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!

Throwing off the old

“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:22-24

Throw off the former way of life. I love the way that sounds, and I wish it was as easy to do as it sounds… But maybe it’s not as hard as we make it.

When I was twelve years old, I began experiencing symptoms of depression. Listlessness and poor self image were the easier-dealt-with problems. Suicidal tendencies were another thing entirely. Over the next several years, my parents took me to counselors, doctors, and church mentors. Some wanted to talk about my thoughts and feelings. Some wanted me to take pills. The one that helped most was a young mom from the church. She taught me about women in the Bible, about faith, about friendship, and about prayer.

Through the prayers of this woman, my mom, and others who loved me, God began drawing me nearer to Him. Though I rarely have suicidal thoughts now, each day begins a new battle for my mind. I work to throw off the old, sinful nature (i.e. lack of trust and faith, joylessness, etc.) and to renew my thoughts and attitudes.

I knew Jesus Christ before all this began, but through it I’ve grown to know Him better. His love, His sacrifice, and His power have become more real to me. As if taking holy medicine, if I miss a daily dose of prayer and time in the Bible, my thoughts reflect it. Would I rather not battle depression? Perhaps. But if losing the need to fight meant losing the need to seek Him, I’d rather do battle.

Spiritual seeds are usually planted in and through situations we don’t expect and would rather not experience. Whether you fight depression or some other potentially debilitating condition, renewing your mind and attitudes is a daily effort.

Are you ready for any situation to plant seeds? Are you spending time in the Bible and in prayer to keep your thoughts where they belong?

Father God, help us throw off our former ways and learn to renew our thoughts and attitudes. Draw us near and remind us to spend time in your word and in prayer with you. Amen.

Seek God's Face

When you said, "Seek My Face", my heart said to you, "Your Face, O Lord, I shall seek.."  Psalm 27: 8

 For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12



Beautiful Spring is arriving in the Rocky Mountains and it is time to begin our prayer blogging once more.  We have taken a short unannounced hiatus to evaluate the future of this ministry and God is ever faithful to meet us when we seek Him for his will. God is faithful to provide not only the insight but the fortitude to continue on the earthly journey before we come to our final rest with Him. 

The Lord has given clear direction in reference to Elohim Prayer Bead ministry and we will continue our blogs and the sales of our prayer beads for specific needs and points of prayer.  Thank you to all of you who have asked about the status of the ministry.  Your input has been greatly appreciated.  We are privileged to walk the path of Christ with you. 

Father ~ Thank you that your Spirit opens new insights through your Word.  Your Word is powerful and truthful, able to lead us to honesty with ourselves and to know your heart for us.  Thank you for calling us to a relationship with you.  Give us hearts that desire you more than the attractions of this world.  Give us strength and courage for the journey and hearts that love you and others with the compassion of Christ.  We bring our needs to you Lord. 

Praise be to God. 

     



Carol's Prayer Challenge Results - Pray Daily



Prayer brings peace and quietness of heart

 
"The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
      Philippians 4: 5-7

February was a month of anxiety for me.  My prayers were short and lacked the intimacy needed to really put my mind at peace.  By the end of the month I was quite sick, asthma is affected by stress and worry, and I was in full-swing with my lungs bearing the weight of my worry.  I didn't realize that worry was the cause for my lack of oxygen until Shelley and I joined in prayer and ask the Lord for insight into my breathing issues.  I must say at this point, I am convinced that Satan is alive and working hard to stress believers to their maximum capacity and keep them distracted from their personal time with God.  But we have a powerful weapon against worry and distraction, the Word. 

Romans 8:28 tells us that God uses all things in a believers life to work together for good.  We know and can be sure that what Satan intends to use for evil, God redeems by utilizing our struggles to cause growth and dependence upon Him.   2 Corinthians 4: 7-8 says, We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  Our assurance from Philippians is that when we take our needs to God and sit in His presence, the peace which surpasses all understanding will faithfully fall from heaven so we can resume our lives with the knowledge that God loves us and has heard our prayers. 

