Author: Deb

Why You Need to Know What You Really Believe

A new survey says that 58% of Christians in America say they find their truth in something or someone other than God. Who or what do you really believe? #Truth #Faith #BibleStudy #Christianity #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

The American Worldview Inventory 2020 (AWVI) is an annual survey that estimates how many adults have a biblical worldview. (AWVI 2020 was undertaken in January 2020 among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults.)

In the latest findings from the American Worldview Inventory 2020 is that a majority of people who describe themselves as Christian (52%) accept a “works-oriented” means to God’s acceptance.

This salvation-can-be-earned perspective fits well with other widely held views identified in the American Worldview Inventory 2020 that are at odds with biblical teaching. That includes the popular beliefs that:
• there is no absolute moral truth (58%);
• basis of truth are factors or sources other than God (58%);
• right and wrong is determined by factors other than the Bible (77%);
• the Bible is not the authoritative and true word of God (59%);
• people are basically good (69%);
• and the personal definition of success is not based on consistent obedience to God (79%

American Worldview Inventory 2020

John the Baptist said the following about Jesus…

For He is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves His Son and has put everything into His hands. And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

John 3:34–36

And Jesus said…

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

When I compare the above statistics and beliefs with the words of Scripture my heart aches.

And it prompts me to ask life’s most critical question…

Do I, do you, do we really believe that Jesus is the one and only source of God’s saving grace and mercy?

Do we really believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God?

Do we really believe He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

Because . . . if we really believe, why would we add, change, or doubt any word of Scripture?

Why would we ever think that we need – Jesus plus:

  • Good Works
  • Church Attendance
  • Charity
  • Obedience
  • Witnessing

Or Jesus plus:

  • Humanism
  • Tolerance
  • Humanitarianism
  • Universalism
  • Historical Criticism

I’m not trying to point judgmental fingers here. I’m guilty too. I understand that rules seem clearer and good works righteousness makes sense to people who want self-control and the success of personal achievement.

We also want popularity and approval, so we have many teachers of faith who are validating worldly views rather than expressing the truths of God’s Word.

And even that is understandable as we all have a desire to fit in, to please the people around us. But God called us to “be holy” or set apart for Him.

Now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

1 Peter 1:15

He calls us to KNOW, LOVE, TRUST and OBEY HIM.

I grew up in church and Sunday school. I learned early about the problem we all have with sin and I knew Jesus was and is the only answer.

And yet, when life was hard and worries kept me up at night . . . I would sit quietly in prayer and Bible Study looking for all the things I needed to do . . . things that needed to change. When morning arrived, I would greet my family with a list of ways we needed to adjust our lives to become more obedient and fix what was lacking.

In reality, what I was saying was – Jesus plus me, plus doing it right, plus fixing my family would fix our problems. (I’ve since apologized to Rev and our children.) Because the truth the Lord has finally shown me is that I can surrender my flaws and failures at the foot of the cross of Christ Jesus and trust that He is faithful to forgive me.

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts.

1 John 1:8–10

That’s pretty clear, isn’t it?

A new survey says that 58% of Christians in America say they find their truth in something or someone other than God. Who or what do you really believe? #Truth #Faith #BibleStudy #Christianity #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

And then there are the verses that affirm that salvation is through Christ Jesus alone, by grace alone and faith alone.

CHRIST JESUS ALONE

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:18

GRACE ALONE

God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 

Ephesians 2:8–9

FAITH ALONE

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake, I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law [or doing good works]; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 

Philippians 3:8–9

Why You Need to Know What You Really Believe

So, let’s ask the question again…

Do you really believe Jesus is enough?

Paul wrote…

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Romans 5:1

Every page of the Bible points to one central truth.

God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8

From Genesis through Revelation—from the promise God made in the Garden of Eden, accomplished on the cross and the resurrection, and that He will ultimately culminate when Jesus returns to take us home to celebrate for all eternity . . . JESUS ALONE IS GOD’S ANSWER FOR SIN. JESUS IS GOD’S GIFT TO A SINFUL WORLD.

That’s the message of the Bible. And if we throw away one little thing, if we deny one small part of its truth, how can we trust any of it. How can we know where to start and where to stop.

Either Jesus is the Way to the Father or He’s not. He is either the Truth spoken of throughout Scripture or He’s not. He is either the source of life or He’s not.

I believe Christ alone is the Way to joy, peace, contentment, and true happiness . . . because He has been that and more in my life.

Because of Jesus, I’ve received a life that:

Loves when it would hate.
Forgives when it would condemn.
Gives when it would keep.
Shares when it would withhold.
Prays when it would fear.
Trusts when it would doubt.
Worships when it would dishonor.
Praises when it would be prideful.
Surrenders when it would fix.
______ when it would ________.

Not Jesus plus good works, church, charity, or anything else. Those are just the things that are the natural outpouring of a life changed by His grace, mercy, and love. They are not the way to God’s saving grace; they are the result of His saving grace.

Will you pray with me?

Lord, forgive us. We have made You too small in our hearts and minds. We have worshipped the idol of self. We’ve fallen for the lie that we are good enough and that we can “earn” a place in heaven. Forgive us. We are sinful. No matter how hard we try we cannot free ourselves of sin. We need Your grace and mercy. We need Your forgiveness.

Please help us. Turn our hearts and minds to the truth of Your Word. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Grant us wisdom and discernment to not only know but apply Your will to our lives.

And by Your grace, overwhelm us with the love of Christ Jesus. Increase our faith. Help us love You with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength . . . and help us love each other in ways that give You glory. Lord, we believe . . . please help us overcome our unbelief. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

May you and I and the whole world that our Father loves come to really believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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5 Verses to Pray When You Need Strength and Courage

Asking God to pour out His Spirit and give us strength and courage to stand on His truths and face the world when it's easier to run away and hide. #Prayer #WarRoom #BibleQuotes CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

You’ve probably seen the quote before.

“Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” ~Ian MacLaren

Everyone carries the burden of emotional baggage. Baggage that can so easily turn into fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, or overwhelming sadness.

Everyone gets out of bed each morning with a need for enough strength and courage to face the day. And I don’t know about you, but I know I’m unable to get there on my own. If it were up to me, most days, I would pull the covers over my head and hide in bed. Too often the baggage feels overwhelming and the strength and courage I want feels just out of reach.

But there is Good News! By God’s grace, You and I are not alone to deal with our emotional burdens and we don’t have to conjure up strength and courage on our own.

Isaiah wrote:

God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.”

Isaiah 12:2

God wants to give us victory over all the junk filled burdens we carry around. He invites us to run to Him rather than foolishly looking for worldly answers and solutions to our spiritual problems.

I’m running to God in prayer today, asking Him to pour out His Spirit and give us the courage and strength we need to stand on His truths and face the world when it seems easier to gather up our baggage and hide.

I’d love for you to join me in praying…

5 Verses to Pray When You Need Strength and Courage

Asking God to pour out His Spirit and give us strength and courage to stand on His truths and face the world when it's easier to run away and hide. #Prayer #WarRoom #BibleQuotes CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Jesus, I’m bringing all my emotional junk to you today. All my fears, worries, anxieties, frustrations, anger, pain, confusion, and so much more. It’s so easy for me to pick up my painful past any time difficult memories flash to mind. It’s even easier for me to worry about the future when I watch the news or listen to the fretful.

Please help me. I need Your Spirit’s help to remind that my past is forgiven and given completely to Your loving mercy and grace. And the future is in Your loving hands. I can rest in Your love and live each day as You direct me and give me the strength and courage I need.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

Daniel 10:19 (NCV)

Father, I love reading Your Word. You used many different ways to bless your children with strength and courage. You sent angels, prophets, judges, and kings. You used warriors and everyday people. And You even sent Your Son to save us.

Your unfailing love and provision overwhelms me. You promise that when I “seek You first”, You will give me everything I need. I believe that even means strength when I am weak and courage when I am afraid.

By Your grace, I am learning day by day that when You are with me . . . I will always have everything I need. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

For I hold you by your right hand—
    I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
    ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

Isaiah 41:13

Father, thank you for faithfully holding me. Thank you for Your Word to remind me that You are here with me, willing to help me no matter what I am facing.

You give me peace to protect my heart and mind (Philippians 4:7). You are for me (Romans 8:31) You help me endure (1 Corinthians 10:13) You forgive me (Psalm 65:3) And You give me strength and courage.

Please give me child-like faith to keep my eyes on You. May I rest my hand in Yours, trust You to give me everything I need, and help me keep my eyes on You and trust that You are able to handle whatever we face together.

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

Isaiah 41:10

Oh Father, I read Your words spoken through Isaiah and I am ashamed. How could I have lived with fear for so very long? I was so foolish. You were always with me. I had reason to be discouraged or afraid. Please forgive me.

With the help of Your Spirit, please help me keep my focus on You and Your promises of victory. When the enemy tries to tempt me with worldly lies and terrors, help me remember that Jesus has already defeated him and by Your grace, I have Your Word, the Sword of the Spirit, to fight any battle he wages against me.

Please help me face each day clothed in armor, protected and strengthened by Your grace, mercy, and love.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Romans 8:35,37

Lord, I pray that You will help me hold these words close to my heart. Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trials and sorrows but take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) When I am afraid of trouble, calamity, persecution, or danger . . . even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4), You are with me. Nothing can separate me from Your love. You have won my victory. No evil can defeat or overpower me. Your grace is sufficient. It is all I need.

And with Your Spirit’s help, I can have strength and courage for no weapon formed against me will succeed (Isaiah 54:17) Thank you! I pray that with Your help, I will boldly live each day for Your glory. I love You, Lord. You are all I need today, tomorrow, and forever. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Asking God to pour out His Spirit and give us strength and courage to stand on His truths and face the world when it's easier to run away and hide. #Prayer #WarRoom #BibleQuotes CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Friend, I believe God is the One who gives us the strength and courage we need. I believe He is the One who helps us look at life through the lens of faith. He is the One who helps us trust that nothing can overwhelm us when we are in His presence. He is Love. And He helps us respond to His love and love one another.

With God’s help, you and I can have the strength and courage we need to treat each other with kindness. We can look at people and see the person God created. We can lift each other up in prayer and forgive one another for the words and actions that hurt or offend us.

