended that they knew where Jesus was from and that this meant He couldn’t be the Christ because no one would know where the Messiah was from, vs 27. So, He shouts out, acknowledging they knew where He was from – well, at least they knew where in this world He was from – but what they didn’t know, or who they didn’t know – was God, the One who sent Him. Basically He repeats the message He delivered to the Jews in Jerusalem just days earlier. Jesus wants them to understand that it’s the One who sent Him that they do not know. 

This is a direct criticism of Israel's spiritual state, and an extremely personal reproach. Israel's ultimate point of pride was its identity as God's chosen people. No other nation could make that claim—and here, Jesus tells God's chosen people that they do not know God! Their rejection of God (John 5:39–40) has resulted in a rejection of the One sent by God (John 6:29). Stubbornness and pride have made them resistant to the truth (John 7:17).     Bibleref.com @ John 7:28
You Can’t Have One Without the Other

I noticed three specific things in these two verses:

  1. God sent Jesus to the people
  2. Jesus always points to the Father for those who come to Him must believe in the One who sent Him, (John 5:24).
  3. Jesus speaks with humble but certain authority.
My Response
  • To live like Jesus means I cannot shrink back when others challenge or threaten what I know is truth from God
  • I should speak with humble authority-
  • I should always promote God and Christ above myself and all others
My Prayer

Father, You are the One who sent Jesus, the One who comes in Your Name and authority to save those who believe in Him and in You who sent Him! Father, I have believed – Help me and use me to share the message of the Gospel which is Your power to save. In Jesus’ Name – Amen and Amen!

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Love God Greatly Blog

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Fear of the LORD

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7

For the next two weeks we will journey through the first 4 chapters of Proverbs. The book was written by King Solomon, son of David. It is typically described as a book of wise sayings – rather than large passages of information or stories. It covers a wide range of topics but there are four key terms:

  • Learning- getting information for immediate use, such as a phone number
  • Knowledge – information kept for long term use
  • wisdom – being able to act on knowledge
  • and understanding – being able to, or even having the responsibility to pass on something learned, retained, and wisely used

Our SOAP verse today, verse 7, is actually said to have be the cornerstone for the entire book so let’s give it some special attention and set the stage for the study.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. The word fear here doesn’t mean to stand trembling before Him but rather to have a great reverence for God – who He is, what He expects and what He can do.

True knowledge, according to Solomon, cannot exist without a fear or deep healthy reverence for God. “The implication is not that knowledge can’t be obtained apart from God but that knowledge is out of place apart from a ‘fear’ of God.”

However, just because “the fear of the LORD” is to be top priority in my life does not mean it is ok to set aside “wise instruction or the discipline of the instruction”. Solomon says those who do so are fools.

Living like this requires studying God – spending time with Him, learning to know His power, love, and expectations – and then living by this knowledge.

Father, thank You for teaching me to have a healthy reverence for who You are and what You expect from Your children. Help us to live accordingly so that in all thing and at all time You will be glorified – In Jesus’ Name, Ame!n!!

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Commit to a Pure Heart

Read: Psalm 51; Soap: Psalm 51:10

Create for me a pure heart, O God.
Renew a resolute spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

Have mercy … wipe away … wash away … cleanse me … forgive me … cleanse me … grant me forgiveness … hide Your face from my sin … do not reject me … rescue me from the guilt … do not take your holy Spirit away … David, obviously convicted for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba, pleads with God throughout this prayer for forgiveness. He is contrite, truly sorry for the sins he has committed, and desperately wants God’s forgiveness. He realizes he doesn’t deserve what he requests but appeals to God’s great compassion.

It is equally important to note that David doesn’t just ask for forgiveness but he pleads for God to cleanse him, to wash him, to rescue him … He knows his heart has been deceptive and that he needs God to renew a right Spirit, one that would stand strong and firm, resolute, against the temptations he might face going forward. This is important to our application of this verse, because unless we realize the treachery of our sin we will continually walk in it, and rather than repentantly coming to God as David does here – we will flippantly utter the words while perhaps still walking in the sin.

Sin is a dangerous enemy for the Christian, so we must have a healthy respect for the impact it can have on our lives and the lives of others. It is important for us to deal with our sin daily so that it does not take hold of us … which I believe is why David prayed for God to give Him a pure – unadulterated-heart.

May we be committed to seek God for a heart that is pure and pleasing to Him – Amen!

Don’t forget to check out today’s LGG Blog

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Fear was My Captor

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Fear was my nemesis for years, and still can be if I’m not careful and alert to its cunning ways. Fear of health issues, not that they would “hurt” me but of how they would effect my family … Fear of death, not of dying but of leaving my children without a mother. Fear of people, not of physical harm but of hurtful opinions, words, or actions. Fear of self, of failing others or disappointing God, fear of my past and of the future … you name it – I probably feared it. Fear is a captor like no other! It’s personal and crippling, even deadly if we don’t find the keys that loosen the captor’s grip.

