Praying for Hope in the One Who Really is Christmas

12 / 20 / 1912 / 20 / 19

Christmas is just days away and as I read through and lift up the prayer requests left on the Blessing Counters Prayer Page, I can’t help but notice how families seem to have two areas of pain and concern that rise to the top … especially at this time of the year.

Finances and relationships.

It’s funny how we get it into our heads that this year we need to do everything we can to make our memories perfect. And for many of us, that means all of our loved ones blissfully gathered together around an amply piled Christmas tree.

Now, I’ll be one of the first to admit – that loving relationships are important and part of God’s desire for us. And I’ll also admit that this time of year makes our broken relationships even more painful. And I know that giving gifts at Christmas is one of the ways we express that love.

I’m also aware that many of the problems people are praying about are greater than gifts and gatherings. It’s just that the Christmas season tends to make us even more aware of what’s lacking in those areas of our lives.

And I wonder if we aren’t all tempted to put a bit of our Christmas focus on what’s less important. I wonder if we expect people and things to fill a hole in us that only God Himself is able to satisfy?

What if we’re hoping God will fix our circumstances … forgetting that He has already given us everything we need in and through Jesus to fix everything in our lives forever.

So, I’m pausing from all the planning and preparations and praying for HOPE. I’m praying to let go of the less important to focus on the One who is the hope of Christmas … Jesus!

Praying for Hope in the One Who Really is Christmas

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

Father, my prayer is that You alone might be my source of hope. The hope You give is the confidence that I can trust Your promises. Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise You have ever made. He is the Living realization of Your love and through Your Spirit … Your unfailing love surrounds me.

You show me through Your Word and the details of my life that I am secure when I place my trust in Jesus, the promise and source of my salvation.

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
Luke 2:10–11

Father, I try to imagine what that night must have been like. The night the Word in flesh took His first breath of earthly air. The night Your Garden promise was fulfilled.

As I celebrate Jesus’ birth in a few days, please settle my heart and mind on Your grace, mercy, and love. Help me focus on the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord … the One who gave up everything to give me hope I can count on. Hope that is the assurance of Your grace, mercy, and love.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

Oh Father, how I love these words of Jesus. It’s so tempting to worry about our finances and relationships. This world is broken and too often it robs me of my peace and contentment … things You want for me. Things You invite me to bring to You. Things You want me to bring to You. Things You offer to help me carry.

Thank you! I bring You every concern and burden and ask You to replace it with hope … by Your grace and for Your glory.

God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind. So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
Hebrews 6:17–18

Father, Your promises are sure and unchanging. I can count on You and trust Your Word. I can rest secure in Jesus … the Way, Truth, and Life. So, I run to the safety of Your embrace confident that I can place my hope in You … not just for today, but for the New Year, and for the rest of forever.

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is His faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:21–23

Father, I will hold this promise close to my heart whenever I am tempted by doubt and fear. I will remember with hope…

Your unfailing love is perfect and lasting. Your mercy covers every part and every moment of my life. Your grace makes it possible for me to know with certainty that my problems are temporary … that Your grace is sufficient to give me hope when life overwhelms me.

I will hold on to the hope I have in Jesus, the promised One who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End … the One who came to earth to live the perfect life I am unable to live and suffered the death I deserve that He might rise again to give me life forever with You.

That is grace and mercy. That is Jesus. That is HOPE in the One who is Christmas! My thanks and worship and praise are Yours forever and always. Amen.

I’m Praying for Hope for You

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed by expectations you are putting on yourself or disappointed by your circumstances or the choices of others, know that this is my prayer for you today…

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

May your celebration be blessed by the One who is Christmas.

You see the meaning of the word Christmas is Christ’s Mass. He is the reason we celebrate. He is the gift that will last forever. He is the source of our hope!

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

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When You Want to Thank God for the Gift of Hope

10 / 24 / 1910 / 25 / 19

When I've prayed and prayed and waited and waited, when life is hard and circumstances frighten me ... I'm praying and thanking God for the gift of hope. #Prayer #Blessings #Hope #Faith #Godlovesyou

I’ve spent a lot of time this week thinking about hope.

You see, I’d never really stopped to think about the differences between the way secularists and people of faith perceive hope.

For the secularist, hope is based solely on the strength of their inner desires and the belief that they will achieve or receive the things they want.

But for the person of faith, hope is based on the promises of God and given as a gift of grace through faith.

The Apostle Paul wrote…

We were given this hope when we were saved. (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.)
Romans 8:24–25

I love that!

It means you and I don’t have to suck it up and generate hope on our own when life is hard and we’re overwhelmed. We can go to God in prayer and ask Him to give us the hope we need.

Paul also wrote…

God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Hebrews 6:17–18

That place where our prayers reach God’s heart … where you and I can run for comfort, strength, and hope when life is hard.

And the Father who loves us is faithful to give us exactly what we need.

When I watch the news and see people floundering to find secular answers to change a broken world, trying countless worldly ways wishing one of them will bring the peace and satisfaction they “hope” for.

But nothing does.

Because the hope that is able to change lives is given by God and I don’t know about you, but for me, when life is hard or when I’ve prayed and prayed and waited and waited … I’m thankful for God’s gift of hope.

Will join me today and thank God for His grace in giving us the gift of hope?

Verses to Pray When You Want to Thank God for the Gift of Hope

I find rest in God;
    only He gives me hope.
He is my rock and my salvation.
    He is my defender;
    I will not be defeated.
Psalm 62:5–6

Father, Thank you for the countless times I’ve been able to come to You with my doubts and fears. Thank you for hearing the cries of my heart, even when I can’t put them into words.

