Having somewhere to go is a home. Having someone to love is a family. Having both is a blessing.
Although, I believe most would agree that having a home and a family is a huge blessing, based on prayer requests I receive … many families need God’s blessings of peace, safety, and love.
So, I’d love for you to pray with me…
God, Bless My Family with Peace, Safety, and Love
Father, thank you so much for giving me this place I call home and for the family with whom I share the space.
We need You! Please forgive us for falling short of Your will for us individually and as a whole. We want to do better and we need Your help.
Please, Father…
Bless My Family with the Firm Foundation of Faith
Jesus said…
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”Matthew 7:24
May faith in Jesus be the foundation on which we build our lives. May we know and follow His teachings that we might have the strength to stand against temptation and weather life’s storms.
Bless My Family with Your Peace
Jesus told His followers…
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”John 14:27
Forgive us for the times we’ve tried to find peace in worldly promises or possessions. You offer us perfect peace. Please help us surrender every concern to You that we might experience that “peace that goes beyond understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)
Bless My Family with Your Protection
Your Word promises…
He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4
Father, I ask that You place a hedge of protection around my family and keep us safe as we come and go.
Bless My Family with Your Forgiveness
Father, may we make allowances for each other’s faults, and quickly forgive anyone who offends us. Thank you for Your grace and mercy … for forgiving me. May we refuse to let any offense or fault come between us. Please clothe and unite us with Your perfect love. (Based on Colossians 3:13–14)
Bless My Family as We Serve You
“As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”Joshua 24:15
Father, by the power of Your Spirit, may we obey Your commands, follow Your will, and serve others as if we are serving You.
Bless My Family and Help Us Live for Your Glory
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for Your unfailing love and faithfulness.Psalm 115:1
Father, may my family live each moment for Your glory. Help us share Your unfailing love and faithfulness with each other …. and with every person You allow to cross our paths.
You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.
It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…
One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.
Subscribe here!
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Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.
Leave your prayer requests…
and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…
Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!
I know so many of you live with illness and chronic pain.
So today, I’m inviting you to pray this prayer for yourself or for someone you know and love…
God, Please Restore My Health
with Your Mercy and Grace
Father, living in a world that includes so much illness and pain is hard and it was not Your plan for us.
We need You.
I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by Your saving power.Psalm 69:29
I need You. Restore my health.
With the prophet Jeremiah, I pray…
O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if You save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for You alone! Jeremiah 17:14
Please restore my health … heal us and deliver us from pain.
Father, I trust You and I believe whatever You allow in my life … You will not leave me to suffer alone.
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
When I am afraid and wonder when and how this illness or pain will end, please strengthen me and help me remember…
In Your kindness, You called us to share in Your eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after we have suffered a little while, You will restore, support, and strengthen us. You will place us on a firm foundation. All power is Yours forever! Amen. (based on 1 Peter:10–11)
Through the strength and power of Your Holy Spirit, I can trust You to give me everything I need to endure with hope…
I need You to help me endure, to strengthen my character, and give me the confident hope that will not lead to disappointment because I know … how dearly God loves us. You have given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with Your love.(based on Romans 5:3–5)
When I place my hope in You, I will not be disappointed … even when I don’t receive the immediate answer I want.
The apostle Paul asked You to deliver him from a “thorn in the flesh” that tormented him and You responded…
“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”2 Corinthians 12:9a
And my weaknesses are all the more evident when I am sick and in pain.
As I continue to wait and pray, “please restore my health,” I will hold Your promises close to my heart.
Promises to meet every need…
My God will use His wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need. Philippians 4:19 (NCV)
Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 7:38–39
Father, I surrender my health and the health of my loved ones to You. I will trust Your perfect plans for us. By Your grace and mercy, I ask You … please heal us. Deliver us. Save us. In Jesus name. Amen.
You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.
It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…
One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.
Subscribe here!
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Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.
Leave your prayer requests…
and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…
Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!
The most frequent prayer request on the Blessing Counters Prayer Page is one asking God to heal and restore a broken relationship.
I’m not surprised.
We all have at least one broken relationship with … a friend, a fiancé, a spouse, a parent, or a child.
And broken relationships leave us with broken hearts.
Sometimes we know what happened and other times we don’t. Sometimes there are things we can do and other times there are not.
One thing is always certain … God is able to heal our broken hearts and broken relationships.
So today, I’m praying…
God, I Need You – Please Heal My Broken Heart
Father, My heart is broken and I feel like I’ve cried myself dry.
I loved big and I thought it would be forever and now it’s over and I feel like nothing will ever be okay again.
I need You! Please help me.
Thank you for assuring me that You see my pain. What a blessing to read…
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle.You have recorded each one in Your book.Psalm 56:8
Nothing in my life is a surprise to You.
And like a loving compassionate parent, You are with me in my pain, holding and healing.
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.Psalm 147:3
You promise that Your Spirit will never leave me.
The Father will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.John 14:6
So, I pray with the Psalmist:
Remember Your promise to me; it is my only hope … it comforts me in all my troubles.Psalm 119:49–50
I’ll be honest, Father. I believe a healed and restored relationship is what I need. I believe that’s what it will take to heal my broken heart.
But, I wonder Father, if You simply want to comfort and heal me.
Help me keep my eyes focused on You … that I might surrender to Your will for me.
And if there is something You want me to do to heal and restore this broken relationship … please show me.
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.Ephesians 4:32
Make me humble and kind. Father, please help me forgive and by Your grace, help ______________ forgive me.
Give me the courage to say, “I’m sorry, please forgive me.” And give me the grace to know that even if that’s not enough to bring about healing and restoration, it’s the right thing to do.
Then help me trust You. Help me know that even as Your Spirit is at work in me, He is at work in my loved one’s life as well. Help me know when it is time for me to get out of the way, wait patiently, and trust You!
Father, I surrender my broken heart to You. I surrender my broken relationship to You. Please help me trust You as I pray … “not my will but Yours be done.”
