5 Prayers that will Strengthen You When You are Anxious and Afraid

There is a spiritual battle going on around us that can make us anxious and afraid but God is greater than our fear. He is able to give us His peace. #OvercomingFear #InnerPeace #FeelingAnxious #Prayer

Many of us have spent the week praying for hurting families in El Paso and Dayton while at the same time trying to get their heads around the unsettling feeling that the places we’ve always believed we were safe, may not be.

It’s understandable that some of us are feeling anxious and afraid. In the past week, news channels have recapped every terrifying event from recent history.

Friends, there is a spiritual battle going on. The enemy wants us focused on the evil side of the battle … crippled by anxiety and fear.

But the holy angelic warrior side of the battle is powerful and real. God is on the throne and His angel army fights for us.

I have held the following verse close this week…

“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!”
2 Kings 6:16–17

I’m fighting my anxious and afraid thoughts with the truth of God’s Word and prayer and I thought maybe you might be blessed by these prayers as well…

5 Prayers that will Strengthen You When You are Anxious and Afraid

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world.
Ephesians 6:10–12

Father, I want to be strong in You … in the power You give. Please clothe me with the belt of truth, the shield of faith, and the shoes of peace. Please help me focus on the truth of Your Word when the enemy works to discourage me with anxiety and fear. Help me remember that You are with me; I am not fighting my battles alone.

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

Lord, You are my Shepherd … I have everything I need. I trust You to care for me today and eternally. Please keep my heart and mind focused on all You are doing in my life. When I am tempted to fixate on all that is wrong in the world. When I’m anxious and afraid. Please help me by the power of Your Spirit to trust Your sovereign grace and love and rest securely in Your perfect peace.

We can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:6,8

Father, I love these verses! They define faith! With Your Spirit’s help, I can say with confidence that You are always with me helping, guiding, providing, and protecting.

Your love is constant and never-changing. You proved Your love through Jesus life, death, and resurrection. By Your grace, I have nothing to fear.

Yet, sometimes fear still rises up in me. Please help me. When I am anxious and afraid, fill my heart and mind with Your promises and the truth that is unchanging and never fails.

I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.
Psalm 16:8

Lord, When I am anxious and afraid, please help me remember the times You have helped me in the past. You lifted me out of the pit of fear and despair, placed me on solid ground, and steadied me as I walked along. (Psalm 40:2) I can trust You are with me today and always. Thank you!

Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt His name together.I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:3–4

Father, I will praise You and lift You up. I will tell of the good things You have done for me. I lived afraid and anxious for so many years. I’ve trusted You for my eternal future for as long as I can remember but I struggled to trust You with my days … with my daily decisions, with my loved ones, with unknown circumstances and worldly terrors.

But because of Your grace and mercy, You carried me as I lived through one of my worst fears. You held me close as You met every need. I prayed and You answered me! And I will tell, all who will listen, of Your marvelous works … of Your greatness, Your grace, mercy, and love. Amen.

Friend, I’ve realized God is giving us an amazing opportunity!

When our anxious and afraid friends voice their concern…

We can tell them about God’s love. We can tell them that He is able to make us strong and give us peace.

Yes, there is a spiritual battle going on around us. Both good and evil are present in our fallen world. But God is greater! Jesus has already won the victory. And as God’s children … we are victorious, too.

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

When Feeling Overwhelmed Doesn’t Make Sense

by Maree Dee
@ Embracing the Unexpected

A Prayer for the Disappointed Soul

by Susan Mcilmoil
@ Carry On My Heart

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

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

I would really appreciate it if you would
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Thank you so much for partying with us!
May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

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

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

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Thank you and God bless!

5 Verses You Need to Pray that Ask God to Bless America

7 / 4 / 197 / 5 / 19

I’m stopping today to thank God for the blessing of growing up and living in the United States.

Oh, I know we’re a population with conflicting ideas and a long list of things we could do better but friends, we are free!

I looked up the Bill of Rights for a list of freedoms we enjoy. It’s really awesome!

Freedoms in America

Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of the Press
Freedom of Assembly
Freedom of Petition

We are blessed!

If you’re like me, you would like those freedoms to last for many generations in the future.

As I read through the Bible there are two important things necessary for a nation to be successful and lasting…

♥ 1. People honored and trusted God and intentionally made every effort to follow His commands.

♥ 2. People asked God to forgive their failures and help them honor and obey Him.

People prayed!

So, I thought today would be the perfect time to stop for a minute or two and Pray for America!

5 Verses You Need to Pray that Ask God to Bless America

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
1 Timothy 2:1-2

Father, I lift up our country to You. We need You. We’ve always needed You but right now at this moment, it feels like we need You more than ever. I am so thankful for those who are willing to serve our nation … whether they are elected or appointed, military or local law enforcement. Lord, please place Your hand of protection over them. Guide them and help them wherever they serve.

Father, please work in the hearts and minds of those who lead our nation. By the power of Your Spirit, I pray that they will both know and follow Your will. Please help them to see past politics and power and give them hearts to make decisions that are in line with Your will. Lord, help us! Lead us. Forgive us.

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

Father, forgive us. We have gotten so many things wrong. We don’t love You well. We don’t love each other well. We don’t follow Your commands as we should. We judge the behavior of others and make excuses for our own flaws and failures. We need You. We Need Jesus. We need Your forgiveness and we need changed hearts and minds. We are so very sorry. Please heal us and help us. Please bless America!

What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,
whose people He has chosen as His inheritance.

Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in You alone.
Psalm 33:12,22

Father, We need our joy restored. We need You!

The enemy wants us to focus on the junk … on problems that divide us. But You are able to unite us with Your peace.

Please surround us with Your unfailing love, Lord. Give us hope for the future. We have victory in Jesus … all the enemy can do is distract and distress us. When we place our trust in You and focus on all You have done and continue to do in our lives … we will have hope and joy!

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you.
James 1:5

Father, Wisdom is defined as knowing what is right and true and doing it. We could even say … wisdom is knowing Your will and obeying it.

We so often fall short when it comes to wisdom! By the power of Your Holy Spirit, work in our hearts and minds and bless us with Your wisdom. Work in our nation’s leaders … give them the wisdom they need and help them apply it. And give us all reverent fear and the courage and strength we need to trust and obey Your will.

May God be merciful and bless us.
May His face smile with favor on us.
May Your ways be known throughout the earth,
Your saving power among people everywhere.
May the nations praise You, O God
Yes, may all the nations praise You.
Psalm 67:1–3

Bless us, Father! We need Your mercy. We need Your favor. We need You. Help us love others in ways that will make You known.

Your Word tells us that You want everyone to come to know and love You … Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.

You want all people everywhere to trust and follow Jesus. And You’ve given us Your Spirit so we don’t have to figure things out on our own.

Thank you, Father! You have given and You continue to give us everything we need. May we praise and worship You in all we say and do.

Friends, there are so many more things we could pray specifically for our nation. May we take our concerns to Him. May we pray for one another.

And most importantly, may we continue to show deep love for one another … as “love covers a multitude of sins.”

God bless America!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

How to Rebuild Broken Trust

by Debbie Wilson
Refreshing Faith

How God Changed My Prayers for My Children

by Gretchen Fleming
@ Following Hard

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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

I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

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

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

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

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

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

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

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

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Thank you and God bless!

5 Verses to Pray When You Need to be Strong

6 / 27 / 19

When the challenge your facing feels overwhelming and it's hard to be strong, it's time to pray. These 5 Bible verses and prayers will help when it's hard for you to find the words. #Prayer #Faith #BeStrong #Hope

You tossed and turned most of the night and still, you can’t believe it’s morning already.

The challenge you’re facing feels overwhelming and if you could, you’d just pull the covers over your head and stay in bed … all … day.

Oh, I can relate!

Truth is … you and I have to live through what Jesus called “trouble” more often than we’d like.

“I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.”
John 16:33

I’ll admit, I hate the “trouble!” I’m guessing you do too!

But you and I can be “brave.” We can be strong because Jesus defeated evil.

By living a perfect sinless life.
Through His suffering and death.
Through His resurrection.

He spoke those words just prior to His arrest. He knew what was coming. Jesus was no stranger to “troubles.”

He understands … and that truth gives us strength and hope when our giants loom large.

Whatever you and I are going through … whether it is a failing relationship, a daunting diagnosis, a financial concern, a legal problem, a what do I do now decision, or an ongoing pain that feels like it will never end.