Lord, I can say with David, “I will not be defeated” not because of who I am but because of You, my Defender. You give me hope, my Rock and my Salvation. You are loving and gracious and good. Thank you for Your blessings too numerous to count.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
1 Peter 1:3–4a (NIV)

Father, Thank you for giving Peter, a fearful denier, everything he needed to boldly and powerfully profess the message of Jesus after the resurrection. Thank you for giving me new life through Jesus’ sacrificial love and thank you for filling this new life with hope. I love that Your promises never change, never perish, spoil or fade.

Of all the things this world has to offer … I know I can completely trust Your perfect love and that truth gives me hope.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.
Romans 5:3–5

Father, I’ll admit that I don’t feel like rejoicing when problems and trials arise. I typically find myself whiney and worried. But by Your grace, when I think of all the times You have given me everything I needed to walk through life’s challenges … I have hope that You will never leave me or forsake me no matter what I have to face.

The hope You give never disappoints … not because I always get the outcome I want but because You always give me what I need each day to live through whatever You allow. Sometimes You allow things that teach me I can endure with strength when I put my hope in You.

Thank you, Father, for the gift of Your Holy Spirit who reminds me of Your love and fills me with hope.

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.
Ephesians 1:18

Confident hope is a gift only You can give Lord. Our world offers us wishes to go with our wants but when those desires fail to happen … wishing falls apart. But hope that shines with the light of Your perfect love lasts forever.

The hope You give is focused on You, Lord, the God of the impossible. The loving Father who has made me His own. Thank you for Jesus, for faith, hope, and love. By Your grace and for Your glory.

‘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

Thank you for always being with me, Lord. Your presence gives me strength and courage.

No wonder my heart is glad!

I will forever praise You as I place my life safely in the palm of Your hand … for there is no better place on earth to rest in hope.

Thanks and praise now and forever. Amen.

If you need the gift of hope today…

Pray and ask God to give it to you.
Remember the times He has given you hope in the past.
Thank Him for being the God of possibilities … including the ability to give you hope when you need it.
Trust Him to give you everything you need today.
And read … What Gives You Hope When You Need it Most?

God bless you today, tomorrow, and all the days to come with all the hope you need that you might rest in His love and rejoice!

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

Trusting God in Your Pain

by Nicki Schroeder
@ Living for an Audience of One

How Grandma Did Hospitality

by Laura Thomas
@Heartwarming Encouragement for Your Soul

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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Deb Wolf
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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 to Pray that will Help When You are All Used Up

9 / 26 / 199 / 26 / 19

When you are all used up, depleted, and exhausted by life...you need help. Jesus says, "Come to me and rest." These verses and prayers go to Jesus for help. #Prayer #Exhausted #Hope #Blessings

Do you ever feel used up and depleted emotionally?

Times when you get to the end of the day and you are all used up and the thought of getting up and doing it all again tomorrow feels like more than you can take?

I have friends who are dealing with…

physical and/or mental illness
emotional trauma
major life changes
rebellious children
grief
loneliness
stress
problems that seem to never go away

And so many who are simply exhausted because their to-do list is waaay longer than the amount of time they have available.

If any of that describes you … you’ve come to the right place today.

I’m taking my “all used up” feelings to the Lord. I’m taking my circumstances and emotions and laying them at the throne of grace. Then I’m going get away with Jesus to a quiet place and rest with Him.

And I’d love for you to join me…

5 Verses to Pray that will Help When You are All Used Up

Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:16

Father, thank you for inviting me to come to You with everything. What an amazing gift to know that I can enter Your throne room because Jesus has made it possible. The words before this verse bring peace to my weary soul … [He] “understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.”

Jesus lived the perfect life I am unable to live and endured the punishment I deserve so I can come to You and receive. All because of Jesus, I receive Your mercy, grace, and help.

Thank you! I need You today. I need Your mercy to cover the things I’ve done and the things others have done to bring to this place of feeling all used up. I need Your grace to fill me with hope and remind me that this is a season to walk through not a permanent situation. And I need Your help Lord as I work to put one foot in front of the other and live today. Please give me all I need to live this day for Your glory.

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told Him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”
Mark 6:30–31

Father, I love this moment in Your Word. The apostles had to be so full of emotion. They had experienced the highs and lows of ministry … the overwhelming blessings and exhausting challenges.

And Jesus in all wisdom says, “Come off by yourselves. Let’s take a break and get a little rest.”

I need time to get away with You and rest. Please help me see where I can make choices that will give me that time I need. Please give me wisdom to know when it’s okay to say “no” to life’s demands. And please fill my heart and mind with peace, strength, and encouragement as I sit quietly and Your feet and rest in Your presence. Thank you, Lord Jesus!

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

Jesus, I am weary and at moments this burden feels like it is more than I can endure. And You say, “Come to me.” Your promise to “give me rest.” And you do that by helping me carry this burden. You promise that when I walk with You my burdens are easier to bear.

You don’t promise to remove them … You promise to help me carry them. And when I remember the times you have helped me in the past, I am strengthened and encouraged. You have never left me alone in the past. You have always been with me, even in my darkest moments.

So, I’m coming to you again today. I need You to help me carry this weight and give me the rest I need to move ahead in faith.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5–6

Father, please forgive me. I can get so busy and overwhelmed by my circumstances and feelings that I forget to wait quietly before You. I stubbornly try to do things my own way, charging through life as my thoughts dart from one problem to another and my hope begins to fade.

