Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.
He brought Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.
He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:10-12
More miracles! God brought the Passover to atone for the sins of His people. He delivered them from a controlling and unbelieving Pharaoh. Today, we have Jesus Christ, who delivers us from sin and disbelief. Indeed, His love is faithful and endures forever!
Dear Lord, thank you for your faithfulness! Thank you for delivering your people. May we share this good news with someone you love today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Have you experienced the strong hand and powerful arm of God? What is your deliverance?
Showing posts with label Faithfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faithfulness. Show all posts
Friday, November 11, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Give thanks to the Lord of lords
Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to Him alone who does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:3, 4
Psalm 136 lists many reasons to give thanks, many characteristics of God. His goodness, His sovereignty, His power, and His miracles are just the beginning. Having an attitude of thankfulness allows us to see Him more clearly - and when we see Him, we can introduce others to Him.
Dear Lord, thank you for your power and your love. Thank you for performing miracles that we see and that we don't see. Please help us reflect your love today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
What are you thankful for today?
Psalm 136 lists many reasons to give thanks, many characteristics of God. His goodness, His sovereignty, His power, and His miracles are just the beginning. Having an attitude of thankfulness allows us to see Him more clearly - and when we see Him, we can introduce others to Him.
Dear Lord, thank you for your power and your love. Thank you for performing miracles that we see and that we don't see. Please help us reflect your love today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
What are you thankful for today?
Monday, November 7, 2011
Give thanks to the God of gods
Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:2
The world creates many gods (sex, television, money, self, etc.) but they are fleeting. They don't have the power of the Creator or the love of the Savior. None of the world's gods are faithful to you or to themselves. They are demanding, demeaning, and degrading.
By contrast, we are invited to get to know the God of all gods, the timeless Creator of the universe, the One your soul loves (even if you don't know it yet). What better reason to give thanks?
Dear God, thank you for your faithfulness and for your endless love! Please help us recognize you and share your light with others. Amen.
The world creates many gods (sex, television, money, self, etc.) but they are fleeting. They don't have the power of the Creator or the love of the Savior. None of the world's gods are faithful to you or to themselves. They are demanding, demeaning, and degrading.
By contrast, we are invited to get to know the God of all gods, the timeless Creator of the universe, the One your soul loves (even if you don't know it yet). What better reason to give thanks?
Dear God, thank you for your faithfulness and for your endless love! Please help us recognize you and share your light with others. Amen.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Reasons to give thanks
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
With the holidays beginning, it's easy to lose focus and forget the purpose behind the music, lights, food, and gifts. It's common to practice thanksgiving on Thanksgiving day, but how do we show gratitude the rest of the year? Psalm 136 is a beautiful expression of thanksgiving. Over the next several days, we'll look at it more closely. As the psalmist demonstrates, there are many things to be thankful for no matter what life looks like.
Dear Lord, help us develop an attitude of thanksgiving that we demonstrate every day. Reveal your faithful love to us. Thank you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
What are you thankful for today?
With the holidays beginning, it's easy to lose focus and forget the purpose behind the music, lights, food, and gifts. It's common to practice thanksgiving on Thanksgiving day, but how do we show gratitude the rest of the year? Psalm 136 is a beautiful expression of thanksgiving. Over the next several days, we'll look at it more closely. As the psalmist demonstrates, there are many things to be thankful for no matter what life looks like.
Dear Lord, help us develop an attitude of thanksgiving that we demonstrate every day. Reveal your faithful love to us. Thank you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
What are you thankful for today?
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
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.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Carol's Prayer Challenge Results - Pray Daily
"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
 |
| 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, January 24, 2011
Prayer Journal Challenge - Shelley's Results
At the beginning of the month, Carol and I put out a challenge. We encouraged you to begin a prayer journal to record your prayers and the ways you see God answering them. What a challenge it was!
Even though it feels like I fill God's ears with a constant flow, I've never kept a prayer journal. In junior high school, I began writing down thoughts and feelings in a notebook because my teacher made me and the practice mostly stuck. I've continued journaling off and on since, and even when I don't have an actual book to write my thoughts, feelings, and wishes in, I'll use any scrap of paper I can find. A napkin, the back of a deposit slip, receipts. A lot of words, and none of them meant in focused prayer to the Almighty God who could change my situation if only I showed enough faith to ask.
This month's challenge gave me the direction and incentive I needed. There are four major ways keeping a prayer journal has enriched my prayer life:
1. It forces me to get specific with my prayers. As early as Genesis 24 (and probably before), we see the benefit of being specific in our prayers. When Abraham's servant prayed for a wife for Isaac, he asked God to show him the woman in a very clear manner. He knew when God answered him.
2. It makes me stop asking for the same thing over and over again, and instead turn my worries into prayers. Matthew 6:7 says not to use vain repetitions in our prayers. God knows our needs, so to continue asking after we've communicated with Him shows a lack of faith. Philippians 4:6 tells us not to be anxious, but instead to pray.
3. It builds my faith by showing me what God is doing. I didn't realize just how many of my prayers God is kind and generous enough to answer with a resounding 'yes!' until I began writing down my prayers and recording the answers I saw. Maybe I took it as coincidence or I overlooked it completely, but I didn't recognize the faithfulness of God. Keeping a prayer journal proves His word is true (2 Timothy 2:13).
4.It makes me consider my prayers carefully, knowing the power they have. The Bible says whatever we ask the Father in Jesus' name He will give to us. "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23, 24) I also know that if I ask, I'd be wise to keep myself available to His granting. How many times have I asked for a specific blessing, but not allowed or trusted Him to grant it? I don't follow through with the expectation that what I ask will be given, so the blessing is left by the wayside. "Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)
This year will be a challenging one for us at Elohim Prayer Beads. It is our intention to live our faith boldly and to help you grow in your prayer life. I've grown this month, and I hope you have too. Leave a comment and let us know how the challenge of keeping a prayer journal changed your faith and your life.
