Category Archives: Prayer

How to Love Your Enemy When You Don’t Want To

Jesus said, "Love your enemy." It feels impossible and honestly, it is. But there are things you can do to help you do even the impossible. #Forgiveness #BibleStudy #Prayer #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

On the list of things most of us wish Jesus hadn’t said … this would be at the top!

But it’s right there in Matthew…

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

Matthew 5:43–44

Love your enemies!

Really?!

Love?!

Forgive … maybe. Tolerate … possibly. But love.

Love seems unimaginable. Love feels impossible.

You pictured someone, didn’t you? A face or name popped into your mind. That person or persons who betrayed you, who intentionally made a decision that changed your life, who went out of their way to make your life miserable. Or maybe it’s someone who still deliberately gets under your skin every . . . single . . . day.

And Jesus said to love them! Did He really mean love?

Yes!

It’s important to remember that we tend to think of love as a warm fuzzy feeling. We picture romantic love or friendship love. But Jesus wasn’t talking feelings here, He was telling people to DO love.

Agape love … God’s unconditional kind of love. It is acting with love no matter how we feel. Love that cares about the welfare of others intentionally wanting what is best for them and purposefully doing it!

How does this kind of love look?

It’s remembering that…

  • When you want to get even. You don’t.
  • When you want to complain to your friends. You don’t.
  • When you want to get ugly angry and tell them off. You don’t.
  • When you want to write them off. You don’t.

I don’t now about you, but those things can rise up fast in me when I’m hurt. I know I need help. And the only things that help me love … NO, the only things that make it possible for me to love my enemies are:

3 Things that will Help You Love Your Enemy When You Don’t Want To…

1. The power of the Holy Spirit to help. 

Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians: 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:31–32

I can’t do that on my own and I’m guessing you can’t either. Bitterness and anger come much more naturally than kindness and forgiveness.

Paul also said in a letter he wrote to the Galatians: 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22–23

What you and I can’t do on our own, we can do with the help of the Holy Spirit. We can be loving and patient and kind. We can be faithful and gentle. We can have self-control. AND we can also have peace at the same time.

So, when dealing with an “enemy” … you and I begin with prayer. We can pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give us the power we need to love and we can as Jesus said…

2. Pray for those who persecute you.

First Century Jews understood persecution. They lived under Roman rule. Persecution and prejudice were part of everyday life. They could identify the enemy…

And then Jesus said to love and pray for them.

Pray for those who make your life miserable. Pray for those who are bigoted. The ones who hurt you. Who are unfair. Who are mean. Who gossip about you. Who ________.

And as if love and prayer aren’t hard enough, Luke added these words to Jesus instructions:

“Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” 

Luke 6:28–31

Bless them. Give to them. Do to them as you would like them to do to you.

But I can’t!

It’s just that simple. Seriously, I can’t do it.

So, I go back to #1 again and again, and I ask for the Holy Spirit’s help. I pray. And I pray again.

And I think that’s what we’re supposed to do. We pray and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, turn to God’s Word in faith, and hold on to verses like:

Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

Proverbs 20:22

And…

Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.

Psalm 55:22

And…

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7
Jesus said, "Love your enemy." It feels impossible and honestly, it is. But there are things you can do to help you do even the impossible. #Forgiveness #BibleStudy #Prayer #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

3. Give it all to God in prayer.

There will be times when it feels frustratingly hard because as you look around the people who hurt you may seem to be doing great and you’re not. And then, once again we start over at #1.

Because if you and I really want to feel better, if we really want peace and contentment, if we really want joy. We have to give it to God.

We have to take our eyes off our enemy and turn our focus to the One who will never betray, forsake, or hurt us. We give it all to God and surrender to His perfect love.

We ask the the Holy Spirit to help our hearts heal and ask the Holy Spirit to soften and work in the heart and mind of the person who has acted as our enemy.

If you’re like me, when you’re hurt and angry you have no idea what you should pray for but you’re pretty sure asking God to get even with them is probably not what Jesus meant when He said we should pray for those who persecute us.

John Piper wrote an excellent article titled, Pray for Those Who Abuse You.

He said…

Pray for others the way you want others to pray for you. They show by their own prayers that the things they really need, they don’t pray for.

The Lord’s Prayer — Even for Your Enemies

The place to start in praying for our enemies is the prayer that the Lord taught us to pray. Whatever else you pray for your enemies, pray for them like this: (You can read his prayer suggestions here.)

John Piper

One final thought . . . something that helps me.

Everyone, even your enemy, is someone dearly loved by God.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God will give you everything you need to love … even when you need to love your enemy.

Jesus said, "Love your enemy." It feels impossible and honestly, it is. But there are things you can do to help you do even the impossible. #Forgiveness #BibleStudy #Prayer #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

Will you pray with me to love your enemy?

Father, I need your help. This time it feels like too much. The pain is so deep. The hurt feels raw and my “enemy” doesn’t even acknowledge the suffering they’ve caused. Jesus told me to love them … but Father, the last thing I want to do right now is love.

So, I’m coming to and asking You to help me and strengthen me to do Your will. Please surround me by the power of Your Holy Spirit as I surrender myself to You. I want to trust Your will. I want to obey Your commands. Please give me what I need today to act with love.

And Father, please soften my “enemy’s” heart. Please surround them with Your love. Help them know and accept the truths of Your Word. And by Your grace, give us both everything we need to forgive and love like Jesus. Amen.

May you be blessed with the peace, joy, and love of the Lord today as you surrender your pain and rest in His ever-present love.

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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5 of the Best Verses to Pray for Your Friends

Praise God for the people who walk beside us, pull us along, and even nudge us from behind. Oh, the blessing of finding Scripture to pray for your friends... #Friendship #Prayer #WWGGG #BlessingBloggers #HisGraceGirls

I want to stop and celebrate the blessing of friends today.

Not our list of Facebook friends with whom we share the edited versions of our stories but the close group of people who know our real stories … those stories we keep hidden away from most of the world. I want to celebrate the people who truly know us and love us anyway.

I’ve learned there is a life truth we all need to remember. Everyone has a difficult or painful story. Everyone!

We all have a page or two in our stories that we keep tucked away because they are hard to share…

It’s been several years and yet, I can still picture every face gathered around that table like it happened last week. Seriously, I still remember where each person was sitting.

But more than our location at the table, I remember the question that invited us to share those tucked away pages of our stories…

” I WANT TO KNOW MORE, TELL ME YOUR TESTIMONY.” 

In other words, I want to know YOU – not just the pretty social media version but I want to know the parts of your story that make you … YOU!

And that’s hard, isn’t it?

It’s especially with people we don’t know well. We don’t like allowing ourselves to become vulnerable. We can’t help wondering … can I trust this person, this new friend, with my pain?

I still get emotional whenever I remember … when I think about that night and yes, even now, years later … because those girls are Romans 12 to me.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 

Romans 12:9–10, 15

I BELIEVE WE ALL WANT ROMANS 12 FRIENDSHIPS BUT IT’S HARD, ISN’T IT?

But we’re afraid.

Somehow that night, God gave us the courage to trust each other … to open up and share those pages that we typically kept locked away.

And it quickly became evident that the Lord was there with us…

“If two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them.”

Matthew 18:20

Because He was with us, we saw Jesus’ love in each other’s eyes, and one friend after another we told our stories. We cried. We laughed. We encouraged. We loved.

That’s friendship! That’s what we all want. Friends who love like Jesus!

So, today I want to pray for our friends and our friendships and I’d love for you to join me…

5 of the Best Verses to Pray for Your Friends

Praise God for the people who walk beside us, pull us along, and even nudge us from behind. Oh, the blessing of finding Scripture to pray for your friends... #Friendship #Prayer #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

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

Ephesians 4:32

Father, thank you for creating us to live in community. Thank you for knowing that the love of friends is an important part of our lives. You have instilled in us a need for companionship and You have established in us the ability to be kind to each other. You have made it possible for us to set aside our selfishness so that we might show compassion. You have given us an example of forgiveness and then You give us the ability to forgive one another.

Your grace shines in my friendships. Thank you for blessing me with beautiful souls who love You and love like You. They make every day better! Thank you Lord the gift of my beautiful friends!

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Father, I want to be a better encourager. I try … but I know I could do more. It’s so easy to be selfish or get distracted. Please forgive me.

By Your grace and with Your help, may I love like Jesus. May I be the one who builds up my friends. May I remind them of the ways I see You in them. May I faithfully pray for them. May I take the time to know them and love them as You love them.

Thank you for covering my failures with Your grace and mercy. Help me generously cover my hurts and disappointments with the love You pour into my life. May I always give the same forgiving love to my friends that I want them to give to me … that You give to us.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 

Romans 12:10–11

Father, what a blessing to have friends who are filled with the love of Christ Jesus. Friends who don’t just pretend to love … but who love with genuine kindness and humility.

Please be with my friend as they walk with You. Please hold them close as they journey through the highs and lows of life. Give them courage and strength for the battles they face. Give them peace to replace anxiety, hope to replace worry, and faith when doubts creep in. And more than anything, faithfully remind them that whatever they face today or in the future … nothing can separate them from Your love. (Romans 8:38) You are with them now as You will be forever. (Matthew 28:20)

Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:12–15

Father, I need Your help. I want to consistently wear a wardrobe of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience but I fall so far short every day. I have to admit that I want my friends to be patient and forgiving of my faults when I can be short on patience and forgiveness myself.

You are so patient and merciful to me. You have blessed me with wonderful friends. I realize when I fail to love the way You want me to love … it has more to do with me than it has to do with them.

Please fill me with the love of Christ Jesus. Please make His love be what guides, guards, and rules in my heart. Thank you for each one of the beautiful people who have brought into my life. Love them, Father, through me.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us.

1 John 4:11–12

Oh, Father, thank you! I see Your love in my friends! You show Yourself in their lives … the way they humbly serve others, the way they listen and encourage, the way they care with compassion, the way they offer help and hope, and the way they forgive, and the way they love.

Each friend is a precious gift! Thank you! Please bless my friends today, Lord. Meet every need. Give them strength and courage for every battle they face. And cover them the power of Your promises and love. By Your grace and for Your glory shine Your light in them and through them. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Praise God for the people who walk beside us, pull us along, and even nudge us from behind. Oh, the blessing of finding Scripture to pray for your friends... #Friendship #Prayer #WWGGG #BlessingBloggers #HisGraceGirls

Finally, pray for your friends by name.

Stop for a moment today and….

Thank God for the people with whom you have been able to share the hard pages of your story. The friends who wanted to know the real YOU and have continued to love you just the way you are.

The friends who walk beside you when life is great, who hold out their hand when you need hope for the future and maybe even give you a little nudge when you need to leave the past in the past.