But Lord, my hope is not in things of the world. My hope is in You. My hope comes from You. It is a gift You give to me through Your Spirit. The One who reminds me that You alone are my Rock and my Salvation! You alone are my firm foundation … the Savior on whom my hope is built. And by Your grace, I will not be shaken by the circumstances of my life. As I live through this season You are allowing, I will remember that I am not alone. The One who holds the stars … holds me.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7

Father, I give it all to You! My worries and cares. My burdens. My overwhelmed emotions and my “all used up” exhaustion. My pain and heartache. My fear and anxiety. Everything! I bring it to You. I will live today under Your care.

I will live with hope! I will stand on faith! I will trust Your love. In Jesus precious holy name. Amen.

Friend, I’ve realized that when I feel all used up … it’s usually because I’m trying to do it “all” on my own.

It’s when I’m worried about people and things and situations over which I have no control.

The blessing is we know the One who is in control. When I surrender the things over which I have no control to Him in prayer, and trust Him to do what only He can do … He fills me with everything I need.

And I believe by His grace, He will give you everything you need as well!

And if you need some specific tips of things you can do to turn things around when you’re exhausted, check out – This is for You – the One Exhausted by Life.

This Week’s Friday Favorites

Highlight Posts of the Week!

5 Ways to Find Quiet in a Noisy World

by and @ Rebecca Hastings

How to Trust God When You Feel Betrayed by Him

by and @ April Knapp

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!

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

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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 God to Do the Impossible

1 / 24 / 192 / 8 / 19

Do you ever have times when your life’s circumstances seem impossible?

Times when … your relationship is broken, or you can’t find a job, or your child is rebellious, or you can’t break a long-held bad habit, or your pain or illness is worsening, and life is just plain hard?

Times when you wonder if the outcome you’re praying for is even possible?

The Bible says, Nothing is impossible for God. These 5 prayers will help you pray when you need Him to do what only He can do in your impossible circumstances. #Pray #Faith #AnythingisPossible

I’ll be honest with you. I do, too!

I’ve had times when my heart was heavy and I felt like I’d prayed the same prayer request a thousand times. Even now, I have a few big prayers that I continue to pray even though nothing seems to change.

And in my sadness, I start to wonder if this prayer of my heart is even possible.

Jesus repeatedly told people that God is able to do the impossible…

“What is impossible for people is possible with God.”
Luke 18:27

And He also told people to…

“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

So, I’m praying today but I’m not only asking God to do the impossible … I’m believing that He CAN DO the IMPOSSIBLE!

And even though I’ve asked Him a thousand times before, I’m confident He will hear my prayer and respond in love!

Maybe you’d like to join me.

5 Verses to Pray When You Need God to Do the Impossible

“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by Your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for You!”
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?
Jeremiah 32:17 & 27

Father, I go outside and see the beauty of Your creation. The sun, moon, and stars hung perfectly in place. Seas and land, mountains and valleys, plants and animals with countless variations all sustained in complete order by Your gracious hand.

Father, nothing is too hard for You!

You care for and protect Your children … body and soul.

Nothing is too hard for You!

I believe You are able to do the impossible and Father, and sometimes from my perspective, this problem appears impossible. But You are the God of possibilities! Please, Father, do what only You can do. Please help me by Your Grace. Amen.

He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!
Psalm 147:4–5

Father, You see me. You know me by name. And You love me! I am not just one of many … I am Your child. I am Your own.

There is nothing I can experience that is beyond Your understanding and comprehension. This battle I’m facing is known to You.

I believe You know what I need and that You will provide it. I understand that it may not be what I want … but it will always be what is best for me.

I also believe that if You ask me to wait or endure, You have promised to give me the strength and peace and everything else I need each day.

This is hard, Father, but You are great! Your power is absolute. Your grace is sufficient. Your love unfailing. Thank you! Amen.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20–21

Father, I need Your mighty power to work within me.

“Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!” (based on Mark 9:24)

I believe You are able to accomplish infinitely more than I might ask or think. As I fight this battle, please help me keep my eyes on You … not on the problem. Give me the courage and strength to surrender this situation to You. By Your grace, help me trust Your love for me and live with the confidence that You care about this even more than I do.

Father, You sacrificed everything to save me and show me the greatness of Your love.

I surrender this day to You. Help me in this wait to know with confidence that even though I can’t see it … You are at work doing what only You can do, things that will always be for my good and Your glory. Thank you, Father. Amen.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Mark 10:27

Oh, the reassurance of Jesus’ words, Father. Were it not for You … there would be no saving grace. Were it not for You … I would have no faith.

Because of You, Father, the impossible becomes possible. Being born again becomes reality. And love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control become blessings I enjoy because of Your Spirit within me. Thank you!

Your grace is sufficient! (1 Corinthians 12:9) And I have everything I need. (Psalm 23:1)

Father, there is no limit to what You can do. Your miracles touch the lives of Your children each and every day.

Please help me trust Your plan for me today. Help me follow where You lead and obey Your will as You reveal it to me. Help me to see Your miracles. Amen.

This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Father, As I face this problem, please help me remember all the ways You have provided for me.

You have met my needs in the past and I believe You will meet my needs today and every day in the future.

You have given me strength and courage when I was afraid. You gave me hope when my circumstances seemed hopeless. You have given me patience when my wait felt like it was too long. Whatever my need … You have a glorious rich supply.

Father, You’ve kept every promise You’ve ever made. I can and will trust You to keep Your promises in the future.

By Your grace, You’ve helped me love when I wanted to turn away. You’ve forgiven my broken past and given me all I need to forgive others. You’ve healed my broken heart and filled me up.

You’ve have given me Jesus! I have everything I need!

You truly are the God of possibilities! Absolutely nothing is impossible to You.

So, today, I will trust You with my needs, wants, and desires. And with Your help, I will surrender my pain and problems to Your perfect wisdom and care.

