Tag: prayer

Never Cease To Pray

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV, “pray without ceasing”

There are people all around us, yet Jesus desires to be closer to us than anyone else ever could. He’s eager to be intimately involved with every aspect of our lives. Prayer is one of the main ways He desires to do that. Praying without ceasing is another way of showing our faith and trust in Jesus.

Photo by: Samuel Silitonga

I’m thankful we can pray anywhere and anytime. The Father is always available to us. We can set aside extended special times of prayer during the day. However, since the presence of God is always with us, we can also whisper short prayers throughout our day. We can tell Him thank you for the things that are going right. But when things go wrong, we can thank Him for being sovereign, and ask for help. When situations and people try to come against us, we can call on Him. He’s always near.

As the hymn, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” says…

Oh, what peace we often forfeit

Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer

Don’t hesitate to carry everything to God in prayer. He’s listening and He answers.

Does God Hear Our Prayers?

Psalm 120:1 NLT, “ I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.”

Yesterday I had brunch with a friend from church. During our conversation, we started discussing how it can be tough as a Christian when we pray continuously but don’t always understand how God is working in our lives.

We sometimes have questions or prayers that seem to go unanswered. She told me that she’s learning to just give all her concerns to the Lord, and trust that He is working all things together for her good (Romans 8:28). We both agreed that even though we don’t always have all the answers at the present time, we can look back and see how God has always been faithful. He’s always provided exactly what we need, when we need it. He’s never late.

Last night, I was going through some blog posts that I saved and came across this one from my big brother Matt @ Jesusluvsall: “When God Answers Prayer”. It reminds us that God never forgets us. He is our sovereign Lord, who is always on time with the answers we need. Be encouraged as you read it! And keep trusting God as you wait for answers!

Prayer for Spiritual Growth

Today, I’m meditating on Paul’s prayer for spiritual growth in Ephesians 3:14-21. Enjoy the prayer and have a blessed day. He can do more than we can ask or think according to His power that is at work within us.

Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT

14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

20Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Photo by: Pixabay

Follow the Light of Jesus

John 8:12 NIV, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jesus said that He is the Light of the world. He promised that when we follow Him, we will never walk in darkness. When we know Jesus, we will know Truth. His Truth keeps our hearts free from the deception that is overtaking so many in the world today. He will give us an understanding of what is right.

I came across this poem by Helen Steiner Rice:

“I Am the Light of the World”

In this sick world of hatred

and violence and sin,

Where society renounces morals

and rejects discipline,

We stumble in darkness

groping vainly for light

To distinguish the difference

between wrong and right. . .

But dawn cannot follow

this night of despair

Unless faith lights a candle

in all hearts everywhere. . .

And, warmed by the glow,

our hate melts away

And love lights the path

to a peaceful new day.

Father,

Thank you for sending us your Son to light our path each day. Help us to cling to you and your Word, and to not be dragged away by the foolish wicked schemes of the evil one. Teach us to trust in you with all of our hearts. Fill our hearts with your Light and Love. Thank you for supplying our needs and thank you for never forsaking us.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Photo By: Lukas

But The Lord Is Faithful

2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV, “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

Everyday we can trust God to be with us and protect us from the fiery darts that the enemy tries to throw our way. The weapons he attempts to form against us will not prosper (Isaiah 54:17). The Lord goes before us and He will strengthen us and uphold us (Deuteronomy 31:8, Isaiah 41:10). Look to Him, and lay every concern you have before Him in prayer. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

The Lord is faithful and His faithfulness to us will never end. Offer Him thanksgiving for this new day that He has made (Psalm 118:24). Praise Him through every trial. Trust Him even when you don’t understand (Proverbs 3:5). May the peace of God rule and reign in your heart through Jesus Christ our Lord (Colossians 3:15).

Photo By: Josh Sorenson

Wisdom Is Precious

Proverbs 8:11 NIV, “for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”

Wisdom truly is a precious gift from God. He promised to give it to us when we ask Him for it (James 1:5). Godly wisdom gives us the insight we need to make decisions that will honor God, and keep us on the right path. His wisdom will help guide us through life.

Nothing can compare to the wisdom God gives us. It far exceeds our natural understanding. Godly wisdom allows us to see God’s truth and choose God’s truth in all circumstances. Ask God for wisdom, and trust Him to freely give it to you.

Pray And Wait Expectantly!

Psalm 5:2-3 NIV, “Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

When I read these verses it always stands out to me that the Psalmist waited expectantly. He knew that God heard his voice and that He would answer. He had faith and he had hope. It’s the same for us. We should pray and then wait expectantly. When we cry out to our God, He hears our prayers and will answer us.

Photo By: Torsten Kellermann

Every new day that God allows us to see, is a new chance for us to know Him more and experience His goodness. It reminds me of a song we used to sing at church when I was little, “Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Everyday with Jesus, I love Him more and more.”

Jesus is our living hope, who made everything possible. He will never fail us. Never stop praying. Never stop believing. Never stop expecting. God hears you.