When You Need to Know… Nothing Is Too Hard for God

1 / 21 / 191 / 21 / 19

I’ll admit it…

I get discouraged sometimes. Like you, I have a few things I’ve prayed about for YEARS and the wait continues.

Most of the time I can just keep praying them with a kind of “it is what it is” attitude … my way to trying to be okay with the situation. But other times, waiting is hard and I wonder if I should just quit bombarding the gates of heaven with this prayer.

It’s not that I don’t believe God is able but there are other people involved and well, people have free will.

The Bible says, "Nothing is too hard for God." Can you imagine the difference it could make in our lives if we really believed that? #Faith #Prayer #NothingisImpossible

I read these words the other day…

“Is anything too hard for the Lord.”
Genesis 18:14

The Lord spoke those words to Abraham.

Why?

Because Abraham had begun to wonder … to quit hoping.

Can you blame him? I sure can’t.

He was almost one hundred years old and Sarah was almost ninety when the Lord visited them and told them they were about to finally have the son they had been promised decades earlier.

Yep, Abraham questioned and Sarah laughed. I probably would have done the same.

And the Lord replied, “Is anything too hard for the Lord.”

Then look at the account of Jeremiah…

God told Jeremiah to buy a field just north of Jerusalem and Jeremiah obeyed but he also questioned…

O Sovereign Lord, you have told me to buy the field—paying good money for it before these witnesses—even though the city will soon be handed over to the Babylonians.
Jeremiah 32:25

God told Jeremiah to buy the field as a promise that He would bring the people home after 70 years.

Imagine God asking you to buy a home in an area that He has also told you is about to be captured and almost all of the people including you are going to be taken captive and hauled away to another country.

You might be wondering … WHY?

Seriously, even if some of the people do come back there’s no guarantee that property deed will even be acknowledged.

You might even be asking … WHY?

And that’s okay. Look at God’s patient loving reply…

“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?“
Jeremiah 32:27

What Sarah, Abraham, and Jeremiah learned is the answer to that question is always…

No!

Nothing is too hard for God!

Abraham and Sarah had a son and God’s people returned home.

But throughout those decades of waiting, I would imagine there were many times when they wondered if they’d heard God right, times when they began to doubt, and even times when hope began to fade.

Maybe you can relate.

Maybe like me, you have something or several somethings, you’ve prayed about for years … even decades. The wait is long and hard … possibly even painful. You’re discouraged and even starting to question if you should be crying out to God day after day after day.

Today, I’m hear to remind you and me because truthfully, I need to hear it too…

Nothing is too hard for God!

Nothing! Absolutely nothing!

Your broken relationship is not too hard for God.
Your illness is not too hard for God.
Your loneliness is not too hard for God.
Your broken heart is not too hard for God.
Your doubts are not too hard for God.
Your longings are not too hard for God.

Nothing is too hard for Him!

But in all honesty, waiting is hard. So, I’m grabbing hold of verses to hold close when the wait is hard, when my heart heavy and when doubt creeps in because God’s Word tells us exactly what to do in those moments.

Never stop praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17

Jesus told a story to teach His disciples this lesson.

Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Luke 18:1

He went on to tell about a widow who goes to a judge night and day pleading with him to rule in her favor over a dispute with her enemy. And he finally does…

You and I can be persistent in our prayers.

The Life Application Bible Notes describe persistent prayer this way…

Constant prayer means keeping our requests continually before God as we live for Him day by day believing He will answer. Then live by faith and don’t give up. God may delay answering but His delays always have good reasons. And as we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope. (LAB notes for Luke 18:1)

Remember, Jesus also said…

All things are possible with God!
Mark 10:27

And…

I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
Luke 11:9

And Paul wrote…

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen
Ephesians 3:20–21

Paul, the one who was persecuted, stoned, beaten, whipped, and imprisoned.

And what does he say about hope?

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations.
Romans 4:18

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Romans 12:12

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Romans 15:4

And the writer of Hebrews wrote…

This High Priest [Jesus] of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:15-16

And…

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.
Hebrews 10:23

Friend, even while you and I wait. Even when we get discouraged and feel like giving up … God is faithful to give us what we need.

And I don’t know about you, but what I need is…

Faith to trust that God is doing what is best even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Forgiveness when I fall short of His will for me.
Hope to never give up.
Peace to calm me when life overwhelms me.
Patience to remain persistent in prayer.
Strength to keep doing what He calls me to do each day.
Wisdom to know His will and make godly decisions.
Comfort to get me out of bed when my heart hurts.
Guidance to know His will.
Courage to face the day when I want to hide in bed.
Love to give back to Him and give to others.

Jesus, all I need today and eternally.

David wrote…

You, Lord, are all I have, and You give me all I need; my future is in Your hands.
Psalm 16:5

And Paul wrote…

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for His glory.
2 Corinthians 1:20

I know waiting with hope is hard. And some days I too, take my eyes off Jesus and stare straight at the circumstances that are unchanged. Yes, I wonder if I should just give up and stop bothering God with the same old plea.

But then … I stop and I reread Jesus’ words about persistent prayer and I remember that He sometimes allows me to wait because He is busy working on my heart.

And as He works on my heart I will continue to pray the words of Jeremiah…

“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by Your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for You!”
Jeremiah 32:17

Maybe you’d like to join me!

Thank you so much for joining me today.

It would bless me so much if you’d take a moment to subscribe to Counting My Blessings so you never miss an update!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

And always remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

If this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?

Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

I’m asking God to bless you today!

5 Powerful Verses to Pray When You Forget God is Good

1 / 17 / 191 / 17 / 19

The only cure for discouragement and hopelessness. When you forget God is good you need to pray and remember all He has done in the past. #Remember #Hope #Pray #Faith #CountingMyBlessings

I know God is good!

I do!

He’s proven His goodness in countless ways … everything from forgiving me through Jesus to countless everyday moments of provision and protection.

And yet…

I’ll be honest with you, there have been times in my life when circumstances were painful and waiting seemed to go on forever. Times when the enemy was able to tempt me with doubts about God’s goodness.