You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.
It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…
One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.
Subscribe here!
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.
Leave your prayer requests…
and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…
Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!
When Jesus was teaching His followers about prayer, He said,
I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9–10
And I wonder how often I stop after an ask. How often I simply give up … when my faith falls short and trust begins to doubt.
I want to pray the way Jesus taught. I want to be bold and persistent when I go to God in prayer.
Will you pray with me..?
God, I Want to be Bold and Persistent When I Pray
Father, You call me Your child! That’s how much You love me.
I can remember how I would plead with my parents when I wanted something and I also remember how our children could beg incessantly.
And the truth is, based on my parent’s reaction and honestly, my response to my children … I wonder if we’ve all been taught to believe that bold and persistent prayers displease You.
But Jesus said…
Keep on asking. Matthew 7:7
Pray about anything. Matthew 21:22
And never give up. Luke 18:1
You told us through the apostle, John:
And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.1 John 5:14
And it’s that part I too often forget when I’m pleading and begging like an impatient child … You always hear me and Your will is always best!
I can ask for anything … repeatedly!
Jesus gave me an example…
He pleaded with You three times to take His suffering away and each time His prayer ended with the words, “Yet, I want Your will to be done, not mine.”Mark 14:36
And for my sake, Your will was done!
For my sake!
You love me that much!
I can trust You with my prayers!
Father, I remember how I cried out to You for years over painful circumstances when one day Your gentle reply was simply, “You have no idea how I’ve spared you.”
Forgive me!
Forgive me for failing to trust You … for foolishly believing I know what’s best.
I know what I want but You know the big picture. You see the end from the beginning and Your will is always cloaked in love.
So, I will be bold and persistent in my prayers. I will ask, seek, and knock. And I will end each prayer with the words, “Your will be done.”
Because I can trust Your love is always behind Your will, whatever You allow … whatever You give or take away.
And even when I don’t understand, I will keep praying … trusting that You hear every prayer and meet every need.
Thank you, Father, for wanting me to be bold and persistent when I pray. Amen.
You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.
It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…
One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.
Subscribe here!
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.
Leave your prayer requests…
and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…
Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!
Webster’s dictionary defines wisdom as having insight, knowledge, and good sense/judgment.
Dictionary.com defines wisdom as the knowledge of what is true coupled with good judgment as to action.
So wisdom is … knowing the right thing to do and doing it!
Sounds simple! Right?!
But it’s not always simple, is it..?
Today, I’m praying for the blessing of wisdom. Maybe you’d like to join me…
God, Please Bless Me with Wisdom, Courage, and JOY
Father, it is said that wisdom is knowing the right thing to do and doing it.
But there are countless opinions as to what qualifies as the “right thing to do.”
Your Word says:
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.Colossians 2:8
The instructions of the Lord are perfect,reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7
High-sounding nonsense vs. simple wisdom.
I need Your help. Sometimes as I wait on You to answer a prayer or I try to live out a challenging situation or manage a difficult relationship … well, my mind races and wisdom seems to elude me.
Please bless me with wisdom.
Solomon wrote:
Seek the Lord’s will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.Proverbs 3:6
Is that the simple answer? Wisdom is knowing Your will through Your Word!
You invite me to be still and know. Psalm 46:10 And You will transform me. Romans 12:2
Through the power of Your Holy Spirit. John 14:26
So, I will sit at Your feet trusting that Your Spirit will help me know the wise thing to do…
But then Father, it’s not always easy to stand against worldly wisdom and actually follow Your will.
Please forgive me.
And help me trust Your promises that give courage.
Promises…
To go before me. Proverbs 3:6
To never leave me or forsake me.Deuteronomy 31:8 To help me.Psalm 118:6 To give me peace.Isaiah 26:3 To give me power. 2 Timothy 1:7 To give me victory.1 Corinthians 15:57 To give me joy.Psalm 21:6
Yes, joy!
Solomon also wrote:
Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13
Godly wisdom is knowing and following Your commands.
Commands to love You with all my heart and others as I love myself. Luke 10:27
That’s JOY – loving Jesus, loving others, and loving who You have made me a forgiven and loved child.
Thank you, Father.
Jesus said, Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need.Luke 12:31
And You do! Thanks and praise! Amen.
I am so excited you’re here…
You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.
It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…
One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.
Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts. Then just make friends and have fun.
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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.
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…
I want to live completely surrendered to God’s will. I pray about it often…
But when life gets rocky or the wait for an answered prayer seems looong … surrendering is the last thing I want to do.
What I WANT is to do SOMETHING that will SOLVE the PROBLEM NOW!
Thankfully, by God’s grace, He’s allowed me to fall flat enough times that I’ve learned the foolish futility of failing to follow His will or wait on His timing.
So, today I’m praying again for God’s help to surrender, maybe You need His help too…
God, Please Help Me Surrender to Your Will
Father, I want to surrender to Your will. I know You love me and I believe You know what’s best for me.
But surrendering is hard sometimes.
Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”Luke 9:23
Honestly, I don’t want the cross-carrying part of following. I want smooth and pleasant. I want comfortable and easy. I want the roses without the thorns.
Please help me remember that Jesus also said:
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28–30
And when I bring my heavy burdens, You promise…
To help me carry any burden You allow. 1 Peter 5:7
To never leave me or forsake me. Hebrews 13:5
To give to give me strength and hold me close. Isaiah 41:10
To comfort me. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4
To increase my faith. James 1:2-4
To equip me for anything You allow. Hebrews 13:21
You promise – that in all things You are working for the good of those who love You, who have been called according to Your purpose.Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Help me trust Your plans and purposes as I trust You are loving and good, just and faithful, merciful and gracious.
And remember that nothing can separate me from Your love. Nothing! Romans 8:38
I trust You to give me everything I need to surrender to Your will.