Whatever it is … the Lord is able to give us everything we need to be strong one day at a time.

But I’ll admit…

When I’m going through “trouble” it’s hard for me to turn from my restless anxiety and focus on God’s all-sufficient grace.

Which is why I need to pray. I’d love for you to join me.

5 Verses to Pray When You Need to be Strong

I was so foolish and ignorant—
    I must have seemed like a senseless
animal to You.
Yet I still belong to You;
You hold my right hand.
You guide me with Your counsel,
    leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
    I desire You more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
    but God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever.
Psalm 73:22–26

Father, You gave me Psalm 73:26 to claim as my own, when my heart was broken.

And I can so relate to the words above…

I’ve had many times when I’ve made foolish choices. Yet … You continued to call me Your own. You held me close and patiently taught me Your truth.

Thank you for Your loving me and covering me with Your grace and mercy. Thank you for Your healing touch … for holding me and for giving me strength when I was at my weakest.

Father, thank you for guiding me. There is nothing in this life I desire more than You. Even if my health fails and my spirit is weak, I believe You will always be my strength. In Jesus name. Amen.

Remember that I commanded you to
be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid,
because the Lord your God will be
with you everywhere you go.”
Joshua 1:9

Father, on my own, I’m not strong … not even a little bit. And this problem feels overwhelming.

But then I remember, You divided the Sea (Exodus 14) and used a marching band to defeat a city (Joshua 6). You gave life to dry bones (Ezekiel 37) and healed a broken world through Your Son.

My circumstances are not too great for You. Please help me turn my focus from the problem to You, the One who already knows the outcome. Please make me aware of Your presence. Help me trust Your will for me. Help me follow wherever You lead with courage and strength.

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, You are my safe place and source of strength.

Your Word says You are always ready to help me. You invite me to “be still” and know You … Lord of all, God of gods, and King of kings.

Father, I need You to help me be strong.

I need You.

So, I will quietly sit here in Your presence trusting that You will give me whatever I need to face the day ahead. Thank you, Lord.

The Lord is king. He is clothed in majesty.
    The Lord is clothed in majesty
    and armed with strength.
The world is set,
    and it cannot be moved.
Lord, Your kingdom was set up long ago;
You are everlasting.
Psalm 93:1–2

Father, this world is Yours … everything in it. You speak the word and creation obeys.

Sometimes when I look around, I see a world in chaos. People turning on each other over ideology. Terrorism. War. Natural disasters. Personally, we are suffering with broken relationships, financial hardships, and health concerns. And we’re afraid.

Yet, nothing is new to You. You have always known the end from the beginning and You are always in control. Father, please help me keep my eyes focused on You, for You are able to make me strong today and give me the hope I need for tomorrow.

I begged the Lord three times to take
this problem away from me.
But He said to me,
“My grace is enough for you.
When you are weak,
my power is made perfect in you.”
So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses.
Then Christ’s power can live in me.
For this reason, I am happy when
I have weaknesses, insults,
hard times, sufferings,
and all kinds of troubles for Christ.
Because when I am weak,
then I am truly strong.
2 Corinthians 12:8–10

Father, Help me remember that whatever I’m going through … Your grace is enough for today. Please help me remember that when my circumstances don’t change … when the struggle I’m facing doesn’t end.

I’ve prayed and prayed and You quietly remind me of Your more than enough grace. You are able to help me face today and I believe You will help me face tomorrow … because You have strengthened me through many yesterdays. Thank you!

I know Jesus is with me and Your Spirit is within me. I trust You to guide me. and give me all I need … joy in the midst of weakness and strength to live through this trouble with courage.

Thank you, Father. With Your help, I will be strong and live this day surrendered to You. By Your grace and for Your glory. Amen.

God knows exactly what you need to be strong.

He is with you.

And..

He will give you what you need today and what you need again tomorrow.

When I’m tempted to center my attention on my struggle and anxiously remind myself that I’m not enough … that I can’t, I will turn to the One who is able to give me exactly what I need through His grace, mercy, and love.

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

When Your Busted Flip-Flop Speaks To You

by Lauren Sparks
Where Thoughts of a Special Needs Mom
Intersects with the Cross of Christ

10 Powerful Bible Verses to Help When You Fear the Future

by Tammy Kennington
Restoring Hope. Pursuing Peace

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

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

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

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

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

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

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

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

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Thank you and God bless!

5 Verses to Pray When You Need a Miracle

5 / 23 / 195 / 23 / 19

We receive so many prayer requests from people who need a miracle. If you are someone who needs God to do the impossible, these verses and prayers will help you go to God and ask Him for help. #Prayer #Needamiracle #Hope #BibleStudy #SeekGodFirst

If you clicked on the title to this post because you wanted to know more, because you need to pray … I’m guessing you need a miracle in your life.

You’re not alone … my most visited post is 5 Verses to Pray When You Need God to Do the Impossible.

And if you visit the Blessing Counters Pray Page … you’ll find prayer after prayer from people asking for God’s miraculous intervention.

Which is one of the reasons why I write. You see…

I’ve experienced God’s miracles!

He has forgiven me.
He has given me the gift of faith.
He calls me His child.
He gives me hope for the future.

For this anxiety-ridden worrier who knocked herself out to do life “right” and failed miserably … His grace, mercy, and healing love are miraculous.

I’ve also experienced His miraculous power when…

He lovingly healed my broken heart I believed was beyond repair.
He healed Rev of near-fatal Constrictive Pericarditis and gave us bonus days to count.
He protected our 1 lb 9 oz preemie grandson through months in the NICU, PICU, and beyond. Today he is a thriving 11-year-old young man.

He is the God of miracles. The God for whom anything in possible.

I can’t promise you He will give you every miracle you ask for… you see, I have experienced His “no” at times and I am also still waiting and praying for miracles yet unseen because He is saying “not now.”

I can promise you … He hears every prayer, He loves you, and He will always give You His best even when you don’t understand.

So, we’ll pray and go to the One who hears, loves, and gives His best when we need a miracle.

5 Verses to Pray When You Need a Miracle

O God, Your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as You?
You are the God of great wonders!
You demonstrate Your awesome power among the nations.
Psalm 77:13–14

Father, Help me remember today that You are who You say You are. You are holy, mighty, and powerful. You are my Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter. You are gracious, merciful, and loving. You are my way and the truth I need. You are my hope for the future.

You are the God of miracles, the One for whom nothing is impossible. And Father, I need a miracle and so I lay my problem before You asking for Your grace and mercy. Please strengthen me today and help me keep my focus on You rather than on this things that is overwhelming me.

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you will have life by the power of His name.
John 20:30–31

Father, Thank you for those You inspired to keep a record of all the works of Your hand from the beginning of time. Thank you for the people who documented Jesus’ life and ministry.

Your Word helps me know You. It inspires me and gives me hope. It is the weapon I need to fight the attacks of the enemy. Your Word is Truth! And I believe! I believe Jesus is Your Son and my Savior. I believe that through Him I have life and that is the miracle I needed the most. Thank you, Father.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Matthew 19:26

Father, I believe in Your hands the impossible becomes possible. I admit that sometimes this problem seems impossible. It’s hard to imagine a good outcome. I know the way I want it to go but at moments I have my doubts that the outcome I hope for will happen. But then I remember all the good things You have done for me in the past. I remember miracles that were born in hopes and prayers. So, I surrender this need to You asking You to once again make the impossible possible.

“Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine.”
Mark 14:36

Father, This is hard! It’s hard to say, “Your will be done.” It’s hard to ask and then let it go in faith. It’s hard to surrender my will when the possible pain seems like more than I can bear.

Help me remember that although You didn’t take away Jesus’ cup of suffering You gave His all He needed to endure. And You did it for me. You strengthened Him and gave me life.

Help me remember that You see the big picture of my life and every life. You hold it all in the palm of Your hand. You sometimes allow what is painful because You know how it can affect the future.

So, help me trust You today and say, “I want Your will to be done, not mine.”

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord?
Who can ever praise Him enough?
Psalm 106:1–2

Father, Thank you! You are good! You are love! You are worthy of all my praise!

You are the God of miracles … too many to count! Today, I’m asking for You to bless me with one more miracle. I believe You are able. Please strengthen me and give me everything I need so whatever You decide, even if you don’t grant this miracle, I will rest secure knowing my hope is in You alone.

