Colossians 4:5 NLT, “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.”
This verse reminds us that as Christians our actions are on display. Non-believers are watching us to see if we live as we profess. God gives us daily opportunities to respond to those around us in love. He will give us the wisdom we need to live wisely and have an impact. He will give us the words to say when needed, words that will speak life and truth to those who are hurting.
It’s important for us to make the most of our opportunities, especially with the upheaval that is going on in our world today. The injustices and discrimination we see are not beyond God’s power. He sees all and knows all. Many feel hopeless, but through Jesus we can help bring hope. It is a privilege as a Christian to have the Spirit of God live through us and use us to do good.
Persist in prayer because prayer changes things. Persist in love because love never fails.
This month marks one year ago that my daughter graduated from college (May 1, 2019). I always loved my visits to the college campus, which was located right in the heart of Miami. Seeing the young adults around the campus as I drove to my daughter’s dorm, was a joyful experience for me. I felt excited for them. There was something about the atmosphere on the campus that seemed so fresh and promising.
Campus Main Entrance
During my daughter’s four years at the university, she was a resident in almost every dorm on campus. Moving her in and out of dorms became a part of our normal routine. Her favorite dwelling were the campus studio apartments that she stayed in during her final semester of her senior year. It was her first time being in her own personal space, without roommates or suite mates.
Campus Studio Apartments
I learned from watching and listening to her that dorm life is certainly not without challenges. However I’m thankful she was able to endure the ups and downs. She did amazing! I told her Panther Hall (the freshman dorm) would always be my favorite one because that is where her journey began. During her junior year (if I remember correctly), she lived in Everglades Hall. Everglades Hall always gave me a sense of sadness. The year before she moved in there, a young man was found in his room, he passed away from a drug overdose. He was a junior with one more year to go. My heart went out to his parents who lived out of state in North Carolina. Can you imagine getting that call?
Everglades Hall
I will always have fond memories of my college mom days. Especially our time together on the weekends, when she was able to come home for visits. Or those beautiful sunny Saturday afternoons I’d make my way to Miami (about an hour drive) to spend the day with her. Miami has many great restaurants, and we enjoyed visiting them!
The best vegan pizza I ever had!
As a college mom, prayer for my daughter was always of utmost importance. I knew that she was now a young adult who had to start making her own decisions and experience life for herself. That’s never an easy transition for a parent, and it’s prayer that helps us through. We have to trust God that the lessons we taught them will resonate. We have to trust that He has a good plan for their lives.
Photo by: Nguyễn Lâm
College students need our prayers. College is a tough time for a young adult. Many of them are out on their own for the first time. Not only do they have a whole lot of school work, but they also have peer pressure, pressure from society to follow a certain path, big decisions to make about their futures, and many other trials they are trying to work through. They need our support. So please join me in praying for our young adult college students. Thank you for your prayers!
Colossians 4:2 ESV, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
As I was reflecting on Mother’s Day, some very valuable advice that was given to me by my cousin Sandra came to mind. She said, “Always pray for your daughter, because there is something special about a mother’s prayer.” My daughter who is now 23, was about 11 years old when Sandra spoke those words. Her words of wisdom have always stayed close to my heart.
I know my mother has diligently prayed for me throughout my life. Her prayers for me have made a difference, and they continue to do so. As mother’s, we are so blessed to have the gift of prayer. We can’t be everywhere, we can’t know everything, and we definitely can’t fix everything (although we may sometimes try), but our Lord can. Knowing that He is always present, and that He is never without answers, is what gives us peace as Mom’s.
God’s love covers everything, all the joys and the pains of motherhood. I’m so thankful for His love, because no matter what changes in our lives or the lives of our children, His love will never change. I pray you find never ending strength and hope as you continue to trust God for His best in the lives of your children. He hears your prayers and always has a plan, so never cease to pray for your children.
Happy Mother’s Day! 🌷💛🌷
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJB), “Pray without ceasing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 GNT, “Pray at all times,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT, “Never stop praying.”