Thank God for the blessing of friends. Life just wouldn’t be the same without them!

I’m praying you are blessed today with much joy, as you think about and celebrate your friends.

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!

Promises That Will Give You Hope When You Need It Most

Having the promises of Jesus gives us hope when life is uncertain. His Words offer encouragement for today, tomorrow, and into the unknown future. #PromisesofGod #HopeinJesus #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

Terrorism, politics, illness, heartbreak, loss, and pandemics…

Sometimes this broken world feels like it’s too much … too painful. Too hard.

Then I stop and remember Solomon’s words:

History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.

Ecclesiastes 1:9

Nothing’s new. It’s all happened before.

No, I’m not trying to totally depress you, especially when I promised you hope.

But the truth is … our hope is not in this broken world. Our hope is in Jesus – the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Jesus stepped into a painfully dark and broken time in history. Roman dominance. Temple dissension. Hurting broken people.

Remember … there’s nothing new under the sun.

But Jesus came to give us something new. A NEW that He alone could give.

New life. Changed life. Purposeful life. Redeemed life. Abundant life. Eternal life.

History may repeat itself. But the truths and promises of the newness you and I have in Jesus are only repeated as they become new lives in people who turned to Him in faith.

And that is what gives us hope. Real, renewing, and lasting hope. Promises of hope!

It’s a hope that reminds us we can trust every promise about Jesus that was ever made. So, let’s surround ourselves with Jesus’ hope today.

Let’s lay down our fears, anger, frustration, and hopelessness as we embrace the truth of promises that are forever true. Promises that give us eternal hope no matter what is happening in the world around us.

Having these promises we can count on in this nothing new under the sun world changes everything. Because under the Son, our everything is full of hope through His grace, mercy, and love.

Having the promises of Jesus gives us hope when life is uncertain. His Words offer encouragement for today, tomorrow, and into the unknown future. #PromisesofGod #HopeinJesus #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

20 Promises of Jesus that will Give You Hope

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28–30

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” John 4:26

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31–32

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16–17

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

“I am the good shepherd. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” John 10:11, 27–30

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.” John 14:27–28

“I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.” John 15:26

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” John 17:20

“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:2–3

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” Revelation 1:8

“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last.I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:17–18

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelations 22:12–13

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

Having the promises of Jesus gives us hope when life is uncertain. His Words offer encouragement for today, tomorrow, and into the unknown future. #PromisesofGod #HopeinJesus #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

Praying the Promises of Hope

Father, Thank you so much for loving us so much that the moment we sinned You had a plan to save us. You Word says You love us so much that You gave Your only Son to save us … the highest price You could possibly pay. All because of love!

Thank you for Your Word! You want us to KNOW You. You want us to live each day knowing we are safe and secure in Jesus. He is the WAY of Life, He is the TRUTH we need for Life, and He is LIFE itself. He gives us the promise of eternal life and the blessing of a full and abundant life now.

Today, I come to You for rest. I bring You the junk of my life. Please forgive me for the ways I have failed to follow Your will and change me into the person You want me to be. I believe Your way is best. I want to trust and obey You in everything I do and say. I want my thoughts to be focused on Jesus, the One who is the source of my faith and the One who strengthens me and gives me all I need each day.

So, I’m pausing to thank and praise You! By Your grace, it is well with my soul. Help me live this day for Your glory. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Friend, I’m asking God to bless you today! I’m asking Him to hold you close and surround you with the love of Jesus as He reminds you that in Him … you have everything you need. His promises are true and His mercies are new every morning. He is faithful to keep His promises of hope.

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 be a Better Parent

Parenting is an adventure that needs to be covered by prayer. If you want to be a better parent you need to pray a lot. These prayers will get you started. #Parenting #PrayerforFamily #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

I wish I’d read this quote years ago…

“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.”

Anne Frank

She certainly shared a lot of wisdom for her young age … and for someone who never lived long enough to have children of her own.

When I was a young parent and my children were young I believed that good parents had good successful children … that great input always resulted in great outcomes.

I’ve grown up and so have my children.

I’m both older and wiser now than I was then.

And today, as I look around at our peers and their grown children … I can honestly say, “that ain’t necessarily so.”

I’ve known many great parents whose children decided to ignore their parent’s helpful advice and example as they chose to live a more challenging path. Ones that were difficult and sometimes painful for them and for their parents. I now fully believe the truth of Anne’s words.

And I’m sorry. I know that if you are the young parent with young children that’s not very encouraging. But…

I’m not saying you should throw your hands in the air and give up. I still believe parents should give the important job of parenting everything they’ve got.

But I also believe…

That you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself. There is no such thing as a perfect parent and there are no perfect children. But you probably knew that already!

We celebrated Mother’s Day a couple of weeks ago and for many it’s a day full of emotions and one of them that rises up often is guilt.

Mom guilt is something that goes with the job. But they’re not completely alone, I believe dads suffer from feelings of guilt, too.

Today I want to encourage you and give you a little of what I believe is helpful advice for being a better parent.

The two most important things to remember as you live out the parenting adventure are:

  1. Always remember you are covered by God’s grace.
  2. Pray more than you believe is necessary and then pray again.

And because I believe prayer is the most important part of parenting … I’m sharing a few prayers to help you get started.

Simple Prayers That will Help You be a Better Parent

Parenting is an adventure that needs to be covered by prayer. If you want to be a better parent you need to pray a lot. These prayers will get you started. #Parenting #PrayerforFamily #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

1. Lord, Thank You for My Children.

Children are a gift from the Lord. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

Psalm 127:3,5

Father, Thank you so much for my children. Help me to celebrate this awesome blessing every day, even the hard days. Help me celebrate each of my children’s unique personality and abilities.

I believe You made them exactly the way You wanted and that You will use them for Your plans and purposes. Thank you. I am humbled that you would entrust these precious children to me. Give me a grateful heart and help me show them and You how thankful I am for them … even when I’m exhausted and having to repeat myself for the millionth time. Thank you for the grace and mercy You show me. Please help me love as You love me.

2. Lord, I want to be a better parent. Please forgive me. 

Remember there are no perfect parents or children. Everyone needs forgiveness parents and children. Praise God…

He does not punish us for all our sins; He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

Psalm 103:10–11

Father, please forgive me. I want to guide my children according to Your perfect will but I know I fall short every day.

I lose patience, I get angry, and I miss opportunities to show them Your love. Please help me, Father, I want to honor this awesome responsibility You’ve given me. Help me to be the parent You want me to be … the parent my children need. Help me raise them by Your grace and for Your glory.

Help me ask my children for forgiveness when I hurt them and help me quickly forgive them when they misbehave. We all sin. We all need forgiveness. You say you have removed our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12) Thank you for Your merciful forgiveness. Help me forgive as I have been forgiven.

 3. Lord, Give me the courage I need today. 

Almost every day comes with at least one difficult parenting decision. Ask God for wisdom and courage to obey His will and to encourage your children to do the same.

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

Joshua 1:9

Father, yesterday was hard and today’s not starting out well. It would so much easier if I could just pull the covers over my head and ignore this problem. But my children need me to stand strong on Your truth. They need to be strong and courageous. They don’t always see the potential consequences of their choices. It’s hard to let them try new things. It’s hard to think about the possibility of my children having to live out the consequences of their foolish choices. Please give me the courage I need to remain strong when I’m worn out and hard days continue.

4. Lord, Please help me guide my children with wisdom according to your will.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God

James 1:5º6

Father, Please give me the wisdom I need to guide my children according to Your will. I so wish I had an individualized set of parenting instructions. It seems like some things work with one child and they don’t with another. I need Your help. I need to know the wise thing to say and do with each of my children. I want to parent these wonderfully made gifts You’ve given me well, not for me but for their good and Your glory. Amen.

5. Lord, Please help me parent my child with patience. 

Parents and children need patience and goodness, it’s easy to run short of it in the moments when we need it most.

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

Romans 15:5

Father, I need patience and I need it right now!

I’ll admit that I sometimes pause before asking for patience because I really don’t want any more challenging learning opportunities to put it into practice. I just want You to magically give me all that I need today and again tomorrow … the next day would be good too.

Please help me remember that You are always with me and that You are willing to give me all I need. You say You are willing to help me carry my burdens … even impatience. You even say that the Spirit is able to give me the patience I need to love my child well. Please help me. Make me slow to anger and remind me pause and laugh as often as possible.

Parenting is an adventure that needs to be covered by prayer. If you want to be a better parent you need to pray a lot. These prayers will get you started. #Parenting #PrayerforFamily #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

6. Lord, Fill our home with respect and kindness. 

We all want peace-filled homes and need God’s help to make speaking with kindness and respect a priority.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Colossians 3:!2

Father, forgive me for the times I’ve allowed snarkiness in my home. Especially my own. Please help me measure my words and speak with respect to my spouse and my children. Please help us remember how we honor and glorify You when we show kindness, humility, mercy, and patience.

By Your grace, please help me model this for my children and lovingly remind them when they forget. May we faithfully love each other as You have loved us with Your help and for Your glory.

7. Lord, Fill our home with peace, joy, and love. 

A happy loving family. Everyone wants one … we need God’s help to fill our homes with His peace, joy, and love.

 Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11

Father, Fill our home with joy. Help us remember and celebrate Your many blessings … big and small. You have been so good to us.

We surrender ourselves to You and ask You to give us all we need. Please bless us with the gift of contentment. Please help us to keep our focus on You … to SEEK You and Your Kingdom above everything and anything else. May we faithfully study Your Word, join together in prayer, and worship and praise You for who You are and all You’ve done. Your grace is sufficient for our every need. May Your love be the foundation of our home. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

If you want to be a better parent – PRAY!

Friend – parenting is an adventure. Anyone who has been a parent for more than 30 seconds, knows it can feel like you’re traveling an unknown journey with a surprise around every corner.

And from someone who has traveled the unexpected and emotional highs and lows of parenting, I’d like to tell you the one thing I wish I’d done more along the way…

While I prayed a lot … I wish I had prayed more!

You just can’t possibly pray too much for those precious gifts God has entrusted to your care.

I’m praying for you today and asking God to bless your family … to fill Your home with His love, to cover you with His grace and help you live each day for His glory.

For additional prayers – Check out:

Prayers for Your Spouse, Prayers for Your Son, Prayers for Your Daughter, Pray for Your Family.

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!

Pray When You Need to be Confident of God’s Goodness

The most common question about faith is "How can I believe in God's goodness when He allows suffering?" When doubts arise it's time to turn to Him in prayer. #Prayer #GodisGood #BibleStudy #Faith #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

Do you trust God’s goodness?

We say God is good, but do we really believe it?

I recently shared this on social media…

After you have suffered a little while, [God] will restore, support, and strengthen you.