In Jesus name. Amen.

Whatever is going on in your life today…

God is able.

Rick Warren wrote…

Never let an impossible situation intimidate you. Let it motivate you – to pray more, trust more, expect more.

I want that…

I want to pray more, trust more, and expect more.

Because the truth is…

There are no impossible situations for the child of the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God because for our Father … nothing is impossible!

Thank you so much for joining me today.

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

1 / 21 / 191 / 21 / 19

I’ll admit it…

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

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

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

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

I read these words the other day…

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

The Lord spoke those words to Abraham.

Why?

Because Abraham had begun to wonder … to quit hoping.

Can you blame him? I sure can’t.

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

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

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

Then look at the account of Jeremiah…

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

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

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

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

You might be wondering … WHY?

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

You might even be asking … WHY?

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

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

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

No!

Nothing is too hard for God!

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

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

Maybe you can relate.

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

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

Nothing is too hard for God!

Nothing! Absolutely nothing!

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

Nothing is too hard for Him!

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

Never stop praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17

Jesus told a story to teach His disciples this lesson.

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

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

You and I can be persistent in our prayers.

The Life Application Bible Notes describe persistent prayer this way…

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

Remember, Jesus also said…

All things are possible with God!
Mark 10:27

And…

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

And Paul wrote…

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

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

And what does he say about hope?

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

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

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

And the writer of Hebrews wrote…

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

And…

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

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

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

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

Jesus, all I need today and eternally.

David wrote…

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

And Paul wrote…

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

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

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

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

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

Maybe you’d like to join me!

Thank you so much for joining me today.

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

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

12 / 31 / 1812 / 31 / 18

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

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

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

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

You and I have hope!

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

So, I’m praying…

God, Thank You for the Hope of a New Year

Father, thank you!

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

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

You have been faithful.

You have been loving, and kind, and good!

And that gives me hope.

Whatever the coming months hold…

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

So, Father, I ask You…

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you for Your blessings too numerous to count.

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

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

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

Your Word says…

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

May my prayers please You.

Thank You for hearing each heartfelt cry.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you so much for joining me for this series…

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

May we never stop boldly asking and seeking and knocking.

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

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

I hope you’ll stick with me and…

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

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Day 28 – God, Please Help Me – I Need More Hope

12 / 19 / 18

Many of us personally claim the promise God made through Jeremiah to the exiled Jews living in Babylon:

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

And the awesome thing is … you and I can claim it because God has given us a future and a hope through Jesus.

Do you know the verses that follow verse eleven?

In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:12–13

Today, I’m praying and boldly asking…

God, Please Help Me – I Need More Hope

Father, I believe You want me to experience a rich hope-filled life but sometimes when a pain or problem worsens or lingers, I wonder if clinging to hope is futile.

I have to admit it is those times when I take my focus off You and place it squarely on the burden I’m carrying.

Forgive me and help me – I need more hope!

I need to turn my heart and mind to You, trusting You are able to provide for my every need even when Your answer to my prayers for healing or restoration is “no” or “not yet.”

Help me turn to Your Word and remember…

You are the God who saves me. All day long I [will] put my hope in You. Psalm 25:5

You have kept Your promises…

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

I can put my hope in You…

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again— my Savior and my God! Psalm 42:11

And even when life is hard and I’m carrying a difficult burden, I have Jesus’ promises to give me more hope.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“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

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

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

And Your promise given through Paul…

To make all things work together for the good of those who love You and are chosen to be a part of Your plan. Romans 8:28

So, even when I don’t understand how this struggle can be part of Your plan, I will trust You…

[I can] hold tightly without wavering to hope, because You can be trusted to keep Your promises. Hebrews 10:23

Thank you Father for Your promises and for helping me whenever I need more hope. Amen.

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

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

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

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

Subscribe here!

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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!

Day 20 – God, Bless My Children with Faith, Hope, and Love

12 / 11 / 18

Since the moment they were born, who am I kidding, since before they were born, I’ve worried about my children.

And even though, I know I’m not supposed to worry – I’ve often been known to stress over the slightest little thing when it comes to my children and their well-being.

But Jesus said,

“Let the children come to me.” Luke 18:16

So today, I’m surrendering my worry and I’m taking my children to the Lord in prayer. I’d love for you to join me…

God, Please Bless My Children with
Faith, Hope, and Love

Father, thank you for my children … each one a precious and unique gift.

Forgive me for worrying about them the way I do. I worry about their health and well-being. I worry about their future success and relationships. I worry about … well, everything!

Your word says…

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Philippians 4:6

So, I’m bringing my children to You in prayer. They are so very loved and precious to You.

I could pray about their health, success, and relationships. I could ask You to help them make wise choices and keep them safe.

But today, I’m asking You for three things Your Word says are of utmost importance and everlasting…

Faith. Hope. And Love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Father, Please bless my children with…

Faith

Father, by the power of your Spirit, bless my children with ever-increasing faith and give them the strength and courage they need to live each day guided by Your will.

I ask that by the power of Your Spirit, my children may believe that Jesus is the Christ. That they will love You and keep Your commandments. Your Word promises …^“every child of God defeats this evil world, and this victory is achieved through faith.” (based on 1 John 5:1–4

Hope

Father, I ask that You will bless my children with the hope only You can give…

Jeremiah wrote:

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7

I ask that my children will make You their hope and confidence and that Your plans for them will be good and not too difficult and that You will give them a future filled with hope. (based on Jeremiah 29:11)

Love

Finally, I pray that You will surround and fill my children with Your love.