So by Your grace and with Your help, this is my prayer…
Here’s what I want to do: I want to take my everyday, ordinary life—my sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before You, God, as an offering.(Based on Romans 12:1 – MSG)
I believe You will give me Your all-sufficient grace for whatever You allow. 2 Corinthians 12:9
And I believe I will be able to declare: You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,that I might sing praises to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!Psalm 30:11–12
You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.
It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…
One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.
Subscribe here!
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.
Leave your prayer requests…
and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…
Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
The thing I’ve realized as the year winds down is that this word “SEEK” will be my focus for the rest of my life!
So, today I’m praying, will you join me..?
God, My Life is Crazy – Please Help Me Seek You First
Father, Why does it always feel like there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.
You created everything with perfect order and perfect timing … we’re the ones who have messed it all up. We’re the ones who have things out of order.
I know I’m guilty. I’m sorry, Father. Please forgive me.
And help me glance away from the demands for a moment and turn my attention completely toward You.
May I like David, say…
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8
And when I seek You first, You promise to give me everything I need.
Everything I NEED!
Please help me separate my wants from my needs. So many of the things I pray for are wants more than needs; and yet, like a loving parent, You care about both.
Today I ask You to help me trust You with every detail of my life. Help me surrender my wants and my needs to You.
I surrender my life to You!
I give You my day!
I will…
Trust in You, Lord with all my heart; with Your Spirit’s help,
I will not depend on my own understanding. I will seek Your will in all I do, and trust You to show me which path to take. Proverbs 3:5–6
Father, by Your grace, help me to plan and prioritize my day according to Your will.
Help me:
Love and seek You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Matthew 22:37
Love others and make people a priority over possessions. Matthew 22:39
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Obey Your will as You reveal it to me. 2 John 1:6
Live for Your glory. Romans 6:13
Please grant me wisdom and understanding, peace and patience.
Father, when I’m tempted to focus on the problem in front of me and my heart and mind spin with worry and confusion … gently draw me back. Hold me close. I need You.
I trust You. I love You. I will forever and always, SEEK YOU FIRST!
In Jesus name and with the Spirit’s help. Amen.
I am so excited you’re here…
You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.
It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…
One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.
Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts. Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”
I would really appreciate it if you would Grab my Link Party Button above and link back to CMB.
Loading InLinkz ...
Thank you so much for partying with us!
May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!
Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…
and pray over the list left by our friends.
I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.
Have you visited the Faith ‘n Friends Link Party Board on Pinterest? It’s a great place to catch up with past posts you may have missed here at the party and/or save them for a future read! If you’d like to become a contributor to my Pinterest Group Boards – email me at deb@debwolf.com with a link to your Pinterest home page.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…
So many voices claim and proclaim they are telling the truth.
Teachers, preachers, politicians, family and friends all share their personal views as the truth. The classroom, social media, entertainment, books, papers, articles, TED talks, AAAGH!
How’s a person supposed to know what’s true? Absolutely true?
Will you join me as I pray…
God, Help Me to Be Still and Listen to the TRUTH
Father, I need Your help today.
There are so many voices all claiming they have the truth and some of them even allege that they’re sharing Your truth.
Your Word says:
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”Psalm 46:10
Jesus said:
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow me.John 10:27
And:
The Helper is the Holy Spirit. The Father will send Him in My place. He will teach you everything and help you remember everything I have told you.John 14:26
Father, please help me to stop and listen for Your voice of truth. Speak to my heart and mind through Your Word and prayer and fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I might KNOW the TRUTH!
Forgive me for allowing busyness and chatter to clutter my thoughts.
With Your help, I will set aside social media and entertainment for a time each day to quietly sit with You … to be still and listen and know the truth!
May this be my prayer…
Father, I will listen to what You say, and treasure Your commands. I will tune my ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Hear me as I cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. I will search Your Word as if searching for silver; and seek truth like a hidden treasure. May I understand what it means to fear the Lord, and be blessed with the knowledge of God. Grant me wisdom, Lord! Teach me knowledge and understanding. Make me honest and grant me a treasure of common sense. Be my shield and help me walk with integrity. Guard my paths and make me just and fair. Protect me and make me faithful to You as You are faithful to keep Your promises. (Based on Proverbs 2:1–8)
Promises like…
Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Proverbs 2:9–11
Father, help me remain faithful to all Jesus taught in Your name, that I might KNOW the TRUTH and live each day with knowledge, understanding, and wisdom that enables me to walk in freedom. John 8:31–32
You’ll want to subscribe to Counting My Blessings (if you haven’t already), to receive a link to 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers in your inbox each morning.
It’s true! This is the busiest time of the year but I promise this will only be a 2-minute a day commitment…
One that will ask and seek and knock through bold prayers … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.
Subscribe here!
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and tell us about the mountains God is moving in your life.
Leave your prayer requests…
and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone?
Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…
Just imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!
The other morning I woke up with this thought on my heart and mind…
End the Year with 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers
I’ve finally realized that the Lord often wakes me with a prompting because it’s one of the few times during the day that my head isn’t full of thoughts racing around like a toddler on a sugar high.
That morning’s prompt challenged me to pray bold prayers every day for the last 40 days of the year.
Which is why I began with the question … what’s your one thing?
What’s that thing you’ve been praying for as long as you can remember. And if you’re honest, it’s that thing you’ve prayed for so long you’ve started to lose hope.
I have one! Really, I have more than one. And I’ll bet you do too.
Maybe you’ve prayed for…
A loved one to know and love Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The chronic pain that is limiting you to end.
The broken relationship with a parent, child, sibling, or friend to be healed.
The job opportunity that you long for to finally come along.
A church family where you can feel like you finally belong.
The healing of a loved one who needs a miracle.
Or maybe your prayer is for…
A stronger faith.
More hope.
Increased wisdom.
Or courage and strength.
Maybe your one thing is something else, some burden that’s always with you … just below the surface.
You need a mountain to be moved!