God is the One who truly gives us everything we need each day. He is with us, holding us, strengthening us . . . giving us peace and making it possible for us to live victoriously.

May He bless you today with the strength and courage you need to live for His glory.

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

God Can Help When You Want to Stop Worrying

I used to have a terrible problem with worry and fear and that's why I'd love to tell you how God gave me what I needed to stop worrying. #StopWorrying #Faith #Hope #Prayer #MentalHealth #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

I began my cycle of fear and worry as a very young child and I worked hard to perfect my skills for way too many years.

Rather than bore you with the ugly details, I hope to bless you with a truth I wish I’d learned and applied years ago.

You see, I had a terrible problem with chronic worry. I understand it now, worry is the natural byproduct of fear and if you’ve visited here often you know I’ve been honest about my ongoing struggle with fear.

So yes, I was a practically perfect chronic worrier.

I worried about…

  • Our Children
  • Rev
  • Illness/Injury
  • Death
  • Rejection
  • Life

I worried about the things that happened yesterday . . . things I should have handled differently. I worried about things that could potentially happen tomorrow. And I worried about everything in between. I worried about things I couldn’t change or control because seriously, what’s the point of worrying about the things you can do something about?

I was a worry addict and like many addicts, I had to hit bottom before I could accept that living worried—ain’t no way to live!

The Apostle Paul gave us all great advice when it comes to worrying. Well, not advice about worrying but about not worrying.

He said:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. 

Philippians 4:6

 It sounds simple, doesn’t it?

Don’t worry … go to God, thank Him, and…

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. 

Philippians 4:7

I’d known those verses forever. So, why did I continue to worry even though I prayed? Why didn’t I experience the peace I wanted?

Because my prayers were short on faith.

Even though I prayed, “Father, please help me.” I continued to worry because deep down, I believed the enemy’s lies. I allowed myself to believe that…

  • My problem was too trivial for God to get involved.
  • My fear was too real, my “what ifs” were too great to let go of them.
  • If the things I worried about could happen to someone else, they could certainly happen to me.
  • And if God allowed one of those things in my life, I’d be unable to go on.
  • God couldn’t give me what I needed if my greatest fears came to pass.

But then…

Some of the things I’d worried about most often did happen.

All my worrying had not prevented my fears from becoming my reality.

So, I finally realized I had to answer a very important question…

Was I going to trust God completely, not just with my eternal future but with my temporary today and my unknown tomorrow?

I am so thankful the Spirit prompted me to run to the Lord in prayer. I cried out, “Lord, I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief,” (Mark 9:24) and I searched the Bible to find promises that would give me hope and strengthen my faith.

I’d love to share a some of them with you…

Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of His understanding.

Isaiah 40:28

His understanding is immeasurable!

The New Century version says – No one can understand how great His wisdom is.
The Message says – He knows everything, inside and out.
The Holman Christian Study Bible says – There is no limit to His understanding.

The Lord is our Creator. He knows us inside and out. He understands us. He cares about even the tiniest details of our lives. Nothing is too trivial for Him to care and nothing is too big for Him to handle.

The enemy loves to tell us lies. But they are LIES!

The truth is … God is love. He loves you and He loves me. He cares. And if He allows something; well, He has a promise for that, too.

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

Isaiah 41:10

He promises that He will never leave His children alone. He promises to give us the strength we need.

I lived through something I had worried about for a very long time. Something I truly believed would break me forever and it didn’t. Oh, I was devastated. Yes, even broken at first . . . but God was with me. I felt His love and care as I began to feel His strength and help. He gave me victory and helped me stop worrying.

I used to have a terrible problem with worry and fear and that's why I'd love to tell you how God gave me what I needed to stop worrying. #StopWorrying #Faith #Hope #Prayer #MentalHealth #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

God Can Help When You Want to Stop Worrying

God helped me learn two important truths about worry and fear…

1. I CAN AND SHOULD TAKE My FEAR AND WORRY TO GOD IMMEDIATELY.

As soon as I start to worry, I go to God.  When “what ifs” start spinning around in my head, I remember all the times God has helped me in the past.

The enemy loves it when you and I worry because when we’re worried and afraid we’re not focused on God and we forget all that He is able to do to give us everything we need.

The enemy loves to murmur, “God can’t. God won’t. God’s holding out on you. You’re on your own. You’re not worthy”

But we’re not alone in this spiritual battle. The battle is real but you and I don’t have to fight it alone … ever!

The Holy Spirit is with us and within us willing and able to provide us with all we need to fight and win every spiritual battle, even our battle with worry and fear.

John wrote:

The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

1 John 4:4

God is greater. Through Jesus, He has won the ultimate victory for us and will equip us to fight every battle.

And Paul wrote:

Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?

Romans 8:32

And one of the things He gives us is the ability to resist the enemy when he taunts us with fear and worry.

So humble yourselves before God. 
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

With God’s help, you and I can resist the devil. We don’t have to listen to his murmuring. And with His help, I will continue to get better at using the Sword of the Spirit (God’s Word) to defeat the enemy’s lies and make him flee.

And that means I need to…

2. KEEP GROWING CLOSER TO GOD THROUGH HIS WORD.

Peter wrote:

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 

2 Peter 1:2

And Paul wrote:

Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 

Colossians 2:6–7

You and I need to be in the Word every day. It’s one of the things God uses to help our roots grow. It’s where lies are replaced with truth and we get what we need to resist the devil when he tempts us with doubts.

I’ve realized I can’t just will myself to not worry. I have to replace my worrying with something else.

AND THAT SOMETHING ELSE IS…

Hope!

Hope in Jesus!

Through Jesus, God met our greatest need. He conquered sin, death, and the power of the devil.

Sin can no longer defeat us. Death is not the end. And by His grace, the devil has no power over us.

We have God’s promise…

So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

Hebrews 6:18–19a

Read that again … slowly!

God has given us His promise. His oath. When we run to Him for refuge He will shelter us. We are secure in Him because He is trustworthy and true. He will give us everything we need to get through today and that means you and I have nothing to worry about. Absolutely nothing!

I used to have a terrible problem with worry and fear and that's why I'd love to tell you how God gave me what I needed to stop worrying. #StopWorrying #Faith #Hope #Prayer #MentalHealth #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

If you want to stop worrying, too.

I would love to tell you it’s like flipping a switch … one holy moment where you can embrace God’s truth and never worry again.

I can’t.

So, please be patient with yourself. It takes time to break free of habitual worry.

But stop for a minute and imagine your life worry-free. Imagine doing what you can and trusting God to help you with everything else.

Imagine running to God in prayer, holding onto His promises, trusting His love, and knowing without a doubt that God is always working in your life for your good and for His glory.

Friend, you can do this.

Believe me, if God can deliver me and help me stop worrying, He can and will deliver and help you!

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

Verses that will Help You Pray When You Have No Words

When you have a need but you are overwhelmed and you can't find the words to pray. Here verses and prayers when you need help to pray. #Prayer #HowtoPray #BibleQuotes #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Have you ever had a time when you were so overwhelmed by life’s circumstances that although you wanted to pray . . . you just couldn’t find the words.

All you could think about was that you wanted and needed to talk with God about what was going on but your emotions were so powerful all you could do was cry out…

“Lord, please help me!”

I can remember one time like it happened yesterday. I’d been through a traumatic experience a couple of days earlier and then unexpectedly received more bad news.

Through feelings of fear, I called Rev and through my sobs, I tried to say, “I need you to come and pray with me. I want to pray. I need to pray but I can’t find the words.”

My favorite prayer partner came to me quickly as he could and together we put the cries of our hearts into prayerful pleas.

I’ve had other times in my life when emotional overload made it hard for my brain to work. Times when my tears saturated my thoughts and I just needed the Lord to hear the unspoken cries of my heart.

And that’s what I’m praying about today.

If you’re struggling with prayer-crushing over-powering emotions join me as I pray Scripture and ask God to hear the cries of our hearts when we just can’t find the words.

Verses that will Help You Pray When You Have No Words

When you have a need but you are overwhelmed and you can't find the words to pray. Here verses and prayers when you need help to pray. #Prayer #HowtoPray #BibleQuotes #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    listen to my plea!
    Answer me because
You are faithful and righteous.

Psalm 143:1

Father, Your Word tells me You are love. It tells me to “never stop praying.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) You want me to come to You with all my needs. So, I come to You today with nothing but my tears and wordless pleas. Lord, I need You! I believe You are faithful and righteous, gracious and merciful, just and true. I give this problem and all I am to You. Please give me the courage and strength and everything else I need today. Help me, for You are the God who sees me. (Genesis 16:13) You are my Provider. I give you my thanks and praise. Amen.

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    You are my glory,
the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
    and He answered me from His holy mountain. 

Psalm 3:3–4

Father, I believe that You are with me. I hold on to the promise that You guard and protect me. I need to feel You with me, Lord. My life feels fragile and I’m frightened. Please shield me with Your grace and mercy. I am so sorry for all the times I stubbornly believed I could handle things on my own. I’m sorry for failing to follow Your perfect will for me.

Please forgive me. Lift my head and turn my eyes toward You. You are the Rock, who gives me courage. You give me everything I need and I need more of You. Amen.

The Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit Himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain. 

Romans 8:26

Father, Thank you for this word. When I am weak. when my heart is heavy and I don’t know what or how to pray . . . Your Spirit helps me. He knows my heart and Yours and speaks my needs to You even when they are unclear to me.

Spirit, thank you for speaking to God for me. You know everything about me. You know my yesterday, my today, and my tomorrow. You know what’s best for me. You know the anxious thoughts behind my wordless prayer. Nothing is new to You. Nothing too difficult. Thank you for always being with me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for Your beyond understanding peace. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 

Ephesians 1:19–20

Father, nothing is impossible for You. Power for life is in and with You. You raised Jesus from the dead. My current problems, though difficult, are not beyond Your power and love.

So, I come to You praying Jesus’ Garden prayer, “Abba, Father.” He cried out, “everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Mark 14:36) I trust Your will for me because You have given me everything I need through Jesus, who lived, died, and rose again that I might have freedom from sin and life everlasting. Thanks and praise now and forever. Amen.

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault.