1 Peter 5:10

And an individual responded by saying … “a load of nonsense.”

I don’t think you or I would say it like that but if we’re honest, we have our doubts. We wonder … God will you let me suffer like this indefinitely? Are you really good?

We want to trust those words God’s goodness completely but sometimes when we’ve prayed and prayed and asked God to help and then we have what seems like an endless wait something happens. Occasionally in the wait, worry is followed by a little doubt and before we know it we’re questioning God’s goodness.

And that’s when I need to pause and ask for His help.

Because I need His Holy Spirit to give me confidence that God’s goodness is personal. I need His help to know God sees me, forgives me, provides for me, and that He has a plan and purpose for my life. I need His Spirit’s help to remind me of His perfect love when I grow impatient in the waiting.

I need the Spirit’s help to know with everything in me that . . . God is good!

Jesus said,

When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 14:26

That’s what I need … maybe you do too! That reminder of God’s promises of His love and goodness.

So, that’s where I’m going today …. to God’s promises and I’m praying them back to Him because the more turn to Him through His Word and prayer, the more confident I become that He is who He says He is.

I’d love for you to pray with me…

Pray When You Need to be Confident of God’s Goodness

The most common question about faith is "How can I believe in God's goodness when He allows suffering?" When doubts arise it's time to turn to Him in prayer. #Prayer #GodisGood #BibleStudy #Faith #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

Everything God made is good. That includes you! 

God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good!

Genesis 1:31

Lord, Everything You make is good. Your Word says, in the beginning, it was very good. And through Your love, You suffered and died to forgive my sins and give freedom to the goodness You created in me. It also says that because of Your goodness and love, You will give me everything I need. maybe not everything I want … but everything I need. Help me believe that, Lord. Help me trust Your promises and give me patience and peace when worry creeps in and doubts arise.

God loves you. Always and perfectly. You are His child. 

The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are His children.

1 John 3:1

Father, You call me your child. I was an orphan, lost and alone and You adopted me. Through Jesus, You made me part of Your family. That defines Your goodness. There is no way to sufficiently thank you.

When I am tempted to focus on my current problems, please help me focus on Your grace, mercy, and love. Help me remember what an awesome blessing it is to be called Your child. You are my Father and You are good. Help me love You with all that I am and by Your grace, help me live each day with the confidence that Your will is always for my good.

God sees and knows everything about you. 

“You are ‘God who sees me,’” because she said to herself, “Have I really seen God who sees me?”

Genesis 16:13

Father, You are the God who sees me. Thank you! Nothing is hidden from you.

Like David, I can say, “You know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” (Psalm 139) And Jesus said, You even know how many hairs there are on my head. (Matthew 10:30)

I can have peace for today and hope for the future when I remember that I am constantly under Your watchful care.

God is good, kind, and merciful to you. 

The Lord is kind and shows mercy. He does not become angry quickly but is full of love. The Lord is good to everyone; He is merciful to all He has made.

Psalm 145:8–9

Father, Your Word tells me You are kind and merciful, patient, and loving.

I want to trust and follow wherever You lead … but I have to admit, I fail. I don’t love You and trust You with all I am. I don’t love my neighbors as I love myself. I get angry. I worry. I procrastinate and I find comfort in things. Please forgive me. I need your merciful goodness. By Your grace, please help me do better. Help me trust Your perfect will for me. Help me faithfully live confident of Your goodness, kindness, mercy, and love.

God is ready and willing to forgive and help you. His perfect love never fails.

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

Father, This promise fills me with hope. You are always ready to forgive those who come to You. You don’t want me to live with the guilt that so often creeps in. You don’t want me weighed down by the past. Your plan for me is a life of freedom through Your goodness and grace.

Through Jesus, You endured my punishment. The price for my sins has been paid. Help me quickly bring my sins to You in repentance, trusting Your promise of unfailing love and forgiveness. Help me live free of doubt and worry … trusting You are faithful to do what You say You will do.

God is your provider. Don’t be afraid or worry. He will meet your every need.

“Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than any birds! Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.”

Luke 12:24, 27, 31–32

Father, You don’t want me to be afraid or worry. You want me to live free of anxiety and doubt. You promise that You will meet every need.

Please forgive me for too often believing my wants are needs. By Your grace help me trust You. Make me satisfied with what You want for me. Help me help others out of the abundance You provide. Be my heart’s desire. With Your help, I will seek Your Kingdom above all else. Help me trust Your goodness without worry or fear.

The most common question about faith is "How can I believe in God's goodness when He allows suffering?" When doubts arise it's time to turn to Him in prayer. #Prayer #GodisGood #BibleStudy #Faith #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

God meets every spiritual need and gives you everything you need to live for His glory. 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 1:2–3

Father, through Your goodness and love You meet every one of my spiritual needs. You make it possible for me to know You. You show me Your will. You hear my prayers. You comfort and strengthen me. You give me hope for the future and the peace I need today.

Thank you. Forgive me for foolishly and selfishly doing things on my own, for thinking my way is better. I’m sorry, Lord. With Your help, I surrender this day to You. I will follow where You lead and trust Your will as You reveal it to me. You are good, Father. May I live today covered by Your grace for Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

 God is good!

His love for you and me is personal. He provides for every physical and spiritual need. His unfailing forgiveness is always available. He sees, knows, and cares. He is good.

You and I can be confident of God’s goodness!

And just a quick follow-up to tell about the comment to my social media post. I responded by telling him I was sorry that he felt that way but that based on my experience, God is faithful to restore support and strengthen when we need Him.

That began a dialogue where I’ve been able to share my testimony and tell him why I believe in God’s goodness.

I’m so thankful that when I begin to doubt … His Spirit draws me back through the truth of God’s promises.

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 to Pray When You Need Help to Love God More

Even when you and I want to love God more by showing Him our love perfectly 100% of the time, we can't. But He loves us so much we can pray & ask Him to help. #Prayer #LoveGod #BibleStudy #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

Do you ever feel frustrated with yourself when you read…

Jesus said, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”

Mark 12:29–30

I don’t know about you, but I fall so far short of the “all” part.

All my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength … that’s 100% intentional love and focus 24/7. That’s ALWAYS!

And that’s where I fall short. It’s what I want! I want to obey Him. I want to show Him how much I love Him by trusting and obeying His will consistently but like Paul, I miss that mark way too often.

I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.

Romans 7:18–19

And even when what I do is right, I’m often guilty of doing it with the wrong motives. And I know the loving Him with my “all” falls short!

I’m not telling you this so we can both sit around and wallow in the guilt of our failures. I don’t believe that’s what God wants for us. I believe this realization is supposed to do two things in us.

  1. Send us running to Jesus.

Look what Paul said next…

Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Romans 7:24b–25a

And 2. Ask God for the Holy Spirit to help us change.

Jesus promised…

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.”

John 14:15–16

Isn’t that awesome!

When you and I recognize our sins and run to Jesus in repentance … He not only forgives us but He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us in the future.

And although we will never trust and obey Him perfectly this side of heaven … He will never stop forgiving us and giving us what we need through His Spirit.

And that’s why we don’t have to wallow in guilt … Jesus carried it all to the cross. You and I can surrender it all to Him and rejoice because…

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

So, I’m praying today and asking God to:

  1. Help me quickly run to Jesus each time I fail.
  2. Fill me with the Spirit, my Helper, that I might more faithfully love Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Verses to Pray When You Need Help to Love God More

Even when you and I want to love God more by showing Him our love perfectly 100% of the time, we can't. But He loves us so much we can pray & ask Him to help. #Prayer #LoveGod #BibleStudy #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

Those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him.

1 John 2:5

Oh, Father, this is a hard word. It’s easy to say we trust You for salvation but harder to live in obedience. And it’s impossible to perfectly obey because I don’t perfectly love.

The 10 Commandments can be summed up in … loving You and loving others. Jesus said that to love is the “Greatest Commandment.” And I know I don’t love perfectly. I don’t show You my love through obedience and I don’t show others my love … I can so easily become selfish and prideful. I’m sorry. Please forgive me and help me. I want to love You with every part of me all the time. I want to love like Jesus.

“Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

Luke 7:48, Luke 15:10

Father, Thank you! You are faithful to forgive. Always!

And what a wonderful word! The angels rejoice when I repent! You forgive me and the angels rejoice. It simply doesn’t get any better than that! There are no words to fully express my gratitude. And this is why my heart’s desire is to trust and obey You faithfully. Please help me!

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever … for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

John 14:15–16, 17b

Father, I do love you and I want to keep your commands. I want to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and I want to love people like Jesus loved them. It makes me sad when I realize how far short I fall of my own goal … I know I’m not even close to Yours.

So, I run to You. I lay my failures at the foot of the cross and ask that You will forgive me through Jesus. I’m so sorry! And Lord, I want to do better in the future. Will you please fill me with Your Spirit and give me all I need to love, trust, and obey as You want. Help me keep my heart and mind focused on You and trust that if You ask anything of me … You will give me everything I need to obey You in love.

I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands.

Ezekiel 36:26–27

Father, what an amazing promise! You take my stubborn prideful selfish heart of stone and replace it with a heart that loves You and wants to live by Your commands.

I am so well aware that I can’t love and obey You well in my own strength. But with Your Sprit’s help … everything changes. You give me everything I need to live in Your love each day. Help me faithfully SEEK to KNOW Your TRUTH. Help me walk in Your love. Help me love You and show Your love to others in ways that will give You glory.

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

Romans 8:26–27

This promise gives me hope, Father! Thank you!

Thank you for your Spirit who not only guides and directs me according to Your will but He goes to You on my behalf and tells You my needs. Your Spirit knows my every need and the intentions of my heart. Good and yes, even the not so good. And He pleads for me … telling You what I need to grow closer to You. He knows exactly what I need to be able to love You with all my heart and soul, my mind and my strength.

There really are no appropriate words to fully express my gratitude. Thank you for hearing my prayers. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit to help me. Thank you for Your grace and mercy to help me focus my heart and mind on You. Thank you for helping me love You more and more each day. You are my greatest blessings! Thanks and praise now and forever. Amen.

Even when you and I want to love God more by showing Him our love perfectly 100% of the time, we can't. But He loves us so much we can pray & ask Him to help. #Prayer #LoveGod #BibleStudy #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings
We need help to love God more.

And when you and I reach that place where we recognize that we want to love God more we typically also come to the realization that we can’t do it on our own. The Good News is we don’t have to.

Our past is forgiven through Jesus. And our future is blessed through the gift of His Spirit to help us.

So, stop today and give it all to the Lord in prayer … all your faults and failures, humbling admitting that you aren’t capable of loving perfectly on your own. Then rest in the truth that when you want to love God more … He is perfectly able to give you everything you need.