There is an account in the Gospels where Jesus had revealed His divinity to Peter, James, and John through a literal “mountaintop” experience. And as they stepped back into ministry, they were encountered by a father pleading for his son. Jesus challenge to them all was…
“You don’t have enough faith, I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20
I’ve always felt convicted by those words as I’m well aware that I fall short of having “enough” faith for the impossible.
Mark fleshed it out with a few more details…
“One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so You could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it … Have mercy on us and help us, if You can. v. 17–18, 22
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve entered the heavenly throne room feeling helpless and hopeless praying, “Have mercy on me and help me, if You can.”
And every time, Jesus reply is the same…
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” v. 23
Anything is possible! Even mountain moving.
Yet, like the father pleading for his son, my cry is …
“Lord, I believe. Please help me overcome my unbelief.” v. 24
Oh, how I want anything is possible mountain moving faith. I want to go into 2019 completely surrendered, watching for miracles. I want to fully trust that when mountains move in my life, it’s not the size of my faith but the greatness of God that made it happen.
You see, anything is possible!
But mountain moving faith isn’t about you or me…
Mountain moving faith is about trusting that God is sovereign and completely in control. Mountain moving faith is keeping our focus on Jesus, “Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect.” (Hebrews 12:2 NLV)
Too often I feel like there’s something I need to do to have mountain moving faith. I need to spend more time studying the Bible or praying without ceasing. I need to be more obedient or do more ministry.
And although those things are all great and certainly bless my relationship with the Lord and His people, I wonder if maybe anything is possible mountain moving faith is as simple as asking, seeking, and knocking…
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
And that’s why I’m inviting you to join me for 40 days beginning this Thursday…
I want to ask, seek, and knock.
I want to Pray 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers.
So…
Every day from November 22nd through December 31st, I’m going to share a 2-minutepost that will inspire you to keep praying bold prayers for your one thing.
♥ We will ask God for mountain moving faith.
♥ We will seek Him through the verses of Scripture.
♥ We will knock on the door of the heavenly throne room in prayer.
I would love for you to subscribe to Counting My Blessings, if you haven’t already, so you can receive the link each morning in your inbox.
I know! This is the busiest time of the year and I’m asking you to sign up for one more thing but I promise this will only be a 2- minute a day commitment…
Honestly, I think I’m a little crazy to be committing to writing every day right now. But God is inviting us into something I believe will be life-changing.
I believe we are going to see mountains move.
Because I believe … with God everything and anything is possible.
So, let’s ask and seek and knock … and watch what only God can do when we go to Him with anything is possible mountain moving prayers.
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Imagine what God will do as His people come to Him in faith and prayer!
Rev recently shared an article from Prevention Magazine with me titled, The Healing Power of Gratitude by Jennifer King Lindley.
It begins…
“Call it Vitamin G: research shows that being grateful has a deep and lasting impact on your body. Learn how to put it to work for your health.
Lindley quotes Dr. David DeSteno:
“Making gratitude a daily practice is like taking a vitamin.
And Robert Emmons, Ph.D:
“Gratitude is affirming the goodness in one’s life and recognizing that its source lies outside the self.”
The bottom line is that gratitude is good for you! So good for you, in fact, that I believe if you wanted, you could almost make gratitude a priority for purely selfish reasons. Although, I guess that’s kind of counter-intuitive!
I also love the fact that you and I can’t live our lives with gratitude if we’re focused on ourselves. It just doesn’t work. I’ve proven to myself countless times that the fastest way to knock myself into a rotten mood is to spend all day thinking about ME and MY problems. Ooooh, it can get ugly.
I mention often, it’s the reason I started Counted My Blessings … I needed a place to hold myself accountable to the ways God is at work in my life and to see His amazing grace and goodness all around me even when I misplace my rose-colored glasses.
So, let’s stop for a minute and look at some of the specific ways Vitamin G (Gratitude) will bless us…
Vitamin G is the Supplement that will Bless Your Life
♥ A daily dose of Vitamin G will make you happier.
You and I get to choose. We can be grateful or we can be dissatisfied.
I know which one can tank my mood in a heartbeat.
“Feeling and expressing gratitude turns our mental focus to the positive, which compensates for our brains’ natural tendency to focus on threats, worries, and negative aspects of life.” ~Psychology Today
“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” ~Denis Waitley
♥ A daily dose of Vitamin G will help you enjoy better relationships.
People like to be with happy grateful people. Think about it. With whom would rather spend an afternoon . . . someone who is happy and thankful or someone who grumbles and complains.
“The spirit of gratitude brings true joy and great happiness.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
♥ A daily dose of Vitamin G will help you succeed at work.
People work harder if their efforts are appreciated and bosses are more likely to encourage employees who acknowledge their positive leadership.
There’s an old saying that goes…
“If you want to get rid of your pastor… compliment him. He’ll work himself to death!”
I imagine if bosses gave more pats on the back and employees showed more appreciation and everyone complained less … productivity across the workforce would explode with successes.
♥ A daily dose of Vitamin G will make you more optimistic and hopeful.
People who are grateful have a better attitude about the future. They enjoy and appreciate what they have. Grateful people tend to worry less and look at life more positively.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7
♥ A daily dose of Vitamin G will increase your desire to help others.
People who are thankful for what they have tend to notice those who are less fortunate and are more inclined to offer help.
“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” ~ Henri Frederic Amiel
♥ A daily dose of Vitamin G will make you more satisfied.
When you are thankful for what you have you end up being less concerned about what you don’t have.
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie
♥ A daily dose of Vitamin G will make you more resilient.
Grateful people get over setbacks and disappointments more quickly than those who are unappreciative.
“Just an observation: it is impossible to be both grateful and depressed. Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.” ~ Steve Maraboli
♥ A daily dose of Vitamin G will help you reject stress and anxiety.
Thankful people worry less. Celebrating what is going well in life will help you and me think less about things that could potentially go wrong.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7
♥ A daily dose of Vitamin G will help you forgive others.