Jude 1:24

Lord, I praise You. When things appear fragile and uncertain. When the enemy tries to fill my mind with doubts . . . I come to You. Take my doubts and fears. Gather my tears and hold them close. Fill my heart and mind with Your promises. May I live each day with joyful anticipation of the future You promised long ago. By Your grace, fill me with hope as I remember that “this too shall pass.” This time in my life is just a moment on the journey to my forever home in Your presence. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life . . . my promise now and forever. Thank you. I pray by Your grace that I might live for Your glory. Amen.

When you have a need but you are overwhelmed and you can't find the words to pray. Here verses and prayers when you need help to pray. #Prayer #HowtoPray #BibleQuotes #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Friend, whatever is hurting your heart today, give it to Jesus.

Be persistent in prayer even if you have no words and can only lift up broken-hearted cries . . . the Lord is with You. He sees you. He loves you. He hears the cries of your heart.

Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

When you have words and even when you don’t. Trust Him. This is only a season, the best is yet to come.

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

When You Need to Know that for God Anything is Possible

Whatever you are praying for, no matter how long the wait . . . God keeps His anything is possible promises. He is true to His Word! #Faith #GodKeepsHisPromises #BibleTruth #Prayer #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

It seems that so many of the people I talk with lately are overwhelmed with feelings of frustration and discouragement. They feel like they’ve been praying for months or longer and their waiting never seems to end. And that’s just addressing the current year’s problems.

Many of us have things we’ve prayed about for years and years wondering when or if we will ever receive a positive answer to our pleas.

Typically, I can persistently pray with an “it is what it is” attitude . . . which is my way to trying to cope as I tell myself I’m trying to be patient. But other times, my waiting overwhelms me and I wonder if I should just give up and quit bombarding the gates of heaven with this particular petition.

Maybe you’ve been there . . . or maybe you’re there right now.

Recently, I read the following words…

“Is anything too hard for the Lord.”

Genesis 18:14

God spoke them to Abraham.

Why?

Because for Abraham the wait had been long and he 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.

Can you imagine?! It’s no wonder really that Abraham questioned and Sarah laughed. You and I probably would have done the same.

And that’s when the Lord replied, “Is anything too hard for the Lord.”

But that’s not the only example of God doing the impossible . . . look at 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 a field near Jerusalem as a promise that He would bring the people home . . . 70 years later.

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 the property deed will even be acknowledged.

So, once again, God patiently and lovingly replied to doubt with the words…

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

Jeremiah 32:27

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

No! NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR GOD!

With God . . . ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

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 they wondered if they’d heard God correctly, times when they began to doubt, and even times when their hope began to fade.

Maybe you can relate, I know I can.

When you and I have something or several somethings that we’ve prayed about for years … even decades. The wait is long and hard and possibly even painful. We can get discouraged and even start questioning if we misunderstood and we should just give up hope and stop our persistent praying.

Whatever you are praying for, no matter how long the wait . . . God keeps His anything is possible promises. He is true to His Word! #Faith #GodKeepsHisPromises #BibleTruth #Prayer #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Today, I want to remind you, and me too, of two very important truths.

1. Anything is Possible

Nothing! Absolutely nothing is too hard for God!

Not your broken relationship.
Not your illness.
Not your loneliness.
Not your broken heart.
Not your doubts.
Not the state of the world.
Not the desires of your heart.

Not fires, or climates, or chaos, or anything else this broken world has to offer.

With God, anything and everything is possible.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Matthew 19:26

I do believe even Abraham, Sarah, Jeremiah, and others would all admit that waiting is hard. Which leads to point number two. I’m grabbing hold of verses to hold close when the wait is hard, when my heart is heavy and doubt creeps in because God’s Word tells us exactly what to do in those moments.

2. Never Stop Praying

Having a prayerful attitude acknowledges our total dependence on God. Persistent prayer is an expression of child-like faith.

Paul wrote…

Never stop praying. 

1 Thessalonians 5:17

And Luke shared the following two accounts where Jesus told His disciples about the importance of persistent prayer. 1. Luke 11:5–13 and 2. Luke 18:1–8

Luke 18 begins like this…

One day 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 them about a widow who went to a judge day and night pleading with him to rule in her favor over a dispute she was having with her enemy. And the judge finally does…

Finally, he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

Luke 18:4–5

Jesus not only invites but encourages us to be persistent when we pray.

The Life Application Bible Notes describe persistent prayer the following 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)

Whatever you are praying for, no matter how long the wait . . . God keeps His anything is possible promises. He is true to His Word! #Faith #GodKeepsHisPromises #BibleTruth #Prayer #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Remember…

All things are possible with God!

Mark 10:27

Jesus promised…

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

He also wrote…

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
Whatever you are praying for, no matter how long the wait . . . God keeps His anything is possible promises. He is true to His Word! #Faith #GodKeepsHisPromises #BibleTruth #Prayer #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Friend, when you and I have to wait. When we feel discouraged and want to give up . . . God is faithful. He has promised to always give us what we need.

And I don’t know about you, but what I need most 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 trust Him and 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 and the ability to obey Him.
Courage to face the day when I want to hide in bed.
Love to give Him and others.
And Jesus, who is all you and 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 is hard and sometimes waiting with hope seems impossible. It’s understandable that you and I can take our eyes off Jesus and stare straight at our unchanged circumstances. Yes, even wonder if we should just give up and stop bothering God with the same repetitive need.

But then … when we stop and reread Jesus’ words about God’s “anything is possible” love and our persistent prayer . . . we remember that He sometimes allows us to wait because He is working on our hearts.

So, will you join me as I 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

Whatever you’re waiting on today . . . never stop praying because with God, anything is possible!

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

Verses that will Help You Know and Trust God

How often do we, like Job's friends, give a distorted version of God? These Bible verses tell us the truth to help us know and trust God. #Faith #Truth #BibleStudy #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG #HisGraceGirls

I spent several days recently studying the book of Job.

I have to admit that I can’t get my brain around his story.

Many can relate to having some kind of loss and heartbreak but losing everything … family, possessions and financial security, and health all in a few short days.

Just thinking about it is overwhelming.

It’s easy to understand how Job could have a lot of “why me” questions?

When his friends showed up, they started out well by quietly sitting with him just letting him know they cared. But they fell short when it came to compassionate listening. Unfortunately, as Job started voicing his grief, his friends did what so many of us do…

They explained, or at least they tried to explain, the unexplainable.

We want to have answers for all of life’s problems, don’t we?

We want answers because we believe if we can explain it . . . we can fix it.

So like Job’s friends, we want to blame people for their own problems.

  • They sinned.
  • So they must deserve this suffering.

Right?!

Oh, we may not say those things out loud … but I think we’ve all had times when we’ve allowed ourselves to think them because we want to believe if the suffering person did something to cause their problems we won’t experience those problems.

So regrettably, we can be guilty of self-righteously blaming the person when we’re trying to explain the unexplainable . . . simply because we’re basing our beliefs on the imperfect lens of our own perspective.

So, like Job’s friends, we fall short.

I don’t want to fall short. I want to know and trust the truth of who God is. When I talk about Him, I want to wisely share the truth of who He is. And that means I have to know and trust who He says He is.

I love the following quote from Hannah Whithall Smith:

“It is of vital importance for us to understand that the Bible is a statement, not of theories, but of actual facts; and that things are not true because they are in the Bible, but they are only in the Bible because they are true.”

So, I’m turning to the Bible and gathering verses that tell us who “God says He is…”

Verses that will Help You Know and Trust God

How often do we, like Job's friends, give a distorted version of God? These Bible verses tell us the truth to help us know and trust God. #Faith #Truth #BibleStudy #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG #HisGraceGirls

The Bible says…

God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Numbers 23:19

The Lord your God is a devouring fire; he is a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24

For the Lord your God is a merciful God… Deuteronomy 4:31a

The Lord your God is faithful; He keeps His promises of unfailing love. Deuteronomy 7:9

He is the Rock; His deeds are perfect. Everything He does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright He is! Deuteronomy 32:4

The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you. Deuteronomy 33:27

The Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. Joshua 2:11


God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. Psalm 18:30

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1

For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth. Psalm 47:2

Our God is a God who saves and rescues us from death. Psalm 68:20

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure His greatness. Psalm 145:3

For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does. Psalm 145:13

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving. Daniel 9:9

 God is true. John 3:33

Since [God] did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? Romans 8:32

God will generously provide all you need. 2 Corinthians 9:8

The Word of God is alive and powerful. Hebrews 4:12

God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:20

God is love. 1 John 4:8

God is who He says He is. 

What an amazing gift God has given us in His Word.

When I want to KNOW and TRUST who God says He is, I need to…

  • Personally and prayerfully read the Bible.
  • Spend time with Him in quiet prayer
  • Actively allow the Holy Spirit, through the Bible and prayer, to influence your beliefs and behaviors.
  • Thank and praise Him for His love and forgiveness.
  • Share His love and forgiveness with others.

Hannah W. Smith also wrote:

“I am so absolutely certain that coming to know Him as He really is will bring unfailing comfort and peace to every troubled heart….”

I agree.

I’ve believed that Jesus is the Son of God and my personal Savior for as long as I can remember. In fact, I can’t remember ever not believing in Jesus. But trusting Him for my everyday needs. There I fell short on faith. I was too busy living with fear that I might some day experience some Job-like catastrophe.

But ten plus years ago, following a life crisis, I started doing the things listed above. I wanted to know and trust God every day. So, I needed to really know Him. Not just about Him. I needed to know and trust who He says He is. I wanted and needed to know His character and His heart.

And the blessing is that God used that simple desire to change me. Knowing who He says He is has given me peace. I no longer worry like I used to. I have hope. I am content. I believe God is with me today and will be with me into my eternal future, and I believe that in His presence “it is [always] well with my soul.”

How often do we, like Job's friends, give a distorted version of God? These Bible verses tell us the truth to help us know and trust God. #Faith #Truth #BibleStudy #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG #HisGraceGirls

Will you pray with me today as I ask God to help us know and trust who He says He is?

Father, please help me SEEK to know You every day. I want to know the TRUTH. I want to know who You say You are. Because Father, the enemy of this world (Matthew 13:39) and the father of lies (John 8:44) wants me to have a false worldly idea of who You are. Please stir my heart and mind to spend time with You studying Your Word and sitting with You in prayer. Please give me wisdom (James 1:5) and understanding (Psalm 119:34). And above all else, help me to trust Your love and Your desire to give me everything I need for whatever You allow. Help me trust Your promise . . . Since [God] did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? (Romans 8:32) Thank you, Lord. Your grace truly is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). It is well with my soul. Amen.