Praying many blessings on you (and believing He will bestow them!),
Shelley
Even though it feels like I fill God's ears with a constant flow, I've never kept a prayer journal. In junior high school, I began writing down thoughts and feelings in a notebook because my teacher made me and the practice mostly stuck. I've continued journaling off and on since, and even when I don't have an actual book to write my thoughts, feelings, and wishes in, I'll use any scrap of paper I can find. A napkin, the back of a deposit slip, receipts. A lot of words, and none of them meant in focused prayer to the Almighty God who could change my situation if only I showed enough faith to ask.
This month's challenge gave me the direction and incentive I needed. There are four major ways keeping a prayer journal has enriched my prayer life:
1. It forces me to get specific with my prayers. As early as Genesis 24 (and probably before), we see the benefit of being specific in our prayers. When Abraham's servant prayed for a wife for Isaac, he asked God to show him the woman in a very clear manner. He knew when God answered him.
2. It makes me stop asking for the same thing over and over again, and instead turn my worries into prayers. Matthew 6:7 says not to use vain repetitions in our prayers. God knows our needs, so to continue asking after we've communicated with Him shows a lack of faith. Philippians 4:6 tells us not to be anxious, but instead to pray.
3. It builds my faith by showing me what God is doing. I didn't realize just how many of my prayers God is kind and generous enough to answer with a resounding 'yes!' until I began writing down my prayers and recording the answers I saw. Maybe I took it as coincidence or I overlooked it completely, but I didn't recognize the faithfulness of God. Keeping a prayer journal proves His word is true (2 Timothy 2:13).
4.It makes me consider my prayers carefully, knowing the power they have. The Bible says whatever we ask the Father in Jesus' name He will give to us. "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23, 24) I also know that if I ask, I'd be wise to keep myself available to His granting. How many times have I asked for a specific blessing, but not allowed or trusted Him to grant it? I don't follow through with the expectation that what I ask will be given, so the blessing is left by the wayside. "Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)
This year will be a challenging one for us at Elohim Prayer Beads. It is our intention to live our faith boldly and to help you grow in your prayer life. I've grown this month, and I hope you have too. Leave a comment and let us know how the challenge of keeping a prayer journal changed your faith and your life.
Praying many blessings on you (and believing He will bestow them!),
Shelley
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Shaping your prayers
Worry has a powerful impact on our lives, doesn't it? It invades our thoughts. It tends to shape our actions and interactions with others. Sometimes the shaping is beneficial, but worry often causes increased - and unnecessary - stress.
I'll admit it: I'm a worrier. From something as trivial as what I'm wearing to more weighty issues as how my Christian testimony affects others, I spend time and energy fretting. Is this shirt appropriate and does it look okay? Did I upset my friend with that comment I meant to be funny? Are my kids healthy and getting enough sunshine, exercise, variety of foods? Am I being a faithful witness, turning others to Christ or turning them away? On and on it goes.
Yes, I'm a worrier. But I'm not supposed to be. Worry takes the focus off God, and His power in my life is diminished when I worry. It says I don't trust God to be Himself - good, loving, kind, generous, to name only a few of His attributes.
I love how The Message translates Philippians 4: "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
Wonderful indeed. Praying in faith takes the worry from my life and shapes it into a petition, a praise of God's goodness. Praying in faith takes the power out of my hands, out of everyone's control, and puts it back on God where it belongs. It allows God to reveal Himself and His nature to me, which allows me to reveal it to others.
What are your worries, dear readers? How can you shape them into a petition or a praise? Spend time today simply asking God to fix that situation burdening your heart, then thank Him for doing it. Thank Him for His faithfulness. He loves you!
Praying many blessings on you today,
Shelley
Heavenly Father, please take these burdens from us. Help us to give them to you. Help us live according to your word, which says to praise you instead of worry. We thank you for your faithfulness to us, for your love and your power and your personal touch in our lives. As we pray, may we focus on you and on the sacrifice made for us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
I'll admit it: I'm a worrier. From something as trivial as what I'm wearing to more weighty issues as how my Christian testimony affects others, I spend time and energy fretting. Is this shirt appropriate and does it look okay? Did I upset my friend with that comment I meant to be funny? Are my kids healthy and getting enough sunshine, exercise, variety of foods? Am I being a faithful witness, turning others to Christ or turning them away? On and on it goes.
Yes, I'm a worrier. But I'm not supposed to be. Worry takes the focus off God, and His power in my life is diminished when I worry. It says I don't trust God to be Himself - good, loving, kind, generous, to name only a few of His attributes.
I love how The Message translates Philippians 4: "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
Wonderful indeed. Praying in faith takes the worry from my life and shapes it into a petition, a praise of God's goodness. Praying in faith takes the power out of my hands, out of everyone's control, and puts it back on God where it belongs. It allows God to reveal Himself and His nature to me, which allows me to reveal it to others.
What are your worries, dear readers? How can you shape them into a petition or a praise? Spend time today simply asking God to fix that situation burdening your heart, then thank Him for doing it. Thank Him for His faithfulness. He loves you!
Praying many blessings on you today,
Shelley
Heavenly Father, please take these burdens from us. Help us to give them to you. Help us live according to your word, which says to praise you instead of worry. We thank you for your faithfulness to us, for your love and your power and your personal touch in our lives. As we pray, may we focus on you and on the sacrifice made for us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