People who are thankful for and celebrate God’s gift of forgiveness, let go of the past and learn from it. They forgive others more easily and have the strength to move on as they anticipate the blessings they’ll enjoy tomorrow.
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
♥ A daily dose of Vitamin G will make you more attractive.
It is not happiness that makes you thankful. It is thankfulness that makes you happy!
Happy people smile more! And everyone looks better with a smile!
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ Gilbert C. Chesterton
So, what are you waiting for?
Grab your journal or download a gratitude journal app to your phone and start making a list of things for which you are grateful.
Pray over your list and praise God for the blessings He pours into your life.
Do something every day that shows your family you are grateful for them. It doesn’t have to be a big deal … just something that says, “I’m so glad God put you in my life!”
And then remember to smile!
Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 106:1
What do you do to get your daily dose of Vitamin G?
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You can’t put your finger on it. In general, things are pretty good. You’re not dealing with a major life crisis, but you feel like you’re that cartoon character who walks around with her own personal storm cloud hanging over her head.
I started questioning whether I was fighting another season of anxiety and depression when the Lord lovingly and gently gave me another explanation.
You see, I became interested in politics and current events about 10 years ago. It’s made for great conversations at our house. I keep Rev up to date on what’s going on in the world and he gives me the history buff perspective that keeps me grounded.
But friends, it’s gotten so ugly!
And it doesn’t matter what side you’re on or who you voted for … both sides are guilty.
The vitriolic words coming out of the mouths of everyone, be it a political leader or a news personality, is awful. And don’t you be blamin’ the other side. I’m tired of hearing “yeah but they started it!” I’m a mom and a grade school teacher … been there heard that a thousand times or more.
The truth is, my neighborhood doesn’t look like what these people are telling me.
The people in my neighborhood come in all shades, shapes, and sizes and we all live together rather well! People are cordial, caring, and kind. They look out for each other and I don’t even know where they stand politically.
When I go out into my community, I see people who look very different from me. Some are dressed in ways that indicate they have different religious beliefs … yet, we smile at each other and say hello and we try to help wherever we can.
And no, I haven’t died and gone to heaven already.
I still live in a community in the United States of America.
I’m guessing that many of you live in communities a lot like mine.
As I sat down to read my Bible this morning, I asked God to point me to what He wanted me to read … and He led me to Galatians 6.
It starts this way…
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. v. 1
Did you see that?
“Humbly and gently.”
And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. v. 2
Friends, we may not be able to change what others say and do but we can with God’s help, love like Jesus.
Later, Paul wrote…
So, let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. v. 9 – 10
And I personally believe, that if we ever want those who are outside of the family of faith to become part of the family of faith … we need to “do good” to them also!
Jesus said, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34–35
And in Galatians 5, Paul wrote…
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.v. 13–15
I’ll admit it, the biting and devouring I’m seeing when I turn on the news, is hurting my heart. So, I’m going to do something I probably should have done a while ago…
Take the Philippians’ Challenge and See What Happens
I’m turning off the news channels and hiding all that is divisive and agitating on social media.
And I’m going to take to heart Paul’s words to the people in Philippi…
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. Philippians 4:8
There is so much good happening in the world.
We went to the Mercy Me Concert in KC last week and stood for hours with 7,000+ fellow believers praising, worshipping, and lifting high the name of Jesus. (And 7,000+ more gathered to do the same the following night.)
Rev has visited two different homeless shelters in our area … where servants of Christ are making a difference every day in broken lives.
Countless people are working to help the people who lost everything along the Florida Panhandle.
Families are doing foster care and volunteering. They are sponsoring children around the world and right here in our community, there are people who go into homes to take care of widows each week.
And every single day, I see you encourage each other online through social media, blog comments, and personal texts and messages.
Friends, there is so much good happening. So much of the life going on around us is … true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.
And I want to focus on that.
Maybe you do too. Or maybe, you’ve been doing it all along. I can be a slow learner who is thankful for God’s grace and patience.
Whatever the case …
♥ I’m inviting you to join me in a Philippians’ challenge this week.
Take a fast from the news and from your Twitter feed until after the mid-term elections.
Grab a journal and make a list of things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable each day.
Invite your family to have good news conversations at dinner each night.
Do one small act of kindness every day.
Pray for our nation, our leaders, and for the upcoming election.
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.This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1–4
Because we have God’s promise…
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
God is good! He loves us! And He’s given us a beautiful Truth, Jesus, the One who is able to change hearts and minds … who transforms lives.
So, I’m taking the Philippians’ Challenge, turning off the junk andpracticing the presence of God this week. If you’re in … let me know in the comments. And to help get us started, share something good you see happening in your community.
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I’ve had two times in my life when I found myself in situations that appeared hopeless.
They were times when God’s “no” to my perceived “need” seemed like more than I could endure.
The first time, I whined and stomped my feet like a spoiled child and then I listened to the lies of this world that were telling me I needed to take matters into my own hands and do what I needed to get the “yes” I so desperately wanted.
Getting what I longed for was thrilling. I was blissful and even managed to convince myself that this was really God’s will for me all along.
Sadly, the happiness didn’t last and the loss was greater than I could have imagined.
Which led me to my second bout with feelings of hopelessness…
But this time, rather than whining and stomping … I grieved.
And God met me there, in my grief. He held me close as He comforted me and pointed me to His Word and prayer.
He reminded me that He was with me.
“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b
And that He wanted me to have a new hope.
I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
It was that new hope that helped me surrender my heart and mind to God’s will for my future. He didn’t remove my grief but He helped me get through it moment by moment.
And one of the things that continues to help me is the new hope I enjoy when I pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Let’s take a closer look…
How to Have New Hope When You Pray the Lord’s Prayer
♥ Our Father in Heaven
Something I had to learn was the intimate nature of the relationship God wanted with me. He wasn’t calling Himself my Father simply as the authority in my life … although, He certainly is that.