May you be blessed today and every day as you SEEK to know and trust God to be who He says He is.

May you and I be able to join Job in saying…

I had only heard about You before, but now I have seen You with my own eyes.

Job 42:5

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

Spirit Inspired Goals for Positive and Successful Planning

A great planner and tips for setting Spirit inspired goals and planning so you can enjoy more peace and live with success. #spiritualseedsplanner #spreadtheseeds #weeklyplanner #faithplanner #ledbythespirit #SpiritInspired #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

It’s hard to believe we’re about to start the last quarter of the year. And it’s been a crazy one for many of us.

I never have been very good at setting goals and consistently planning my days to work toward those goals. I can have good intentions but I fall short when it comes to follow-through.

My problem is that I’m typically more reactive than proactive with my time.

I start the day well . . . I get up each morning and brush my teeth, wash my face, and tame my hair. I get dressed and make the bed. I feed and walk the dog. And then I sit down and spend time with the Lord.

So far so good. But that’s when it starts to head south. From that point on I spend much of my time going “squirrel, squirrel” to almost anything that floats by and distracts me.

A post on social media can have me digging around the internet. An email can send me off to do some online shopping. A news article or opinionated post can agitate and distract me. Or a random memory can put me on a path to visit my reserved spot in a town called melancholy.

I start out positively proactive and end up wondering “what in the world just happened here.”

So, I’m making it a goal to do better with God’s help.

Spirit Inspired Goals for Positive
and Successful Planning

A great planner and tips for setting Spirit inspired goals and planning so you can enjoy more peace and live with success. #spiritualseedsplanner #spreadtheseeds #weeklyplanner #faithplanner #ledbythespirit #SpiritInspired #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22–23

The Life Application Notes say – We can’t obtain the by-products of Christ’s control without His help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our life to His. We must know Him, love, Him, remember Him, and imitate Him.

Brother Lawrence called it “Practicing the Presence of God.”

And because it’s my desire to live by my Spirit inspired goals, I’m adding the following…

♥ Count your blessings every day.

I started “Counting My Blessings” during one of the most difficult times in my life. I launched it to hold myself accountable to noticing God’s goodness in the middle of the pain.

Whatever is going on in the world, even in my world, God’s grace and mercy never change. His perfect love is unfailing!

Whether I write them here in this space, in a journal, or on a piece of paper to drop in a jar or basket, I want to keep a list of the many ways God is providing for and protecting me … heart, mind, body, and soul every single day.

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    may I never forget the good things
He does for me.
He forgives all my sins
    and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and
crowns me with love and tender mercies.

Psalm 103:2–4

♥ Seek God first every day.

What does it mean to “seek God first?”

I often think of it as beginning each day with prayer and Bible study. But I wonder if it’s more than that. I wonder if it’s more of an attitude … if it’s finding my purpose, as I plan my day, in Him.

Do you remember the 5 Purposes of a Purpose Driven Life?

1. You Were Planned for God’s Pleasure.
2. You Were Formed for God’s Family.
3. You Were Created to Become Like Christ.
4. You Were Shaped for Serving God.
5. You Were Made for a Mission. ~Rick Warren

I think it just may be time for me to reread that book! I may be allowing too many “squirrels” to distract me from focusing on and doing what’s most important all day long.

♥ Assess your goals and the progress you’re making.

I’m going to be completely honest with you here…

I am terrible at goal setting, time management, and follow-through.

I am a Sanguine and I like to chase “squirrels!”

So, I can spend all kinds of time making a list of goals and thinking about the best ways to plug them into my schedule. On a good day, I might make it ’til lunchtime before I’ve abandoned them all and gotten off track.

But I am determined to not give up! I’m making a new list of Spirit inspired goals this afternoon and attaching to my new planner.

I want to be able to live my purpose intentionally. And I believe that God sometimes sends interruptions to help me grow in different ways. But I also know . . . not every interruption is from God and it is not God-honoring for me to chase every “squirrel” I see.

So, I want to prayerfully plan my days so I can better live my goals.

A great planner and tips for setting Spirit inspired goals and planning so you can enjoy more peace and live with success. #spiritualseedsplanner #spreadtheseeds #weeklyplanner #faithplanner #ledbythespirit #SpiritInspired #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

♥ Plan for the future but live one day at a time.

This is where I need help. I’m a recovering worrier. So, I typically plan and worry with lousy completion.

Which is why I am so excited to tell you about…

Planning with Spirit Inspired Goals

Spiritual Seeds Planner

Spiritual Seeds Planner is a planning tool designed to help Christians prioritize living a fruit filled life, guided by the Holy Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control. (Galatians 5:22-23) The planner uses a gardening theme concentrating on four garden plots – Friends/Family, Self, Community, Vocation/Work. Each month focuses on one Fruit, detailing actions to plant + cultivate + grow.  Actions are planned daily for highest yield. Cute garden themed stickers provide visuals for tracking growth. Unlike any other planner, Spiritual Seeds Planner prioritizes and plans Spiritual growth over daily “to do” lists and activities focusing on growth rather than achievement. 

What makes it different:

  • Puts God in charge
  • Inspired, led, and powered by the Holy Spirit
  • Based on Scripture
  •  Impacts all areas of life
  • Improves relationships
  • Fills life with an abundance of Spiritual Fruit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control

Features:

  • Easy to follow instructions with visuals
  • Vision Board 
  • Monthly Fruit Focus & Planning Pages
  • Monthly Inspirational Prayers 
  • Weekly Planning
  • Beautiful faux leather cover
  • Fruit of the Spirit Bookmark with definitions and scriptures
  • Fun Garden Themed Stickers 
  • Back pocket 
  • Blank pages for notes
  • Brown Ribbon Bookmark
  • Monthly Tabs

I received my 2021 Spiritual Seeds Planner a couple of weeks ago and I can’t tell you how excited I am.

I have tried so many different planners over the years but I’ve never found one that helped me incorporate my spiritual goals and my daily planning. I don’t want to segment my days into spiritual stuff and life stuff . . . not when I want to practice God’s presence all day every day. I need the Spirit’s help to apply God’s goals for my life into my daily schedule. This planner is the perfect source.

And I have some exciting news for you!

The designers of this planner have a couple offers for my readers:

You can get 20% off when you use the CODE – FRUITOFSPIRIT

at

https://spiritualseedsplanner.com

AND
A Giveaway

https://www.blessedfreebies.com/spiritual-seeds-planner.html

I’m not very artistic or creative but I’m looking forward to the motivating and inspiriting helps of this planner to help me focus on my goals for positive and successful planning in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

May God bless you as His Spirit inspires you and helps you fulfill your goals.

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

When You Want to Pray with Thankfulness and Praise

Do you want to pray and live with thankfulness and praise even when busyness and frustrations get in the way and distract you? This will help you. #Prayer #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

It’s so easy to get caught up in the dailiness of life.

I get busy just doing and living and somehow forget to fill moments with thankfulness and praise.

Oh, I can be convincing when I talk about it in this space but the doing it, the consistently offering an attitude of thankfulness and praise . . . yeah, that can get pushed aside by the more pressing and noisy. And I don’t know about you, but based on what I read on social media, I think there are many of us who are struggling to bubble over with gratitude this year.

But this week, I am pausing to remember how 13 years God gave us a miracle and spared Rev’s life. So, I’m pausing to ignore the negativity of 2020 and praise God for the blessing He gave us in 2017. I’m thanking Him for 4,750 plus bonus days and for the many people who left handprints on our hearts through an extremely difficult season.

And I want to continue to remember that even when the year is challenging, God is with me in countless ways using people to touch my life with His grace, mercy, and love.

So, today I am praying with intentional thankfulness and praise. I’ve found 5 verses that I want to hold close and pray often. And I hope and pray they bless you as well.

Verses to Pray with Thankfulness and Praise

Do you want to pray and live with thankfulness and praise even when busyness and frustrations get in the way and distract you? This will help you. #Prayer #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

PSALM 9:1

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds. 

Father, I am so sorry. I’m ashamed at how easily I can fail to remember Your goodness and grace as I focus on what I believe is wrong or lacking. I am sorry that I allow busyness to distract and overwhelm me. Please forgive me. I want my life to be filled with thankfulness and praise. I want to humbly focus on all the things You have done for me and on all the ways You have worked in my life. My heart’s desire is to tell of all the wonderful ways You bless us. By Your grace, fill me with Your Spirit and with a heartful of thanks. Amen.

PSALM 106:1

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. 

Father, I want to thank you for all You do but most of all I want to praise You for who You are. You are good! You are love. You are all I need now and forever.

Thank you for giving us Your Holy Spirit to whisper reminders of Your promises to my heart and mind. By Your grace, help me stay connected to You through Your Word and prayer. And when I am distracted or I begin to wander help me remember that You keep every promise You have ever made and faithfully meet my every need. Thank you, Lord!

PSALM 118:21–24

I will give you thanks, for You answered me;
    You have become my salvation.

The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad. 

Jesus, My greatest need in life is the gift of salvation You give. Thank you for living the perfect life that I fall short of every single day. Thank you for suffering my punishment and dying for my sins. Thank you for giving me hope along with a full and satisfying life. (John 10:10) And thank you for the resurrection that gives me the promise of a beautiful perfect life with You in heaven forever. Whatever is going on in my life – You are forever more than enough! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

1 CORINTHIANS 15:57

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Father, thank you for the victory You have given me in and through Jesus. Victory over today’s problems and Satan’s lies. You give me all I need to overcome any problem or challenge. (Romans 8) And by the power of Your Spirit, I have the gift of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and love. (Galatians 5) An arsenal that helps me live with courage and strength. Thank you! Your grace and the victory I have through Jesus is all I need.

Do you want to pray and live with thankfulness and praise even when busyness and frustrations get in the way and distract you? This will help you. #Prayer #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

COLOSSIANS 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Father, living with thankfulness and praise is living for You and for Your glory. May every word I speak and thing I do — come from a grateful heart. Help me remember that as Your child every word I speak and every thing I do become the thoughts and opinions people have about who You are. Forgive me. Help me. You are my everything and I am so full of gratitude. May I live each day to bring honor and glory to Your name.