And those have been the moments I needed to take my pain and my waiting to God in prayer.

One of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:6…

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

Pray about everything! When pain is intense and the wait is long. As soon as discouragement hits and before I start to doubt … before I forget God is good.

Because I need to be prepared, I decided to make a list of verses and write prayers to go with them, so I’m ready the next time discouragement tries to win the day…

5 Powerful Verses to Pray When You Forget God is Good

Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember His wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
Psalm 111:3–4

Father, Everything reveals Your glory! Absolutely EVERYTHING! From creation to the cross and through every moment of history—human history and my history … Your goodness and love have never failed.

When I’m discouraged and You ask me to wait. When I’m in pain, physically or emotionally. When life is just plain hard and the enemy invites me to doubt Your plans and purposes. Please help me remember all the ways You have shown me Your grace and mercy in the past. Help me remember Your wonderful works. Amen.

Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
Isaiah 46:9

God, You are Lord of lords and King of kings. You are the Beginning and the End. You are my Father … Creator, Jesus … Savior, and Spirit … Comforter and Helper.

Your Word says that You love the people You made so very much that You sent Your only Son, Jesus, to save us from the curse of sin and death. (based on John 3:16) Then You sent us the Spirit to remind us of everything Jesus taught about who You are and all You’ve done. (based on John 14:26)

And yes, as I look back, my life is a testament to Your love. You have healed me when was broken and delivered me from fear and anxiety. You have met every need when life seemed easy and when it felt too hard to get out of bed. Your grace is sufficient. (based on 2 Corinthians 12:9) Thank you! Amen.

“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Luke 22:19

Father, if there is ever a moment when I doubt Your goodness … all I have to do is think about Jesus.

Through Jesus … I am redeemed. I am chosen. I am Your child. I am accepted and free. I am a citizen of heaven.

Jesus told His followers to come together over bread and wine, His body and blood, to remember that He offered Himself to save anyone and everyone who believes and trust in Him. We are free … saved from sin, death, and Satan’s power.

Father, if You never did one other thing for me, and there are too many to count … that would be more than enough. Amen.

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9

Father, You tell me to be strong and courageous but oh, I’ve wasted so much time weak and afraid. Please forgive me.

I know that when I listen to the lies or take my eyes off You … I become discouraged and doubtful. I also know that it is impossible for me to be strong and courageous on my own.

And that’s okay! I don’t have to be. You are with me … yes, wherever I go You are there.

David wrote, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” Psalm 139:5 And Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

You are with me. You are good. Thank you, Father. Amen.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

Father, when I remember all the times You have been with me in the past … the times You have given me strength when I had absolutely none of my own. Courage when I was afraid. Peace when chaos surrounded me. Hope when I was lost. And direction when I needed help. By Your grace, I have everything I need to do today and that’s enough.

When I forget … help me remember!

You have met every need in the past and I believe You will meet every need in the future. I can do whatever You ask … when You are with me and give me strength. Thank you, Father. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Isaiah 46:9 says…

Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.

It’s simple really … remembering is the cure for forgetting.

Of course, it is!

The thing is this … remembering is intentional.

So, stop today and make a list of ways God has shown you His goodness in the past. Pray and ask God to help you remember.

Because the truth is…

God is good!
All the time!

He has been good in the past and we can be confident that He will be good every day in the future.

What do you need to remember today?

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

The One Thing Your New Year Needs Most

by Lisa Murray
@ Peace for a Lifetime

Conquering Fear of the Unknown

by Colleen Higgs
@ Rebecca Hastings

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

<div align="center"><a href="https://countingmyblessings.com/" rel="nofollow" title="Counting My Blessings"><img src="https://countingmyblessings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Link-Party-Button-Pic.jpg" alt="Counting My Blessings" style="border: none; height: auto; width: 200px;" /></a></div>

I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun!

Click To Tweet

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab my Link Party Button above and link back to CMB.

Loading InLinkz ...

Thank you so much for partying with us!
May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

Have you visited the Faith ‘n Friends Link Party Board on Pinterest? It’s a great place to catch up with past posts you may have missed here at the party and/or save them for a future read! If you’d like to become a contributor to my Pinterest Group Boards – email me at deb@debwolf.com with a link to your Pinterest home page.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Thank you and God bless!

Why You Need to Celebrate and Remember God is Good

1 / 14 / 191 / 14 / 19

The other night, Rev and I celebrated the 50th anniversary of our first date.

And we spent the evening like we’ve spent so many other evenings…

Sharing memories.

We talked about that first date and the early days of getting to know each other and falling in love. We remembered our early years of marriage. We described apartments, homes, and the love of amazing friends. We looked back at the adventure of raising a family.

And the common thread through every relived decade was God’s amazing grace.

Life is full of highs and low, moments of grief and moments of joy … failures and victories.

And God lovingly made His presence known through it all.

The following morning, all I could think about was the way God had allowed us to build an altar of remembrance. No, not a physical altar … but an altar none-the-less.

How to use anniversaries and special occasions to remember that God is good, stop to be thankful for all He's done and surrender the future in faith. #Remember #Faith #GodisLove #Hope #CountingMyBlessings

Why You Need to Celebrate and Remember God is Good

In the Old Testament, God commanded two kinds of altars.

1. Altar of Sacrifice – Where God’s people brought an offering as a sacrifice to receive God’s forgiveness and peace.

“Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering to purify yourself and the people. Then present the offerings of the people to purify them, making them right with the Lord, just as he has commanded.”
Leviticus 9:7

2. Altar of Remembrance – Where God’s people offered worship and praise for God’s deliverance, protection, provision, and guidance.

Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future, your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord, your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and He kept it dry until you were all across, just as He did at the Red Sea when He dried it up until we had all crossed over. ²He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”
Joshua 4:21–24

In the New Testament, because Jesus the Lamb of God, the perfect Sacrifice, was offered for our sins, you and I can be forgiven and have peace with God without bringing an animal sacrifice to church.