He is my Father in a personal, loving, caring, I want to be involved in your life, know your feelings, comfort you, encourage you, guide you, and so much more way.
Praying “Our Father” is going into the Holy of Holies … into the presence of the One who loves you and me most and best. The One who not only sees our future but who is already there. The One who is our strength for today and hope for tomorrow.
King David said this about him:
“I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts His praises! My body rests in hope.” Acts 2:25–26
♥ Holy Be Your Name
God’s name is holy whether you and I say it or not!
God is set apart, perfect and holy in everything He does. When you and I pray, “holy be Your name,” we are asking God to help us live in a way that professes Him as the one and only Lord of our lives.
In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone. Psalm 33:21–22
When we live to declare God holy, we are saying we trust Him and trusting Him gives us hope!
♥ Your Kingdom Come
I am so often overwhelmed in this earthly kingdom. I watch the news and scroll through social media and it’s upsetting. I watch friends and family suffer and my heart hurts. So much of this life is hard.
The words “Your kingdom come,” remind me that this is not my home. By God’s grace, through Jesus, you and I have hope for a forever future beyond the chaos, pain, and heartache. A forever future in God’s kingdom because Jesus defeated sin, death, and Satan through His life, death, and resurrection.
Jesus proved to the world that He is the Way to the Father and the Truth that gives Eternal Life.
For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son,who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.Colossians 1:13–14
♥ And Your Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven
God’s will is always done in heaven and ultimately His will and purposes are also accomplished on earth.
Praying that God’s will be done on earth, is asking that He might use us in His plans and purposes. That you and I will be a part of His will being accomplished. We know His will is that we will love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love others as well. By His grace and with His help, that gives us His help and a hope for every relationship.
This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.Love means doing what God has commanded us, and He has commanded us to love one another. 2 John 1:5–6
♥ Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
I love this!
God invites us to come to Him with our daily needs, trusting that He will take care of today’s necessities and faithfully remembering that He is our hope for tomorrow.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7
♥ Forgive Us Our Sins as We Forgive Those Who Sin Against Us
You and I are able to forgive others because God faithfully forgives us.
When you and I humbly go to God asking Him for forgiveness … He will! And when I think about all that God has forgiven in me, well, I have His strength to forgive others.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31–32
Knowing that I’m forgiven and that God gives me all I need to forgive others – that gives me hope for all my relationship today and eternally!
♥ Lead Us Not Into Temptation but Deliver Us from Evil
God does not tempt us.
However, you and I live in a sinful world that is full of temptations and evil. By God’s grace, and with His help, you and I have everything we need to withstand temptation and evil today…
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13
With God’s help, we can turn our focus from this world’s temptations and ugliness and plant it squarely on the One who is able to give us the strength we need right now!
♥ For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Forever
Many of us end the Lord’s prayer with this doxology of praise.
Our Father is powerful and sovereign. All glory belongs to Him forever and ever!
King David wrote:
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior andmy God! Psalm 42:5
♥ Amen
Amen says, “so be it” or “this is true!”
It is the ending to a prayer said in faith!
So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you. Mark 11:24 (NCV)
And that is praying with new hope, trusting that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.
When you and I pray the Lord’s Prayer our hope is renewed as we remember who God is. He is our Father, the sovereign God who loves and cares for us today and has a beautiful plan for our future.
So I pray the Lord’s Prayer when my heart and mind are discouraged … when I need new hope, I pray the prayer Jesus taught and I remember all the ways God has helped me in the past.
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I was about five years old when my parents convinced me to ride a Ferris Wheel. As the car inched upward … I stopped breathing as the grip of fear overwhelmed me! My dad frantically waved at the ride operator, screaming at him to stop the giant rotating hoop and let us off after only one memorable rotation.
Amusement park rides and heights were just a couple of my many childhood fears.
As an adult, I realized that heights, bugs, and the dark were not as life-threatening as I’d once believed. But unfortunately, I just replaced those childhood fears with grown-up terrors.
Eventually, my doctor diagnosed me with high-anxiety agitation/depression. And although medication and counseling helped me function better day-to-day, they didn’t change what was going on in my head or my heart.
I still had a list of things that terrified me and eventually, some of those things happened.
I had a choice to make…
I could either pull the covers over my head and hide or turn to God for help.
Since staying in bed for the rest of my life wasn’t really an option, I cried out to God in prayer and grabbed my Bible hoping it would show me how to have a strong faith in His promises.
And through His grace, God gave me just enough strength to do life one moment at a time. He didn’t magically or suddenly make me fearless rather He gave me the faith I needed to live that day.
And that’s all we need, isn’t it?
A strong faith that will reject fear today!
If you or someone you love struggles with fear, I have a list of things that help me reject my fear with faith – one day at a time…
How to Have a Strong Faith that will Reject Fear
It took me too long to accept that my fear was caused by a lack of faith.
Deep down I think I knew it, but I was a pastor’s wife raising preacher’s kids, I’d read the “do not be afraid” and “be strong and courageous” verses and I was ashamed to admit that I was afraid because my faith was weak.
Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Matthew 8:26
Jesus calmed the storm. He healed the sick and raised the dead.
Through His death and resurrection, He gave us eternal life and through His life, He taught us how to LIVE.
So, let’s begin…
♥Ask God for Greater Faith
Jesus said, “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:23–24
Jesus next words didn’t rebuke the father … He rebuked the evil that had a hold on the man’s son and on a watching crowd.
God is greater than our greatest fear and greater than any evil this world has to offer.
♥Assess Your Fear
“Fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat.”
So, it’s important to assess if our fear is true or just a “what if”. Next, it’s important to decide if this is something we can control or change and assess how it’s affecting the way we live.
Then we must remember…
Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:18 (NCV)
Fear that debilitates is not from God, it is from the enemy!
And Jesus has defeated Satan! God is greater than any fear the enemy is using to torment us.