May you be blessed today by His grace as you 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!

Pray These Psalms when You Want to Pause and Praise

It's so easy to get distracted by life that we can forget to pause and praise God as often as we'd like. Here are Psalms to help you pause, pray, and praise. #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #PraiseGod #Prayers #Blessings #GodisGood

I tend to think of praise and worship as synonyms … which can too often mean that I hear the sounds of music when I imagine doing either one.

But…

Praise is simply defined as:

  • an expression of warm approval or admiration.

Worship is defined as:

  • the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for God.

It’s funny! Neither definition includes music. It just shows how accustomed you and I can become to our traditions and habits.

And goodness, music has been a habit for me.

I started taking piano lessons in 2nd grade and organ lessons in junior high. I was playing the organ for parts of church services before I reached high school and playing full time shortly after I started driving. And that doesn’t include singing with any choir or worship team that would have me.

Based on my experience, praise and worship included music.

But lately, I’ve been thinking about praising God with nothing but my attitude and my words. I’ve considered the blessing of stopping throughout the day with humble awe and wonder to tell Him how much I love Him and thank Him for all He does for me.

Don’t get me wrong … I love a great worship song. But I don’t always want to depend on someone else’s notes and lyrics to communicate my praises to my Heavenly Father.

I want my words of adoration to overflow from a heart full of praise. I want to be so full of love and gratitude that I just can’t help but tell the Lord about it all day long.

Now I’ll admit, it’s not always easy. Sometimes in the middle of the mess, praise is not what comes to mind. I can even catch myself sounding like those grumbling wilderness wanderers.

Praise God, He’s promised the Holy Spirit to those who love Him. And I believe with the Spirit’s help … I can be blessed with all I need to pause and praise God without ceasing.

Paul wrote…

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

I want that! So today, I’m going to the Father. I’m asking Him to fill me with His Spirit and help me look away from the mess, and humbly come before Him. I’m asking Him to help me pause and praise ceaselessly!

I’d love for you to join me…

It's so easy to get distracted by life that we can forget to pause and praise God as often as we'd like. Here are Psalms to help you pause, pray, and praise. #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #PraiseGod #Prayers

Psalms to Pray When You Want to Pause and Praise

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 before You today with humble praise. Every single person in Scripture who experienced the beauty of Your glory … fell on the ground before You. I can’t imagine what that day will be like when I see You face to face. Just the thought, flattens me! Yet, in Your loving care, Your Word says You watch over me. You know how many hairs there are on my head. (Matthew 10:30) You know my thoughts. (Psalm 139:23) And You know my past experiences, my present circumstances, and everything that is planned for my future.

You are so good and gracious. Please, by the power of Your Spirit, help me focus on who You are and all the glorious things You have done that I might pause and praise You with every part of who I am.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
    He made us, and we are His.
    We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving;
    go into His courts with praise.
    Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and His faithfulness continues to each generation.

Psalm 100

Lord, You are my God. My Creator. My Savior. My Comforter and Friend. You have called me by Your Spirit and made me Your own.

I come to You with a heart full of praise. I lift my life to You. I surrender to Your grace and mercy with an outpouring of gratitude. Your unfailing love and faithfulness overwhelm me. I fail again and again and yet, Your love surrounds me. Because You are good … it is well with my soul.

May I boldly share Your love and publicly praise You for who You are. May I enthusiastically speak of the wonderful things You’ve done … that everyone I meet might want to know the One who has the power to renew, restore, and redeem.

Give to the Lord the glory He deserves!
    Bring your offering and come into His courts.
Worship the Lord in all His holy splendor.
    Let all the earth tremble before Him.
Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
    The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
    He will judge all peoples fairly.

Psalm 96:8–10

Father, turn my heart and mind away from the junk. Help me surrender my flaws and failures to You in repentance. Help me lay down my mess and look up to You.

You are sovereign over nations and kingdoms. You control the winds and the waves. Nothing happens that You do not allow and all that You allow, You use to accomplish Your plans and purposes. Plans that are for our good and purposes that lead to a future filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

There are countless reasons to pause and praise every moment of every day. May I, by Your grace, humbly live in ways that bring You glory.

I will praise the Lord at all times.
    I will constantly speak His praises.
I will boast only in the Lord;
    let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
    let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:1–3

Father, please, by the power of Your Spirit, fill my heart with an endless flow of praise. When I think of all You have done for me.

Not only have You filled my life with hope and promise for the future, You have changed everything now. You have given me freedom from fear. You have healed my broken heart. You hear my prayer. You give me strength and courage to face each day.

Too often, the world shouts and I can so easily get distracted by the problems that surround me … but You are always with me giving me everything I need.

So, by Your grace and with Your help, I will publicly praise You. I will honor and exalt You that all who are helpless and losing hope will want to know the One who has the power to give them everything they need.

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.
He fills my life with good things.

Psalm 103:1–5a

Father, as I prayerfully read these words of David, there is only one thing to say … “Let all that I am praise the Lord! AMEN!”

It's so easy to get distracted by life that we can forget to pause and praise God as often as we'd like. Here are Psalms to help you pause, pray, and praise. #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #PraiseGod #Prayers #Blessings #GodisGood

Friend, as I wrote these prayers I kept thinking about how often I allow myself to get distracted by things that are unpleasant and agravating.

Paul wrote the following words to the Philippians:

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

Philippians 4:8 (MSG)

That does sum it up, doesn’t it?

Fill your mind with things that are true, real, inspiring, and full of grace.

The NLT says it this way…

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

And if I’m thinking about things that are worship of praise … I’m much more likely to look to the One who makes it all possible. I’m more likely to stop for a moment to pause and praise.

I’m starting now … with this!

The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
    May the God of my salvation be exalted!

Psalm 18:46

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 for Hope When You are Suffering

Scripture verses to pray that will give you hope when you or someone you care about are suffering. Hope in God's promises to give you strength. #Prayer #Hope #HopeQuotesforHardTimes #BibleStudy #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #HisGraceGirls

Even if you are not personally suffering at the moment … you can’t turn on the news or scroll through social media without seeing it all around you.

So many of us are feeling the heaviness of suffering … either our own or the empathetic burden we carry for one another.

But God…

Oh, how I love those words.

I love that Scripture is honest about the suffering that all of creation has endured since sin became our human condition and the Garden gate was closed.

Even though our righteous and holy God cannot ignore sin … He loves us. And that’s why I love the words “but God.” They are a blessed reminder of the Lord’s mercy and grace.

Just look at a few examples:

  • But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. Genesis 8:1
  • But God listened to Abraham’s request. Genesis 19:29
  • You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. Genesis 50:20
  • Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15
  • My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Psalm 73:26
  • The law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
  • You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact! Acts 3:15
  • But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8
  • But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. Ephesians 2:4–5

No matter what is going on in our lives, the lives of the people around us, or those anywhere in the world … the One you and I turn to in prayer is greater than our circumstances.

He is greater than our feelings. Greater than the news. Greater than our wants and needs. He gives us hope in our suffering.

When we’re suffering, the Spirit whispers …

“But God…”

So today, I’d love for you to join me as I ask the Lord to give us hope in our suffering … as I ask Him to help us remember that He is greater than our circumstances and give us peace that passes understanding.

Pray for Hope When You are Suffering

Scripture verses to pray that will give you hope when you or someone you care about are suffering. Hope in God's promises to give you strength. #Prayer #Hope #HopeQuotesforHardTimes #BibleStudy #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

Through Christ, you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because He raised Christ from the dead and gave Him great glory.

1 Peter 1:21

Father, You promised a Savior the moment sin entered the world … You had a plan and a promise! A promise to heal our sickness, to repair our brokenness, to suffer our death … that we might have the hope of LIFE!

By the power of Your Spirit, help me cling to Jesus. May He be my hope when I am suffering.

Lord, when I’m tempted to focus on my problems and pain, help me remember—I can trust Your perfect unfailing love … a love You proved by sacrificing Yourself by suffering my punishment to forgive me and give me life.

Please strengthen me and give me all that I need to lay my suffering on the altar of Your grace. Help me focus on You … trusting that You will give me the hope I need to face today in faith. By Your grace, I am protected by Your hard to understand peace and lifted up by Your mercy and grace.

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.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:4, 13

Father, thank you for people like Paul. Thank you for his example of what it means to live with hope even when I’m surrounded by suffering. Your Word is the encouragement I need. Each time I read it, I see evidence of promises that have been fulfilled already. You Lord, are faithful, unfailing, and true!

Father, Your Spirit speaks to me through the pages of Your Word. Jesus said, the Spirit will “teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” (John 14:26) Thank you!

Thank you for the gift of Your Spirit. Thank you for Your Word. Thank you for being my encouragement and source of hope. Even when I’m suffering, when the people I love are suffering, when I don’t understand why there is so much suffering … I can trust Your promises of love.

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 5:3–5

Father, I admit … this verse is really hard. I don’t want to “rejoice” when I’m suffering. I hate dealing with problems and trials. I want a strong character and confident hope … but Lord, I don’t want the pain that is part of this process.

I get asked often … why You allow suffering. And I’ll admit, I’ve asked “why” myself sometimes. But I believe this verse is just a part of Your answer to our questions. You know how easy it is for us to become self-sufficient when things are easy, and You want us to trust You completely. You want us to SEEK You first – over anything this world has to offer. You want us to trust Your love.

You want me to experience the strong confident hope that only You can give.

In His kindness, God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation. All power to Him forever! Amen.

1 Peter 5:10–11

By Your grace, Father … this is temporary. The suffering we experience here is nothing compared to the glorious eternal future You have promised to those who know, love, and trust Jesus.

When we are burdened by suffering, You invite us to SEEK You first and promise that when we do … You will give us everything we need. I believe You are who You say You are. I believe You can and will do what You say, and I believe that means You will give me strength when I have none of my own and that You are the solid foundation on whom I can rely.

Yours is the power and glory forever. Thank you, Lord.

We put our hope in the Lord.
    He is our help and our shield.
In Him, our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in His holy name.
Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
    for our hope is in You alone.

Psalm 33:20–22

Father, I put my hope in You. Everything else is fragile and fleeting. You, Lord, are my Helper and my Protector. You are the One who gives me strength and peace when life overwhelms me. You are the One I trust with my today, my tomorrow … my forever.

Your unfailing love surrounds me. I am safe in Your care. Your Word says that wherever I go, You are there. (Psalm 139) You are aware of everything that happens in my life. (Luke 12:27–28)

Lord, by Your grace and with Your help, in every experience and circumstance, You are my hope in suffering! I am sheltered by Your love … perfect unfailing love that promises me a forever future by grace, through faith in Jesus. Please help me keep my heart and mind focused on You and not on my suffering. I pray and surrender my all to Your perfect love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture verses to pray that will give you hope when you or someone you care about are suffering. Hope in God's promises to give you strength. #Prayer #Hope #HopeQuotesforHardTimes #BibleStudy #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #HisGraceGirls

Friend, I’m so sorry you are suffering.