Behold the Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29

But the New Testament also has something to say about the sacrifice God does want from us…

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Ephesians 5:2

And…

Let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name.
Hebrews 13:15

I’ve realized there are two offerings God wants you and me to lay at the altar of remembrance…

1. An Offering of Praise
2. An Offering of Surrender

I want to make my life an offering of praise and thanksgiving. I want to stop and celebrate the specifics of God’s amazing grace in my life.

And I want to rejoice over every undeserved happiness and praise Him for providing all we need through every pain and heartache.

Yesterday morning I read…

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
    and He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
    out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
    and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Psalm 40:1–3

Yes, that!

I have known the pit of despair … God heard my cry and lifted me up and gave me a new song to sing.

A song of remembrance! A song of praise!

And by His grace, an offering of surrender!

It’s kind of funny … I spent much of my life holding a little of myself back from God because I was afraid.

Afraid there were things that could happen that would destroy me … things I would just not be able to endure.

Yeah, it was plain and simple lack of faith.

Although God patiently gave me countless opportunities to surrender myself completely … I couldn’t get past all the “what ifs” that flooded my mind.

Which is why an important part of remembering for me … is knowing God allowed my pit of despair to show me His love and faithfulness. And to give me a new song to sing or in my case, a post to write.

I love this verse and the way it so clearly reminds me of the offering of surrender God wants…

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.
Romans 12:1 (MSG)

I’m so thankful Paul wrote, “God helping you,” because I know there is no way I can surrender every part of my life without His help.

But with His help … I can take every moment – sleeping, eating, working, walking around; yes, everything and I can entrust it to God.

An altar of remembrance to celebrate His faithfulness. And an altar of surrender to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and love others as I love myself. (Luke 10:27)

With His help, I can be thankful for the past and hopeful for the future!

You and I talk a lot about being thankful in November and December but now it’s January and we’ve started our diets, picked up our fitness routines, and gone back to work.

Remembering to be thankful gets lost in the mundane dailiness of things we don’t really want to do.

So, I’d like to invite you to do two simple things to help you…

Set aside a basket or jar with a notepad nearby (a notebook will work too) and have your family write down daily blessings.
Keep a list of anniversaries and use those days to remember God’s goodness!

Some of the anniversaries we keep are…

The day we met.
Our first date.
The day we got engaged.
Our wedding day.
Our children’s birthdays.
Baptism birthdays
The day we moved into our home.
Birthdays of family members or friends.
The day God spared Rev’s life.

You could also remember…

Graduations
Gotcha Days
Special Awards
Healings
And anything else that helps you remember God’s grace.

I’ll be honest, I get lost in the dailiness of life, too. But when I stop and remember the countless ways God has shown me His goodness and grace—I can’t help but celebrate, praise, and with His help … surrender.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

It would bless me so much if you’d take a moment to subscribe to Counting My Blessings so you never miss an update!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

And always remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

If this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?

Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

I’m asking God to bless you today!

5 Verses You Need to Pray for People in Authority

1 / 10 / 191 / 10 / 19

You and I can make a difference in the lives and influence of people in authority through humble prayer and surrendered hearts. #Prayer #Seek #CountingMyBlessings

The Bible tells me to pray for those in authority.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ²Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1–4

That’s “pray for all people” … ask God to help them and give thanks for them.

Truthfully it’s the message of God’s love…

And He wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth.

Praying for “everyone” is somehow easier than praying for people in authority … for the people in charge.

Oooh, admit it, there are some in authority for whom you’d just like to pray that they would no longer be in authority.

Maybe it’s your boss, or your child’s teacher, or your local sheriff or chief of police. Maybe it’s your pastor or an elected official.

You see, having a position of authority simply means that the individual has the power to tell you what to do.

And oh how you and I can push back against being told what to do.

But Paul wrote these words to Timothy because prayer and actively living out the love of Jesus are two things the Holy Spirit uses to draw people to an understanding of the truth.

I’ll be honest with you, I’m not thrilled with every authority figure in my life.

I’ve also realized there are only a few things I can do about it.

I can…

1. Complain
2. Move
3. Pray

I’ve decided prayer is the best option. Maybe you’d like to join me…

5 Verses You Need to Pray for People in Charge

Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.
1 Chronicles 16:11

Father, I pray __________ will seek You first. I ask You to give them a desire to know and trust You. I ask You to teach them the truth of Your commands and that he/she will want trust and obey You, Father, above all else.

May they not be influenced by popularity, possessions, or power but be completely surrendered to Your will for themselves and for the people they lead. Amen.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5–6

Father, I pray that ____________ will love and trust You completely. Please help them understand how much they need You … that they need Your wisdom and truth.

May __________ seek Your will before making decisions, especially when they are making decisions that influence and affect others. Please guide and direct him/her and by the power of Your Spirit, help __________ to follow where You lead. Amen.

For the Lord grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to Him.
Proverbs 2:6–8

Father, You give wisdom and knowledge and understanding. Please work on ______________’s heart. I pray that You will make him/her faithful to You and to Your Word. Give __________ a passion for truth and honesty, and by Your grace give them the blessing of common sense for life choices.

Please make a desire for integrity important. May it not only be something __________ desires for themselves but may it be something they seek out in the people around them.

And Father, I ask You to be a shield of protection around them. Keep them safe from temptation, from evil, and from anyone who would harm them. Amen.

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what He requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

Father, please make Your will clear to __________ and give him/her a deep desire to follow it. May he/she know what it right and do it. Please give a heart of kindness and mercy as well as a humble heart that recognizes who they are before You.

By Your grace and the power of Your Spirit, may ___________ love you with all his/her heart, soul, mind, and strength and love others as they love themselves. Amen.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20

Father, However things appear, You are a God of miracles. You are able to change hearts and minds. And Father, I’ll admit that I may be the one who needs to change.

Teach me Your truth. Make me humble and kind. Help me to seek You first and let You do the work that’s needed in others.

I will pray in faith because You are always and forever able to accomplish so much more than I could ever ask or imagine. Thank you, Father! In Jesus name. Amen.

Pray for people in authority to search for the Lord and for His strength. Pray that they might continually seek Him. #Pray #SEEK #CountingMyBlessings

As hard as it is, even when it’s not my first instinct, I want to pray for people in authority. All of them … the ones I like and yes, even the ones I don’t because well, as Rev might say, “it’s downright Biblical.”

