Dear pray-ers,
Any time is good for making necessary change, but right now seems especially good for a new beginning. With that in mind, the Elohim Prayer blog is changing its name and moving to a new location! You can subscribe to our posts at christianprayerwarriors.wordpress.com. Subscribing is as easy as entering your email address in the box provided. Also much easier is posting comments on each article. We hope to hear from you more this year!
We're still going to post devotional style blogs at least three times a week, but we hope to add some things in 2012. More on that as we get closer to releasing them.
We pray for your continued growth in the Lord, for His strength to be evident in your lives, and for His blessing to pour out on you.
Carol and Shelley
Friday, January 6, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
A new nature
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:10 (NLT)
The start of a new year is always busy with resolutions, changed habits, and goals for the months to come. So it's a fitting time to consider our spiritual lives as well. If you know Jesus as your Savior, does your life reflect it? Paul tells the Colossian church in chapter 3 to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. He says it doesn't matter if we are Jew or Gentile, all that matters is Christ. Today, set a specific goal for 2012 to know your Creator through prayer and Bible study and to become more like him.
Dear God, please be on our hearts, minds, and lips each day. Help us to show others that Jesus Christ is all that matters. Thank you for your love and goodness toward us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you set spiritual resolutions each year? More often? Share them with us!
The start of a new year is always busy with resolutions, changed habits, and goals for the months to come. So it's a fitting time to consider our spiritual lives as well. If you know Jesus as your Savior, does your life reflect it? Paul tells the Colossian church in chapter 3 to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. He says it doesn't matter if we are Jew or Gentile, all that matters is Christ. Today, set a specific goal for 2012 to know your Creator through prayer and Bible study and to become more like him.
Dear God, please be on our hearts, minds, and lips each day. Help us to show others that Jesus Christ is all that matters. Thank you for your love and goodness toward us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you set spiritual resolutions each year? More often? Share them with us!
Friday, December 30, 2011
The wise men bring gifts
When [the wise men] saw the star, the were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11
The wise men realized the miracle they witnessed as they found the child Jesus. They didn't expect God to find them or to shower them with gifts. Instead, they brought gifts to him. Perhaps the most important was their worship. As we approach the start of another year, consider the gift you can offer God. Time together in prayer and in the Bible become gifts to you both!
Dear God, as the days pass and the time comes closer for Jesus to return, help us draw near to you. Teach us to pray and to hear your voice. Thank you for your love and the abundant blessing of a Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you have a New Year's Resolution? Leave a comment and let us pray for you!
The wise men realized the miracle they witnessed as they found the child Jesus. They didn't expect God to find them or to shower them with gifts. Instead, they brought gifts to him. Perhaps the most important was their worship. As we approach the start of another year, consider the gift you can offer God. Time together in prayer and in the Bible become gifts to you both!
Dear God, as the days pass and the time comes closer for Jesus to return, help us draw near to you. Teach us to pray and to hear your voice. Thank you for your love and the abundant blessing of a Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you have a New Year's Resolution? Leave a comment and let us pray for you!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Not everyone rejoiced at Jesus' birth
After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother," the angel said. "Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." Matthew 2:13
Three amazing things happen in this verse. First, an angel speaks to Joseph in a dream. It's not recorded in this verse, but the Bible tells us that Joseph obeyed that warning (also an amazing thing!). Second, the angel promises to revisit Joseph and direct him further. Third, someone wants to kill the Messiah. The threats on Jesus' life began the minute he was born, but it wasn't time yet. God's plan would not be thwarted. He is sovereign and kind, and He wants to fulfill a plan in your life.
Dear God, please help us recognize your direction and your plan for our individual lives. May we never try to kill the Savior in our hearts or try to silence your plan for the world. Thank you for your kindness. Help us walk close to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Who can you commit to praying for, that their heart would be softened and their eyes opened to the truth?
Three amazing things happen in this verse. First, an angel speaks to Joseph in a dream. It's not recorded in this verse, but the Bible tells us that Joseph obeyed that warning (also an amazing thing!). Second, the angel promises to revisit Joseph and direct him further. Third, someone wants to kill the Messiah. The threats on Jesus' life began the minute he was born, but it wasn't time yet. God's plan would not be thwarted. He is sovereign and kind, and He wants to fulfill a plan in your life.