♥Pray Continually
Prayer is not a one and done experience, especially when it comes to fear. I’m learning that when I take fear to God as soon as it hits me … it takes my focus off my fear and places it squarely on Jesus.
In John 14, Jesus said…
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” v. 1 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” v. 6
And…
You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! v. 13–14
God wants you and me to be strong and courageous! We can ask Him to give us a strong faith that will reject fear trusting that He will.
♥Find a Faith Mentor
Talk to a counselor. Ask a wise friend to tell you about a time God helped them through a time of fear. Join a small group Bible Study. Spend time with people who encourage you to grow in faith.
“Mentoring is: Sharing Life’s Experiences and God’s Faithfulness” ~ Janet Thompson
♥Keep Scripture Close
Carry note cards with quotes and verses that help you focus on God … not your fear.
Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:13–14
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Take courage. I am here!” Matthew 14:27
♥Don’t Borrow Fear from Others
If the news and your friend’s posts on Facebook bring your fear to the surface. Take a break. Turn off the television and budget your time social media. Focus on doing things you enjoy and turn your frightened thoughts into prayers.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8
♥Be Your Own Best Cheerleader
Take charge of your thoughts.
Remind yourself that you are loved, you are precious, you are here at this time and place for God’s plans and purposes. You can trust Him.
Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments and every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obeyChrist. 2 Corinthians 10:4–5
♥Be Someone Else’s Cheerleader
Build up and encourage the people around you.
Tell someone about the way God helped you in the past … you will encourage them and you’ll be strengthened and encouraged too!
“Sometimes God redeems your story by surrounding you with people who need to hear your past, so it doesn’t become their future.” ~John Acuff
♥Give Up the Need to be Perfect
You’re human. You’re not perfect.
Ask for forgiveness when you fail and stop being afraid of failing or disappointing others. Fear keeps us from being the people God wants us to be. He created us to flourish … to thrive. He wants us to LIVE with joy for His glory!
Living in the freedom of Christ defeats fear!
In Christ, we can come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this through faith in Christ. Ephesians 3:12 (NCV)
♥Keep Your Focus on Today
Why do our “what if” thoughts rarely have happy endings?
Worry and fear are close cousins. How I wish I could have a do-over on the countless hours I spent worrying about “what-ifs” that never happened. And the things that did, well, all my worry and fear prevent a thing.
When I live my today without fear of the future, I’m fully engaged and able to see and enjoy the big and small blessings God is continuously giving me.
“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer – His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.” ~ John Newton
♥Don’t Give Up the Fight
I’d love to tell you that I don’t worry anymore … that I’m never frightened. But really, you probably wouldn’t believe me anyway.
What I can tell you, is that by God’s grace, I am able to remember all that God has gotten me through in the past, accept my fear for the lie it is, and with God’s help step out in faith and take on the day.
When I forget or fail – I trust that I can take it to God. Ask for forgiveness. And try again tomorrow.
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.1 Corinthians 10:13
I’ve learned through experience that courage and strength are rarely if ever infused into my life.
The only way have a strong faith that will reject fear is focus on all that God has done for me in the past, take my current circumstances to Him in prayer, and ask Him to give me the courage I need to get out of bed and LIVE!
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I don’t know if you ever find yourself in this situation but if you’re a faith writer, like me, I’m guessing you do…
Earlier this week, I wrote, You Need to Speak Truth, Life, and Victory, and I was all set to move on with a new post idea today. But the idea I had just wouldn’t come to life. I continued praying about it. I asked the Lord to guide my words and I searched Scripture for verses to share.
And nothing happened.
Until…
The Lord gave me a nudge that made me think I was supposed to revisit Monday’s post.
You see, I wanted to write a post about the way we speak to each other. (Once again, I’m discouraged by the discourse I’m reading on social media. Yes, I’ve even had to hide a few people because the ugliness upsets me.)
And that’s when it hit me, the four points I made about my friend’s teaching me to pray truth, life, victory, and Jesus … apply to the way we should speak to each other as well.
So, let’s take a look at…
Why You Need to Speak Truth, Life, Victory, and Jesus Now
I have a lot of opinions.
Just ask my family!
But something I know about opinions is that they are, just that … they’re opinions! They’re not necessarily the truth!
They are simply my beliefs based on past personal experiences and influenced by the information I absorb from my friends and family, the books I read, the news I follow, etc.
I’m entitled to my opinions and you’re entitled to yours.
The problem is, we’re tossing our opinions around as if they are the absolute truth and they’re not!
Which is why the first thing that’s important in the way we talk to one another is, we…
Look at just some of the words of Paul from Ephesians 4:
You have been called by God. v. 1 Always be humble and gentle, and be patient with each other.v. 2 Keep yourselves united in the Spirit and bind yourselves together in peace. v. 3 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. v. 5–6 Speak the truth in love. v. 15 Growing in every way to be more and more like Christ. v. 15 Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. v. 23 Don’t sin by letting anger control you. v. 26 Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. v. 30
And finally,
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. v. 31–32
Okay, are you squirming a little?
Yeah, me too!
The truth is … you and I have better things to talk about than the latest political or social argument!
We…
♥ Need to Speak Life
You and I have the power of life and death in our words.
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21
Ouch! That’s humbling!
But the truth is, you and I are either breathing life into our relationships or we’re killing them slowly through our words. We are either building up or tearing down, encouraging or discouraging.
I don’t know about you but when I leave a conversation, I want to leave my family and friends … goodness, I want to leave complete strangers feeling encouraged and alive. Don’t you!
Can you imagine what a difference we could make if every follower of Jesus determined that with God’s help we would speak life into every conversation?
We…
♥ Need to Speak Victory
Did you know that with the help of the Holy Spirit, you and I already have victory over the world’s twisted words and defeated rhetoric?