PHILIPPIANS 1:3

I thank my God every time I remember you. 

Father, thank you for the community of friends who gather here in this place. I am so very thankful for each of them. They bless and encourage me. Father, bless them and hold them close. Please meet every need and bless them as they do their best to live for Your glory. Give them joy as they serve You and fill them with thankfulness and praise. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

And in thankfulness and praise…

I am so thankful for you, my friends!

May you be filled with joy, may you celebrate many bonus days, and may the Lord pour His blessings over every part of your life.

I’d love for you to take a moment to leave a comment today and tell us the verse that encourages you when you need to remember to offer thankfulness and praise when life is distracting or difficult.

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

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

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When You Need to Replace What’s Negative with the Truth

The best way to get along with others and replace what's negative with the truth is to focus on who God is and all that He's done for us. #Philippians4 #Positivity #Truth #Faith #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Worry, anxiety, envy, anger, frustration, discouragement, self-pity, etc.

It’s everywhere! And it’s hurting our mental health and our relationships.

At the moment it seems worse than ever. The news is depressing and everywhere you look people are frustrated and discouraged.

But the truth is, it’s always been this way. Negativity is just part of life.

Since the enemy tempted Eve and sin entered the Garden, there has been a consistent stream of negative thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors leading to serious problems.

You’re probably familiar with the following quote:

“Watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
~ Author Unknown

The Bible says it this way:

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.

Proverbs 4:23(GNT)

What you and I think and the attitudes we form from those thoughts are the most critical contributors to our conversations, behaviors, and in general how we live. We need help to replace what’s negative in our lives.

So, I decided to turn to Philippians 4, because I know I need help and I thought you might need help, too.

When You Need to Replace What’s Negative with the Truth

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s 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

Don’t worry about anything – Anything! Whew, that’s hard. But Paul’s next words are the best way to eliminate worry…

Instead, pray about everything – Turning anxious and upset thoughts into prayers turns my focus from the problem to the One who is the Problem Solver.

Tell God what you need – He already knows what you and I need, but talking to Him about our negative thoughts reminds us that we can surrender everything to His all-sufficient grace, mercy, and love. He will help us replace what’s negative.

Thank Him for all He has done – And when I thank God for His faithfulness and blessings and remember all that He has brought me through in the past, it helps me trust Him with my uncertain future.  

Then you will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand – God’s peace is grounded on faith, hope, and trust in His love. You and I can be confident He will always give us what we need each day (even if it’s not what we want). It’s impossible to understand or explain God’s supernatural peace, but when we are blessed to experience it, we know it is a gift that comes from His grace. 

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus – Which sounds like the perfect antidote to negativity. 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.

Focus 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.

And that pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it?

The best way to get along with others and replace what's negative with the truth is to focus on who God is and all that He's done for us. #Philippians4 #Positivity #Truth #Faith #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

There is something else I find noteworthy about this section of Paul’s letter to the people in Philippi.

It starts with…

Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. v. 2

We don’t know what these two women were arguing about, but we do know it was a big enough problem that Paul heard about it 800 miles away in Rome.

Arguing is nothing new. Jealousy, anger, frustration, and fighting are as old as the first brothers, Cain and Abel. But I love that Paul tells them to work it out . . . to settle their disagreement even if they had to agree to disagree. And don’t you love how he tells them to do it…

Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Philippians 4:4–5

He goes on to tell them how to do it.

Replace What’s Negative with the Truth By…

Quit worrying. Pray—tell God what you need and thank Him for what He has done. Know His peace—a peace that protects your heart and mind. v. 6–7

Keep your thoughts on things that are:

True – Accurate and trustworthy.

Honorable – Building reputations not tearing down.

Right – Fair and just.

Pure – Clean and uncontaminated.

Lovely – Beautiful and pleasant.

Admirable – Respectable and good.

Excellent and Worthy of Praise – Wonderful and God-pleasing.

Now, I’ll admit in our sin-filled world, it seems impossible to keep our thoughts exclusively positive 24/7.

We tell ourselves we can’t help it. There’s so much flying by. The news, social media, and gossip-filled phone calls. Reports presented as truth later revealed as being less than accurate. Posts complete with photos of luxurious vacations and super-children that make us envious. And “ain’t it awful” whispers that invite us to judge.

Whew! The temptations are continuous…

I took a break in the middle of writing this to eat my lunch and decided to quickly scroll through my Facebook feed. Many posts from friends were encouraging and shared Bible verses and posts from their Faith Blogs but others were “ain’t it awful” news reports and articles intended to sway public opinions one way or another.

And it didn’t take more than a few minutes for me to find myself feeling anxious and discouraged . . . AGAIN!

So, I’m making a list of the things I can do to help me change my focus and replace what’s negative with the truth! You might like to try it too…

  • Admit that I’m Overwhelmed by the Negativity – because I won’t change something I don’t acknowledge.
  • Stop and Pray – surrender my negative feelings to God and ask for the Spirit’s help.
  • Give Thanks – list at least 3 blessings, things for which I’m thankful.
  • Trash Negative Thoughts – thoughts are just thoughts, I don’t have to believe all the negative ones or allow them to linger. So, I’m going to imagine myself physically taking the negative ones and tossing them in the trash.
  • Avoid Obvious Triggers – I want to take more intentional breaks from social media, the news, and negative people.
  • Clean Up My Space – I don’t do well with chaos and sometimes chaos in my environment causes chaos in my head. I don’t like to clean but a neat home always makes me feel better. It might help you, too.
  • Do Something Positive – it’s helpful to pause and take a break to do something I love – play with the dog, call a friend, read a book, etc.
  • Remember the Big Picture – pause and ask if this will matter a year from now. Five years. 10. And remember that God will always be on the throne now and forever.
  • Do What I Can or Let It Go – If I can do something about it, I should . . . but if not, I need to let it go and stop worrying about it.
  • Do Something Encouraging and Kind for Someone Else – I used to volunteer at our local Children’s Hospital and hold babies in the NICU. Volunteer to do something you love . . . help a friend, send a card or notes, make a call, etc.
  • Laugh – I love to laugh! And I think we all need to laugh a little more at the moment. Remember it’s healthy . . . it’s good therapy and a great ab workout too!
The best way to get along with others and replace what's negative with the truth is to focus on who God is and all that He's done for us. #Philippians4 #Positivity #Truth #Faith #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Take one more look at Paul’s initial words to Euodia and Syntyche:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon!

Philippians 4:4–5

That kind of sums it all up doesn’t it.

You and I can replace what’s negative with the truth and be full of joy when we remember all that the Lord has done and continues to do for us. And with God’s help, we can be considerate of others’ thoughts and feelings even when life is less than ideal and we don’t agree with those thoughts and feelings.

Because when we look at life with the truth of an eternal perspective, we will remember that the Lord is returning to take us home to heaven and well, everything else wanes in comparison.

I’ll admit, it’s not easy. Sometimes it can even feel satisfying to reflect on all that’s wrong in the world while we feel sorry for ourselves.

But God’s truth challenges us and reminds us to keep what’s important . . . important. And with His help we can…

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 (NCV)

We can think about how very much we are forgiven and loved by the God of the Universe!

Now it’s your turn. What do you do to replace what’s negative with the truth?

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

Pray When You are Confused About an Uncertain Tomorrow

Helping you live with boldness when you are confused by an uncertain tomorrow although things try to get in the way with God's help, you can LIVE today! #LiveToday #TomorrowisANewDay #Prayer #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

When our daughter was a toddler she found the difference between today and tomorrow very confusing.

We’ would say, “We are going to to do (something fun) tomorrow.”

And she would always respond with delight and great enthusiasm.

But the next morning when she got up she would ask, “Is it tomorrow?”

Of course, we would reply, “No, it’s today.”

At which point she would get very sad and say, “But I want it to be tomorrow so we can do __________.”

(It sounds like our personal version of who’s on first, doesn’t it?)

And even when we would tell her, “Honey, we are going to do __________.”

She would look at us confused and say, “But it’s not tomorrow.”

Little children aren’t the only ones who have trouble understanding the difference between today and tomorrow.

You and I can so easily waste today worrying about tomorrow. Waiting for tomorrow. Procrastinating until tomorrow. Starting over tomorrow.

But the truth is, whatever we think about tomorrow we can only live today.

Corrie ten Boom wrote:

“Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

So, let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says and surrender our worry and uncertainty about tomorrow to the Lord.

Pray When You are Confused About an Uncertain Tomorrow

Helping you live with boldness when you are confused by an uncertain tomorrow although things try to get in the way with God's help, you can LIVE today! #LiveToday #TomorrowisANewDay #Prayer #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

When You’re Worried and Uncertain about Tomorrow

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” 

Matthew 6:34

Father, I surrender my thoughts to You. Please grant me Your peace and help me live today without worrying about tomorrow. By Your grace, help me know the difference between planning for tomorrow and worrying about tomorrow. Guide me as I set goals and help me put You first in everything I do . . . that I might live each day for Your glory. Amen.

When You’re Tired of Waiting for “Tomorrow”

Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

Father, Please give me the courage and strength I need today. Sometimes today is hard because You’re asking me to wait. Please give me patience. By Your grace, give me everything I need to trust You today. Whatever is going on in my life . . . You promise to give me everything I need when I seek You first. Please lead me today, make Your will clear to me, and give me all I need to follow You in faith today. Amen.

“Darkness comes. In the middle of it, the future looks blank. The temptation to quit is huge. Don’t. You are in good company… You will argue with yourself that there is no way forward. But with God, nothing is impossible. He has more ropes and ladders and tunnels out of pits than you can conceive. Wait. Pray without ceasing. Hope.” ~John Piper

When You’re Tempted to Procrastinate Until Tomorrow

“Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week” ~a Spanish Proverb

Fight the good fight of faith, grabbing hold of the life that continues forever. You were called to have that life when you confessed the good confession before many witnesses. 

Ephesians 5:15–17

Father, please give me the strength I need today. By Your grace, help me plan my days well without over-planning so I’m not tempted to procrastinate. Give me the energy I need each day and help me remember to pause and rest in Your presence. By Your all-sufficient grace help me stay focused on You that I might do Your will as You reveal it to me. Amen.