Father, empower my children with inner strength through Your Spirit. May they place their trust in Jesus alone. May their roots grow down into Your love that is able to keep them strong. I pray that each of my children will have the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your great love truly is … that they might experience Jesus’ love so fully that they will have all they need to live each day. (based on Ephesians 3:16–19)

You are able to do more in their lives than I could ever ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20

Guide them, hold them, and fill them with faith, hope, and love. Please bless my children in Jesus name. Amen.

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

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

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

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

Subscribe here!

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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!

How to Have New Hope When You Pray the Lord’s Prayer

10 / 22 / 18

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 and my 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.

Leave your prayer requests…

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

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When You Need Strength and Hard to Understand Peace

8 / 27 / 18

I can relive that morning in my head like it happened yesterday…

I shuffled out of the bedroom hoping to retrieve a cup of coffee to sip while I got ready for church. As I entered our family room, I found Rev propped up on the couch with ashen skin and blue lips. (I’d only seen that one other time when visiting a young friend just hours before she went home to be with the Lord.)

I wanted to call 911. Rev refused. He’d been sick for so long that he was as sick of the poking and prodding as he was his illness.

So, I agreed to call our friends at church first, I needed to tell them he wouldn’t be there to teach Bible Study that morning and I wanted to talk with a couple of nurse friends and ask for their advice.

They were a God-give blessing … telling me what to look for and assuring me that we could monitor him at home and if things didn’t get any worse, we wouldn’t need to call the EMTs. The hard news … they told me that it was time to admit that Rev had to have the surgery his doctors were recommending. And although, I didn’t want to admit it – I knew they were right. Rev’s body was beginning to shut down.

At this point, you need to know about this surgery called a Pericardial Stripping. Most cardiac surgeons don’t want to do it. It’s long, messy, and depending upon the health of the patient going in, the percentages of a successful outcome are very low.

We were told there was a good possibility Rev would die on the operating table or have a stroke or heart attack within the first 24 hours … but that surgery was the only way to save his life.

God blessed us with a miracle through the gentle hands of Dr. Jennifer Lawton, who has since moved from St. Louis to Baltimore where she is now the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at John’s Hopkins Medical Center.

So, why am I sharing this story with you?

Because to this day, Rev and I still can’t explain the strength and hard to understand peace God gave us through those months leading up to, through, and beyond Rev’s surgery.

It is believed that Paul wrote the following in a Roman prison cell:

Don’t worry!

Just a few years earlier, I’d been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and although I’d like to tell you medication fixed the problem … it didn’t keep me from being anxious, it just kept me from feeling like I was going to throw up all the time. I was still a world-class worrier!

When You Need Strength and Hard to Understand Peace

This time, was different. Throughout the fifteen months of Rev’s illness, with God’s help, we lived Philippians 4.

We prayed and then we prayed more. We also had a small group of dear friends who were praying for us.
We thanked God for every single day. No matter what happened or what news we received … we thanked God for the gift of another day together.
We refused to focus on negative what-ifs. Rev said early on, “If I wait until I’m healthy to be happy, I may never be happy again.” So with God’s help, we found joy in the little things and made laughter a priority.

Sure there were moments when we cried together as we prayed or simply held each other because we weren’t sure where to turn or what to do during the long eleven months we spent waiting for a diagnosis. But we also looked for reasons to laugh and took time to celebrate whenever possible.

So, my friend, if you’re going through the impossible today, I want you to know God can give you the strength and peace you need to do this thing … whatever it is.

I read these words this morning in the Life Application Bible Notes for Philippians 4:6–7:

Do you want to worry less?

Then pray more!

Whenever you start to worry … STOP and PRAY!

God’s peace is different from the world’s peace. True peace [God’s peace] is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Our citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have victory over sin. Let God’s peace guard your heart against anxiety.

I still get tears in my eyes thinking about our pastor inviting the congregation to the front of the church that Sunday before surgery and watching the chairs empty as everyone joined hearts and hands as our pastor prayed, “Father, spare his life!”

I can still see myself kissing him in pre-op wondering if that would be the last time this side of heaven.

I can visualize every inch of the waiting room as I sat with our children and a few friends through the six-plus hour surgery ending with our 7ft tall son asking to hug petite Dr. Lawton when she came to tell us that surgery had gone well.

I remember walking into the ICU for the first time and hearing the nurses laugh at one of his one-liners.

And later that day when he told the kids and me, “I knew I’d be okay going into surgery because I’d either wake up here with all of you or I’d wake up with Jesus and my mom and…”

That’s hard to understand peace!

That’s knowing “our citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom is secure and our destiny is set.”

David wrote, “The Lord gives His people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.” Psalm 29:11

I do believe that’s why Paul called it “the peace which exceeds anything we can understand.”

You and I can’t will ourselves into a state of strength and peace. Believe me, I tried for years!

What we can do … is ask God, He will graciously give us both.

The thing is, I think we want it to be a one and done. We want to be able to pray, “Father give me your peace and strength” as we go right on worrying about the things of life.

Which is why we need to remember Philippians 4:6 comes before verse 7…

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

Don’t worry … STOP and PRAY! You and I can tell God what we need. But I believe it’s in the remembering what He has already done that peace takes root and starts to grow.

Because, if He doesn’t do one other thing for you and me, He’s given us Jesus! Our citizenship in heaven is secure! Our future is prepared.

And in the meantime, whatever is going on, whatever we’re going through, God will give us everything we need … even strength for the battle at hand and hard to understand peace.

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2

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

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20 Quotes that Celebrate Jesus, the Gift of Hope

12 / 22 / 1712 / 20 / 17

Jesus – Hope of the World.

For just a moment, join me as I focus on God’s amazing gift whom we celebrate. Then, as you finish errand running, wrapping, baking, cooking, traveling, etc…

Turn on some music and praise God for His indescribable gift.