Suffering makes me sad and I believe it makes God sad, too.

I don’t believe suffering is God’s will for us. I believe He allows it because He wants us to realize our need for Him. He wants us to SEEK to KNOW Him. He wants us to live with the hope we can only have when we surrender to His love.

I’m praying that for you today. May you experience His peace today as you rest in the hope we have in Jesus … God’s perfect love. Hope even when we’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…

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!

Pray When You are Confused and Nothing Makes Sense

When life is confusing and nothing makes sense, it's a blessing to take every care and concern to God in prayer trusting Him to give us whatever we need. #Prayer #Faith #Hope #MentalHealth #NothingMakesSense #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #HisGraceGirls

I have to admit, I’m confused and nothing makes sense!

Almost every news report, ad, tweet, and post seems to have an agenda. It’s hard to know what to believe when contradicting points of view all claim to be “fact-based” truth.

One thing I know for sure is that nothing feels normal and no one can tell us how our future “normal” is going to look or feel.

It’s unsettling isn’t it?

And we don’t like it!

We want to be in control!

We shouldn’t be surprised. It was the enemy’s first temptation…

“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

Genesis 3:5

Eat the apple and you’ll be in control … you won’t have to live under God’s control. “You’ll be like God.”

And as tempting as it was then, it’s still tempting today.

It takes faith and dependence to be okay with surrendering our control to someone or something else. And that is the million-dollar question…

Who or what will you and I place our trust enough to surrender our control?

Will we put our trust in…

  • careers
  • people
  • wealth
  • power
  • position
  • government
  • education

The truth is … those things have let us down lately, haven’t they? But maybe they’re supposed to! Maybe God allows us to lose our control so we will consider trusting Him enough to give Him control.

God started The Commandments with…

“You must not have any other god but me.”

Exodus 20:3

Why? Because He knows we need Him!

When we place our surrendered faith in anything or anyone other than God Himself, we set ourselves up to live a life of confusion where nothing makes sense.

So today, I’m going to the Lord and asking Him to help me understand. I’m asking Him to take my unsettled feelings and fill me with the assurance of His love. And I’m asking Him to give me the wisdom to surrender myself to Him in faith … knowing I can trust Him completely even when I’m confused and nothing makes sense.

Pray When You are Confused and Nothing Makes Sense

When life is confusing and nothing makes sense, it's a blessing to take every care and concern to God in prayer trusting Him to give us whatever we need. #Prayer #Faith #Hope #MentalHealth #NothingMakesSense #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8–9

Father, forgive me. I can be so foolish. I can so easily focus on the rantings and ravings of “world authorities.” I can listen to those who claim to have “wisdom” rather than fully turning to the solid foundation of faith and truth You have given me in Your Word.

Forgive us, Lord! Forgive me! We can foolishly try to make You fit into a mold of our own creation rather than fully trusting that You are who You say You are and that You will always do what You say You will do.

By Your grace, turn us (turn me) from foolishness. Turn us (turn me) to Your Word. Please help us (help me) trust You and look to You for understanding and wisdom.

And help me cling to You in faith … for You alone are the One who can and will give me what I need today and always.

I cried out, “I am slipping!” but Your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Psalm 94:18–19

Father, I’m feeling restless and uncertain. I don’t understand. I sometimes feel like I’m drowning in contradictory information. I’ll admit, doubts fill my mind because I don’t know who or what to believe anymore.

So, I’m coming to You! I’m crying out for You to give me wisdom and peace. I’m asking for renewed hope and joy! I trust Your unfailing love. You hear my prayers. You are righteous and faithful in everything You do. (Psalm 33:4) You encourage me through Your Word.

I believe nothing can separate me from Your love, (Romans 8:38) and I trust that You defend and protect me by Your grace. (Psalm 94:22)

Thank you, Lord! You are my hope … even when nothing makes sense and I don’t understand.

As for God, His way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    He shields all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with
strength and keeps my way secure.

Psalm 18:30–32 (NIV)

Lord, thank you for allowing me to come to You when I am weak and upset. I trust Your promises. I believe You have a plan for me. (Jeremiah 29:11) I believe You want me to have hope. (Psalm 25:5) So, I come to You asking for strength and direction.

You do not promise to remove all my challenges but even when I don’t understand the what or the why … I rely on You to give me all I need to live with hope and courage each day. And I need that today, Lord. I need faith-filled hope to KNOW that You are greater than my circumstances and I need the courage to LIVE boldly because You are right beside me.

When life is confusing and nothing makes sense, it's a blessing to take every care and concern to God in prayer trusting Him to give us whatever we need. #Prayer #Faith #Hope #MentalHealth #NothingMakesSense #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #HisGraceGirls

For the Lord is God, and He created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. “I am the Lord,” He says, “and there is no other.

Isaiah 45:18

Father, I love Your Word. Even when nothing makes sense – Your Word reminds me that all creation is Yours. If You can hold every planet in place and cause the sun to shine and moon to glow, You can certainly take care of my needs.

I ask You to help me focus on Your promises. Help me examine every one of the enemy’s lies against the truth of Your Word. When he tempts me with words of doubt that say the chaos and confusion are too great this time, help me remember that there has always been chaos and confusion. Your Word says, “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

But I will trust in You! The One who sees the end from the beginning. Nothing is new or unexpected to You. When I’m confused … You’re not! You are forever unfailing love, truth, and righteousness. There is none like You. By Your grace and with Your help, I will “be still” and rest in You.

Since all His “children” have flesh and blood, so Jesus became human to fully identify with us. He did this so that He could experience death and annihilate the effects of the intimidating accuser who holds against us the power of death. 

He suffered and endured every test and temptation so that He can help us every time we pass through the ordeals of life.

Hebrews 2:14, 18 (TPT)

Lord Jesus, words are not enough to thank you for all You have done for us. You experienced life’s emotions, temptations, and pain. You suffered my punishment and defeated the power of sin and death in the world.

You became fully human that I might know You identify with my troubles.

So, I will come to You with simple words of thanks…

Thank you for understanding. Psalm 147:5) Thank you for walking with me. (Psalm 23:4)Thank you for helping me carry my burdens. (Matthew 11:28) Thank you for giving me life (Psalm 139:13). For giving me hope and strength (Isaiah 40:31), and everything else I need each day.

I praise You. I worship You. I love You and give myself to You. By Your grace, help me live for Your glory now and forever. Amen.

The truth is…

You and I are going to have seasons when we’re confused and nothing makes sense.

But the wonderful thing I’ve learned is that when I honestly take my confusion to God in prayer and trust Him to make sense out of the nonsense … I have what I need. I have peace and strength and hope.

I’ve been reading in Jeremiah lately and most days my heart is moved when I realize how many of the prophecies God was speaking to the nations through Jeremiah … could also be said today.

But in the midst of God calling out all the ways the people had turned away from Him and warning them of the coming chaos and confusion … He gave them the following words of hope and truth:

Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7–8

My prayer today is that you and I will have deeply rooted faith in Christ Jesus. Faith that will give us hope when we’re confused and worried, peace when nothing makes sense, and strength to never stop producing fruit for the Lord in ways that will forever give Him glory.

May you be beautifully blessed today and every day by His unfailing love!

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!

Psalms to Pray When You Feel Like Something is Missing

If you feel like something is missing right now, you're not alone. When life is hard and your heart hurts, it helps to go to the Psalms to pray with honesty and faith. #Prayer #Psalms #Faith #BibleStudy #Hope #BrokenHeart #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #HisGraceGirls

If you feel like something is missing right now, you’re not alone.

I think most of us feel like we’re experiencing an unending cycle of missing out. We’re missing…

  • time with loved ones.
  • going to school.
  • going to work and having a steady income.
  • weddings, graduations, birthdays, and group celebrations.
  • coffee and visiting with friends.
  • going to church.
  • getting haircuts.
  • going to sporting events, movies, and concerts.
  • going shopping for “non-essentials.”

And I’m guessing those are just the big ones on your list. You could probably fill a page or more of with your missing somethings. And if you asked your kids … well, you might be able to fill a book.

And yet…

I’ll bet you and your family can also think of some good things that have been added to your home in the past weeks. Maybe it’s not all bad that our busyness has been put on hold for a bit.

In an article from Ball State University’s Center for Peace and Conflict offering – COVID-19 Peace and Self-Care Strategies, there’s a quote I love…

In this time to rush to return to “normal,” use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.

It’s good advice, isn’t it?

Maybe, just maybe … it’s a blessing to be “missing” some of the things on our lists.

And when I stop to think about it, I realize it has a lot to do with where you and I put our focus. If we dwell on the things we can’t do at the moment and continually think about being shut-in … we can’t help but feel unsettled, disappointed, discouraged, anxious, and yes, even afraid.

So today, I’m asking God to help me focus on Him. I want to “fix my thoughts” on the blessings He continues to give me even when the list of things I’m missing is longer than I’d like or when something on my list is something or someone I feel like I can’t live without.

I’m turning to Psalms to pray and ask God to give me a perspective filled with His hope-filled truth.

Psalms to Pray When You Feel Like Something is Missing

If you feel like something is missing right now, you're not alone. When life is hard and your heart hurts, it helps to go to the Psalms to pray with honesty and faith. #Prayer #Psalms #Faith #BibleStudy #Hope #BrokenHeart #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.

Psalm 91:14–15

Father, I do love you! Thank you for the many times you have rescued me in the past. Countless times You have been with me and protected me. And even more times of which I am not aware. Your Word repeats the truth of Your unfailing love. Love You pour into my life every day.

I’m coming to You, Lord, asking You to remind me of Your presence through this struggle. I’m asking You to rescue us from this time of illness and confusion. Please be with our leaders and give them wisdom and understanding. May they turn to You and trust You to guide them. Please be with me and give me peace and patience. And please give me wisdom to choose wisely when this is over and I can begin to add some of the missing things back into my life.

Satisfy us each morning with Your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

Psalm 90:14

Father, I pray to simply be satisfied in You. Give me child-like faith to trust You in all things. Help me focus on who You are and all You’ve done. May I live with gratitude, peace, and joy trusting in Your all-sufficient grace to give me everything I need.

I have Jesus. I am forgiven. I have a future filled with hope.

I will bless the Lord who guides me;
    even at night, my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of Your presence and
the pleasures of living with You forever.