This month, my list of prayer needs has grown tremendously as I add those in need of healing from spiritual and emotional bondage, drug and alcohol addictions, and physical needs.  God is faithful and no amount of worrying that I indulge in will affect any of those things; only by prayer will my burden be lifted and lives healed.  Do not bear your burdens alone, the Lord is near.  Reach out to the Heavenly Father for your peace and hope, reach out for a needy world, reach out for yourself. 

May the peace of God fill your hearts and minds in Chris Jesus. 
Blessings,
Carol

Monday Prayer - My Light and My Salvation

“The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear.  The Lord is the strength of my life - of whom shall I be afraid.”  Psalm 27:1

I have prayed this verse many times since I first memorized Psalm 27 in my bible study group a number of years ago.  The Lord – MY light – yes, without him there is only darkness and fear inside of me.  The Lord – MY salvation – I have chosen Jesus the author and perfector of my faith!   YES, He is my hope and my life and I am especially confident of this fact when I live in these truths which dispel my fear and doubt. 

Whom shall I fear when the God of the Universe and His expression of love to the world in Jesus chooses to act in kindness towards me?  Human beings harbor many fears and I don’t know about you but when I dwell on my fears rather than on the proven truth in the Bible, my thoughts can easily turn my feelings to those of hopelessness. (Proven?  Yes, proven!!)    

The Lord is the strength of my life – when I am weak, then I am strong because HE is my strength for whatever lies ahead.  God works for the good of his people even during times that are difficult to bear.  I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Be strong and take heart, wait for the Lord

“Hear my voice when I call, O Lord, be merciful to me and answer me.   My heart says of you seek His face, your face Lord will I seek.”  Psalm 27:7-8

Father,
Please give hope to those of us who are struggling with fear and doubt in this earthly life. Help us to grasp your divine love and understand that your intentions toward us are for good.  Father, may we earnestly seek you in prayer to express our devotion and needs offering them as a fragrant sacrifice to You.  May we seek You in your Word asking for confidence in your character and for the increase of our faith unto strength. 
The world offers many options for relief from our pain and fear but we have proven time and again that they provide only a momentary hush from the voices within. Father you are proven to offer a peace that quiets all voices and all lies bringing us a hope that the world cannot experience outside of you.  May we seek you for a path and a peace we so desperately desire.
Father, I pray for those who either don’t know you or are afraid to seek you, that you gently draw them to yourself and show them your love and your mercy.  May their hearts soften towards you so that your work may begin. 
In your precious Son’s name,
Amen

Companions in Prayer

Many years ago, God called me to a ministry of intercession, which is prayer for others by the leading of the Holy Spirit. God has used my prayer times with Him to let me know how much He desires time alone with all people so they can get to know Him and His desires for living in Him.

It is good to pray for others but the better way is to lead them back to the Father so they can learn dependence on Him for all their human needs.

This blog is a place where we can share together about prayer and be in prayer. God is greater than all our needs and my hope is that as we talk and pray together, we will all grow in faith and knowledge of Him.

Another aspect of this blog that we will delve into is the Bible, the Word of God. Knowing the Bible and praying God’s words back to Him infuses prayer with power. The Bible is filled with divine intent and direction from God, which if used to form prayers will allow your mind and your will to agree with God. This is how change can take place.

Where you are in your life doesn’t matter here. We welcome your input, your prayer needs, your questions, and your friendship. We welcome you here as we investigate God and His ways together. Our focus will be on prayer most of the time, but our topics will cover life. My desire is to testify to the faithfulness of God even when we don’t see the immediate evidence of life being easy.

We will investigate questions such as:

• How do we know that God is with us?
• How can we pray through the needs of our lives so we trust God for each and every moment of the day?
• How do we deal with tragedy?
• How do we voice our thanks and praise?
• How can we have confidence that God is real and cares about us?
• Who is Jesus?

I think you have a good perspective on our goal for this blog.

I hope you will join us often and that you will weigh in on the conversation. It is my privilege to travel this path with you.

Blessings,

Carol