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” ~Abraham Lincoln

When You’re Tempted to Carry Guilt and Shame Into Tomorrow

“The voice of sin is loud, but the voice of forgiveness is louder.” ~Dwight L. Moody

 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

Father, I am so sorry for failing to trust and obey Your will the way You want. I try so hard but fall short every day. And the enemy taunts and tells me I’m useless, that I’ll never change, that I need to wear my guilt like a label across my heart. But You are faithful to forgive because You want to forgive. You proved Your unfailing love by allowing Jesus to suffer my punishment on the cross.

Thank you! Help me live today with the joy of forgiveness and help me generously extend that same loving forgiveness to the people You place around me. Thank you for washing me clean today and for every new tomorrow You give me to try again. Amen.

Helping you live with boldness when you are confused by an uncertain tomorrow although things try to get in the way with God's help, you can LIVE today! #LiveToday #TomorrowisANewDay #Prayer #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” ~L.M.Montgomery

When You Need to Remember to LIVE Today

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” ~Martin Luther

The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
    He leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to His name.

Psalm 23:1–3

Father, thank you for Your provision, guidance, and rest. You truly do give me everything I need each day. Please help me walk peacefully with You today. Keep me from worrying about tomorrow’s unknown and give me the faith I need to trust You even when I don’t understand. Life can be hard and confusing but when You are with me teaching and leading . . . I have Your all-sufficient grace to flourish in the good things You have prepared for me. I love You, Lord. You are all I need today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen.

I love this quote from Henri Nouwen. It reminds of simple ways you and I can live for God’s glory today . . . without worrying about tomorrow’s uncertainty.

“Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.”

So friends,

Celebrate today.
Live with confidence that God has You covered in His grace, mercy, and love.
Have hope for tomorrow, but don’t wait for it to live . . . get up and boldly experience all God has for you.
Follow where the Lord leads you and trust Him to bless you with the goodness of life that only He can give. 

May He bless you today and tomorrow!

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

How to Trust God’s Love When You are Suffering

How do you trust God's love when you feel like He is the One who is allowing your pain and suffering? 5 ways to trust God's "no" when it's hard. #StrengthinSuffering #TrustGod'sLove #Faith #Hope #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

What do you do when you feel like God is the One who is allowing your pain and suffering?

You’ve prayed to get well, to be free of pain, for a healed relationship . . . for the desire of your heart.

The Bible says, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” Psalm 37:4

You’ve done your best to do “good.” You’ve tried to obey His commands. Maybe you’ve even dedicated your life to serving Him in ministry. You’ve made every effort to “delight” in Him.

Yet for reasons beyond your ability to understand, no matter how much you pray in faith . . . God seems to be saying ‘no!’

And you can’t seem to shake the one thought that keeps repeating . . . it’s not fair!

To make things worse, like salt in a wound, everywhere you look, people who don’t even seem appreciative, have the very thing your heart longs for and you find yourself giving in to jealousy, tantrums, and self-pity.

So, you add whining and complaining to your prayers, like a child trying to get a parent to soften and give you what you want.

But nothing changes…

You wait and pray and wait and pray some more but you’re still sick. Still in pain. Still single. Still longing for a child, a job, a home, a _________.

This may be your story. It has been mine.

I had a heart’s desire years ago and I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it . . . God’s ‘no’ was simply unacceptable. I pouted, complained, whined, and refused to trust that God had a better plan for me.

Without giving you all the ugly details, I’ll tell you I learned a very big lesson the hard way.

Praise God for His forgiving grace, mercy, and love. He patiently showed me His better way. He taught me that I can trust His “no” even when it’s hard and I don’t want to. He taught 5 important truths . . . reasons I can trust His will even when it’s not my desire.

How to Trust God’s Love When You are Suffering

How do you trust God's love when you feel like He is the One who is allowing your pain and suffering? 5 ways to trust God's "no" when it's hard. #StrengthinSuffering #TrustGod'sLove #Faith #Hope #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

5 Reasons Why You and I can Trust God’s “No”

1. Trust God’s NO because EVERYthing God allows is filtered through His love.

Love is God’s character and He cannot do anything that is outside of who He is. He sees the big picture of our lives and always knows and does what is best for our eternal future even though we don’t understand and it doesn’t feel like it.

Joni Eareckson Tada once wrote…

“Real satisfaction comes not in understanding God’s motives, but in understanding His character, in trusting in His promises, and in leaning on Him and resting in Him as the Sovereign who knows what He is doing and does all things well.”

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

Psalm 143:8

2. Trust God’s NO because His goodness covers EVERYthing He allows.

God is good! Everything He does is good! You and I live in a sinful broken world and often have to live out the consequences of that truth. But although this life can be hard, God is always at work for our good in ways that will give Him glory.

All He does is just and good, and all His commandments are trustworthy. 

Psalm 111:17

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. 

Romans 8:28

3. Trust God’s NO because He sees the beginning from the end and may be saying “no” to protect you. 

You and I make God too small. He is everlasting. He knows your past and your future. He knows the lives you will touch and knows how best to bless you always keeping your eternal future in mind.

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.

2 Peter 3:8

4. Trust God’s NO while you do what you can and leave the rest to Him.

It’s important for you and me to get up each day and focus on what we can do. It helps me to focus on counting my blessings and remembering what I have rather than dwelling on what’s lacking. My goal is to do my best with the Spirit’s help to trust God’s plans and purposes one day at a time remembering they always include love . . . very big love. And because of His love, He will give me what I need to endure whatever He allows.

“Harness the power of today. Seize the blessings of today! Make something happen, enhance your life, make someone laugh, help a friend, love, love, love!”  ~Steve Maraboli

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

Lamentations 3:22–23

5. Trust God’s NO as you lean deep into His love through prayer and study of His Word.

When life is hardest . . . I need God the most. So, I turn to Him through His Word and prayer, and by His grace, I begin to rest in His love. With the Spirit’s help, my experience has been that when I lean into the Lord in faith, He is faithful to give me what I need to live that day.

The Lord also keeps safe those who suffer. He is a safe place in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will put their trust in You. For You, O Lord, have never left alone those who look for You. 

Psal, 9:9–10 (NLV)

“I won’t tell you it will be easy. It won’t.”

Walking through a valley of grief and heartache is an arduous journey but it is not one we have to take alone.

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

Satan will consistently use your pain, your broken heart to tempt you to doubt God’s love, give up, and to try to take care of things on your own.

Martin Luther said that his tactics have never changed … the lie is still the same as it was in the Garden…

“The sin underneath all our sins is to trust the lie of the serpent that we cannot trust the love and grace of Christ and must take matters into our own hands” ~Martin Luther

I have learned the hard way – that God’s ways are best. I’ve lived out the consequences of falling for the enemy’s lies, and I’ve come to believe with all my heart that God’s grace saturates everything He allows and His protecting hand of mercy surrounds anything He denies.

This isn’t fatalism. It’s faith!

Whatever you are facing today, remember…

God will walk with you through this valley. You can trust His goodness and love … He has proven just how much through His Son, Jesus. You are not alone!

He promised…

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. 

2 Corinthians 12:8–9

I love this quote from Babbie Mason in Trust His Heart…

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand.
When you don’t see His plan.
When you can’t trace His hand.
Trust His Heart!

My friend, Horace Williams, has written an awesome new book,
The Furnace of Affliction

In The Furnace of Affliction: How God Uses Our Pain and Suffering for His Purpose, Horace Williams Jr. tackles this challenging topic. Based on the Word of God, insights from other leaders, and his studies, he addresses several key points, including: 

  • How pain develops our faith
  • How pain determines our path
  • How pain delivers comfort, joy, and peace
  • And how pain deepens our commitment to God. 

Packed with personal stories and scripture to support his points, Horace shares his insights on the problem of pain. His candid and straightforward communication style engages the reader as he addresses this critical topic for the body of Christ today. 

I really loved this book. I’ve known Horace for a number of years but there was so much of his story I didn’t know. God has allowed pain and problems in his life and Horace is turning it into an opportunity to give God glory. This book is both powerful and inspiring. It even offers study questions at the end of each chapter to help you personalize your own journey.

Finally, leave a comment and tell us how you are learning to trust God’s love even when you’re suffering.

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

Pray When You Need More of Jesus

When I’m tired. When is out of control. When everyone and everything has gotten on my last nerve. When I discouraged . . . I need more of Jesus. #Jesus #Hope #Faith #Prayer #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Stop with me for a moment and think about the following two quotes:

You’re a soul made by God, made for God, and made to need God—you were not made to be self-sufficient. ~Dallas Willard

“[Jesus] is a portion that exactly and directly suits the condition of the soul. The desires of the soul, and the necessities of the soul, and the wants of the soul, and the longings of the soul, and the prayers of the soul.

The soul can crave nothing, nor wish for nothing, but what is to be found in Christ. He is light to enlighten the soul, wisdom to counsel the soul, power to support the soul, goodness to supply the soul, mercy to pardon the soul, beauty to delight the soul, glory to ravish the soul, and fullness to fill the soul.” ~ Thomas Brooks (17th Century Preacher)

What is your soul?

The soul is the key to our lives . . . it unites your heart, your mind, and your spirit together. Your soul is who you are—who God created you to be.

And your soul and mine craves more of Jesus.

There is nothing or no one we need more!

Nothing you and I can desire or crave can satisfy our souls more than a close relationship with Jesus. 

Yet, even though you know that to be true, if you’re like me, you are still so easily distracted and discouraged by life. 

Right now, I know many of us are fighting feelings of discouragement. We long for life to go back to normal. We’re fatigued, frustrated and frightened.

And when I’m tired. When my life is out of control. When everyone and everything has gotten on my last nerve. When I’m focused on “what ifs” and “what could be’s,” when I’m discouraged . . . I need more of Jesus.

I need the One “who exactly and directly suits the condition of my soul!”

So, I’m praying and if you need more of Jesus too – I’d love for you to join me.

Pray When You Need More of Jesus

When I’m tired. When is out of control. When everyone and everything has gotten on my last nerve. When I discouraged . . . I need more of Jesus. #Jesus #Hope #Faith #Prayer #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

O Lord, You are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for Your help.