And by God’s grace, I will trust Him to work in hearts and minds … mine and those I lift up to Him in prayer.

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

One T ruth that will Change Your Season of Suffering

by Stacey Pardoe
@ Encountering God in the Ordinary

How to BE Without BEing Stressed

by Kim Hood
@ Embrace This Season

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

<div align="center"><a href="https://countingmyblessings.com/" rel="nofollow" title="Counting My Blessings"><img src="https://countingmyblessings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Link-Party-Button-Pic.jpg" alt="Counting My Blessings" style="border: none; height: auto; width: 200px;" /></a></div>

I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun!

Click To Tweet

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab my Link Party Button above and link back to CMB.

Loading InLinkz ...

Thank you so much for partying with us!
May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Thank you and God bless!

What Politician Do You Hate the Most?

1 / 7 / 191 / 7 / 19

Last week, new and returning Members of Congress and Senators took the oath of office to represent their constituents through legislative decisions.

And across the country, love them or hate them … people have opinions.

This is not something that’s unique to the United States. All around the world you’ll find people with strong feelings about those who run their governments.

The thing that’s a somewhat unique, is that in America we are free to express our opinions openly without fear of repercussion.

And do we ever express our opinions. Online. At the office. Across the dinner table … wherever. People are taking sides over their feelings about the people in charge.

Which is the reason for my question.

What politician do you hate the most?

And my second question.

What are you doing about it?

I have to be honest with you and tell you I’m as politically opinionated as the next person. And yes, I’ve been known to have a good rant on occasion. Although, I’m realizing that absolutely nothing productive is accomplished when you and I vehemently voice our opinions and divide the room.

So, I’m starting with repentance and asking God to forgive me for crummy attitudes and then I’m going to…

Well, I’ll get to that.

Peter wrote…

Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God and respect the king.
1 Peter 2:17

Do you know the king about whom he was writing?

Nero! Yes, that Nero! The Emperor who blamed Christians for the fire that burned nearly half of Rome and then had them arrested, tortured, and executed for the amusement of his citizens.

And still, Paul wrote…

Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
Titus 3:1–2

Now you may be thinking about all of the ways the politician you hate most doesn’t follow these Biblical principles as you believe they should. And you may very well be right!

But…

You and I can only control our own words, actions, and attitudes and that’s what we have been called to do.

Like it or not, even when we don’t understand it … the truth is that politician you hate most has been placed in his or her position by God.

Paul also wrote…

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So, anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted…
Romans 13:1–2

Did you ever stop to think that by your words and actions you could very well be rebelling against God Himself.

The truth is, you and I don’t have to leave it there. You see, I’m not suggesting we sit back in frustration and do nothing.

In fact, to the contrary … it’s time for us to take action!

And PRAY!

Paul wrote…

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ²Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority…
1 Timothy 2:1–2

And Jesus said…

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
Matthew 5:43–44

So, even if you feel that the politician you hate is taking away your freedoms and “persecuting” you—let me ask…

When is the last time you prayed for the politician you hate?

If you’re like me, you’re quick to share your opinions with your friends and you may even feel comfortable sharing them through the screen of social media, but for some reason, you and I hesitate before we share them with the Lord in prayer.

So, I’m challenging myself to a new attitude with new words and actions.

I’m humbly admitting that taking sides and trashing those with whom I don’t agree is not God-honoring and I’m urging myself to faithfully pray for our nation’s leaders … even, and maybe especially, those with whom I disagree.

I’m taking any and all of my concerns and frustrations to God. I’m repenting of any divisive contributions I’ve made to the discussions. I’m asking Him to heal the divides and restore us as One Nation Under God.

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Will you join me in praying the following verses…

The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to Him. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
Psalm 22:28

Father, in so many ways we have denied Your commands and ignored Your will. Please forgive us and heal us. I pray that by the power of Your Holy Spirit, You will work an awakening of faith. We need the fruit only Your Spiri can give. We need “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Oh, Father, we need Jesus. All the families of all the nations will bow before Him someday, may we humbly bow before Him now … trusting His commands and following His ways.

And Father, pour out Your Spirit through the halls of government and bring our nation’s leaders to faith. May they seek You first and faithfully surrender to Your will, in Jesus name. Amen.

We put our hope in the Lord.
    He is our help and our shield.
In Him, our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in His holy name.
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
    for our hope is in You alone.
Psalm 33:20–23

Father, may we as a nation stop putting our hope and faith in people, policies, and platforms. May we love You completely – heart, soul, mind, and strength. May we set aside all fear and trust Your perfect unfailing love.

May the leaders of our government trust Your Word and honor Your commands. May their choices not be persuaded by power, popularity, or prosperity but by the power of Your Truth guided by Your Spirit. Amen.

Praise the name of God forever and ever,
for He has all wisdom and power.
He controls the course of world events;
He removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
Daniel 2:20–21

Father, we will praise Your name forever. You are wisdom. Kings and kingdoms are in Your hands. You are able to use both good and bad leaders for Your plans and purposes.

Father, I ask You to give our leaders Your wisdom. May they fear you, as fearing You is the beginning of wisdom and those who obey Your commands grow in wisdom (Psalm 111:10)

Help us, Father, in Jesus name. Amen.

What Politician Do You Hate the Most? We all have strong opinions about and we don't hesitate to share them but maybe we'd have more of an impact another way... #Politics #Opinions #Prayer #Government #CountingMyBlessings

Friends, God’s got this!

We can trust Him.

I understand that strong negative reactions are typically based on fear.

But when you and I trust God and truly believe that He controls the course of world events, removes kings and sets up other kings … then we have nothing to fear.

And while we wait, we do what we can…

We can pray. We can vote. And we can shine the Light of His Love!

And a short postscript…

If you think you can tell the politician or politicians I dislike the most, you may very well be wrong.

I absolutely did not write this post to discuss or debate political opinions and I will not go there. I wrote this because we have an opportunity to make a difference … not with our disagreements but with our prayers.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

It sure would bless me if you subscribed here so you never miss an update!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

And remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

And remember, you can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

If this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?

Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

Just imagine what God will do when His people come to Him in faith and prayer! God bless you!

5 Ways to Seek God First Every Day of the Year

1 / 3 / 191 / 3 / 19

I began 2018 with one word…

SEEK!

And one verse…

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need. Luke 12:31

And now, a year later I have decided SEEK will be my word for the rest of my life.

I want to seek God above all else … to trust Him completely and give Him complete control over every area of my life. I want to know His truth and follow His will faithfully.

But if I’m honest, I have to admit that with all of life’s distractions and demands it’s hard to stay laser-focused and completely surrendered.

Which is why I am making SEEK my life word,

You see, something I’ve realized over the past year is it’s easier to say I want to seek God first and give Him complete control — than it is to actually do it!

Whew, I fall short … every day!

So, I’ve made a list of ways, goals really, to help…

5 Ways to Seek God First Every Day of the Year

1. Seek God First – Remain Humble and Repentant.

It’s so easy for followers of Jesus to gather in holy huddles and begin to feel self-righteous. You know the problem … we start comparing ourselves to other people as the benchmark of our “goodness” rather than comparing ourselves to our perfectly holy God.

Did you know there isn’t one time in Scripture where God revealed His glory to people that they didn’t fall flat on their faces?

That’s natural humility!

It’s realizing that I fall so far short of what God wants for me that I can’t help but fall repentant before Him.

But the good news is—I can take my humbled (broken by sin) self and ask God to forgive me and His Word promises…

If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9

So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:6–7

That is seriously Good News! Forgiven. Cleansed. Free. Amen.

2. Seek God First – Remain in God’s Word

Rev gave me the New Living Translation of the Life Application Bible for Christmas last year and my goal for 2018, was to read not only the Scripture text but all of the notes as well.

And wow, was I blessed!

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17

I need to remain in God’s Word because I need a daily reminder of the ways God is at work in my life. I need a daily reminder of the ways He wants to work through my life.

I need to know His truth and experience the blessings of His promises.

3. Seek God First – Remain in Prayer

I wish I could say I quickly and faithfully go to God in prayer about everything.

That I live the verse…

Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Oh, I’m a mighty pray-er in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep. But during the day when life is moving fast and I’m easily distracted, well I can honestly tell you I’m not nearly as faithful as I want to be.

Paul wrote…

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2

And…

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12

One of my goals for 2019 is to keep a prayer journal … a written reminder of my prayers and God’s faithfulness. And I want to quickly and faithfully go to God with everything.

4. Seek God First – Remain Obedient to God’s Will

I believe God’s will for me is to…

Love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Love my neighbor as I love myself.

I believe it’s His will for you too.

The Commandments can be divided into loving God and loving others.

And Jesus said, that obeying God’s commands is evidence of our love.

If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. John 14:21a

I sometimes wonder if I can get so focused on “doing it right” and “keeping the rules” that I forget about the love part of obedience.

And I don’t ever want to forget about the love part of obedience!

5. Seek God First – Remain in God’s Presence

A few months ago, I decided to take the Philippians Challenge.

A challenge to…

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. Philippians 4:8

And I can do a better job of focusing my thoughts when I remember that…

Although we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (NIV)

And…

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23

Because when I replace the world’s lies with God’s truth and guard my heart by focusing my thoughts on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable, God promises…

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3

My friend, that is simply a better way to live.

Forgiven. Standing on God’s promises. Prayerful. Obedient. And in His presence.

There’s no better way to live than to remain in Him.

Because there is the second part of the “seek God first” verses…

He will give you everything you need.

Not everything I want, but everything I need.

And my greatest needs are God’s gifts…

Amazing Grace.
Jesus.
Undeserved Mercy.
The Holy Spirit.
Perfect Peace.
Forgiveness.
Strength.
Courage.
Truth.
Freedom.
Provision.
Protection.
Hope.
Joy.
Eternal Life.

And so much more! Blessings too numerous to count!

So, I will keep seeking and I will make it my heart’s desire to remain in Him.

And as long as God allows … I will keep sharing what I learn with you, here in this space.

I would love to partner with you on your journey. If you have a specific topic or verse you would like to talk about … please leave a comment or email me. I love knowing what’s on your heart and mind and I love when God allows us to inspire and encourage each other.

You bless me! I am so very thankful for you!

May God bless you and your family in the year ahead.

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Post of the Week!

Joy to the World

by Lana Pummill
@ Finding Inspiration in the Chaos

Open Letter to Those who have Failed Jesus

by Stephanie Gammon
@ Heart-Captivating Daring Redemption

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

<div align="center"><a href="https://countingmyblessings.com/" rel="nofollow" title="Counting My Blessings"><img src="https://countingmyblessings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Link-Party-Button-Pic.jpg" alt="Counting My Blessings" style="border: none; height: auto; width: 200px;" /></a></div>

I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun!

Click To Tweet

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab my Link Party Button above and link back to CMB.

Loading InLinkz ...

Thank you so much for partying with us!
May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Thank you and God bless!

Day 40 – God, Thank You for the Hope of a New Year

12 / 31 / 1812 / 31 / 18

Tonight, you and I will turn the page on another year.

How many times have you and I approached midnight thinking, “maybe next year.”

The dreams and wishes of a New Year’s possibilities.

But you and I have something far more valuable than dreams and wishes.

You and I have hope!

We have God’s unfailing love surrounding us, we have forgiveness for our faults and failures, and we have … Jesus!

So, I’m praying…

God, Thank You for the Hope of a New Year

Father, thank you!

The past year hasn’t developed exactly the way I planned.

Some days have been absolutely beautiful and others have been extremely hard but through them all, good and bad, You have been with me.

You have been faithful.

You have been loving, and kind, and good!

And that gives me hope.

Whatever the coming months hold…

With You, I have the hope of a clean slate, a fresh start … the hope of a new year!