Father, I trust Your will. I am secure in Your perfect love and I will praise You now and forever and even then … it will never be enough. In Jesus name, I pray.

Amen.

Friend, I know you have moments when you wonder if you should give up because waiting on this miracle feels like the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do. And my heart hurts for you.

I can’t tell you how much I’ve struggled to find the words to say to encourage you in these last few sentences.

You see, I could stand with the prosperity teachers and tell you God wants you to have this miracle for which you’re praying. I could even stand with those who say you should simply forcefully and confidently bombard the throne room until God gives you want.

But I can’t. Because I will only share with You what I believe to be His truth.

And the truth I believe … is that God loves you and wants what is best for your eternal future. He hears every prayer and He loves you more than you can imagine. I am certain that your future is safe with Him.

If you need a miracle today…

cry out to Him.
fall at His feet.
touch the hem of His robes.
thank Him for all He has done in the past.
trust Him and follow where He leads.

Give it all to Jesus and surrender Your need and all that you are to God’s timing, love, and perfect will because that’s where miracles happen.

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

Why You Don’t Have to Fear Being an Outsider

by and @ Stacey Pardoe

Talking Matters: To Know and Be Known, for Heaven’s Sake

by Sue Donaldson
@ Welcome Heart

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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

I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

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

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

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

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

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

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

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

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Thank you and God bless!

5 Verses to Pray When You are Sick and Tired of Waiting

4 / 4 / 194 / 5 / 19

We quickly get tired of waiting in lines, traffic, and waiting rooms. When God says "wait" and we don't know what that means for the future - it's hard! #Prayer #BibleStudy #ChristianCommunity #BibleVerses #CountingMyBlessings

Waiting is my favorite … said no one ever!

Entire industries have been developed because we want what they want and we don’t want to wait for it!

We hate waiting in lines. Traffic jams make our heads spin around. We pull our phones out to pass the time in waiting rooms and still we grow more impatient with each passing moment.

So, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that we really struggle when God’s answer to one of our prayers is … “not now.” Especially because He doesn’t tell us when. He simply says, “wait.”

And waiting is hard. I know … we’ve had some experience with waiting.

Let me give you a few personal examples…

Rev and I experienced seven years of secondary infertility. Years of temperature charts and hormonal roller coasters.

We waited almost a year for a diagnosis when Rev was ill and that was just the beginning of many more months of waiting on treatment, surgery, and praise God … healing.

Then my mom took a terrible fall and broke her neck, wrist, and hip. We waited for weeks as she seemed to be recovering … only to have her fall again and die from her injuries.

Six weeks after my mom died, our first grandchild was born at 24 weeks, weighing just a little over a pound and a half. And we waited and waited as he spent time in hospitals and doctor’s offices. Praise God … he is a happy and healthy 11-year-old today!

Friend, I get it! Waiting is hard!

And one of the hardest parts of waiting on God is although He knows the outcome … you and I do not.

Maybe you’re waiting because of a health issue, a relationship struggle, or a financial problem. Maybe you need a door to open professionally. Maybe you’re waiting on a loved one to surrender their heart to Jesus.

Whatever you’re waiting for … God’s Word tells us to bring our prayers to the Lord as we wait with hope. So, today we will pray..

5 Verses to Pray When You are Sick and Tired of Waiting

Psalm 27:7–8

Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

Father, I feel like I’ve prayed for this a hundred times or more. My heart cries out. Sometimes I feel like a pestering child pleading again and again … asking You to give me the answer my heart desires. And yet, as many times as I come to You, You never turn me away.

You say, “Come and talk with me.” So, here I am once again. Please strengthen me while I wait and help me trust Your will for me. Fill me with Your Spirit and give me Your peace. I can’t do this on my own. But I believe Your promise that I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13) Amen.

Isaiah 55:8–9

“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.”

Father, forgive me. I really am shortsighted. I only see my immediate needs. It’s hard to imagine the “what-ifs” of the future. But You know them all. You see the end from the beginning. And not just the big picture, You are personally involved in the details of my life.

Help me trust You! Help me know that if You ask me to wait … there is a good reason. Help me rest knowing that whatever You allow, even this season of waiting, is filtered through Your love. Hold me close, Father, and bless me with Your perfect peace. Amen.

Romans 8:24–28

(If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) And 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. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Father, waiting patiently and confidently is hard … especially when the enemy taunts me with doubts and fears. Please place a hedge of protection around my heart and mind. Give me Your promises to defeat the enemy’s lies in my life.

Thank you, for this word of promise that even when I’m discouraged and exhausted from waiting, Your Spirit continues to pray for me in line with what You know is best for me. And then … You graciously and lovingly work it all out for good.

I’ll admit, sometimes Your answers don’t seem “good” at the moment but with Your help, I will trust that You know what is best for my eternal good even when I don’t understand right now. I surrender this need to Your love and care. Amen.

Psalm 40:1–3

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

Father, I want to wait patiently for Your help. But honestly, I’m not very good at it. I can be whiney and pouty. Sometimes I sound like those complaining wilderness wanderers. But You never stop loving me. You hear my cries from the pits I dig for myself and You reach down when I’m sinking in self-pity … gently offering me Your outstretched hand.

By Your grace, help me to look up. Make me aware of all You are faithfully doing on my behalf. And help me to trust You to lift me up and lead me. You not only know what lies ahead for me; You promise to go with me. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Psalm 33:20–22 (NCV)

So our hope is in the Lord. He is our help, our shield to protect us. We rejoice in Him because we trust His holy name. Lord, show Your love to us as we put our hope in You.

Father, whatever happens today … my hope is in You. While I wait … my hope is in You. I believe that You are protecting me in countless ways.

I trust You to give me everything I need to wait today and I will trust You to give me everything I need again tomorrow.

Yes, I will continue to ask. I will seek and I will knock on the throne room door. I will come to You in faith trusting that You always keep Your promises. Fill me with Your Spirit that I might experience “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control” today. By Your grace and for Your glory … in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Yes, waiting is hard.

But you and I don’t wait alone. By God’s grace, we have the Holy Spirit who is holding us up before the throne of grace. Jesus called Him, the Advocate … the Spirit of truth (John 15:26) He is with us and in us giving us what we need while we wait.

If you’re tired of waiting for something today … I would love to join you in prayer. Please leave your prayer request in the comments or on the Blessing Counters Pray Page.

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

3 Fantastic Ways to Pass the Hope of Easter to Our Children

by and @ Crystal Twaddell

16 Names of God and What They Mean

by Patsy Burnette
@ InstaEncouragements

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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5 Prayers that will Increase Your Faith When You are Worried

3 / 14 / 193 / 15 / 19

Praying God's promises and asking Him to help us seek Him first, increase our faith, and trust His promises ... things we need to have courage and strength when we're worried. #TrustGod'sPromises #Faith #BibleStudy #Hope #CountingMyBlessings

Why do I put myself out there week after week telling you about my struggle with worry and anxiety?

Because I hated it! And if, by God’s grace, one or two of you might be spared the emotional, mental, and physical suffering that accompanies perpetual worry … I will shout my story from the rooftops.

In all honesty, the problem for me was … weak faith.

I had a list of things that terrified me. Things I believed I couldn’t survive even with all of God’s promises to the contrary.

Luke chapter 12 begins with these words spoken by Jesus…

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life.”

And then the promise…

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

Everything! No qualifiers. No exceptions.

Look at what follows…

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
Luke 12:32

“Great happiness” … your Father will not withhold a thing from those who seek Him.

The Life Application Notes say…

To “seek the Kingdom of God above all else” means to put God first in your life, to fill your thoughts with His desires, to take His character for your pattern, and to serve and obey Him in everything.

Oh, how I wish I could consistently do that!

I know, when I put God first, when I fill my thoughts with His truth and promises, when I prayerfully want what He wants for me, and when I spend my time living for Him – I’m not worried!

So, today I’m praying God’s promises and asking Him to help me seek Him first, to increase my faith, and trust His promises to give me everything I need when I’m worried. I’d love for you to join me…

5 Prayers that will Increase Your Faith When You are Worried

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Father, I need You to hold me up. I need You to strengthen me and help me.

I don’t want to worry. I don’t want to be afraid or discouraged. My heart wants to seek You first and trust You completely.