I wasn’t an anxious child growing up. Don’t get me wrong – my brothers knew how to sneak up behind me and scare me. Snakes and spiders scared me but not life or people. I grew up in a safe small town where I was allowed to run and play in the neighborhood, ride my bike, or walk blocks to my friend’s house, school, piano practice, the library or the pool with friends or by myself. Long before cell phones came along I often walked alone and unafraid. Somewhere along the way, after I was grown and married, that changed and fear entered my life and eventually took hold of me.

God’s promises, love, and presence rescued me from fear’s tight grip.

I can look back now and see the fingerprints of God. He knew one day fear would become my captor and He began to prepare me for that day. All those years going to church – God had a plan. Sunday school lessons and Bible drills – God had a plan. My high school years in a Christian school where memorizing Scripture (thanks to Mrs. Hall) played a big part – God had a plan. Scripture memory resurfaced in my life years later with a friend from church who asked me to be her “memory partner” – God had a plan. How do I know He had a plan? Because, the Scriptures and many of the verses I had read or put to memory became keys that would one day unlock the captor’s hold on me. One of those verses, the first to loosen the chains, came from the prophet Isaiah, who wrote: You (God) will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You 💜 (Isaiah 26:3). The second key was just as powerful – Don’t be anxious about any thing but by prayer and petition present your request to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus … Philippians 4:6-7 🙌 God had been weaponizing me for the day of battle, preparing me to stand firm with the belt of truth securely in place.

What about you?

Is the grip of fear tightening around you? Perhaps it already has you bound by its fingers of anxiety, distress, and desperation … hurry to God’s Word – listen for His voice – hear Him say: “Do not be afraid for I am with you, do not be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isa 41:10). Look at the blood stained cross and the empty tomb, recall the depth of His love and the reality of His promises and rest in Him regardless of what fear is telling you – “Be still and know that He is God” (Isa 46.10).

Me from the InsideOut 💕

Other keys: prayer … walking … a trusted friend … helping or serving others … learning trigger points … an awareness of the enemy, he’s real and he’s armed and dangerous! … Scripture/Gospel centered music … an Arsenal of Scripture combatting fear (start with Philippians 4:4-8) – written on cards or memorized and hidden in your heart …

Want more help on conquering fear checkout this devotional by David Jeremiah https://www.davidjeremiah.org/magazine/daily-devotional?date=2022-02-12&tid=email_edevo-wknd-021222

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Praying for God’s Good Gifts

Matthew 6:5-14; 7:7-11

11 If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:11

I love to give gifts to my children, now 26 and 32 years old. Christmas is the best – they receive three gifts each and there is a budget. They supply me with a list of more than three items – since we all want it to be a surprise. Sometimes it’s compiled like a grocery list but more often it filters in through a text or in conversations. I wrap the gifts in boxes of various shapes and sizes all in an effort to disguise the contents. For instance, a pair of running shoes may be wrapped in a long cylinder box, while a watch may be in a tennis shoe box. Because of the limit they know that they won’t get everything they’ve asked for – this means they really have to think it out and ask carefully – they often prioritize but the top of the list may not be what is under the tree. Nonetheless, they are always delighted and I am always filled with joy at how pleased they are – even with those packages that are totally rogue – you know – the item you see and think, ‘hmmm? I really think she might like that, or this might be better for her …. and then you wrap it – all the while hoping and praying she sees the good in it and the love behind it.

I’m sure by now you’re wondering what in the world this out of the blue story has to do with our passage today. All I can tell you is that when I began to write this devotional – this is what came to mind. I was reminded of how God doesn’t always tell us how something will be. He does however allow us to talk to Him about our desires and needs and concerns. (1 Peter 5:7, Phil 4:6-7, James 1:4 and 5:14 …) In love, He hears and considers our requests (John 16:23-24). We ask, we seek, and we knock – as Jesus taught – and then at just the right time we receive what we asked for , or find what we were seeking, or we watch the door open. The similarities to our yearly adventure don’t stop there though. Just like with the girl’s presents what we receive doesn’t always look like what we asked for or sought, and when that door opens what’s on the other side isn’t necessarily what we had in mind. However, all of it is good because God is good and His gifts are always good. No, His answers to our prayers won’t always be what we hoped for or wanted but they are given with His sovereign knowledge that it is the best gift or answer for us. We can always know that He has given or answered out of love and with a good purpose – and that He makes no mistakes. And, if you look close enough with each answer you will find traces of His heart in the shape of grace, love, joy, peace, mercy, hope, provision, compassion and more. May we learn to trust these truths and in faith receive and use each gift or answer He gives – according to His glory and pleasure.

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Pray with Confidence

Read: Ephesians 3:1-13; SOAP: Ephesians 3:12

12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 

Ephesians 3:12 (NLT)

Much like we discovered in looking at 1 John 5:13-15 praying with confidence is a privilege of our faith that God gives us through Jesus Christ. John wrote that when we (those who believe in Jesus) pray according to the will of God that we can pray with confidence – knowing that God will hear us and answer accordingly; and in today’s passage Paul teaches that because of the Gospel of Christ, God’s power to save, we can not only come confidently but boldly into the very presence of God. In both situations the privilege is attached to our belief in the son of God.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16 NET

Reflection question: Why do you think it’s important that we pray with confidence? (see James 1:6) Share your thoughts in the comment bar below –