Prayer, is our lifeline. Being able to constantly communicate with our Heavenly Father, anytime of day or night is an honor and a privilege. Rather we’re tucked away in our secret prayer closet, or driving down the street, we can talk to the Lord. I love that we can ask God for help as we go about our daily tasks or even when we’re struggling with a work assignment. We can trust Him to bring the clarity and direction we need, no matter what the situation is that we’re facing.
Photo by: Ric Rodrigues of Brazil 🇧🇷
Choosing to trust God in the midst of our storms, and in the midst of uncertainty is the same as choosing victory. There is absolutely no difference. We can’t lose when we choose Jesus. No matter how circumstances may look at the time, by faith we know that He has already won our battles.
Remember, we don’t have to have all the answers, we just need to have Jesus, He is the answer. His presence, strength, and peace will sustain us. Sometimes the answers to our prayers come in the most unexpected ways. You never know how, when, or through whom the Lord will move on your behalf. Therefore, my brothers and sisters in Christ, never stop praying.
Psalm 5:1-2 ESV, “O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.”
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. We don’t have to carry our own burdens, because we can cast them on you. We give you all of our worries, doubts, fears, brokenness and pain. Thank you for promising to supply all of our needs according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Help us to find contentment and peace in you during these difficult times. Keep our minds sound and filled with your truth. Protect our bodies from illness and disease, and keep us safe and healthy. Thank you for comforting us through the trials that we face. You are always near, and we thank you for your continuous presence with us. Thank you that your Holy Spirit leads us on level ground as we trust in Him daily. Show us areas of our lives where we need to repent. Give us a pure heart, and help us to draw closer to You, as we diligently seek you each day. Teach us to represent you well in all that we say and do. Speak to our hearts about the things that should be a priority in our lives, and help us to obey your voice. Thank you Father for loving us with an everlasting love. Thank you for the power of prayer and the joy of thanksgiving. Through your power working in us, may we love you, love others, pray without ceasing, and be thankful always, this is your will for us in Christ Jesus. Greater is He who lives in us, than he who lives in the world! Thank you Father for who you are and for all that you do.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Have a blessed day and keep trusting in our God, His faithfulness will never end.
Psalm 5:3 NIV, “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”
Have you ever had those times in the wee hours of the morning where God woke you up for prayer? We know that our God is not limited by time. He’s always available around the clock. Whenever He wakes us for prayer, we shouldn’t hesitate to answer His call to spend quality time with us.
God uses these quiet and still times to enjoy a unique type of intimacy with us. Embrace those moments, where because of the quiet, you can clearly hear His voice. Even if you don’t seem to hear God speaking anything specific, just enjoy the moment and sit quietly in His presence.
For many of us, the days are so busy, so it’s a blessing when we have these special times to commune with the Lord. There have been many times God woke me, and I felt Him nudging me to pray, and whenever I’ve taken advantage of His offer, I can honestly say, I’ve never been disappointed.
Psalm 119:147 NLT, “I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.”
Photo by: Pixabay
Living a life of devotion to the Lord may require us to get less sleep for whatever the reason. It could be because of early morning prayer, or because of a late night phone call with a loved one who needs someone to talk to. But I’m thankful that He is our strength through it all.
When it comes to the Lord, the gains of obedience to Him, far outweigh any losses we may have. When He asks us to give something up (extra sleep included), it’s because He has something far better waiting for us on the other side of our obedience.
Philippians 4:6 NLT, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
I’m very familiar with the NIV version of this verse, but I recently read it in the NLT version that I mentioned above, and loved it just as much. We don’t need to worry or be anxious about anything. It’s an honor and a privilege that through Christ Jesus, we can carry all of our needs to God in prayer. Nothing is too small for God to care about, and nothing is too big for Him to handle. We need to challenge ourselves to entrust all things to Him in prayer.
Photo by: Luis Quintero of Panama 🇵🇦
It’s a joy that we can talk to God anytime and anyplace. There is no one formula when it comes to prayer. He delights in hearing our voice, as we tell Him what we need. He is our loving Father who cares about the details of our day. As we pray, we can joyfully thank Him for all He has done and all He will do in the days to come. Don’t worry, just pray to God, about everything.
Drawing Closer to Christ 