Please help me. By the power of Your Spirit, fill my thoughts with Your truth, Your promises. Help me want what You want for me. Help me know that if You have not allowed something … if it’s not in Your will then it’s not for my good. Even when I don’t understand.

With Your Spirit’s help, I will surrender this day to You trusting that You will give me everything I need. Amen.

“Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”
¹The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress.
Psalm 46:10–11

Father, for this moment … quiet my mind and my spirit as I sit here with You. I know You are sovereign, Lord of lords and King of kings. Whether people realize it today or not, at some point every knee will bow before You. You will be honored everywhere by everyone.

And the overwhelming miracle … You love me. You are with me. You care for me. You call me Your child.

So, like a little child is unafraid curled up in her daddy’s lap … I will rest in You! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is with me protecting me. I have nothing to worry about! Amen.

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you.
1 Peter 4:19

Father, suffering is never pleasant and honestly, it’s hard to imagine that any suffering “pleases” You. Yet, Your Word tells us there is evil in this world and You sometimes allow it to touch Your children that they might show others Your ability to give them everything they need as they suffer.

You never fail Your children. I believe that! You have proven it time after time. Thank you! I will trust You! I will stand secure on the promise that Your grace is sufficient to meet every need every day. Amen.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:33–34

Father, Help me want You more than anything.

Jesus said that Your Kingdom is a priceless treasure, (Matthew 13:44) worth more than anything this world can offer; yet, You give it as a gift. By Your grace, You give Your children … peace, joy, patience, hope, love, and so much more. I have no reason to worry when I know You will give me what I need.

Please help me keep my heart and mind focused on You today, trusting that whatever this day offers You are with me and You are all I need. Amen.

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

Father, thank you for giving me this promise to hold in my heart as I lived through that painful and difficult time. You proved to me that You are able to give me the strength I need each moment. Day after day, You showed me that You will never leave or forsake me. You are mine forever. Whatever happens I can trust in You and that is a truth I can hold close any time I am tempted to worry. Amen.

I’d love to be able to tell you that I’m worry-free but you probably wouldn’t believe me anyway. Understandably!

Although, I’ll admit I still have “what-if” thoughts … I no longer live consumed by those thoughts. With God’s help, I’m able to prayerfully give my worries to God as I ask Him to replace them with “everything I need.”

And He is faithful, which is why…

I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.
Psalm 73:28

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

When Jesus Didn’t Show Up:
Four Vital Truths About Prayer

by Julia Kyte
@ Committing My Way

How to Slow Down When Life is Too Fast

by Christine Wood
@ Living With Margins

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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

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

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

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

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

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Thank you and God bless!

5 Verses and Prayers that will Draw You Closer to Jesus

3 / 7 / 193 / 7 / 19

Verses and prayers for the season of Lent that will draw you closer to Jesus through reflection, anticipation, and hope. #Jesus #Lent #BibleStudy #VersestoPray #CountingMyBlessings

Why in the world do we talk about Lent anyway?

Many churches have stopped making much of this season of preparation but I’ve always found it a blessing to slow down a little and prayerfully think about all Jesus has graciously done for me through His life, death, and resurrection.

I see comments out there from people who are giving something up as a way of fasting … not as a diet or to better the environment (I understand there’s a push to give up plastic this year) but as a way to consider what Jesus may have felt as He lived out 40 Days of fasting in the wilderness.

And actively taking on some small form of self-sacrifice as a way of remembering Jesus’ far greater sacrifice can be a beautiful way of drawing closer to Jesus.

However…

For the past few years, I’ve chosen to add rather give up. So, I make a plan each Lenten season to intentionally spend even more time in prayer and Bible study than I do throughout the rest of the year.

Why?

Because I want to use this time to reflect on being humble, repentant, and grateful for Jesus gracious sacrifice that saved me.

And … I also want to use it as a time of anticipation…

Not just the anticipation of remembering and celebrating Jesus’ “Easter” resurrection but as a time of heartfelt preparation for His glorious promised return.

So, what is Lent for me?

It’s living in awe and wonder at God’s amazing grace, underserved mercy … and unfailing love! The reasons that bring me to my knees in humble repentance, reflection, and anticipation.

So, I’m praying today and asking God to fill me with His Spirit and to draw me closer to Jesus.

Most of all, I’m praying that He will help me love Him more and more each day.

5 Verses and Prayers that will Draw You Closer to Jesus

“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

Father, Your love is evident in everything. In the past … the present … and the future. It is most evident through Your Son, Jesus. He told us how very much You love us … then He showed us by sacrificing everything for us.

Please, by the power of Your Spirit, help me keep my heart and mind focused on all I have been given through the gift of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. And help me live each day in humble service, overwhelmed with gratitude for all You have done for me through Him. Amen.

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Psalm 51:17

And Father, all You ask in response to this amazing sacrificial gift is the offering of a humble heart, broken in repentance. I can’t earn this gift. There is nothing I can say or do. So, I come to You today to say…

I am so very sorry. I am self-righteous, prideful, and impatient. I’m not as kind and compassionate as You want me to be. Each day there are countless things I fail to do that I should and just as many things I do that I shouldn’t … all ways I fall short of Your will for me. Father, please forgive me and by Your grace, help me to change. Amen.

[Jesus] opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.And He said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’”
Luke 24:45–47

Father, You promised a Savior, a Messiah, who would suffer my punishment as soon as sin entered Your perfect world.

I love that Jesus spoke these words to His disciples after His resurrection … after Your promise had been fulfilled.

You keep all Your promises. I can trust every Word You’ve given and count on Your faithfulness to forgive my sins.

Wow! No matter how often I come to You … You remove my sins and wash me clean. I am humbled and grateful. And yet, words of gratitude don’t seem like enough. So, I give You my surrendered heart. Amen.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

Jesus, Some days are just hard! You said there would be trials and sorrows and You knew what You were talking about … You lived through unimaginable trials and sorrows because of Your great love for me.

So, I can be confident that when You told us to “take heart”You were telling us to be encouraged and hopeful because of who You are and what You’ve done. And because I belong to You, the One who has defeated the enemy and overcome the world.

Lord, You not only give me peace … You are my peace. You are my hope. You are my Way, Truth, and Life. Thanks and praise forever. Amen.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then He said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”And He also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End.”
Revelation 21:4–6

And this is the hope I have, Father. Whatever today brings, I know that my Redeemer lives. He lives with and within me reminding me of Your promises, calming my fears, and filling me with Your love. He is making all things new! He is the Beginning and the End … my Savior, my Always!

Father, thank you! Please help me keep my heart and mind focused on Jesus and all He has done for me. And help me spend every moment of my life serving You in humble gratitude for Your grace, mercy, and undeserved love. Amen.

And one final closer to Jesus thought from Dietrich Bonhoeffer…

“Self-denial means knowing only Christ, and no longer oneself. It means seeing only Christ, who goes ahead of us, and no longer the path that is too difficult for us… . Self-denial is saying only: He goes ahead of us; hold fast to him.”

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

When a Loved One Disappoints: Six Biblical Ways to Respond

by and @ April Knapp

Walking in the Abundant Promises of the Good Shepherd:
Psalm 23

by Diana Abe
@ Diana’s Diaries

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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

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

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

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

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

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Thank you and God bless!

5 Verses to Pray When You Need to Overcome Anxiety

2 / 28 / 192 / 28 / 19

There will always be plenty of things to be anxious about but it's a miserable way to live. So I'm praying 5 verses from the Bible to overcome anxiety. #BibleStudy #Prayer #MentalHealth #WordofGod #CountingMyBlessings

Sometimes I think I was born anxious.

Seriously, I can remember way too many middle of the night worry session as a child.

And although I’d love to tell you that all disappeared when I grew up … you wouldn’t believe me anyway. Everyone knows there are countless things to worry about as an adult, spouse, parent, employee, etc.

I know, some of you reading this are the calm cool and collected type. You’re someone who is rarely ruffled by anything.

I really do envy you.

Even now, I am so much better … really I am, but I still struggle more often than I care to admit.

So, yes, the Lord and I talk about my anxiety often.

And He whispers…

Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10

The Hebrew word translated as “be still” is harpu – הַרְפּ֣וּ

Hebrew4Christians says that “harpu is best translated as…

“Cause yourselves to let go.” or “Let yourselves become weak.”

And that’s it, isn’t it?

The only way to overcome anxiety is to let it go and surrender it to God.