Psalm 86:5

Lord Jesus, there are moments when the reality of my sin overwhelms me and I come to You with a humble heart asking for Your forgiveness. Then You wrap me in Your love and forgiveness and I have everything I need.

Your love is greater than life. Please help me keep my eyes on You. When the enemy tries to distract me, when I am distressed and discouraged remind me of Your love and forgiveness. Because of Your grace and unfailing love, help me Lord as I put my trust in You.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.

Romans 4:3–5

Lord, I admit I don’t want problems or trials. If I could choose, I would pick blue skies and peaceful water. But I know You are able to help me endure with strength. I know You are the source of my hope. You are love and You fill my heart.

Please fill me with Your love. By the power of Your Spirit, please help me want You more than anything this life has to offer me. Help me want what You want for me trusting that You want what is best.

Lord, I surrender myself to You in faith and love.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
    but God remains the strength of my heart;
    He is mine forever.

Psalm 73:25–26

Lord, this is my prayer . . . that nothing in my life would be more important than You.

You gave me this verse at one of the worst times of my life. I have and will always hold it in my heart. It reminds me every day that whatever happens, whatever You allow . . . You will always be with me giving me what I need. Knowing You are mine forever, Lord, keep me focused on Your love. Fill me with Your Spirit. Give me all I need to trust and obey. By Your grace and for Your glory.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 

John 15:9–11

Lord Jesus, Your love overwhelms me. You sacrificed everything. You walked along-side sinful people yet never sinned. You taught us what pure love looks like. You experienced pain, suffering, and death to give us life. And out of love, You gave Your Spirit to guide and help us.

This life can be hard, but You know that. The enemy is constantly working to prevent us from trusting and obeying You. But Your Word says that You will give us the courage and strength we need. Please keep me faithful to reading and knowing Your Word. Help me Seek You above all else that I might remain in Your love and live with overflowing joy.

Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37–39

Thank you, Lord Jesus. I am forever and ever secure in Your love. Nothing can ever change Your love because nothing can change You. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I want to love, trust, and obey You perfectly. I need Your help. Please grant the desire of my heart that I might decrease so You might increase in me and through me. Please give me everything I need . . . give me more of your Spirit, give me more or You, Jesus.

Help me want You Jesus, more than anything. Amen.

When I’m tired. When is out of control. When everyone and everything has gotten on my last nerve. When I discouraged . . . I need more of Jesus. #Jesus #Hope #Faith #Prayer #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

When you and I have more of Jesus in our lives we also have”

  • less drama.
  • less selfishness.
  • less complaining.
  • less bitterness.
  • less gossip.
  • less pride.
  • less anger.
  • less self-righteousness.
  • less fear and anxiety.
  • less of the things that steal our joy.

And I want that . . . don’t you?

Finally, I’d like to share a quote from Louie Giglio…

Jesus doesn’t just give you what you need; Jesus is what you need. Your heart was created by Him, for Him. You can fight and claw to gain the world, but without Jesus, you will never be completely satisfied.

If there is a growing discontent deep inside your heart—a hunger that hasn’t been completely satisfied by the people, pleasures, parties, material things, or accomplishments—today is the day to open your heart to the idea that it is Jesus that you were made for. But you have to walk away from “less,” and ask Him to become your “more.” Jesus is enough for you, and He is here.

May you be abundantly blessed with overflowing joy and more of Jesus!

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

10 Things You Can Do that will Make You a Great Friend

God made us to live in community, He created us for friendship and with His help, you and I can do what it takes to be a great friend and love well. #Friendship #FriendshipQuotes #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

It’s been a weird season for friendships, hasn’t it?

We’ve spent much less time with each other in person and our online relationships seem to be burdened by the overshadowing of divisive views and opinions being tossed in the air like confetti.

It’s funny! Some friendships seem effortless and last a lifetime and others crash and burn even though we give them everything we’ve got to give.

We learn about ourselves and others through our friendships, don’t we?

I have to admit, that I’ve wondered lately if social media doesn’t give us a distorted view of means to be a great friend.

Online, friendships come and go with a click of a button.

And they’re easy, right? Where else can you and I keep up with hundreds of friendships without ever leaving the house?

But unfortunately, it can seem like online quantity is more highly rated than quality and appearances are more important than authenticity. And I wonder if deep down we don’t long for greater real honest friendships.

God made us to live in community. He created us to share a closeness … and with His help, we can be great friends in person and online.

So I want to take a couple of minutes take a closer look at friendship. Maybe we can be encouraged toward having the great friendships we all need and want.

What exactly is a friend anyway?

A friend is defined as:

  • A person attached to another by feelings of affection.
  • A person whom you know, like, and trust.
  • A person with whom you enjoy spending time.

A great friend is someone who:

  • Wants what is best for you.
  • Shows empathy and sympathy, compassion, and understanding.
  • Allows individuality without fear of judgment.
  • Understands balance and the importance of give-and-take.

Important characteristics of a great friend:

  • They take time to develop.
  • Are based on honesty and trust.
  • Reflect kindness, compassion, and caring.
  • Are not selfish.
  • Protects the privacy of your story.
  • Encourages your goals and dreams.
  • _______________ (What would you add?)
God made us to live in community, He created us for friendship and with His help, you and I can do what it takes to be a great friend and love well. #Friendship #FriendshipQuotes #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Bible Verses that Define Friendship:

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 1 John 4:11

Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.” Proverbs 26:18-19 (honest)

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Colossians 3:13

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Romans 12:15–16

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17

Wow, wouldn’t it be amazing if all our friendships looked like that!

The truth is…

A great friend values we over me.

I want to know how well I’m doing, so here are some questions I’m asking myself:

  • Am I always gently and respectfully honest with my friends? Are they honest with me?
  • Do I quickly forgive a friend’s flaws? Do they forgive me?
  • Do I talk about my friend’s problems to others? Do they talk about me?
  • Am I quick to help and encourage a friend? Are they helpful and encouraging?
  • Have we invited God into our friendship?
  • Am I willing to make some necessary changes to enjoy the blessing of great friendship? What will that mean?

To help, I’ve come up with 10 important qualities needed in every friendship.

God made us to live in community, He created us for friendship and with His help, you and I can do what it takes to be a great friend and love well. #Friendship #FriendshipQuotes #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

10 Things You Can Do that will Make You a Great Friend

1. Do Be an Encourager, not a Flatterer 

Flattery is just sugar-coated manipulation and no matter how sweetly it’s presented manipulation is selfish and unloving. Encouragement is love in words and action. Go ahead … give compliments generously – but do it for them and be sincere!

So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

2. Do Be Understanding and Helpful

Sometimes all it takes is a listening ear or a caring note. Other times it may be providing a meal or sitting in a hospital waiting room. Whatever it is . . . as much as it is possible, friends help each other.

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Galatians 6:2–3 (MSG)

3. Do Be Honest

Trust is an important and essential part of any close relationship. Lies destroy trust. So tell the truth but do it respectfully and kindly.

An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship. Proverbs 24:26

4. Do Be Compassionate

Show that you care about your friend and their problems without being judgmental. Listen without judgment

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6:36

5. Do Be Respectful of Boundaries

Healthy friendships aren’t clingy. Each person values the other’s personal space and preferences. Boundaries are a healthy and important part of great friendships.

“Good boundaries prevent resentment.” ~ Dr. Henry Cloud

God made us to live in community, He created us for friendship and with His help, you and I can do what it takes to be a great friend and love well. #Friendship #FriendshipQuotes #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

6. Do not Gossip

Friends shouldn’t gossip with you or about you. Because the unfortunate truth is … If they will do it with you, they will do it to you.

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. Proverbs 16:28

7. Do not Judge

The simple facts are you never have all the information. You haven’t lived their experiences and you probably don’t know the whole story.

Remember…

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.” Luke 6:37

8. Do not Pry 

If your friend doesn’t want to talk about it—let it go. They’ll talk when they’re ready. 

“True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable.” ~ David Tyson Gentry

9. Do not Envy

You may wish you could enjoy their blessings, but I promise you don’t want their problems. Every life has a blend of good and bad.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

10. Do not Make Promises You Can’t or Won’t Keep

To the best of your ability be reliable. Being trustworthy is one of the most important parts of all relationships.

“May the Lord make us keep our promises to each other, for He has witnessed them.” 1 Samuel 20:23

And that’s my list of the 10 Most Important Things to Do if You Want to Be a Great Friend.

Now, let me also add that I’m a huge fan of simply having fun and laughing together as often as possible. God made us to live life together. To share our laughter and our tears. And He has given us everything we need to encourage each other with love.

Today, if you have one or more great friends . . . stop for a moment and thank God, then reach out and thank them.

Finally, tell us . . . what’s on your list of “important” important things to do to be a great friend?

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

Simple Prayers that will Help You Praise and Worship Every Day

What is "praise and worship"? Is it something to do on weekends or part of your daily life? These prayers will help you praise and worship God every day. #PraiseandWorship #WorshipVerses #Prayer #BibleQuotes #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

What do you think of when you hear the words “praise and worship”?

Is it something you do on the weekend or the music you sing along to at home or in the car.

What if it’s more basic than that? What if praise is simply the expression of worship and worship is…

Well, let’s take a closer look at the definition of worship.

In 1828, Webster’s Dictionary defined worship as:

Worship is 1.to adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration 2. to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.

And the most recent version of Webster’s Dictionary defines it as:

Worship is 1. to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power 2. to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion.

Although the definitions are similar, I think the worship God wants from us is part two of the 1828 version . . . to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.

It seems that Brother Lawrence could best relate to that explanation as well. He once wrote:

“To worship God is to admit that we are entirely contrary to Him and that He is willing to make us like Himself.”

You see, God knows you and I are contrary. He knows we’re not going to do life “right” not any part of it—not even worship.

Jesus told us how God wants us to worship Him.

Jesus said,

“The time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:23–24

The Life Application Bible Notes say this about Jesus’ words…

It is not where we worship that counts, but how we worship. Is your worship genuine and true? Do you have the Holy Spirit’s help? How does the Holy Spirit help us worship? [He] prays for us (Romans 8:26), teaches us the words of Christ (John 14:26), and tells us we are loved (Romans 5:5).

Knowing we are loved . . . having Jesus’ example and the Spirit’s help gives us what we need to worship in Spirit and Truth!