Psalm 16:7–8, 11

Father, It is so easy for me to make plans and then ask You to bless them. Please forgive me. Your Spirit is with me to guide and instruct me. Please help me to simply trust and follow … even when I don’t understand. Help me keep my heart and mind focused on You, trusting that in Your presence nothing can shake the foundation of my faith.

Thank you for Your Word. Help me take the time to “be still” with You because when I sit quietly at Your feet, I learn Your will for me, I know Your truth, I am reminded of Your unfailing love, and I feel Your presence. That Father, is a sweet taste of living with Your forever … fully satisfied and at peace.

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything You do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.

Psalm 37:4–5

Father, I commit this time to You. Even though so many of the things that have become my normal and expected way of life have been temporarily removed … I trust You.

I’ve had things in this life I believed were my “heart’s desires.” And when You said “no” … my heart was crushed. I didn’t understand. I now know that You give me my heart’s desire when You are my heart’s desire. When I delight in You, I begin to want what You want and I trust Your perfect will for me.

By Your grace and with Your help, I commit my life to You. I believe when something is missing, even when it’s many somethings, You are with me. My circumstances are known to You. Everything about me is known to You. I believe You help me and that You always want what is best for me.

Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and never forget all the good He has done:
He is the One who forgives all your sins,
the One who heals all your diseases,
the One who rescues your life from the pit,
the One who crowns you with mercy
and compassion, the One who fills
your life with blessings

Psalm 103:2–5 (GW)

Father, please forgive me for focusing on the things I feel I’m missing. Please help me think about You. Help me focus on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Help me ponder things that are excellent and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8)

By Your grace and the power of Your Spirit, I will faithfully thank and praise You. I will remember all the wonderful undeserved blessings You pour into my life. No matter how difficult my circumstances, no matter what I feel like I’m missing, I will remember Your unfailing unending love. I will praise You for forgiving me, healing me, pulling me out of the pit of despair and surrounding me with Your grace and mercy.

I will count my blessings and never forget the good things You do for me every day. Thank you, Father. Your grace is sufficient. Your love is enough. It is well with my soul. Amen.

If you feel like something is missing right now, you're not alone. When life is hard and your heart hurts, it helps to go to the Psalms to pray with honesty and faith. #Prayer #Psalms #Faith #BibleStudy #Hope #BrokenHeart #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #HisGraceGirls

The truth is I need the peace that only God is able to give me. I need a perspective that trusts His help for the impossible. I need hope that He is forever and always in full control.

It’s why I love going to the Psalms to pray … like those writers, you and I can take our honest feelings to God in prayer with faith.

And then, with His help, we can fully trust…

The Lord is King! He is robed in majesty.
    Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty
and armed with strength.
The world stands firm
and cannot be shaken.

Psalm 93:1

Whatever shakes us … does not shake Him. Our God is fully and capably reigning over all He has made. We can rest secure in His loving care and His perfect timing … even when we feel like something is missing.

This weekend is the 15th anniversary of a very painful loss in our family. A loss that not only changed our lives but one God used to begin a powerful change in me.

I’m looking forward to sharing with you how God used the “worst” to give me His “best.” How He personally blessed me with His all-sufficient grace.

Until next time…

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!

10 Things You Need to Do If You Want to Be Satisfied

Are you satisfied? Do you want to be? If you want to live with peace and contentment, here are the things you need to do to be satisfied no matter what is going on in your life. #besatisfied #Contentment #BeHappy #Faith #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

Are you satisfied?

Especially right now, when we’re not doing so many of the things we’re used to doing. No matter how hard we try … we just can’t seem to find satisfaction.

So, I wonder…

Are you satisfied?

The dictionary defines being satisfied as being content or having peace. Does that help?

Are you contented? Are you experiencing peace?

I’ve been thinking about the day of Jesus’ resurrection … picturing the disciples locked in the upper room. For hours after Mary, Peter, and John had proclaimed Him alive, they remained confined (quarantined if you will), hidden away from the rest of the world.

Questioning. Uncertain. Afraid. Wondering. Hopeful.

Sound familiar? Can you relate to what they were experiencing?

The thing is … it doesn’t sound like satisfaction, does it?

And Jesus’s said…

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:10

And I wonder, have we bought into the “thief’s” lies … that we need more than Jesus to give us everything we need.

Kyle Idleman told a story in the book, Not a Fan Daily Devotional.

His four-year-old daughter wanted a pet. He said it had to be something that didn’t bark, meow, or make any kind of noise. It couldn’t shed and had to cost less than five dollars.

They decided on a goldfish and named it Nemo.

From here … I’m going to quote him…

She wanted to play with her new pet, but how do you play with a fish? You can’t take it for a walk or teach it to fetch. But you can take it swimming. So we took a trip to the swimming pool. I explained to my daughter that the chemicals in the pool would not be good for a fish, so we brought Nemo in a glass cup filled with water and set the cup on the very edge of the pool. While my daughter and I were splashing in the water, I noticed that Nemo was watching us. I figured he wanted to get out of the cup and into the vast ocean that the swimming pool must have looked like to him.

After a few minutes, I looked over again to check on Nemo, but the cup was empty. Apparently the lure of freedom on the high seas was so strong that Nemo had flip-flopped out of the cup and into the pool. I tried to catch him, but catching a goldfish in a swimming pool is more difficult than you might think. Eventually, Nemo rose to the surface, belly up…

I wonder how often the lure of “freedom” robs me of my satisfaction. I wonder how often I look past the “rich and satisfying life” Jesus wants for me because I let my mind entertain the “thief’s” temptations and deceptions.

The disciples waited with questions through the days and weeks following Jesus’ resurrection. We don’t know the exact amount of time Jesus actually spent with His followers during those 40 days between the resurrection and ascension. We do know He told them to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came … and that meant waiting for another 10 days.

50 days of waiting and wondering.

How satisfied were they?

Like us, they knew Jesus’ teachings about being satisfied…

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”

Matthew 5:6 (NET)

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

John 6:35

“Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.”

Matthew 6:33 (NCV)

Like us, they knew that Jesus had conquered death…

I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

John 14:3b–4

It is my Father’s will that all who see His Son and believe in Him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

John 6:40

I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and He has granted that same life-giving power to His Son. And He has given Him authority to judge everyone because He is the Son of Man. Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son,  and they will rise again.

John 5:25–29a

He had proven it with Lazarus and with His own resurrection and He promised it to His followers.

And I believe that’s the secret to a satisfied life.

That you and I trust God to give us everything we need today … knowing that because of Jesus our eternal future is secure as well.

Whether we’re closed up in our homes or living life with calendars full of activities and provision. Whether we have a little or a lot. Whether we’re in perfect or poor health. Whether our relationships are thriving or fragile. Whatever our circumstances being truly satisfied is a blessing we choose when we surrender our lives to Christ Jesus.

We recently received a prayer on the Blessing Counters Prayer Page…

I can’t call it a request because she didn’t ask for prayer … she simply shared her own personal testimony through prayer and it was beautiful. Even through the pain, she is choosing to place her hope in Christ Jesus trusting in His strength to give her everything she needs.

When you and I hear someone testify to being satisfied through terminal illness or the death of a loved one, when they are satisfied through pain and heartbreak, or through waiting and uncertainty … it is always the power of Christ in their lives.

Are you satisfied? Do you want to be? If you want to live with peace and contentment, here are the things you need to do to be satisfied no matter what is going on in your life. #besatisfied #BeHappy #Faith #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

I promised in the title that I would share 10 things you need to do if you want to be satisfied.

So, here’s my promised list…

10 Things You Need to Do If You Want to Be Satisfied

  1. Choose to praise God for who He is. (Psalm 42)
  2. Choose to avoid comparing your circumstances with anyone else’s. (Romans 12:1–16)
  3. Choose to stop chasing the enemy’s lie that freedom exists outside of God’s will. (John 8:44)
  4. Choose to do your best and use what God has given you for His glory. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
  5. Choose to trust God to take care of you and will supply everything you need. (Philippians 4:19)
  6. Choose to count your blessings. (Psalm 103:1–6)
  7. Choose to trust and obey God’s plans and purposes. (Romans 12:2)
  8. Choose to give your burdens to the Lord and ask Him to take care of you. (Psalm 55:22)
  9. Choose to live with a grateful heart. (Psalm 138)
  10. Choose to believe God’s promise to never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

How is it possible to “choose” a list atypical of our sinful human nature?

Jesus said…

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.

When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 14:15–17, 26–27
Are you satisfied? Do you want to be? If you want to live with peace and contentment, here are the things you need to do to be satisfied no matter what is going on in your life. #besatisfied #Contentment #BeHappy #Faith #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

And Paul wrote the following about the Holy Spirit…

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

Romans 8:26

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

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

I’m guessing the title of this post drew you in because you want to be satisfied but you’re struggling in the midst of your current circumstances.

If so, I’d love for you to pray with me…

Dear Jesus, You said that Your purpose was to give Your followers a “rich and satisfying” life. I want that! But You also know that my current circumstances make feelings of satisfaction seem like they are just a bit beyond my reach. I need Your help, Lord.

So, I surrender myself and this moment to You. I ask You to increase my faith and fill me with Your Spirit. I ask You to help me choose to do the things I need to do to rest on the truth of Your promises with confidence that today and each day in the future, one moment at a time, You will give me everything I need to be satisfied. I trust Your Spirit to fill me with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I believe You are with me. I believe that with Your help I can get up each day in faith, assured that with Your help I will be satisfied. Thank you, Jesus. Please receive my prayer by Your grace and help me live for Your glory. Amen.

Friend, I’m praying for you! May you be satisfied in Christ Jesus … trusting His promise to give you everything you need.

May I ask you one last time…

Are you satisfied? Do you want to be?

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

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

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

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Prayers Inspired by Jesus’ Last Words on the Cross

The Bible recorded Jesus' last words from the cross - the things He said to express His love as He willingly gave His life and they inspired me to pray. #Easter #GoodFriday #Prayer #Jesus #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #HisGraceGirls

It’s hard to think about the reality of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.

I’ll never forget the first time I watched the movie, The Passion of the Christ. I’d read the Bible and knew the account well but it was always easier to imagine the scene through cleaned up artwork and Sunday School drawings.

But I don’t want to settle for images that make me feel better.

So I’m taking to spend more time at the foot of the cross, humbly reflecting and praying to the One who suffered pure torture to endure my punishment.

I’d love it if you would join me.

Prayers Inspired by Jesus’ Last Words on the Cross

The Bible recorded Jesus' last words from the cross - the things He said to express His love as He willingly gave His life and they inspired me to pray. #Easter #GoodFriday #Prayer #Jesus #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:34

Lord Jesus, it’s hard for me to imagine myself in the crowd shouting, “Crucify Him!” I want to believe I would have followed You, that I would have been standing with John, your mother, and Mary Magdeleine … but I know the truth. You hung on that cross because of me.