You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. 1 John 4:4–5
But you and I have something better to share…
Just a few verses later, John shares his well known verses on love:
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
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.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:7–12
Every person on the planet craves love. We need it almost as much as we need air to breathe.
And you and I have the perfect love to share, we…
♥ Need to Speak Jesus
You and I can tell our story. We can tell people about the way LOVE found us. The way Jesus changed everything.
The way He took our mess and turned it into our message.
Jesus is the Good News of our message…
Jesus said to His followers, “Go everywhere in the world and tell the Good News to everyone. Mark 16:15 (NCV)
And by the power of His Spirit, He is able to move in even the hardest hearts and the most stubborn minds through His transforming love.
I don’t believe you and I are going to change anyone’s opinions through the frenzied words we share on social media nor are we going to change Uncle Charlie’s mind when he comes to the next family gathering.
All you and I accomplish when we enter the fray with the harsh words of our strongly held personal opinions is further the divide and compromise our witness.
Friends, people are taking sides and I don’t believe that’s where God wants His followers.
Paul wrote:
Clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. Colossians 3:14–15
I’m challenging myself to be more careful with my words … to do a better job of speaking truth, life, victory, and Jesus and to keep more of my opinions to myself. I’m also praying truth, life, and victory over the spiritual battles going on in our world, trusting that God is sovereign and still at work in the world around me.
Friends, thank you so much for being encouragers. Thank you for being people who speak truth, life, victory, and Jesus. You bless me!
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I’ve been down off the mountain literally and figuratively for a little over a week.
Last weekend, I flew to Denver to spend a few days with beautiful blogger friends that I affectionately call, “My People.” They are friends, encouragers, cheerleaders, and prayer warriors.
In a short 48 hours, we laughed until our abs hurt, cried big ol’ ugly cries together, shared a few blogging tips, talked until we lost our voices, talked about the many ways God is working in our lives, and covered each other in prayer.
Yes, it was a mountaintop experience in the mile high city.
These girls call me the “Sage,” which makes me giggle. Seriously, I start most days asking God to help me be less of a mess today than I was yesterday.
And the truth is that the collective wisdom of those beautiful women humbles me. I may be wearing a few more years but they are the ones teaching and inspiring me.
And something they taught me last weekend is HUGE!
I’m naturally an emotional people-pleaser who loves to keep everyone happy and if that includes lots of conversation and laughter … I’m thrilled. BUT, I’m also reflective and sensitive, which means I have trouble letting go of yesterday and find it hard to not worry about tomorrow.
Negative and anxious thoughts can too often be common companions. Oh, I fight it! I work hard to be bubbly and positive on the outside but on the inside, there’s a battle going on.
Now, back to my wise friends.
Last weekend as we prayed together, I noticed something important … they prayed big prayers of faith. They thanked God in advance for answers to prayers just being lifted and spoke each request boldly with confident faith in the One who is able.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20
They spoke truth. God’s Truth!
And I wondered, how often I’ve prayed doubt-filled weak prayers. How often have I lifted petitions from a place of defeat and discouragement rather than faith and expectancy?
So, I grabbed my Bible when I got home to learn more about the truth behind the words I use and I found out that the words that come out of my mouth really do matter.
I’m making some intentional changes in the way I speak and pray because I want to:
♥ Speak Truth
Why is it that we so often allow the enemy to fill our thoughts with his lies when God gave us His truth? So often, I imagine myself in Eve’s place stopping to listen as he hisses the words, “Did God really say?”
Honestly, enough is enough!
You and I have God’s promises and He keeps His promises … ALWAYS!
Paul wrote:
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Hebrews 10:23
When we know His promises. When we hold them close and allow them to fill us with faith and hope … we have the all we need to speak truth, life, and victory to ourselves and to each other.
When we speak truth everyone is strengthened.
We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:15
When you and I think and speak from a place of doubt and fear, we deny ourselves the fullness of life Jesus came to give us.
“I [Jesus] came to give life—life in all its fullness.” John 10:10
I want to live with the freedom, courage, hope, peace, and joy found in Jesus.
Paul wrote:
We believe, and so we speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NCV)
And just a few verses later, he wrote:
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! v. 17
Whatever is going in your life or mine, the truth is it is temporary. We have been promised life … full, abundant, and satisfying. That’s reason enough to speak truth! God’s Truth!
Liz Giertz left a comment on last week’s post that said,
“Sometimes the thing that helps me overcome my fears is living as if my future is already here, understanding my eternity is already a reality!”
Amen, Liz!
♥ Speak Victory
I don’t know about you but I need to speak the following truth more often…
THE VICTORY HAS ALREADY BEEN WON!
But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
We have victory in Jesus and I want to live every day like I really believe it!
You and I are:
More than conquerors. Romans 8:37
His workmanship. Ephesians 2:10
Free. John 8:36
Overcomers. 1 John 4:4
Chosen. 1 Peter 2:9
Beloved children. 1 John 3:2
John wrote:
Everyone who is a child of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world—our faith. So the one who conquers the world is the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4–5
And now that I know God’s truth that gives life and victory, I can’t help but…
♥ Speak Jesus
We proclaim to you the One who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 1 John 1:1
I’m compelled to proclaim the One who has not only given me eternal life but who has given me full, abundant, and satisfying life today. Victory for today and for eternity.
By His grace, He continues to forgive my failures. He heals my broken heart and gives me peace when the world overwhelms me. He gives me courage when I’m afraid and strengthens me when my battles are hard.
And when I forget whose I am … He gently reminds me.
So, you see, my sweet friends called me the “Sage” but they were the wise ones speaking truth, God’s truth. They were the ones praying big prayers, and loving like Jesus.
Last weekend felt like a tender taste of heaven and I’m so very thankful God gave me those moments and memories. And I’m especially thankful that He blessed me with these amazing women of faith!
Take a few minutes to stop by and visit their sites:
Marva Smith
(Who was unable to join us this year. Sad Face)
I promise, you will love them just as much as I do!
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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.
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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