20 Quotes that Celebrate Jesus, the Gift of Hope

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

“The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity–hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory–because at the Father’s will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross.” ~ J.I. Packer

For a child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

“Christmas gift suggestions: to your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.” ~ Oren Arnold

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:6–7

“Our righteousness is in Him, and our hope depends, not upon the exercise of grace in us, but upon the fullness of grace and love in Him, and upon His obedience unto death.” ~ John Newton

“Christmas celebrates the awesome and amazing fact that God is grander, wiser and more mysterious than we could have ever imagined.” ~ Dan Schaeffer

“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. John 3:16

“Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts: the gift of God to man – His unspeakable gift of His son Jesus; and the gift of man to God – when we present our bodies as a living sacrifice and, like the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:5), first give ourselves to God. No one has kept or can keep Christmas until he has had a part in this two-way transaction.” ~ Vance Havner

And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 1 John 5:11

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.” ~ Agnes M. Pharo

But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law so that He could adopt us as His very own children. Galatians 4:4–5

“Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world – stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas.” ~ Henry Van Dyke

Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom

But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Luke 2:10–11

Christmas is a gift of love wrapped in human flesh and tied securely with the strong promises of God.
It is more than words can tell, for it is a matter for the heart to receive, believe and understand.”
[Unknown]

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

“If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: “God with us.” We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ. The greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth!” ~ John F. MacArthur, Jr.

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23

My prayer for you…

“God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is love; the radiance of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas, which is Christ.” ~ Wilda English

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17)

Amen.

Now it’s time for…

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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Deb Wolf
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I’m excited to share the following posts with you this week.

When You Want More Than the Muddle
of Motherhood (But, Really, Life is a Muddle)

by Sarah Behan

@ The Wholehearted Home

A Joy-filled Woman: Birthday Party for Jesus

by Sue Donaldson

@ Welcome Heart

Thank you, Sarah and Sue, for partying with us!

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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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.

I’m always looking for stories that will encourage and inspire readers to live in faith, stay faithful in hope, and find joy in loving Jesus and others. If you’re interested in sharing your story here at Counting My Blessings –check out my Contributor Guidelines 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…

Thank you and God bless!

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Life is Better When You Know the Final Score

11 / 1 / 1710 / 29 / 17

As I walked upstairs the other night, Rev was rewatching the Ohio State vs Penn State football game. We’d watched it live but he just couldn’t get enough, saying “I think it’s, even more, fun watching it again.”

Now, if you’re a Penn State fan, I want you to know we think your team is amazing, your coach is a class act, and we normally cheer a Penn State victory … except when they play the Buckeyes.

Why am I talking about football?

Because I want to talk about discouragement.

You see, we went into that game nervous. Penn State was undefeated and ranked #2. We knew it would be one of the toughest games of the season.

So, we queued it up and…

Penn State’s Heisman candidate ran the kickoff back for a 97-yard touchdown run and then just a couple of plays later another player took the ball away from the OSU offense and scored again.

It looked like it was going to be worse than we thought and I couldn’t watch.

I was discouraged!

I walked away – choosing to do something else in my office.

But by the end of the half, the Buckeyes had scored a couple of time and although they were still losing it looked like a ballgame.

So, I returned to the family with my iPad in hand. I couldn’t give the game my full attention because although I was no longer without hope … I didn’t believe. I’d look up for instant replays if something good happened and kept myself distracted when it didn’t.

But then the fourth quarter started and there seemed to be a momentum shift. Our quarterback was hitting his targets and the receivers were delivering.

I set my iPad aside and gave my full attention to every play. Cheering and growing more and more hopeful. Until the final few minutes of the game, when Rev and I were on our feet like the kids in stands jumping up and down amazed at and excited at what was taking place.

An upset. Victory out of defeat.

An analogy for life.

It’s so easy for me to get discouraged and want to walk away.

I hear it every day, from moms, dads, and their kids. I hear it from bloggers, from spouses, from employees and business owners. Different ages, backgrounds, ethnicity, etc. It doesn’t matter.

There seems to be an epidemic of discouragement!

Countless people who feel like they can’t possibly win and wonder if they should just walk away.

But when we walk away, we guarantee defeat.

Read that again.

When we walk away, we guarantee defeat!

If it had been up to me, the Buckeyes would not have won that game. I almost let discouragement win.

And I wonder how many times in my life I’ve been guilty of giving up hope too quickly? How many times have I let discouragement defeat me?

Maybe you can relate!

Friend — you and I don’t have to give in to discouragement.

I’ll be honest with you. You and I are going to feel discouraged sometimes. Life is hard. Bad things happen and we are living at a time when it feels like it’s getting hard to catch our breath as we hear about or experience one crisis after another.

But when you know the end – it changes everything. I think that’s why Rev said he was having, even more, fun watching the game the second time. He knew who won!

WE KNOW WHO WON!

Jesus won the victory over our discouragement. We know the end of the game!

Look at this promise from Revelation 21:

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God himself will be with them. 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, [John] “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. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. v. 3—7

That’s our future! And the best part…

It’s not the end. It’s just the beginning.

But if you’re like me, sometimes the days of discouragement and heartache here seem long and lonely. It’s hard to stay focused on eternity when today hurts.

It’s why God didn’t just make promises from heaven but sent Jesus to live in this evil filled world with us. And not just live in the evil but defeat it!

^“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 knows our struggle. He lived it! More important — He overcame it!

For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. John 12:45–46

We can trust Jesus. We have His Spirit … His light to fill our darkness and give us hope.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:1–3

And when the journey gets discouraging, remember … Jesus is just getting things ready for you and me.