So, Father, I ask You…

Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:5

Make me strong and courageous, Lord, my hope is in You! Psalm 31:24

Help me to be still and listen, to cease striving, to know You. Psalm 46:10

Help me trust Your plans and purposes for my future are intended for my good. Jeremiah 29:11

Help me faithfully remember, that whatever happens in my life … Jesus is my hope and my future. 1 Peter I:3–6

Thank you for Your blessings too numerous to count.

Thank You for inviting me to come to You with bold prayers.

Thank You for answering my prayers through Your love, mercy, grace, and perfect wisdom.

Father, please comfort and strengthen those of us who have been waiting and praying about something for years. By the power of Your Spirit, defeat discouragement and bless us. May we trust Your will as we come to You with bold mountain-moving prayers. And may we never give up.

Your Word says…

You hear me whenever I ask for anything that pleases You. 1 John 5:14

May my prayers please You.

Thank You for hearing each heartfelt cry.

By Your grace, help me seek You and Your kingdom above everything else…

When I seek Your kingdom above everything else, You will give me everything I need. Matthew 6:33

And help me trust You to give me everything I need one day at a time.

Father, thank you! Because of Your love, I can look at the new year ahead with confident hope. I can boldly come to You with my prayers. I can and I will trust You are who You say You are and You always keep Your promises.

Thank you for the gift of another year. Thank you for the blessing of hope.

Thank you for Jesus, the One who is always and forever the source of my hope. Amen.

It’s hard to believe this is number 40 in our 40 Days of Mountain-Moving Prayers.

Thank you so much for joining me for this series…

You have blessed me, more than you know, with your kind encouragement. I truly appreciate your willingness to honestly share your struggles with me and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to pray for you.

May we never stop boldly asking and seeking and knocking.

May we faithfully watch God do what only He can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

I’ll be back with a new post and the Faith ‘n Friends Link Party on Friday, as I go back to my regular twice a week posting schedule.

I hope you’ll stick with me and…

Subscribe here so you never miss an update!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

And remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!

Day 39 – God, Please Help Me Live for Your Glory Every Day

12 / 30 / 18

What motivates you?

Why do you get up and do what you do each day?

Paul wrote:

Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

I don’t know about you, but I fall short of that goal every single day.

So today, I’m praying and asking…

God, Please Help Me Live for Your Glory Every Day

Father, It’s so easy to get distracted by things that sparkle. I can so easily find myself motivated by profits and possessions, status and recognition, and countless other things that have little lasting value.

I am so very sorry. Please forgive me.

And by the power of Your Spirit … help me live for Your glory not my own.

Because You created me for Your glory. (based on Isaiah 43:7)

Because everything in heaven and on earth belong to You. (based on Romans 11:36)

Because of Your overwhelming love and faithfulness. (based on Psalm 115:1, 1 John 4:19)

Because You have fulfilled all of Your promises through Jesus. (based on 2 Corinthians 1:20)

Because You alone are worthy. (based on Revelation 4:11)

Jesus said…

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

And…

If you love Me, obey my commandments. (John 14:15)

And Father, Jesus said that all Your commands can be summed up in one word – LOVE!

Love for You. Love for others. Love for the “least of these.”

Please help me love.

Please help me live for Your glory.

So, in the ways…

I love my family.
I do my job.
I greet strangers.
I help those in need.
I budget my money.
I use my gifts and abilities.
I eat.
I exercise.
I manage my time.
I worship.
I talk.
I listen.
I rest.

May I do it all for Your glory. I want people to see You in me. I pray that people will want to know You because they see You in me.

Your creation lives for Your glory by doing what You created it to do.

The sun by lighting the sky.
The moon by reflecting the sun.
Trees, flowers, and animals … all glorify You by doing what You created them to do.

By Your grace, I will too…

May the constant prayer of my heart always be, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 115:1)

Because … Your unfailing love is better than life itself. (Psalm 63:3)

I will praise You.

I will live for your glory!

And with Your Spirit’s help, I will trust Your will for me.

I will be motivated by love … by Your love.

In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

I am so blessed that you are joining me for this journey…

You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.

It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…

One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

Subscribe here!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!

Day 38 – God, Please Help Me Trust Your Will in the New Year

12 / 29 / 1812 / 29 / 18

I love the anticipation of a new year.

A clean calendar. A new beginning. A fresh start.

But…

When January 1st, 2nd, and 3rd arrive, I realize I’ve once again carried the junk of the past year with me into the new.

The truth is the new year has the same great need … to let go of fear and anxiety, to live with faith, to entrust my heart and completely surrender to the One who holds every one of my moments in His hands.

So, I’m praying…

God, Please Help Me Trust Your Will in the New Year

Father, Thank you for giving me a beautiful new start … not only in the opening of a clean calendar but every day through Your gift of forgiveness.

Please forgive me for carrying around the junk of the past … things from which You’ve already set me free. I’m so sorry, Lord.

I need You.

Help me trust You completely and follow wherever You lead me in 2019 and beyond.

Help me remember that knowing and trusting Your Word helps me know and trust Your will.

Jesus said, I don’t need to ever allow my heart to be troubled because I can trust You! (based on John 14:1)

Jesus showed people Your amazing love through His life, death, and resurrection.

That’s how much You love. I can put my trust in Your love. (based on 1 John 4:16)

Help me trust Your unfailing love because of all the ways You have helped me and rescued me in the past. (based on Psalm 13:5)

Help me trust You to keep my heart and mind in perfect peace when my thoughts are fixed on you! (based on Isaiah 26:3)

Help me trust that Your instructions and commands are perfect and full of wisdom. (based on Psalm 19:7)

Father, with Your Spirit’s help I will hold tightly without wavering to the hope You give. I will faithfully believe You can be trusted to keep Your promises. (based on Hebrews 10:23)

And as I seek to know You and Your will for me … please remind me of Your unfailing love. Show me where to walk, Father … I surrender myself and my life to You. (based on Psalm 143:8)

Help me trust You and…

I will cling to Your promises.

I will remember Your love and faithfulness.

I will trust in You with all my heart. With Your help, I will not depend on my own understanding or the world’s wisdom but I will seek Your will in all I do, confident that You will show me which path to take every day. (based on Proverbs 3:5–6)

I will trust You.