Dear God, please help us recognize your direction and your plan for our individual lives. May we never try to kill the Savior in our hearts or try to silence your plan for the world. Thank you for your kindness. Help us walk close to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Who can you commit to praying for, that their heart would be softened and their eyes opened to the truth?
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The shepherds respond to Jesus' birth
[The shepherds] hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child...The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Luke 2:16, 17, 20
The New Living Translation of the Bible uses the word 'terrified' to describe the shepherds initial response to the angel who told them about Jesus' birth. In the end, though, they hurried to meet the newborn Savior. After meeting Him, they couldn't keep the Good News to themselves. Not only did they tell everyone, they praised God. It is not our first reaction to Jesus that defines our lives. It is what we do with the Good News that determines our eternity.
Dear Jesus, thank you again for coming to a fallen world and living as a man so we could live in paradise with You forever. Define our lives. May we be full of praise as those shepherds were and glorify God for all the world to see. In Your name, Amen.
What was your first reaction to Jesus? Has it changed?
The New Living Translation of the Bible uses the word 'terrified' to describe the shepherds initial response to the angel who told them about Jesus' birth. In the end, though, they hurried to meet the newborn Savior. After meeting Him, they couldn't keep the Good News to themselves. Not only did they tell everyone, they praised God. It is not our first reaction to Jesus that defines our lives. It is what we do with the Good News that determines our eternity.
Dear Jesus, thank you again for coming to a fallen world and living as a man so we could live in paradise with You forever. Define our lives. May we be full of praise as those shepherds were and glorify God for all the world to see. In Your name, Amen.
What was your first reaction to Jesus? Has it changed?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Anna praises God
"[Anna] never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God." Luke 2:37, 38
The Bible tells us Anna was a widow and a prophet who lived to the age of eighty-four. She enjoyed a close relationship with God because of her time in fasting and prayer. As an older woman, Anna met the child Jesus. Her immediate reaction was praise! Then, "She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38). May we react with such enthusiasm and immediate need to share the miracle of Jesus with others.
Dear God, help us speak boldly to the ones who need rescue. Give us the words to share Jesus. May we also enjoy a close relationship with you through prayer. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Who do you know that needs rescue today? What words is God giving you to share Jesus with them?
The Bible tells us Anna was a widow and a prophet who lived to the age of eighty-four. She enjoyed a close relationship with God because of her time in fasting and prayer. As an older woman, Anna met the child Jesus. Her immediate reaction was praise! Then, "She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38). May we react with such enthusiasm and immediate need to share the miracle of Jesus with others.
Dear God, help us speak boldly to the ones who need rescue. Give us the words to share Jesus. May we also enjoy a close relationship with you through prayer. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Who do you know that needs rescue today? What words is God giving you to share Jesus with them?
Friday, December 23, 2011
Jumping for joy
"When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy." Luke 1:44
Even before he was born, John (Jesus' cousin and later known as John the Baptist) jumped for joy to be near Jesus. For the rest of his life, John would proclaim the Good News about a Savior, born of a virgin, come to "take away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). No matter what the situation looked like, no matter who he spoke to, no matter what the consequences, John spoke boldly for the Messiah and jumped for joy to be near Him.
Dear God, thank you again for sending your Son to be our Savior. Thank you for bringing us to realize our need. Jesus, thank you for being born. In Your name we pray, Amen.
Do you jump for joy to be near Jesus? How would you react if you could physically see and touch Him?
Even before he was born, John (Jesus' cousin and later known as John the Baptist) jumped for joy to be near Jesus. For the rest of his life, John would proclaim the Good News about a Savior, born of a virgin, come to "take away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). No matter what the situation looked like, no matter who he spoke to, no matter what the consequences, John spoke boldly for the Messiah and jumped for joy to be near Him.
Dear God, thank you again for sending your Son to be our Savior. Thank you for bringing us to realize our need. Jesus, thank you for being born. In Your name we pray, Amen.
Do you jump for joy to be near Jesus? How would you react if you could physically see and touch Him?
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