He’s coming back to take us home to celebrate the victory with Him forever.

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray over the list left by our friends.

Remember – 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…;

5 Verses to Pray that will Help You Age with Joy

10 / 27 / 1710 / 28 / 17

Yes, I’m aging. And although I can try to ignore it much of the time on a day like today when my number goes up another digit – well, it’s hard to let it go.

Don’t get me wrong…

I’m thankful for every year and continually amazed by all the ways God has blessed me … things He strengthened me through and ways He’s pulled me closer.

But…

Even though my heart and mind are full of gratitude, wrinkles and physical parts of aging challenge me.

“Old” and all the synonyms that go with it are not words we embrace.

And I wonder, why not? I know we live in a society of appearances but there are so many parts of getting older to celebrate. And when I think of all the ways I’ve been blessed by the older and wiser women God has used to bless me – well, I want to do better.

So, today I’m going to sidestep my mirror and take a closer look at what God’s Word has to say about adding years. And I’m going back to the Lord in prayer asking Him to give me His perspective on aging with joy.

5 Verses to Pray that will Help You Age with Joy

Isaiah 46:4

Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you. (NCV)

Father, I love that You are always the same. Who You revealed Yourself to be in the Old and New Testaments are the same today. Forever unchanging! In a world where change is a constant, You are my strength and protection. As I look back over the decades of my life, You have faithfully carried me through so much. I know Your promises are true! Thank you! Amen.

Ecclesiastes 5:19b–20

God gives the ability to accept their state in life and enjoy their work. They do not worry about how short life is because God keeps them busy with what they love to do. (NCV)

Father, culture fights the appearance of aging. That’s no surprise to You. You know how we hate the shortness of this life. You hate death. It’s why You sent Jesus to save us and win the victory over its power. Yet, the enemy continues to speak fear into our world. So, we fight aging instead of embracing the blessing of maturing in wisdom. Thank you for giving me this ministry I love. By Your grace, help me stay focused on Your love and follow Your path for me. Help me reject the temptation to compare myself with others knowing Your grace is sufficient! Remind me of that important truth every day. Amen.

Psalm 143:5

I remember what happened long ago; I consider everything you have done. I think about all You have made. (NCV)

Oh, Father, when I think about all the ways You have helped me in the past, I’m humbled and thankful. Challenges and loss, rejection and illness … You have met every need with Your strength, hope, peace, and love. Thank you! Years of experiencing Your faithfulness help me when circumstances are hard. It is then my heart reminds me, “God has gotten me through worse than this!” I will proclaim Your goodness and give You glory. Thank you, Lord! Amen.

Psalm 90:12

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. (NLT)

Father, teach me to “number my days.” Every one of them, known to You before one of them began. (Psalm 139) Although, this life is short … life with You is forever. Help me keep an eternal perspective. Help me keep my focus on You. Help me hold Your unchanging promises close to my heart. Wisdom is knowing and trusting You for my eternal future and my day today. Thank you, Father. You are faithful and loving. Amen.

Philippians 1:6

God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure He will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again. (NCV)

Father, how I love this promise. I am Yours by the power of Your Spirit. You are continually at work in me … teaching, guiding and growing me. Thank you! Father, You are my hope. When I lose my focus and start to worry, when I struggle with wrinkles and aches and pains, when life feels fragile … You are my hope. Jesus promised, “I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.” Matthew 28:20 What a blessing it is to know You are with me today, tomorrow, and always. I have nothing to fear. Thank you, Father, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Today, there are so many reasons to have joy!

Les Brown was right! “You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.”

And to celebrate – I’m giving the Kindle Version of my book, Sarah’s Garden away as a gift to you!

Each child is born with a unique personality, individual talents, and specific abilities. Wouldn’t it be nice if they came with a personalized instruction manual, too!

Sarah’s Garden is a parable that tells of the struggle in each of us to flourish in our strengths, rather than persisting in our weaknesses.

Join Sarah as she deals with her own confusion and frustration while caring for her special garden. Find out who the King sends to help her after the ogre, the nasties, and the “trashy” villagers make a mess. Finally, discover the thrill she experiences when she learns of her true identity, and the fabulous future which awaits her.

Now it’s time to share your links and visit your friends…

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

I’m excited to share the following posts with you this week.

An Invitation to 30 Days of Thanks-Living

by Crystal Twaddell

@ Cultivating a Life of Intention and a Legacy of Hope

When You are Praying for Answers in Your Marriage

by Valerie Murray

@ Cord of 6

Blinded by Fear –
When Circumstances Cloud Your Vision of God

by Esther Dortik

@ Chosen & Cherished

When Life Isn’t Tied with a Bow

by Laura Thomas

@ Truth Teller, Soul Stirrer

Thank you, Crystal, Valerie, Esther, and Laura for partying with us!

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.

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

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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 Pray Board! 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…

Thank you and God bless!

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When Hope is the Only Thing that will Conquer the Storm

7 / 12 / 176 / 2 / 18

Welcome to week six of the Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series. I have so loved sharing these amazing posts from faith-filled friends who encourage and bless me daily.

This week I’m thrilled to introduce you to my friend, Lori Shumaker. I hardly know where to begin to tell you about Lori. I just love her heart. And we have mom things in common to gab about in our basketball loving boys and adopted daughters.

If you ever have the opportunity to sit with Lori and enjoy her hospitality, you will find yourself extremely blessed. She loves and encourages BIG! Can you tell I just love her!

So give her a big welcome and don’t forget to visit her blog and follow her on social media. All the links you need are at the bottom of the post.

When Hope is the Only Thing that will Conquer the Storm

Waiting demands hope.