My sins condemned You and yet, through Your pain, You asked the Father to forgive me. I am humbled and overwhelmed by Your gracious love. Thank you isn’t enough. Today, I give you my all as I prayerfully meditate on Your love and how You willingly gave Your all for me. Amen.

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:43

Jesus, Like the men being crucified beside You, I deserve to be punished for my sins.

I want to believe my sins aren’t that bad but all sin, any sin, my sin deserves punishment. Yet, You not only suffered and died for my disobedience but You reclaimed me and promise me a forever future with You in heaven.

I didn’t earn it. I don’t deserve it. You simply gave it.

So once again, I fall at the foot of the cross asking for Your forgiveness through tears of gratitude and a heart full of love as I anticipate the day You will come and take me home to live with You forever. (John 14:3) Thank you, Jesus! Amen.

When Jesus saw His mother standing there
beside the disciple He loved, He said to her,
“Dear woman, here is your son.”
And He said to this disciple, 
“Here is your mother.”
And from then on this disciple
took her into his home.

John 19:26–27

Jesus, Your tender words to Your mother and John touch my heart and remind me that You care about even the smallest details of our lives. You fed the hungry and healed the sick both physically and spiritually. You gave sight to those who could not see and sound to those who could not hear.

Nothing in my life goes beyond Your attention, care, and compassion. Lord Jesus, when my days are distressing and I feel like no one understands … You do!

You endured the pain and problems of this world. You experienced the consequences of sin without ever sinning Yourself. Thank you, for allowing me to bring it my struggles to You and for comforting and helping me in times of need. Amen.

Jesus called out with a loud voice,
“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” 
which means 
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34

Oh, dearest Jesus, this must have been the most difficult thing to endure. I sometimes wonder if this was what caused You to sweat drops of blood as You asked the Father to “remove this cup of suffering?” I can’t imagine how it must have felt to anticipate all You knew You would happen as You endured the separation my sin deserved.

David prophesied these words generations earlier and like every prophesy promised … You faithfully fulfilled it. Jesus, I believe You are the Christ, the Son of God! You suffered the unimaginable to save me.

Simply saying “thank you” is not enough. I give my life to You. I give You my all. By Your grace, may I faithfully live for Your glory as I declare the truth of Your love. Amen.

Jesus knew that His mission was now finished,
and to fulfill Scripture He said, 
“I am thirsty.”

John 19:28

Jesus, You spoke these three simple words so Your people might be assured that You understand our humanity.

You were tempted, yet You never sinned. You experienced life through Your senses just like I do. You laughed and cried. You felt anger, joy, and love. Oh, how You love.

Thank you for allowing me to know that nothing in my life is beyond Your understanding. When I am sad and lonely, rejected and betrayed, uncomfortable and tired … You understand. I can bring every burden, fear, and frustration to You confident that You will keep Your promise to help me carry it. (Matthew 11:28) Big or small, it matters to You. I matter to You. Thank you. Amen.

He said,
“It is finished!” 
Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 19:30

Was this Your victory shout! Jesus,

You accomplished everything You came to do.

You testified to the truth, proclaimed the Good News, and fulfilled the Law and the words of the Prophets. You showed people how very much God loves them. You gave Yourself as a sacrifice to save people from their sins. And You died to give us a forever life with You in heaven.

I can imagine You gathering every bit of strength You had to shout, “It is finished!” Victory! The plan promised in the Garden was accomplished and by Your grace … it is well with my soul. Thank you! Amen.

Then Jesus shouted, 
“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” 
And with those words, He breathed His last.

Luke 23:46

No one took Your life from You. You gave it willingly for sinners … like me.

Perfect love!

Please, Jesus, help me to love like You. My heart’s desire is to “love You, my God, (Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit) with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I want to love my neighbor as I love myself.” I want to obediently follow where You lead and carry out Your will as You reveal it to me. I believe I can do whatever You ask of me and that You will give me the strength I need. (Philippians 4:13)

Lord Jesus, I surrender this day to You. Help me. Strengthen me. And by Your grace, give me all I need to live this day and every day for Your glory. Amen.

The Bible recorded Jesus' last words from the cross - the things He said to express His love as He willingly gave His life and they inspired me to pray. #Easter #GoodFriday #Prayer #Jesus #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #HisGraceGirls

As I read and reread Jesus’ last words on the cross, I am always overwhelmed by His love.

Whatever is going on in your life and mine today … it is comforting to know that we can come to the foot of the cross and give it all to Jesus. We can be assured that by grace nothing in the world can separate us from God’s love given in and through Jesus.

Paul wrote:

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 8:38–39

It’s easy to let busyness distract me and problems discourage me but today I’m setting everything aside to sit at the foot of the cross. I’m stopping to reflect on Jesus’ last words of love and I’m resting in the hope of His miraculous life-giving promises.

Promises that assure me that even as I reflect on Good Friday, as I pause and pray … the Good News is – Sunday is coming.

Jesus’ Resurrection is a reality and so is ours!

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!

Pray When You Need God’s Help to Do the Impossible

It's hard to fight our giants and do the impossible on our own. We need God's help ... so I'm praying God's promises and asking Him for courage and strength. #Prayer #ImpossibleMission #Faith #PrayforStrengthandCourage #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

I sometimes try to picture how it must have looked…

The Philistines camped on one side and the Israelites on the other.

The enemy army had a giant—Goliath … the Bible describes him like this:

He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds … the shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds.

1 Samuel 17:4b–5,7

Day after day for 40 days, Goliath strutted in front of the Israelite army to taunt and terrify them…

“I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves. I defy the armies of Israel today. Send me a man who will fight me!”

1 Samuel 17: 8–9

And no one volunteered! The Bible describes them as “terrified and deeply shaken.” I can’t really blame them.

But then…

This teenager showed up.

You know the rest … but if you’d like, you can read the whole narrative in 1 Samuel 17.

Lately, I’ve been thinking that I don’t necessarily believe David had more strength and courage than Saul, his brothers, or anyone else standing on that hillside.

But he did have confidence in God’s ability to give him everything he needed to win this battle.

If he needed strength and courage to fight a giant and help to save the nation … God would give it to him. He said…

“This pagan Philistine … has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

1 Samuel 17:36b–37

And that’s what you and I need, isn’t it?

We need to KNOW and TRUST the One who is able to meet our every need … even when what we need is strength to fight what appears to be an impossible battle.

We need God’s help to do the impossible!

You see, it’s not about who I am or who you are. It’s not even about the battle itself.

It is always and only about the God who loves us so much that He died for us to give us what we need most. 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

Jesus and “everything else!”

As Jesus described it … everything you need. So, I’m going to the Lord today and I’m asking Him to give me sight that puts my giants in perspective. I’m asking Him to help me remember that my need is never beyond His loving care and ability to provide … even when the battle seems to be impossible.

I’d love for you to join me.

Pray When You Need God’s Help to Do the Impossible

It's hard to fight our giants and do the impossible on our own. We need God's help ... so I'm praying God's promises and asking Him for courage and strength. #Prayer #ImpossibleMission #Faith #PrayforStrengthandCourage #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:12–13

It’s scary right now, Father. The giant of fear taunts me. Threats of serious illness seem to be everywhere. Financial vulnerability makes us all wonder about the future. Schools and churches are closed and most of us are quarantined in our homes. I need Your help as I live through this situation.

I need You to help me “do everything” I need to do with strength, courage, and hope. Please give me Your perfect peace and help me remember that although I can’t see the future … you are already there. Grant me Your all-sufficient grace as I surrender this day to You.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthains 10:13

Father, so many of us keep saying that our current circumstances seem unprecedented. We’re struggling to understand this … it all feels so surreal, so unusual, so unsettling. But nothing is new or unexpected for You. You know the number of hairs on my head … You know what I’m going through now.

When the temptations of life feel overwhelming, help me remember Your faithfulness and give me what I need to endure today. When I’m tempted by fear … give me courage. When I’m tempted by worry … give me strength. When anxiety is great within me … give me Your peace. By Your grace and for Your glory.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Father, this may be one of my favorite promises. Those who “trust the Lord” will find the strength they need. That is my prayer! It’s easy to feel strong when I’m soaring through life … but when soaring becomes running and running becomes walking that feels more like staggering, You promise to give me what I need to keep moving forward.

You will help me do the impossible. So, I will trust in You, Lord, and with Your help, I will keep moving forward … sometimes staggering, sometimes walking and running, and sometimes by Your grace and with Your help – I will soar on wings like eagles.

See, 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

Father, You have given me the most important thing I will ever need … You saved me from sin, death, and the power of satan. Nothing is impossible for You. And by Your grace, I have everything I need today.

I trust You will give me strength to do the impossible because You have already given me victory in Jesus … a victory that lasts forever. Thank you for making me Your own. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for helping me trust You when I’m afraid.

Praise the Lord!
    For He has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
    I trust Him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
    I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 28:6–8

Father, thank you for hearing the cries of my heart. Thank you for all the times You have strengthened me in the past. I believe You will give me the strength I need today. I trust the absolute truth of Your promises. I trust Your love. I trust that You are who You say You are and that You always do what You say You will do. Thank you! I will praise You, Lord, with all I am for all my life, now and forever, by Your grace … I will live for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

It's hard to fight our giants and do the impossible on our own. We need God's help ... so I'm praying God's promises and asking Him for courage and strength. #Prayer #ImpossibleMission #Faith #PrayforStrengthandCourage #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

When You Need God’s Help…

David did not face his battles alone. He trusted the Lord … not just with the battles but with his feelings about the battles as well.

I love reading the Psalms. They are full of honest emotions … his fears and frustrations. David turned to God for help with his problems and with his feelings about his problems.

When he needed God to help him do the impossible, he was open and honest … asking for God to give him what he needed in his circumstances and his attitudes.

And then…

He praised and thanked God for His grace and provision.

In the first Psalm David wrote, he said…

You are my strength; I wait for You to rescue me, for You, O God, are my fortress.

 I will sing about Your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for You, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.

Psalm 59:9, 16–17

Our Savior is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) You and I can trust His love and turn to Him for help.

We can trust Him to not only do the impossible. Jesus said…

“Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Matthew 19:26

And Paul wrote…

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

And that same grace is available to you and me.

So, if you’re overwhelmed today as you deal with overwhelming circumstances. Please don’t give up. Like David, when you need God’s help, honestly go to Him with your situation and trust Him to give you everything you need to do the impossible.

And then get ready to thank and praise Him for once again showing you His unfailing love.