If you and I want to “be still and know” that God is in control and that we can trust Him; we have to give our anxious thoughts to Him and allow Him to replace them with His peace.

So….

I’m going to God again today, and I’d love for you to join me.

Verses to Pray When You Need to Overcome Anxiety

For the Lord, your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
Zephaniah 3:17

Father, I need You! I need Your help! It is so easy for me to focus on what if’s and what could be’s. Please help me know that no matter how I feel … You love me and You are in control. Nothing in my life comes as a surprise to You. Father, You are greater than my fears and already present in my unknown future. Your Word says, “You delight in me.” Yes! Even when I am frazzled and frustrated You never stop loving and caring for me.

I believe You are able to calm me; You have calmed me in the past and I trust You to calm me again today. So, I surrender my anxious thoughts to You. Please fill me with Your peace. Amen.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Father, Sometimes my anxiety is caused by my own sinful choices. I am so sorry. Sometimes it’s caused by the sinful choices of others. Please help me forgive and let it go.

Please help me humbly give my anxiety and concerns to You. Please take it all and replace it with Your peace. Your Word says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isaiah 26:3) Please help me keep my thoughts focus on You, the One in whom I place my trust. Amen.

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, Thank you for the times you have strengthened me in the past. I trust You to give me the strength I need today.

I know there may be hard days when it may be hard for me to slowly put one foot in front of the other. But You will give me the strength I need. And by Your grace, there will also be days when You will empower me to run and even soar.

Thank you! Your grace is sufficient. Your power and strength never wane. I can trust Your promises to love and care for me and give me everything I need today. Amen.

When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:19

Oh, Father, these words reassure me and give me hope. Your comfort, care, and compassion are the encouragement I need when I’m anxious. I love the verse before … “I cried out, ‘I am slipping!’ but Your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.”

Yes, Your unfailing love brings me joy! You help me overcome anxiety today because You cover me with Your unfailing love. Nothing this world throws at me can ever change that truth! I thank and praise You with all my heart. Amen.

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 … Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.
Philippians 4:6–8a

I will cling to Your Word, Father. I will focus my heart and mind on the truth of who You are. I will hold on to Your promises when the enemy tempts me with fear and anxiety. I will focus on the truth … I belong to You!

When ordinary annoyances try to take my peace, help me fix my thoughts on You. When problems overwhelm me, help me surrender them to Your loving care trusting that with Your Spirit’s help, even then, You will guard my heart and mind and give me peace.

Father, You are alive and active in my life. You are sovereign and greater than anything that can happen. “You know the plans and purposes You have for me.” (Jeremiah 29:!1) I surrender my anxiety to You … trusting that You will give me all I need … one day at a time. In Jesus name. Amen.

Friend, there is something important I’ve learned on the anxiety roller coaster…

I have to surrender more than my anxiety to the Lord if I want to experience His true and lasting peace.

I have to surrender ME … all over again every single morning!

I love this quote to close today.

It is wonderful what miracles God works in wills that are utterly surrendered to Him.
Hannah Whitall Smith

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

How to Change Things Up When You Pray

by Maree Dee
@ Embracing Life in the Midst of the Unexpected

Focus in Winter

by Joan Davis
@ Hope Secure

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

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

I would really appreciate it if you would
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7 Verses that will Help You Pray with a Grateful Heart

11 / 8 / 1811 / 9 / 18

Meister Eckhardt, a German theologian from the 13th Century once said,

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”

If you’re like me, your thank you prayers are less frequent than your “please fix, heal, help, and provide, etc.” prayers.

It’s so easy to set aside all God has done in the past when I’m facing the needs in front of me.

But thank God, His future love, grace, mercy, and care do not depend on my gratitude for His past love, grace, mercy, and care.

Today…

I want to take Meister Eckhardt’s words to heart and simply say, “thank you” with a grateful heart!

And I thought you might want to do some grateful heart praying with me.

7 Verses that will Help You Pray with a Grateful Heart

1 Corinthians 15:56–57

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, thank you for Jesus! Thank you for the victory I have in Him. His death and resurrection defeated sin, death, and Satan. They have no power of me. They have NO power over me. I am forgiven. I am Yours. I have a hope and a future. I have life full and abundant. I have so many reasons to live today with a grateful heart! Thank you!

1 Thessalonians 5:18

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

Father, thank you for the gift of Your Spirit who guides me to know Your will and gives me the courage and strength I need to be thankful in all circumstances. Honestly, it seems impossible to be thankful in the middle of the struggle but Your Word says that with You, everything is possible … even a grateful heart in trying times. And even when it’s impossible to be thankful for the circumstances Your Spirit gives me all I need to be thankful for the courage and strength that will see me through. Thank you!

Psalm 95:1–3

Come, let us sing to the Lord!
    Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come to Him with thanksgiving.
    Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
For the Lord is a great God,
    a great King above all gods.

Father God, You are King of kings and Lord of lords. You are my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Advocate. You hear my prayers and praises. Please Lord, by the power of Your Spirit, help me keep my focus on You … on your grace and mercy. You are love. You are all I need! Thank you, Father.

James 1:17

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

Father, as You created this world, You declared it good! You made people in Your image and declared them very good and even when we made a mess of Your world and our lives, You stayed the same. You loved us and sent Jesus as the best gift of all.

Thank you for Your unchanging promises that give me hope and for Your Spirit who gives me all I need to live with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Thank you for Your unchanging grace, mercy, and constant love.

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Father, by Your grace, prompt me to pray with thanksgiving. May I be devoted to spending time with You in prayer. The desire of my heart is to be faithfully mindful of Your perfect presence and remember that in all circumstances I can turn to You with the praises and the pleas of a surrendered heart.

Psalm 28:7

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.

Father, I trust You! What an amazing blessing! I believe Your grace is sufficient in all circumstances. Because of the ways You have worked in my life … I know You will give me courage and strength when I need it! What joy to realize that You are always with me giving me everything I need to live one day at a time. Thank you!

Romans 11:36

For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.

Father, You are King of kings and Lord of lords. Everything I have comes from Your hand. The world and all that is in it exist by Your power and all creation of proclaims Your glory. May I join in the song of praise that will last eternally, for You alone are worthy and from a grateful heart, I give You my thanks!

As I’ve written these prayers, I’ve realized that I want to make thanking and praising God for who He is a regular part of my prayer life. Although, I may remember to thank Him for what He does … who He is, changes every part of my life.

God is Creator. – Genesis 1:1, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Revelation 4:11.
God is Redeemer – Job 19:25, Psalm 19:14, Psalm, 103:4, Luke 1:68
God is Advocate/Helper – John 14:26, John 15:26, 1 John 2:1

He is Provider:

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Just because He loves.

And that’s reason enough to pray without ceasing with a grateful heart!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlights from the Week!

How to Improve Your Legacy

by Alyson
@ Write Them on My Heart

Are You a Chocolate Soldier?

by Jen Avellaneda
@ Rich Faith Rising

My Story of Depression and Hope

by April Knapp
@ Experiencing Extraordinary Truth
in the Grind of the Ordinary

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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

I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

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

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

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

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

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

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

Thank you and God bless!

The Wonderful Truth about Who You are in Jesus

10 / 18 / 18

I don’t know about you, but I can be my own worst enemy.

Why is it so much easier to think about what I’m not rather remembering who I am?

And you’d think after years of experience with this bad habit, I’d have learned a thing or two about consistently taking negative thoughts captive and replacing them with God’s truth.

That I’d be better at thinking less about who I am and more about whose I am!

So, I’m making a list. One I can grab any time I need a truth pep talk.

Seriously, I don’t believe God wants me to sit around dwelling on who I’m not when He has given me all I need to remember who I am in Him.

Maybe you struggle too! Maybe you, like me, need a regular reminder that…

We have the presence of His Spirit.

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Think about that for a minute. You and I have the Spirit of the Living God dwelling within us! And I for one, am ready to quit pushing His voice to the background while I waste time listening to the lies that defeat and discourage me.

It’s time to make a more permanent change. So, I’m making a list of God’s promises to help me. I hope it helps you too!