So, today, with the Spirit’s help, we are going to lift up prayers of praise and worship.

Because…

“Worship is our response to the overtures of love from the heart of the Father.” ~Richard J. Foster

Will you join me in responding to the Father’s love by praying this prayers of praise and worship.

Simple Prayers that will Help You Praise and Worship Every Day

What is "praise and worship"? Is it something to do on weekends or part of your daily life? These prayers will help you praise and worship God every day. #Prayer #BibleQuotes #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the flock under His care.

Psalm 95:6–7

Father, I come to You with quiet awe and humble adoration. Your loving and watchful care surrounds me. I have nothing to fear and no need to worry because You are with me. You go before me on the paths You have prepared for me and You follow me and protect me from behind. By Your grace, I have everything I need to live this day without the baggage of yesterday or the burdens of tomorrow.

You created me for this time and place. Please use me for Your glory that everything I do and say might be a testimony of who You are and that I belong to You. By Your grace and with Your help, may my life be an act of praise and worship to You!

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

Psalm 103:1–4

Father, You are so gracious and good. You gave Your only Son, Jesus, to save me from sin, death, and satan’s power. And through all Jesus has done for me, You allow me to come to You and receive complete forgiveness and the ultimate healing of heaven.

You surround me with love and compassion, righteousness and justice. No matter what I am experiencing, You are always worthy of my praise and worship. I thank you, Lord! Please help me live each day in ways that show You, and everyone I come in contact with, how very much I love You.

O Lord, I will honor and praise Your name, for You are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.

Isaiah 25:1

Lord God, I praise You. You are Lord of All. You are my Creator, Savior, and Spirit. You are the God who keeps every promise. You are the One who gives me strength and peace. You are my hope, the One who lifts me out of the pit and plants me on a solid foundation. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You are my everything and I praise You.

Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You! I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.

Psalm 63:3–5

Oh Father, Yes . . . this is the truth! Your love is better than life. In the wilderness, David cried out to You and then paused by Your grace to remember who You are. He knew You . . . his Shepherd, his Provider, and his Peace. (Psalm 23) You are faithful! Like David, I cling to You trusting that You are the One who holds me securely. (Psalm 63:7)

You are the God who satisfies my heart, mind, and soul and I praise You with songs of worship and joy! Great are You, Lord.

So, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:1–2

Father, I give You my all. You have done so much for me. You gave me life. You sustain my life. And You promise me life eternal.

Please empower me by Your Spirit that my life might be a sacrifice of praise to You. I ask that You would help me know, trust, and obey Your will for me. Please continue to transform me into the person You want me to be, someone who is more like Jesus. Forgive for those times when I fight Your hand of change because of my foolish stubborn selfishness. I don’t want to follow the ways of the world . . . I want to follow You. Because I love You Lord. And by Your grace and with Your Spirit’s help and power . . . I pray to love You every day forever with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Because You are my Lord and Savior. You are worthy of all my praise and worship. You are the Great I AM. Amen.

What is "praise and worship"? Is it something to do on weekends or part of your daily life? These prayers will help you praise and worship God every day. #PraiseandWorship #WorshipVerses #Prayer #BibleQuotes #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

Friends, I am asking God to give you everything you need to live your life as a living sacrifice . . . a life that is filled with praise and worship, and one that overflows with joy.

I want to close today with words from Chris Tomlin’s Song,
Who You Are to Me…

You’re forever Holy
You’re the Lamb who is worthy
My forgiveness (My forgiveness), my healer (My healer)
The Messiah, my Redeemer

You’re amazing, faithful, love’s open door
When I’m empty You fill me with hunger for more
Of Your mercy, Your goodness
Lord, You’re the air that I breathe
(Lord, You’re the air I breathe)
That’s who You are

You are greater, higher over it all
In Your presence, Jesus, I stand in awe
Of Your mercy, Your goodness
Lord, You’re the air that I breathe
That’s who You are to me

source: https://lyricsondemand.com/c/christomlinlyrics/whoyouaretomelyrics.html

God bless you!

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

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

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!

How to Know and Trust God’s Will for You

Do you worry about the future? Have you ever struggled to trust God's will? These 5 Steps will help you know and trust His plans for your future. #Faith #Trust #God'sWill #Hope #Fearless #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG #BlessingBloggers

One of the hardest sentences in my life has been…

“Lord, not my will but Yours be done.”

I’ve had more than a few times when I’ve gone into and through things kicking and screaming that seemed to be God’s will, or at the least, they were things He allowed!

Honestly, the idea of completely surrendering my life to the Lord terrified me.

Jesus said…

  • Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. (John 16:33)
  • You will be hated because you are my followers. (Matthew 24:9)
  •  I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. (John 15:19)
  • If you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:28)

I also looked around and witnessed the ways the enemy attacked God’s children.

Because of my weak and immature faith, I didn’t fully believe that I could…

Trust that God is who He says He is.
Believe He is able to do what He says He will do.
Live in peace knowing His love is greater than any circumstances.

I doubted His willingness to give me everything I need.

You’d probably admit that it’s easier to surrender to God’s will when life is easy and He’s working in ways that please you. It’s harder when you can’t understand your current situation or when the road ahead looks hard.

Maybe, like me, you want stronger faith. You want to face each day with obedient surrendered faith without an attitude that says, “MY will be done.”

So, I’ve challenged myself to read and repeat the following until I believe the truth . . . that living completely surrendered to God’s will is by far the best way to live. Until this truth becomes the only way I want to live.

How to Know and Trust God’s Will

Do you worry about the future? Have you ever struggled to trust God's will? These 5 Steps will help you know and trust His plans for your future. #Faith #Trust #God'sWill #Hope #Fearless #CountingMyBlessings

1. Know and Trust God’s Love for You

It’s hard to follow someone who doesn’t want what’s best for us and since the Garden of Eden, Satan has used whatever he can to tempt people to doubt God’s love.

Have you ever heard a child say “you don’t love me” to a parent’s “no?” Yet the job of a loving parent isn’t to make their children happy, it’s to do what is best to keep them safe and help them grow and mature.

I’m learning that as our loving Heavenly Father, God is at work in my life and yours guiding us, protecting us, and helping us grow and mature in faith and love.

And if you need a reminder of just how much God loves you…

God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 

1 John 4:9–10

That is HUGE love you and I can trust!

2. Know and Trust God’s Ability to Care for You

If fear and anxiety were Olympic sports, I’d have a trophy case full of medals. The list of things I’ve worried about is too long for this space. Even though I memorized the verse “don’t worry about tomorrow” as a child—applying it seemed beyond my anxiety overwhelm.

But you and I are not doing tomorrow yet. We are living today! It took several major crises before I learned that I just needed to let God help me through this present moment and trust Him to give me what I need in the next. That’s living through faith…

Believing God will meet each need one moment at a time!

Your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need.

Luke 12:30b–31

 3. Know and Trust God’s Mercy and Healing Grace

Dwelling on the past overwhelmed by guilt is as much of a problem as worrying about the future.

Through Christ Jesus, God completely forgives those who come to Him in repentance. With His help, we can trust Him and rest in His grace and mercy.

Part of surrendering means going to God in prayer asking Him to forgive our past and to help us by giving us everything we need to forgive others. When you and I focus on regret and revenge it’s impossible to surrender to God’s will. Lack of forgiveness will always rob us of God’s perfect peace and joy.

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

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

4. Know and Trust God’s Timing

I’m not good at waiting … lines, doctors offices, etc. I have a schedule to follow. You too?!

But the truth is, there is no peace when I’m tapping my foot and staring at my watch. And there’s no peace when I try to put God on my prayer-answering timetable.

With the Spirit’s help, I’m surrendering my impatience to God, asking Him to help me trust His timing. And while I wait . . . I’m also asking Him to give me His peace and strength.


But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weak.

Isaiah 40:31

5. Know, Trust, and Obey God’s Will

I’m a creature of habits and truthfully, not all of them are good. It’s easy to make light of my sins, after all they’re not THAT bad. But all sins are a big deal. They rob me of peace, cause unpleasant consequences, and fail to glorify God.

Lately, I’ve been asking God to reveal to me the things culture and the church excuse that I have come to think of as acceptable to Him. I want to know, trust, and obey His will.

So, I’m asking God to help me know and trust His truth and commands. I’m asking Him to help me believe that His perfect will is best and that He will give me a heart for obedience … not to earn His favor but to glorify Him and testify to His love.

Lord, we show our trust in You by obeying Your laws;  our heart’s desire is to glorify Your name.

Isaiah 26:8

I’ll admit that I’m still a work in progress. I have so much to learn about completely surrendering to God’s will.

My sinful self wants to have total control over all that happens in my life. Most of the time, I want what I want and I want it now.

But experience has taught and is teaching me that fighting God’s plan for me will never offer me lasting happiness or peace. It hasn’t happened in the past and I doubt it will in the future.

I believe God wants to help us know and trust His perfect love and surrender to His will because He wants what is best for us today, tomorrow, and always.

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

So with the Spirit’s help, I will surrender my will to God today.  

Not on my own.

But…

I can do all things through Christ because He gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

And that is everything we need!

Do you worry about the future? Have you ever struggled to trust God's will? These 5 Steps will help you know and trust His plans for your future. #Faith #Trust #God'sWill #Hope #Fearless #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG #BlessingBloggers

Here are a few quotes that inspire me. 

♥ “If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine!”~Elisabeth Elliot

♥ “It is wonderful what miracles God works in wills that are utterly surrendered to Him” ~Hannah Whitall Smith

♥ “Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.” ~Warren Wiersbe

♥ “Peace is the deliberate adjustment of my life to the will of God.” ~Author Unknown

Daily Prayers of Surrender to God’s Will

Years ago, a dear friend shared this morning prayer with me.

Father God, I surrender this day to You. I will follow where You lead me and do Your will as You reveal it to me. Please help me live this promise – that my life might glorify You alone. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Hannah Whithall Smith also wrote the following prayer:

Lord, I am Yours, I do yield and leave myself entirely to You and I believe You accept me. Work in me all the good pleasure of Your will and I will only lie still in Your hands and trust You. Amen. 

I hope these prayers bless and encourage you as you make it your heart’s desire to know and trust God’s will for you.

Thank you so much for joining me today.
And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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