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 Stronger Faith – Pray Jesus’ Truth

It's easy to relate to the father who said, Lord, "I believe, help me overcome my unbelief." When we want stronger faith, we need to pray Jesus' truth and ask for His help. #Faith #Jesus #PrayScripture #Hope #Prayer #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

What do you do when life is uncertain and you are struggling with feelings of vulnerability?

It’s interesting to be living at a time of collective uncertainty.

But the truth is … everyone experiences that vulnerable feeling from time to time.

I can’t tell you how often I’ve thought about the words spoken by the father of the “demon-possessed” boy … a desperate man who just wanted his son to be healed.

Talk about feeling vulnerable.

This father brought his desperation to the disciples but they couldn’t help. So, as Jesus came down from the Mountain of Transfiguration He was met with a group of arguers trying to figure out what to do next.

Jesus surveyed the crowd and asked a few questions, and after answering a few details about his son, the father pleads…

“Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

Mark 9:22

Jesus replied…

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’? Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Mark 9:23

The father’s response always grabs my attention and my heart…

“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24

Can you relate to these words, too? When you are desperate for answers and solutions? When life feels shaky?

But that’s the point. The father didn’t take his son and leave. He didn’t give up in despair. He took the faith he had and trusted Jesus.

So, that’s what I’m doing today. I’m going to Jesus and asking Him for His mercy and help. I’m honestly admitting that I feel vulnerable.

I’m praying the words of Jesus, asking Him to give me peace and hope because when I feel vulnerable, I need stronger faith. Faith that truly believes the promise that … “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

I’d love for you to pray with me…

When You Want Stronger Faith – Pray Jesus’ Truth

It's easy to relate to the father who said, Lord, "I believe, help me overcome my unbelief." When we want stronger faith, we need to pray Jesus' truth and ask for His help. #Faith #Jesus #PrayScripture #Hope #Prayer #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Mark 9

Lord, thank you for the gift of faith. I can’t imagine trying to do even a moment of my life without the hope You give.

It’s why I love this father’s hopeful prayer. Like him…

I do believe, but when I’m overwhelmed by problems and everywhere I turn people are fearful and worried … doubt creeps in and challenges me. I need Your help, Lord. Please fill me with Your Spirit, help me remember the countless ways You have been with me in the past, and flood my heart and mind with the truths of Your unfailing promises.

Jesus said, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.

Matthew 7:24–25

Lord Jesus, I want to be wise. I want to listen to and follow Your teaching. I want “solid rock” faith. Your Word tells me to “be still and know” You. (Psalm 46:10) Please fill me with a desire to spend time with You by reading and studying Your Word … by sitting with You in prayer. Please quiet my spirit and help me fix my thoughts on Your truth.

Help me “keep my eyes on” You, the author and perfecter of my faith. (Hebrews 12:2) Help me fix my “thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. And think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8) With Your Spirit’s help, I believe those things will help me through life’s storms.

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. 

John 14:15–17a

Lord, I do love You … yet, I know I fall short of perfectly obeying your commandments. Please forgive me. I’ve prayed to know Your truth. I’ve asked You to help me love You with all that I am. I’ve called out for Your help to be able to trust and obey Your perfect will.

Because I know that I am unable to do any of those things on my own. I need Your Spirit’s help. I surrender myself to You, Lord. Guide me. Fill me. Teach me Your truth. Keep me so focused on You that the world’s lies and temptations have no power over me.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31–32

Lord, You are the TRUTH that sets me free.

By Your grace, I am no longer a slave to sin and I am free from the eternal consequences of my sin.

You free me from the lies I tell myself and the lies satan uses to tempt me. You make me free to live each day with hope and joy because I am forgiven and redeemed for all eternity. You give me freedom to love as I have been loved.

Lord Jesus, I don’t want to just know Your truth … I want to live Your truth. Please help me follow where You lead. Help me faithfully obey You … without doubts or questions but trusting that every Word is true. May I say like the Psalmist: “Every word of God holds true and we can trust everything He does.” (Psalm 33:4)  Amen.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20

Lord, I pray that You will help me be an encourager. I want everyone to know and love You. I want them to live with the freedom You give. I want them to know the blessings of loving You and obeying Your commands. I want them to experience peace, joy, patience, and hope. And most of all, I want them to enjoy the blessing of Your presence … to rest in the truth that no matter what happens in this life, they will never have to face it alone. You will be with them.

Your grace is sufficient. When I am weak, You give me the strength I need. (2 Corinthians 12:9) You guide by Your truth and help my faith to grow. Thank you! I worship and praise You and ask that by Your grace, I might live for Your glory today, tomorrow, and always. Amen.

It's easy to relate to the father who said, Lord, "I believe, help me overcome my unbelief." When we want stronger faith, we need to pray Jesus' truth and ask for His help. #Faith #Jesus #PrayScripture #Hope #Prayer #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

You know, I’ve learned something important in recent months…

I’ve learned I have to be careful about what I consume—what I listen to, watch, and read. I have to think carefully about the discussions I have.

If I want to have stronger faith and know and pray Jesus’ truths … I have to focus on who He is and all He’s done.

You have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:1–2

When I feel vulnerable and my heart cries…

“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

The promise I have … the promise you have, is that we are not on our own when we want to have stronger faith.

When you and I want to have a rock-solid foundation built on the truths of Jesus. We have the promise that we have been hidden with Christ in God. We have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us know and…

Pray Jesus’ truth.

And that’s awesome news!

Because of Jesus, you and I can surrender each day, even when that day feels vulnerable and uncertain. We can be confident that we will be given everything we need to live in faith with hope and joy.

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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5 Verses to Pray When You are Afraid of the Unknown

No one knows the future and sometimes things happen that make us afraid of the unknown; so, I'm praying to the One who reigns over whatever lies ahead. #Prayer #Hope #Faith #FearoftheFuture #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

It’s hard, isn’t it?

Delving into the unknown. Waiting and wondering.

At the moment, it’s hitting us all. People all over the world are watching and listening … uncertain about what the future will bring.

It’s really no different than usual. It’s just that this time we have a common subject.

But every day, all over the world people are uncertain and afraid of the unknown … questioning:

  • the results of a medical test.
  • the job layoff.
  • the teen whose attitude and behavior changed suddenly.
  • the spouse who has become more distant and detached.
  • why the person they love began ghosting them.
  • how they’ll pay their rent or feed their family.

And at one time, you didn’t even know that someday you might be afraid of a global pandemic.

Paul wrote the following in his second letter to Timothy…

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

And we know it’s true.

Fear of the unknown is not from God!

Because it’s really not unknown.

Jesus said,

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.”

John 16:33b

Those words themselves used to terrify me. I didn’t want to face trials and sorrows. Although, I knew they were “here on earth,” I knew I didn’t want them to touch me.

But they did touch me and that’s when the rest of Jesus’ words became necessary and real for me.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me … but take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33a,c

Jesus has won the victory over our trials and sorrows. He has given us His eternal promises that are absolute and unchanging to give us His peace.

Paul wrote this about the kind of peace Jesus gives.

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 4:7

Other translations call it the peace that:

  • reassures the heart.
  • is the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ.
  • will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings.
  • transcends comprehension.
  • goes beyond anything we can imagine.
  • is beyond human understanding.
  • is too wonderful to understand.

I want that when I’m afraid of the unknown, don’t you?

Paul told us how … in the verse before the one which says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline.“

He wrote:

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

2 Timothy 1:6

That gift … is the gift of faith. Paul had just reminded Timothy of the great faith he saw in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. A faith he said … “now lives in you also.”

So, now that we know 1) we want that kind of sincere strong faith and 2) it’s what we need when we are afraid of the unknown—what do we do?

How do you and I get that kind of faith?

I believe we do what Paul told Timothy to do. We “fan into flames the gift of faith God has given us. We pray that He will help us turn to and trust His promises and give us the peace that is too wonderful to understand.

So, I’m praying today … and I’d love for you to pray with me.

5 Verses to Pray When You are Afraid of the Unknown

No one knows the future and sometimes things happen that make us afraid of the unknown; so, I'm praying to the One who reigns over whatever lies ahead. #Prayer #Hope #Faith #FearoftheFuture #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

John 14:27

Jesus, You promised to leave Your followers the gift of peace of mind and heart. You also said that it is a peace the world can never give us. And yet, we foolishly look for our peace in countless things the world offers us. But the truth is … everything the world has to offer, the good and the bad, is temporary.

Lord, please help me focus my heart and mind on the truth of Your Word. I pray Your Spirit will prompt me to bring every unknown fear to You in prayer; and that He will imprint Your forever promises on my soul.

God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress.

Psalm 46:1, 10–11

Father, I love this promise. You are my safe place. You are the One who gives me strength when my own is depleted. And when I doubt or wonder how You will give me what I need this time. When I feel this time my fear is too great … You say, Be still and know! Look around. See what I’m doing. See what I’ve done. I am the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing is impossible for Me. Be still and know that I AM God!

Please give me everything I need to rest in You.

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

Lord, guard my heart and mind. I admit that I am worried about __________. I come to You … asking You to meet this need today.

Thank you for all the times You have helped and protected me in the past. Some of which I’m aware and some known only to You.

Please help me to trust Your perfect timing and give me what I need to experience Your peace each day. Fill me with faith, hope, and love as I entrust my cares and concerns to You.

You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in You,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

Isaiah 26:3

Perfect peace! I want that Lord. I want to be kept in Your perfect peace. So, I ask You to fill me with Your Spirit. Help me fix my thoughts on You. Help me remember all You have done for me in the past. Help me think about all the times you have given me peace and strength. Help me keep in mind the truth that many of the things I’ve worried about have never happened.

Help me focus on who You are! You are the God who saves me and gives me everything I need. Your grace is sufficient. You are Lord of my life, the One in whom I place my trust today, tomorrow, and forever.

No one knows the future and sometimes things happen that make us afraid of the unknown; so, I'm praying to the One who reigns over whatever lies ahead. #Prayer #Hope #Faith #FearoftheFuture #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

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 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 8:35,39

Oh, Father, I love this promise!

Nothing can separate me from Jesus’ love! No trouble. No problem. No crisis. Even if I’m being persecuted, lied about, rejected, or betrayed. When it feels like I don’t have enough or I’m afraid of the unknown. You are always with me.

Nothing in the known or unknown world can stop Your love for me. Isaiah wrote, “This is what the Lord said, ‘From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.'” (Isaiah 43:13) I am Yours forever.

When I am afraid … hold me in the palm of Your hand and remind me that I am always safe when I rest in Your love.

And finally, one more thing I’m praying for you and for me…

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Because whatever He allows, the Lord Himself is able to give us everything we need to live with joy, peace, and hope … fully trusting in His all-sufficient love, grace, and mercy.

May God bless you abundantly as you trust Him with the unknown.

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!