And as you read through the list of verses, put your name or a personal pronoun in each blank…

The Wonderful Truth about Who You are in Jesus

Who You are in Jesus:

♥ You are Known – God Thinks about You

How precious are your thoughts about ________, O God. They cannot be numbered! Psalm 139:17

♥ You are Loved

I am writing to ________, who has been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. Jude 1:1

♥ You are a Child of God

But to _________, who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become a child of God. You are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. John 1:12–13

♥ You are a Friend of Jesus

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command … Now ________ is my friend, since I have told you everything the Father told me. John 15:13–15

♥ You are a New Creation

If _________ belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NCV)

__________ has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

♥ You are Chosen and Holy

Even before He made the world, God loved ________ and chose _________ in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. Ephesians 1:4

♥ You are Chosen and Loved

God loves _________ and has chosen you to be His own people. 1 Thessalonians 1:4

♥ You are Dead to Sin and Alive in Christ

When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God. So ________ also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Romans 6:10–11

♥ You are a Citizen of Heaven

________ is a citizen of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. Philippians 3:20

♥ You are God’s Masterpiece

For ________ is God’s masterpiece. He has created ________ anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

♥ You have God’s Peace to Guard Your Heart and Mind

Then ________ 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

♥ You have Strength for Life

________ can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

♥ You are Victorious

Can anything ever separate ________ from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ________ through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:35, 37

♥ You are Forever Safe in God’s Love

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate ________ from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither ________ fears for today nor _______ worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate ________ 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 _________ from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38–39

You know it’s funny…

When you and I focus on ourselves, on our faults and failures, it’s easy to get lost in the negatives … in what we’re not. But when we take those heart and mind discouraging thoughts captive and replace them with the truth…

The truth of who you are in Jesus.
The truth of who I am in Jesus.

Then and only then do we have everything we need.

Because we are known and loved, a child of God, a friend of Jesus, a new creation, chosen, loved, and holy, a citizen of heaven, and God’s masterpiece. And we have everything we need to live fully alive in His presence. We have strength, peace, victory, and we are forever safe!

Forever!

Whew! I need to keep this close and change my thoughts more quickly because in Jesus … it is well with my soul. And it’s well with my heart and mind, too!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlights from the Week!

What Side are You On? The Great Divide

by Lisa Burgess
@ Lisa Notes…

How to Keep a Strong Faith When Disappointed

by Maree Dee
@ Embracing Life in the Midst of the Unexpected

Lessons I’ve Learned in the Space
Between Family Photos

by Michelle Skillern
@ Mrs. Designs

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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

I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

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

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

Loading InLinkz ...

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

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

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

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

Thank you and God bless!

Things You Need to Know When You Don’t Feel God’s Love

8 / 6 / 188 / 13 / 18

Earlier this summer I received the following email from a reader…

I’ve had a problem all of my adult years. I’ve been unable to feel God’s love. He is always very remote for me. I have almost constant feelings of guilt. I try to be a Christ-like person, but too often fall short in my thoughts. I have a very difficult time getting rid of unChirstlike thoughts, When someone hurts me, I try to forgive, yet I ruminate on the injury. I just can’t stop the thoughts so I feel like I’m displeasing God. I feel his disapproval. I read scriptures to help me. I have many memorized. I have whole chapters of scriptures memorized. I pray and read the scriptures daily. I do good things, yet those feelings remain. I attend church every Sunday.

I just wondered if you had any suggestions. Maybe it’s lack of faith on my part and I just need to accept that God loves me as I am.

I replied to her email with the following…

I’m so often humbled by God’s timing as He works in our lives. I found myself nodding as I read through your words because I can so relate to times when I long for an extra measure of the feeling of God’s love and He seems silent.

One thing I know for sure – God loves you and He is with you! You are seeking Him and He promises that He will be found by those who seek Him. And that He is with them.

I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me! Jeremiah 29:11–13

“Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

These are the verses I hold close when I don’t feel God’s love or His closeness in my life.

I’m certain of this as well. It is Satan, the enemy of our souls, who wants you to doubt God’s love and presence; he is the one who wants you to doubt God’s forgiveness and continue to struggle with guilt.

God promises that if you and I repent … He forgives us. He promises His love and presence. I remind myself that even when I don’t feel Him with me. He is.

A Scripture I turn to and trust is Psalm 139.

O Lord, You have examined my heart
and 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!

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from Your presence!

You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
You are still with me!
v. 1–7, 16–18

You are are seeking Him and doing all the things you should be doing to grow closer to Him. You are doing the things that honor Him and please Him. Try not to let your feelings get in the way – He is pleased with you and He loves you! You can trust His promises.

Thank you so much for reaching out! It is always a blessing to hear from one of my readers.

God bless you! Deb

I’ve thought about this email exchange often since and wondered if you might also have times when God seems silent … when you don’t feel His love. So, I made a list of things I want to do when my feelings and faith fall flat.

Things to Do When You Don’t Feel God’s Love

1. Be Honest with Yourself and with God

I love that you and I can turn to the pages of Scripture and find many examples of men and women who honestly struggled as they walked with God. Even David, the “man after God’s own heart” honestly voiced His feelings of emptiness and longing.

O Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever?
How long will You look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Psalm 13:1–2

2. Take it to God in Prayer

And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. 1 John 5:14

You and I can be confident that God wants us to seek Him, to grow in faith, to trust His love, and to experience His loving presence. When we pray to know and love Him more, we can be assured that He will not only hear our prayers … He will work in our lives to grant our request.

3. Live Your Faith Until You Feel God’s Love

When you and I can’t feel God’s loving presence – it’s important to remember feelings are just that … they’re feelings. They are not necessarily the truth.

God is always with us. So, even when our faith feels small—God is near.

I love the account in Mark 9:17–29 – Jesus’ disciples had been trying unsuccessfully to deliver a boy from an evil spirit.

As Jesus approached them, the father of the boy pleads, “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

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

And then my favorite part…

The father instantly cried out, “Lord, I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Jesus responded by healing his son.

I believe the most important thing you and I need to remember is…

God’s love is a fact not a feeling!

God is love! 1 John 4:8

Our feelings don’t, they won’t, they can’t, change God’s love.

While you and I were still sinners – God sent Jesus!

God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9–10

He promises His love is never-ending.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22–23

And that nothing can separate us from His love.

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. Romans 8:38

So, where does that leave you and me?

Thanking and praising God – for His faithful forever love!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

That’s a prayer and a promise to hold close to our hearts each and every day!

Leave your prayer requests…

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

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

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5 Verses to Pray that will Help You Have Joy One Day at a Time

8 / 2 / 188 / 2 / 18

I want to live one day at a time! Really, I do!

Jesus said, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.” Matthew 6:34

He also said, “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11

I want that too! The overflowing joy of remaining in the love of Jesus.

But life distracts and details discourage and my joy heads south as my heart and mind fill with the regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow.

So, I’m going to the Lord in prayer and thought you might want to join me…

5 Verses to Pray that will Help You Have Joy
One Day at a Time

Psalm 32:5

I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Father, thank you! I have confessed and repented and You have forgiven me. My sin is gone and by Your grace, my guilt and regret can be gone too. I know I may have to live through some difficult things because of my failures but I trust that You will be with me and give me everything I need to live joyfully knowing I am redeemed and forgiven. All because of Jesus. Thanks and praise forever. Amen.

Psalm 103:11–13

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.

Father, You love me! You really love me. So much that through Jesus I am washed clean. My sins are completely gone. Your forgiveness is complete. I am Your child and I can rest in Your tender, compassionate embrace. Whatever today brings … You hold me close. That alone is a reason to celebrate with joy! Thank you, Father. Amen.

Philippians 4:6–7

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.

Father, You tell me to bring every worry and trouble to You. You want me to tell you what I need because You care for me. Because You love me. You also invite me to thank you for past blessings. And as I remember with gratitude all You’ve carried me through … You fill me with that hard to understand peace; You fill my heart and mind with confident faith, knowing You are able to carry me through whatever tomorrow brings. I have You to help me face today and You are all I need. Amen.

Proverbs 3:5–6

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

Father, I surrender my heart, my mind, my life … my all to you today. Please guide me and show me the path You have prepared for me. By the power of Your Spirit, please help me focus on You when life tries to distract me. When guilt and regret taunt me and worries tempt me, call me back to Your Word of truth. Lead me. Fill me with Your Spirit. Show me Your will. I will seek to know Your will and by the power and with the help of Your Holy Spirit — I will follow where You lead. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Revelation 22:13

^“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”

Jesus, You are the Beginning and the End, the Word Made Flesh, the Author and Perfector of my faith, my Redeemer, my Good Shepherd, the Kind of kings, my Hope for the future, my Defender … You are the Great I AM, and Lord of all. You are my Lord and Savior.