I do not believe one can truly exist without the other.

Whether it is the accomplishment of a lifelong goal or for the chocolate dipped ice cream cone from DQ, I waited for the prize with hope in my heart (or my taste buds!).

I think waiting is the way in which God refines my ability to maintain hope. And since I’ve spent the larger part of seven years in a significant season of waiting, I’ve had plenty of time to break it down. What I found are two very different types of hope. Related and both a part of day-to-day life, but still very different.

I call them God-Sized hope and cautious hope.

Cautious hope speaks of desired outcomes, whereas God-sized hope is unique, eternal and never circumstantial. It is not dependent upon events or outcomes. It is a guarantee.

You may already know this about our family, but in case you don’t, our daughter is a sick little girl. Her list of diagnoses is overwhelming. From her eyes to her spine, to her heart, to her mind, she is afflicted. On Saturday, April 9, 2011, we arrived on U.S. soil with our daughter whom we had been told had only a speech delay and a heart murmur.

On Monday, April 11, I was waiting at the doorstep of our pediatrician’s office. That morning marked the beginning of a journey to uncovering a multitude of illnesses in our little one.

It began the journey to physical, mental, and emotional healing.

Some of her diagnoses are typical and we have thankfully been placed on a treatment plan and the issue solved or monitored. However, much of her diagnoses are either rare or relatively unresearched. Those diagnoses entail what I call trial and error treatment plans. Sadly, there is a lot of trial and error. With each newly presented treatment plan, decisions must be made. Is it a plan we can carry out? Has potential? Is worth more time, effort, and money? More often than not, we decide to try the plan. After all, how could we, with good conscience live wondering if the one treatment we maybe didn’t try was the answer? So we trudge on.

In the beginning, I held onto the hope was given to me by doctors in the shape of prescriptions, plans, and therapies. The darkness would lift and I would feel the hope that just around the corner, our sweet treasure might be healed. But the corner arrived as a dead-end and with that dead-end, my hope would plummet and fall.

I didn’t know where to find balance along the pendulum of hope and acceptance.

There was wrestling with God.

There was anger. Often.

I cried. A lot.

I didn’t want to hear what He had to say. It was my desire for my daughter to be healed the way I envisioned healing. The stress that was wreaking havoc on our family needed to go away.

I wanted easy. Simple. Wrapped up nicely in a bow.

Healed.

God is good.

Amen.

But He had a different plan. His plan was not about my desired outcome.

It was about a hope that says, ”I trust your sovereignty, Lord, and I know that whatever comes, you will walk through it with me and we will be okay.”

That’s a God-sized hope.

My daughter is making some progress. One of the treatment plans we are currently in the midst of is called IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin). She receives the transfusions two days in a row each month. She just completed her 14th treatment. We have witnessed some progress, but it appears this treatment is long term. When she goes longer than one month, her immunity system begins to fail again. Therefore, we continue waiting, hoping, and believing.

We are cautiously hopeful.

Cautiously hopeful that she will be free from the PANDAS symptoms that relentlessly plague her. (You can read about symptoms here.) It is a lot of big stuff.

But cautious hope takes in the reality that someday she may not live independently or care for herself. She may carry these painful symptoms throughout life on this side of the cross. It’s not a thought I bear easily. I want my baby girl living free and I want a reprieve from the storm our family faces. However, cautious hope isn’t big enough, strong enough, or unique enough to cover that storm.

But then there’s God.

[Tweet “God’s hope gets me through the storm and to the other side of the cross. #hope #godsized “]

It is a net of hope that makes all the difference. With it, I can walk through the storm knowing that if I fall I will be saved.

Knowing I will be saved abounds my capacity to endure patiently.

And when I endure patiently all darkness is conquered.

“May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” -2 Thessalonians 3:5, NLT

It’s a battle that mandates I pick up my armor daily.

When I don’t, I feel it. The joy seeps out. The worry, anger, and disappointment seep in. I suffer and the enemy cheers.

So I hold onto it. That God-sized hope. It’s always there, but in order to conquer the darkness and endure patiently, I have to make intentional choices to:

Find it – Look for it in His Word and in the testimonies of others.

Focus on it – Keep my eyes and ears tuned sharply into that hope; Don’t be distracted by the lies whispered by the enemy or the distraction of things that didn’t go my way.

Feel it – Breathe it in deeply repeating hopeful phrases and scripture on the inside and outside. Speak the spirit of hope over my life. Speak in terms of victory and not defeat.

I know that I am not in your life situation right now. Even if I knew the details, I couldn’t fully understand your journey because it’s yours and I haven’t walked it.

But I can tell you this.

My heart is with you. I understand the painful wait. I understand being frustrated with God and the world around me. And I can tell you something even more important. God does understand. He feels your pain and He knows your ache.

He is aching for you.

Although I don’t have the answers as to why it is as it is, I do know that He has a whole lot of hope He desperately wants to pour into you as He takes your hand and walks you through this storm.

I can say I know that not just because someone else told me. Or even because the Bible tells me so! It is because when I had lost worldly hope, He reached down, saved me, and filled me with His God-sized hope.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” -1 Peter 3:15, NIV

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Bio – Lori is an encourager at heart. She has spent her life learning of the hope and victory available when we embrace our identity in Christ. Today, when she isn’t busy being a wife and Mom to her three children, she teaches, ministers, coaches, speaks and writes to share that hope with others. Wherever you find yourself today – walking through the difficult, needing to get unstuck to follow your purpose, or simply experiencing a season of beautiful chaos, Lori’s blog found at www.lorischumaker.com is a place where you can get a virtual hug from someone who truly understands. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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