I will seek to know Your will for me.

I will follow where You lead me.

Please help me, Father, by the power of Your Spirit. Help me trust Your will for me in the new year. Amen.

I am so blessed that you are joining me for this journey…

You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.

It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…

One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

Subscribe here!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!

Day 37 – God, Please Help Me – I Don’t Want to be Afraid

12 / 28 / 18

I spent way too many years of my life terrified of “what ifs.”

Life can be hard and bad things happen.

And that thought that frequently sent my anxiety levels through the roof.

Maybe you struggle with fear and anxiety.

And maybe, just maybe, you tired of living with the knot in your stomach that’s keeping you from living the life you know God wants for you.

If so, please pray with me…

God, Please Help Me – I Don’t Want to be Afraid

Father, I need Your help.

I don’t want to live overwhelmed by fear anymore. I’m tired of worry and anxiety and “what ifs” that hold me back.

I’m sorry, Father. I know the real source of my fear is a lack of faith. I have somehow believed the lie that there are some things that are beyond Your ability to help and/or strengthen me to endure.

But starting today, with Your help, I will reject that lie and reject fear.

Oh, Father, I know there will still be things that appear frightening … unknowns that will unsettle me.

But by Your grace, I will quickly surrender every anxious thought to You in prayer.

Like David, I will proclaim who You are in my life…

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Psalm 23:4

You are my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? (based on Psalm 27:1)

I praise You for what You have promised. I trust in You, so why should I be afraid? (based on Psalm 56:4)

This I declare about the Lord. He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. Psalm 91:2

I will remember all the countless ways You’ve helped, protected, and strengthened me in the past.

I will remember the times.

I prayed to You, and You answered me. The times You delivered me and freed me from my fears. (based on Psalm 34:4)

You have been my refuge and strength … always ready to help me in times of trouble. (based on Psalm 46:1)

Father, please help me keep my heart and mind focused on You. Help me remember all the ways You’ve strengthened me in the past. Help me run to You in prayer when the enemy tempts and taunts me with the world’s possible problems. And help me hold Your promises close to my heart.

With Your help, I will focus on what is true today. Do what I can and surrender the rest to You. And trust the blessing of Your beyond understanding peace in any storm You allow.

Thank You, Father. Your grace is sufficient. Your mercy underserved. And Your love unfailing. All because of Jesus. In whose name I pray. Amen.

I am so excited you’re here…

You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.

It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…

One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

Subscribe here!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlights from the Week!

The Gift that Won’t be Wrapped
(A Note for My Kids)

by Rebecca Hastings
@ My Ink Dance

If You Need Hope This Christmas

by Lois Flowers
@ Waxing Gibbous

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

<div align="center"><a href="https://countingmyblessings.com/" rel="nofollow" title="Counting My Blessings"><img src="https://countingmyblessings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Link-Party-Button-Pic.jpg" alt="Counting My Blessings" style="border: none; height: auto; width: 200px;" /></a></div>

I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun!

Click To Tweet

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab my Link Party Button above and link back to CMB.

Loading InLinkz ...

Thank you so much for partying with us!
May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

Thank you and God bless!

Day 36 – God, Please Help Me to be an Excellent Encourager

12 / 27 / 1812 / 27 / 18

It happened again the other day…

I was scrolling through Facebook when I came upon a random conversation between pastors, kids of pastors, and members of churches about the recommended salaries for pastors next year.

Unfortunately, the conversation got ugly. There were a few in the thread who felt it was more important to be right than to be kind. And I always wonder what non-believers think about Christ’s followers at those moments.

Jesus said,

“Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34–35

I wish I could say I consistently loved like Jesus. But in all honesty, I too fall short of consistently representing Jesus’ love the way He wants.

So, I’m praying…

God, Please Help Me to be an Excellent Encourager

Father, please forgive me.

I want to be an encourager, to build people up and point them to Jesus … but too often, I’m self-focused, self-centered, and self-righteous.

I’m selfish.

Your Spirit inspired Paul to write to the believers in Philippi…

Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:2–4

And to the Romans…

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5

Father, forgive me.

Please help me to be an encourager.

Help me focus on what’s important … on the victory You have won for me, on the forgiveness and love You pour into my life, on the way You faithfully care for and encourage me.

Help me…

Think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Philippians 4:8

Help me…

Strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.

Make me like Barnabas…

Who was filled with joy, and encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Acts 11:23

By Your grace, help me to be an excellent encourager.

Help me listen with kindness and compassion.
Help me choose words wisely.
Help me share the hope I have in Jesus.
Help me inspire others to use their gifts and abilities for Your glory.
Help me inspire others to grow closer to You.
Help me encourage people with Your promises.
Help me share my faith with gentleness and respect.

Father, help me love like Jesus.

By Your grace and with Your Spirit’s help … help me to be an excellent encourager. Amen.

I am so blessed that you are joining me for this journey…

You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.

It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…

One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

Subscribe here!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!

Day 35 – God, Thank You for the Gift of the Holy Spirit

12 / 26 / 1812 / 26 / 18

Jesus promised that when He returned to heaven, God would send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to guide His followers…

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26

I can’t imagine trying to figure out the challenges of life without the blessing of the Holy Spirit … the One the Bible calls, the Comforter and the Spirit of Truth.

So today, I’m simply praying…

God, Thank You for the Gift of the Holy Spirit

Father, Thank you!

There are so many things about this life that can be confusing. Trying to figure out conflicting thoughts, ideas, and opinions is exhausting. And the arguing…

Oh, Father, on our own we’re a mess. I’m a mess.

Please forgive us! Please forgive me.

You have given me everything I need. Creation to provide for me. Jesus to redeem and restore me.

And the Holy Spirit…

Who gives me new life in Christ.

He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

Who teaches me the truth.

He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. John 14:17

Who fills me with Your love.

For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. Romans 5:5

Who helps me when I am weak.

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. Romans 8:26

Who prays for me.

The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26

Who gives me hope.

You will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Who guides and directs.

Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Galatians 5:16

Who fills my heart and mind with …

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22–23

Who gives me the words to speak the truth about Your love.

God will give you the right words at the right time. Matthew 10:19–20

Who inspires me to worship.

It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Revelation 1:10

Who strengthens me.

From his glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Ephesians 3:16

What amazing promises, Father! Through Your Spirit, You give me everything I need to live each day in faith.

And when I’m doubtful or discouraged, You remind me, through the words of Peter, of the way to experience these amazing blessings.

” Repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.“ Acts 2:38

I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me and through Your Spirit, strengthen me to change … to trust and follow Your will each day.

Thank you, for Jesus. Thank you for the gift of baptism. Thank you for washing away my sins and for the blessed help of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. Amen.

I am so blessed that you are joining me for this journey…

You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.

It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…

One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

Subscribe here!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!

Day 34 – God, Thank You for the Gift of The Word Made Flesh

12 / 25 / 18

As families gather and we join together to celebrate…

I’m stopping for a moment to simply pray.

God, Thank You for the Gift of The Word Made Flesh

Father God, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Creator. Redeemer. Comforter. Father, Friend.

Thank you!

May I faithfully hold Your Word close to my heart
and cherish Your gift…

Jesus, the Word made flesh!

In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through Him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.
John 1:1–5

So the Word became human and made His home among us.
He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.
And we have seen His glory,
the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
John 1:14

In Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.
Colossians 2:9

Jesus, the Word made flesh
thank you for humbly entering our world.

Though He was God,
He did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, He gave up His divine privileges;
He took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When He appeared in human form,
He humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Thank you for suffering my punishment.

Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor
and gave Him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:6–11

Jesus, the Word made flesh,
I join the heavenly choirs in praise.

“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Luke 2:14

Jesus, the Word made flesh,
may thanks and praise fill my life.
Not just with words but with all I do.

Please help me live out my gratitude
through a surrendered heart and overwhelming love.

I love You, Lord!
Amen.

I am so blessed that you are joining me for this journey…

You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.

It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…

One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

Subscribe here!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!

Day 33 -God, I Want Jesus to be My Joy

12 / 24 / 1812 / 24 / 18

“Joy is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope. Joy isn’t just a smile or a laugh. Joy is something that is deep within and doesn’t leave quickly. Joy is given by God and something that He wants us to have…” ~ Theopedia

We talk a lot about JOY at this time of the year. Joy to the World. Christmas Joy!

And yet, in a few short hours Christmas will be behind us and we’ll go back to the realities of life that try to stifle our joy.

But true joy is grounded in so much more than the celebration itself.

True JOY is found in the person of Jesus.

So, I’m praying…

God, I Want Jesus to be My Joy

Father, Christmas is about celebrating Jesus, the Word made flesh … thank you!

And yet, too often when the festivities are over … I take my focus off Jesus and the stresses of life challenge my contentment, confidence, and hope.

Please forgive me.

I want Jesus to be my JOY … not just at Christmas but every day, every moment of my life.

Please help me.

You show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11

What an amazing promise, Father.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
Psalm 30:11–12

You have forgiven me and carried me through pain and brokenness. You’ve shown me Your healing grace. You have given me faith in Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

And although I have only see Him through the Words of Scriptures and in the hearts of Your people, I love Him. Through Your Spirit, I believe in Him. And in Him, I have a joy that cannot be explained. (based on 1 Peter 1:8)

Please help me. I want Jesus to be my Joy!

Show me the way of life, grant me the joy of your presence and help me focus on the pleasures of living blessed by and in Your presence forever. (based on Psalm 16:11)

And with Your help as I focus on all the blessings I have in and through Jesus…

I can be joyful because of the hope I have in Him. I can be patient when trouble comes, and I can enjoy coming to You in prayer with every need great or small. (based on Romans 12:12)

Father, by Your grace and with Your help … may I be full of the Joy only You can give.

So, that I can boldly proclaim.

I am full of joy! The Joy of Jesus!

Yes, Jesus is my JOY!

Amen.

I am so blessed that you are joining me for this journey…

You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.

It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…

One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

Subscribe here!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!

Day 32 – God, Please Help – We Need to be More Kind and Gentle

12 / 23 / 18

Everyone seems to be a little more kind and gentle at this time of the year and we all love it…

But Christmas passes and the new year begins and everything – goes – back – to – normal! Life overwhelms us, patience wanes, and we find ourselves being more negatively reactive than positively proactive.

Maybe we don’t have to.

Maybe you and I can choose to be different.

Maybe we can be the change that’s needed on line and in real life.

Maybe we need to pray…

God, Please Help – We Need to be More Kind and Gentle

Father, it’s funny how I can want or even expect the people around me to be kind and gentle but I can quickly make excuses for myself when I fall short.

I can declare my own lack of kindness as being justified because I’m responding to someone else’s words or actions.

But You don’t offer any exceptions,

In fact, Your Word says…

A gentle answer deflects anger. Proverbs 15:1

Gentle words are a tree of life. Proverbs 15:4

And…

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Ephesians 4:2

Always!

I am so sorry, Father. Please forgive me!

And help me to be kind and gentle!

I’m starting to realize that it doesn’t really help for me to pray that “we” do better if I’m not willing to do better.

So, I’m asking You to open my eyes to the opportunities around me. Please help me be slow to speak and quick to listen. Help me to be patient and understanding.

Help me to reject the world’s way of reacting and practice living with the wisdom You give…

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. James 3:17

Help me to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving … remembering the gracious and merciful ways You have forgiven me. (based on Ephesians 4:32)

Thank you for Your patient love and kindness. It is so very undeserved. Please help me respond with love and kindness … even when others fail to extend it to me.

I want people to see You in me.

I want people to want to know You because they see You in me.

I want to be prepared to respond when people ask, question, debate, or even want to argue about the difference You’ve made in my life through the power of Your Holy Spirit and all You’ve done for me through Jesus … but with kindness and gentleness.

Because…

I want people to know and love You!

You are the difference we need.

You are the One who will make us more kind and gentle.

Help us, Father! We need You. I need You.

In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

I am so blessed that you are joining me for this journey…

You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.

It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…

One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.

Subscribe here!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!