Because You know the end from the beginning I can have peace when I think about the future. Nothing in my life comes as a surprise to You. You are with me, always. (Matthew 28:20) Your Spirit never leaves me. (John 14:16) You give me joy. (John 15:11) Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

It’s not easy to have joy one day at a time!

We’re busy and everything from stacked up little annoyances to great big joy-busting problems are trying to pull our attention in a million different directions.

It’s crazy how quickly I can obsess over something that happened yesterday and find myself anxious about something that may or may not happen tomorrow.

And the truth is … that ain’t no way to live!

Regret, guilt, worry, and anxiety are all tools the enemy uses to keep you and me from living with joy.

But God… (Oh, how I love those two words.)

But God is willing and able to give us everything we need to live today in His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Everything we need to live with joy one day at a time!

So, just for today, I will prayerfully carry these words in my heart…

This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:25

Without a doubt … that is the way to live!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlights from the Week!

5 Ways to Get an Infusion of Hope

by Dianne Thornton
@ Sweeter Than Honey

Zip Your Lips (And 15 Other Ways to be a Better Wife)

by Sheila Qualls
@ The Not So Excellent Wife

Are You Following a Bootstrap Gospel?

by Rebecca Hastings
@ My Ink Dance

AND the…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

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

I’m so glad you’re here!

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

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

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

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

No More Rules Link Party

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

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

Loading InLinkz ...

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

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

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

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

Thank you and God bless!

5 Verses that will Help You Reject Negative Thoughts

7 / 23 / 187 / 23 / 18

Welcome to the Final Week of The Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series. Wow, it’s been fun! I hope you’ve enjoyed it, too!

If you’ve missed any of the earlier posts here, check out:

6 of the Best Ways to Fight Distraction and Listen to God
by Dawn Klinge

Amazing Worship Songs that will Make Your Day Better
by Carmen Brown

How to be Blessed with the Powerful Wisdom of God
by Valerie Murray

5 Verses that will Help When You Worry About Your Kids
by Ruthie Gray

How to Thrive When You Need a Spiritual Pep Talk
by Nicki Schroeder

7 Verses that will Give You Perspective When You Need It
by Melanie Redd

How to Get Back in the Boat of Your Shipwrecked Dreams
by Marva Smith

AND…

To find more posts from my awesome friends, visit The Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series Board on Pinterest!

Now, for today’s post…

Please welcome my friend, Diana, from Diana’s Diaries — where she writes with the wisdom that comes from a deep love for the One who delivered from the “nagging baggage” of a painful childhood. She loves to tell her readers about Jesus, who sees, who cares … who loves and heals.

Take a few minutes to soak in this encouragement that will help you when painful memories or present problems have you stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts. And remember to stop and make her feel welcome before you head over to follow her on social media.

5 Verses that will Help You Reject Negative Thoughts

Watch out for Negative Thoughts :

An incident which occurred a while ago has left me on a sad note. It has been many weeks since the incident, but those negative thoughts haven’t left my mind.

I wish I could turn back on time and plan that day differently. I wonder if I should have restrained my thoughts? Should I have not stood up for my loved one? Should I still be feeling so low? Maybe now everyone dislikes me and is gossiping behind my back.

Then, this morning those negative thoughts flooded back again. I grabbed the Word of God -the black leather Book filled with encouraging words written personally for you and me in our lowest state.

Isn’t it amazing how God speaks to us right when we are willing to listen to HIM speak to us?

Until we don’t stop thinking and start reading the Word, negativity can entrap our minds. It can consume us and ruin our fellowship with God and man.

Negative thoughts can drag us into this wallowing pit of anguish and worthlessness where only Christ can bring us back on the top of a joyful mountain.

As I was meditating on the Word of God, the Spirit of the Lord led me to this particular verse that I am so familiar with yet forgot to ponder upon these days.

Let us look at Philippians 4:8 (AMP)

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

This is what the first part of the verse said:

Whatever is Honorable- that which deserves respect,
Whatever is Right -in words and dealings,
Whatsoever is Lovely- that which deserves love,
Whatever is pure in relation with others,
Whatsoever is True- nothing but the truth,
Whatever is admirable or of good report or commendable.

Now we are going to look at the different version of the Bible translation of the second part :

Think about these things (KJV)
Dwell on these things (New American Standard Bible)
Let your mind think of these things (New American standard 1977)
Meditate on these things (Aramaic Bible)
Exercise your thoughts on these things (Jubilee bible 2000)
Think of these things continually (AMP)

Dear friend, has your mind dwelled on your past for too long? Is it filled with negative thoughts about yourself and others lately?

Have you been dragging your mind to focus on the bad of every situation rather than focusing on the Goodness of God and His power to rescue us?

Then, let us fill our mind with whatever is true, lovely, honest, praiseworthy and honor instead of hatred, jealousy, scorn, impurity, sadness, and dishonesty.

Don’t merely think about them, but focus and dwell on them today. Truth is real and Jesus is the truth. We may not be able to change our past incidents, but we can meditate on the ONLY ONE who is true, honest, admirable, and lovely in our life today and that is our Christ Jesus Himself.

The next time negative thoughts fill your mind, cancel them out with the very loving words of our Lord God.

Let us, in fact, memorize them and seal them in our hearts so that the next time negative thoughts pop up we can recite these 5 assuring verses aloud.

Philippians 4:7 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.

Matthew 10: 30–31 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Psalm 94:19 When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying.Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

REFLECTION :

How did this blog post resonate with you?

What verse did you find comfort in when you dealt with negativity yourself?

Is there something you are dealing with lately that I could pray for right now?

Fixing my thoughts on everything admirable today!

About Diana :

Diana is married to her loving husband and privileged to be called mama by her triplets.

She proudly calls herself a stay-at-home missionary mom whose prayer is to raise godly arrows and remain a pen in the Hand of God.

Visit her over at Diana’s Diaries , where she pens Biblical insights about growing spiritually deep and being fully armored against the invisible enemy.

You will find her active on these platforms as well:

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7 Verses that will Give You Perspective When You Need It

7 / 9 / 187 / 9 / 18

Welcome to Week #6 of The Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series.

If you’ve missed any of the earlier posts here, check out:

6 of the Best Ways to Fight Distraction and Listen to God
by Dawn Klinge

Amazing Worship Songs that will Make Your Day Better
by Carmen Brown

How to be Blessed with the Powerful Wisdom of God
by Valerie Murray

5 Verses that will Help When You Worry About Your Kids
by Ruthie Gray

How to Thrive When You Need a Spiritual Pep Talk
by Nicki Schroeder

AND…

To find more posts from my awesome friends, visit The Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series Board on Pinterest!

Now, for today’s post…

I am so excited to share a post from one of my favorite bloggers and my dear friend, Melanie Redd.

Melanie’s tagline on her site is…

Inspiring Your Success in Ministry & in Life

And she will! She does!

One of my favorite things about Melanie is that she will not only give you tips and advice that will make success possible … she will bless you with her encouragement and prayers.

I know you will be blessed by the wisdom she shares. So, as always, please make Melanie feel welcome here by stopping to say “hello” in the comments. And please head over to visit her at MelanieRedd.com to enjoy even more of her practical application of Scripture shared with “a little wit and a whole lotta common sense.”

7 Verses that will Give You Perspective When You Need It

Perspective.

It’s the way we look at things… our frame of reference.

Perspective is the broad grid through which we look at life.

Perspective is much like a camera with a panoramic viewer.

As you look through the lens, you see a wide landscape – from the far left angle to the far right angle.

Our perspectives influence everything – our attitudes, our mindset, our viewpoint, our outlook, and our beliefs.

Today’s scriptures encourage us to look at life from heaven’s perspective – from God’s point of view.

“Wisdom is looking at life from God’s point of view.”
Adrian Rogers.

So, as you read each verse and consider the message… why not invite the Lord to give you His perspective on life?

Here are 7 Bible Verses That Will Give You Perspective:

Verse One – Psalm 9:7-8

The Lord reigns forever;
He has established His throne for judgment.
He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.

No matter who is in leadership in our governments, in our cities, in our schools, or in our churches; God ALWAYS reigns from heaven. He rules in righteousness and judges with equity.

When David wrote this Psalm, he was dealing with the Philistines. David’s battles took place thousands of years ago. He knew that God reigned supremely and had everything under control.

Perspective: God reigns supreme over our world today. He knows exactly what is going on!

Verse Two – Psalm 73:26

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever.

Psalm 73 is one of my favorites!

And, these verses are a wonderful reminder that God is always our strength. No matter what we lose, how we feel, or what is going on in our lives, God is with us. He is the strength of our hearts.

He is mine, and He is yours!

Perspective: Our God is very personally interested in us and able to support us through every season of our lives.

Verse Three – Psalm 100:5

For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and His faithfulness continues to each generation.

Like me, you likely memorized at least part of Psalm 100 at some point along the way.

It is one of the most beloved and quoted Psalms.

Perspective: The Lord is good, His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation. What sweet promises!

Verse Four – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

I love the perspective in these verses!

Our troubles won’t last very long. Yet, they produce for us incredible, long-lasting glory.

Perspective: We don’t have to fix our eyes on our current troubles. Instead, we can focus on all that is coming – all that God has ahead for us.

Verse Five – 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Then we will be with the Lord forever.

When Christ returns, it’s going to be an amazing day.

And, we will be with the Lord forever!

Perspective: Nothing will be able to separate us from Him. We will always be in His presence. Forever, He is and will be ours!

Verse Six – Hebrews 9:12

With His own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—He entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

The Lord Jesus entered the Holy place and secured our redemption forever.

This means that nothing can take our redemption from us. We cannot lose our salvation once we have placed our trust in Jesus.

Perspective: We are secure in Him because of what Jesus has done for us, and we are forever redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!

Verse Seven – Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

We can take this promise to heart!

Jesus NEVER changes.

Perspective: No matter how crazy things get around us, we can rest in the fact that Jesus Christ is completely faithful and dependable.

So, what do you think?

What verses give you perspective on life and on your life?

Melanie is a Christian blogger, Motivational Speaker, Author, and Marketing and Social Media Consultant. She’s married to Randy and mom to two awesome college students. God’s grace never ceases to amaze her.

You can find out more about Melanie & her ministry at www.melanieredd.com.

You can connect with Melanie here:

Facebook – Instagram – Pinterest – Twitter

Ministry Synopsis:

The Ministry of Hope is all about helping others to succeed in ministry and in life. All of our messages, written materials, blog posts, and resources are designed to offer hope and encouragement.

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Subscribe to Blog via Email

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

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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

5 Verses that will Help When You Worry about Your Kids

6 / 25 / 187 / 7 / 18

Welcome to Week #4 of The Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series.

If you’ve missed any of the earlier posts here, check out:

6 of the Best Ways to Fight Distraction and Listen to God
by Dawn Klinge

Amazing Worship Songs that will Make Your Day Better
by Carmen Brown

How to be Blessed with the Powerful Wisdom of God
by Valerie Murray

AND…

To find more posts from my awesome friends, visit The Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series Board on Pinterest!

NOW, for today’s post…

I want to introduce you to someone I wish I’d know when my kiddos were growing up. Seriously, if you have children in your home, at college, or grown … okay, if you have children, you need to know Ruthie Gray!

She is supportive, encouraging and shares time-tested advice for moms. AND… she does it all with honesty, humor, and a big love for Jesus.

I love her tagline:

Mentoring moms to capture joy in Christ’s strength!

Being a mom being is exhausting … having someone who’s been there cheering you on and leading the way is essential!

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy some of Ruthie’s godly wisdom for moms. Then leave her some love in the comments…

5 Verses that will Help When You Worry about Your Kids

Do you worry about your kids having freak accidents or getting in with the wrong crowd? When illness creeps up, do you conjure up worse case scenarios?

Of course you do – you’re a mom. The first time you snuggle a newborn to your breast, the weight of responsibility wraps around your shoulders like a heavy cloak. Your child becomes the last thought on your mind at night and the first thought when you rise.

Last January I jotted down my dream list of goals for the coming year.

At the top?

Weight loss.

(Big surprise.)

At the bottom?

Banish fear of the future.

With the entrance of empty nest, fear has full-on threatened to strangle me in its clutches nearly every sleepless night.

For this reason, I claimed Proverbs 31:25b as my blog foundation verse.

“She laughs at the future”

I was hoping if I said it enough, it would stick.

Only a mother experiences the irrational fear of an adult child’s home going up in flames due to a carelessly microwaved fork.

Will he remember to lock his doors? Does she carry mace in her purse? Are they cracking their windows when using the gas fireplace?

All manner of fear drives a mama to the brink of insanity. If you’re reading this, you know what it means to worry about your kids.

After I jotted down that fear, (almost as an afterthought, probably because I act like it’s a normal setting on my dryer), I picked up my devotional tools.

And here is what I read:

1.) God is love, and perfect love casts out fear

Those were the first words I read in The Attributes of God Vol. 2, by A.W. Tozer

I sat stunned, knowing God designed and foreordained this passage for this morning and this day down to my writing out that wish.

God reveals to me more and more how personal He is when I pay attention!

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. I John 4:18

When you worry – God’s love is perfect and personal!

2.) God pursues those He loves

Jonah, 1-4.

This Jonah man was selfish. He did not want to do what God asked. He ran the complete opposite way and God pursued him with a vengeance.

Even into the sea

Even in the belly of the whale

Even after Jonah said yes, went to Ninevah, and got mad because God forgave the people

Even after Jonah made a shelter just outside the city so he could sit and mope

Even after Jonah got mad at God because a worm ate his shade tree

God still does this for us. He’s done it for me when I’ve strayed, thinking I knew best.

When you worry – God pursues you!

3.) God loves each of us personally

It was no coincidence that my rustling pages fell to Psalm 144, my Scripture reading for December 18.

Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?

Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?

Man is like a breath

His days are like a passing shadow. Psalm 144:3-4

I think if we’re honest, all of us wonder deep down at times.

Years ago, when Joni Erikson recorded her first album, her song, Journey’s End, stopped me in my tracks with this line:

And for the faith to doubt, and yet believe.

That line followed me for years.

So if I’m being honest, yes, I doubt sometimes.

And yet, I always come back to my faith in Christ, because He proves Himself faithful time and time again.

When you worry – God’s love is faithful!

4.) God loves every prayer of His saints

Revelation 8:3

And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne.

God hears every prayer of every person on this earth that believes in Him.

That means every prayer I’ve ever prayed, He has heard. Every prayer you’ve ever prayed, he heard.

When you worry – God hears every.prayer.everwhere.

5.) God loves the lowly

Because it was around Christmastime, I read through The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs.

Jesus was born homeless

Jesus was homeless during His ministry

Jesus was born into poverty

“His earthly parents had nothing the world counts as valuable. Had they been rich, room would have been made for them. Instead, they were poor, yet they made room in their hearts for God.”

Shepherds were lowly, despised, and often regarded as thieves. And yet, Christ called Himself a Shepherd. The Bible refers to David as a shepherd.

When you worry – The Lord is my Shepherd.

Peace, when you worry about your kids, is a daily growth process

Halfway through this year, I’ve not completely succeeded at either of my main goals. But the good news? God is not done with me yet. He will teach me, lead me, and encourage me in His time. It has been said that time heals all wounds. But time also grows maturity.

Next time you sense that familiar icy fear prick up the back of your neck, remember, we serve a personal God. He pursues and loves us beyond comprehension. He cares not about stature or status; our neediness brings His presence nearer.

He hears every prayer we breathe – however brief or harried. And if you are struggling to believe God cares that you worry about your kids, here’s my parenting post over at Arabah Joy called, To the mom who feels invisible. Pop on over and read how Christ reached out to a desperate woman who thought she was invisible.

You’ll be encouraged – I was!

Ruthie Gray is a wife, Gigi, and mom of four (who lived to tell about it). Ruthie’s passion is mentoring moms to capture joy with humor, advice, and practical application of Scripture at Ruthie Gray.Mom. Ruthie is a contributor of the free mom devotional app, TruthBytes, and the author of Count to Nine; 9 Liberating Steps for Mom Frustration and Anger. Click to download her Wife and Mommy Survival Kit here.

Connect with Ruthie on:

Pinterest : Instagram : Facebook

Leave your prayer requests…

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

Subscribe to Blog via Email

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

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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin