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?

Joseph's Obedience

"When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife... And Joseph named [the child] Jesus." Matthew 1:24, 25

The Bible does not talk about Joseph's prayer life, but we know he was a godly man. He followed the traditions and the law of the Lord, taking his family to Jerusalem each year for the Passover and training his sons in Scripture. He must have been unusually close to God to be chosen as the earthly father of God's only Son. We know he was obedient, regardless of the consequences. May we also be remembered for lives of service and obedience to God.

Dear God, please help us to be obedient. May we recognize your calling and strive to please you no matter the consequences. Thank you for the examples of other believers in your Word, and thank you for your Son. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Do you recognize God's calling on your life? What does it look like?

Mighty kings

Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings. His faithful love endures forever.
He killed powerful kings. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:17-18

Though there are many gods in our culture, the God of creation is the one who deserves our praise and thanks. He is capable of building up and destroying. Is there any other god who can claim the same power? Often in our lives, we give a created idol the adoration that belongs to God alone. Money, power, relationships, and celebrities are a few of the created idols we might be giving an inappropriate place in our lives.

Father God, thank you for your power and your faithful love. Please forgive me for worshiping anything besides you and help me turn my entire heart to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

What idols exist in your life?

Through the wilderness

Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:16

Sometimes everyday life looks and feels like the wilderness. Cold, dark, and lonely places affect us no matter what we believe about God. The thanksgiving comes in knowing that we serve the almighty God of love. Like a tender parent, He touches His children in the frightening darkness and leads us through the hardship. As we see the light and feel His warmth, we grow closer to Him.


Dear God, thank you for your guidance and direction. Please take us by the hand and show us the light. May we reflect your love and glory in the darkness, too. In Jesus' name, Amen.

What darkness are you walking through? Leave a comment so we can pray for you!

Give thanks for protection

Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.
He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever.
but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:13-15

Not only did God deliver His people from the overbearing and wicked hand of the Pharaoh, God protected His people as they obeyed His call to move on. Be assured that no matter how impossible your task seems, God will give you the strength, the means, and the protection to proceed. But you have to be obedient to the call! To get fresh perspective on the magnitude of what God did for the ones he loves, read Exodus 1-15.

Dearest God, thank you for your endless love and protection. Please help us recognize Your voice and be obedient to your call. In Jesus' name, Amen.


How do you recognize His voice and His protection in your life?

Give thanks for miracles

Did you catch it?

Give thanks to Him who alone does mighty miracles (Psalm 136:4). God alone performs miracles. Many are recorded in the Bible to lift our faith and keep our eyes open. The rest of Psalm 136 goes over some of the miracles God alone performs. Think you've never seen one? Think again:

Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters. His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights - His faithful love endures forever.
the sun to rule the day, his faithful love endures forever.
and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:5-9

The sky, the earth itself (indeed, the very universe was crafted by God's hand), the waters, the sun, and the stars were all created in miraculous fashion. So the next time you look up, remember the God who performs miracles.

Dear God, thank you for the evidence of miracles. Open our eyes to see everyday miracles in our lives. May we bless you and shine your light today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

What miracles can you see in your own life?

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.

Seeing the one who controls the wind and the waves

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.... And [the disciples] awoke [Jesus] and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" Mark 4:37, 38-39

Storms are going to rise up in our lives. Whether we believe in Jesus as Savior or not, as humans in an imperfect world we face trials and difficult times. The key is in how we respond to the trials. Too often, we focus on the storm, as the disciples did. Huge waves roll in, threatening to topple us. Cold, wet wind bites through our clothes and skin, soaking and freezing us. Darkness falls, oppressing us and the light of hope.

This is a vital time to plant seeds of faith for those who don't know God, who don't know His faithfulness, who don't know His unchangeable love. Instead of seeing the storms that blow around us, we can choose to watch the One who controls the wind and sea.

And if we listen closely enough, we can hear His voice speaking calm to the storm and to our hearts.

Dear Jesus, please speak calm to the wind and the sea that rage in my life. Show Your power, and help me point people to You. Amen.

What storms are you facing? Can you plant a seed of faith for someone who watches as you face the wind and water and yet see only Jesus?

Witnesses to the ends of the earth

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus tells us to spread the word, to share His Good News and teach others all over the globe about Him. It's one of the best known commands in the New Testament: The Great Commission. If you've ever had the thrill of leading someone to salvation in Jesus Christ, you know it often doesn't come quickly or easily. In our sin, we resist even the security of unconditional love and acceptance. How, then, do we fulfill this desire to go and make disciples, to sow seeds that will reap a bountiful harvest?

We pray. We ask for souls, for guidance, for boldness. And we trust that the Lord gives it.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

We don't have to go to the ends of the earth to find someone who needs Jesus. Often, it's someone we know. The lonely, troubled, endangered, weak, and unprotected all need Him. But so do those who outwardly appear strong, intimidating, and in control. Who can you pray for today?

Father God, we covet souls for Your divine grace and gift of salvation. Please reach them with Your love. Open their ears and eyes to see their need. Prepare their hearts to receive Your word, and may we experience the power of Your Holy Spirit as we witness to them. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

God sings over you!

Happy Monday, pray-ers. As we kick off another work week, I'd like to remind you of one of God's sweetest promises. This comes at a dark and frightening time for much of the world with the people of Japan struggling to survive amid continuous aftershocks and tsunami threats. The instability affects the entire world economically, environmentally, and physically.

Your situation might not be as newsworthy as a tsunami or a 9.0 earthquake and it might not impact tens of thousands, but it might feel just as terrifying to you. Each life is valuable to God. Each person's trauma breaks His heart. As you read the following Scripture and the prayer that follows, take time to meditate on it. Allow His promise to soak into your heart and change your outlook.

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for your promises. Please save us. Show us how you delight in us and rejoice over us. We need the quiet that comes only from you. Draw us close in these unsettling days. May we return your love and faithfulness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Praying for you all,
Shelley

A Hannah story

Happy Friday, dear readers! And Happy January 28th. How are your New Year's changes coming along? If you feel discouraged or off track, don't fret. We have eleven months and three days to work the kinks out.

I'd like to give you a morsel of prayer thought to consider this weekend. Call it encouragement to keep reaching out to God and believing in His goodness. And something to record in your prayer journal. <chuckling> I just won't give this month's challenge a rest...

1 Samuel 1 records the story of Hannah, a woman brokenhearted by the lack of provision in her life. Hannah deeply desired children, yet "the Lord had closed her womb" (verse 5). In spite of the abundance her husband tried to bestow on her, Hannah felt the emptiness of a mother without children, and she mourned.

But she didn't stop there.

Hannah prayed. This is interesting to me because God closed her womb, but she didn't get angry at Him and stop talking because of the unfairness of her life, the way I sometimes threaten to do. Hannah cried out to God, "weeping bitterly" (verse 10). And she kept praying until she got an answer (1:12, 15-17). The answer didn't seem to come directly from God, but from His prophet, Eli. What did she do next?

Hannah rejoiced.

She didn't see the answer to her prayer, yet she took it on faith that God heard her cries and she rejoiced (1:18, 19). No longer did she wander around, downcast, taking the pain of loneliness into her heart. She believed, and what happened?

God blessed Hannah with a child.

You might know this story, but it highlights a very important aspect to prayer, one we've mentioned already. To pray, believing in the goodness of the Lord, is a very powerful thing, dear readers. To talk to Him and recognize that He loves you with the desperation of a father changes the entire landscape of our lives. This story also highlights the way God might choose to answer your prayers. Hannah didn't hear a voice from Heaven and she didn't feel His still, small voice in her heart. She heard the words of God's servant, the prophet Eli. God used another person to speak His truth and His love to her.

Is God using someone in your life to answer a prayer, to speak words of truth and love? Listen up! What a miraculous event, that He would not only speak to someone on your behalf, but that the person in your life would choose to listen and obey and send His message on to you.

That's the power of prayer.

Here's your assignment: Record in your prayer journal your own Hannah story, and keep your eyes and ears open for the one He might send with His answer. Don't give up on this thing you desperately desire, but take it to God and trust that He hears you and He loves you. You might be surprised at the change in the landscape of your life.

Leave a comment about your own Hannah story. We'd love to join you in prayer! And keep working on those New Year's changes. The year is young.


Shelley

Overhaul of the Mind

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

An amazing transformation of our hearts and minds takes place when we draw close to God in prayer.  Setting our minds on things above refers to heavenly priorities rather than earthly priorities.  Really a huge change in our thinking and daily practices but the promise of God is that those who choose to set their minds on His priorities will be changed.  By spiritual design the old nature begins to fall away and the new God-focused nature is put on.    We have a choice in this transformation.  The choice we face is whether to believe and live by the promises of God or not.      

Ephesians chapter 1 says we are blessed in Christ “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm” and that the eyes of our heart can be “flooded with light” so that we KNOW and UNDERSTAND the “immeasurable power of God” in and for those who believe.  It is this power which raised Christ from the dead that works in us!!  We are made alive and given a new nature by the power of God; we can hope and rely on God completing this work when we focus our minds on His priorities and ways.    

The Bible is an amazing book and by reading it doorways to the mind and heart are opened.  A new way of seeing, believing and living is presented to us that can increase our hope in God and his plan.  Scripture points out human behavior before and after meeting Christ.   It helps us understand the difference between the old way of life and the new.   In Philippians 4 of the New Testament, there is a section that addresses how to engage in the “battle” of the old nature through our thoughts.  It says, "...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence or worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Changing the focus of our minds hinges on where we allow our minds to dwell and what thoughts we allow to take root in the mind.  Philippians chapter 4 stresses to us that the most beneficial resting place for the mind is in faith and prayer.  "Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your requests known to God."  Let's look for any piece of thanks we can give to God and add that to our prayers.  Developing a thankful attitude can really change the way we see the everyday circumstances that we face. 

One of the most exciting versions of the Bible is the Amplified version.  If you have the opportunity this weekend, go to the link below and read Ephesians 1 and Philippians 4 in the Amplified Bible version.  It will knock your socks off!! 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/

Father, we thank you for the spiritual blessings of knowing you and being in Christ.  There is no other who can save and redeem us so we rely on you and your promises to us.  Transform us as we draw closer to you.  Put in us a desire to be the spiritual-minded people you want us to be.  We love you. 

Blessings,

Carol

 

Put on a new man (or woman!)

"... put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:24

When I was a teenager, I had a favorite pair of jeans. I'll bet you had a pair, too. You know, the ones that made you look fantastic. Worn and faded in all the right places, they made you look skinnier here, rounder there, and longer there. Every time I put them on - which was nearly every day - I felt like a new person. I stood taller. I felt stronger. Boys and beautiful cheerleaders no longer sent me cringing to the other side of the school halls. I had more confidence, but not in myself. It was the jeans.

The Spirit of God can be compared to those jeans. Stay with me while I explain.

Much like a wardrobe, you choose to put on the Spirit of God every day, in every situation. You could go into the world without Him, but why would you want to? He makes you stand taller. He gives you confidence in situations that would otherwise make you cower. He makes you strong, able to withstand anything life throws your way.

He makes you a new creation.

Becoming a new creation is not something we do easily or lightly. It's not a choice we typically rush into because it's the popular thing to do. This isn't putting on a pair of pants just because we want to impress the school ranks. This is taking the Spirit of Jesus and putting Him on over our own spirit. To be in the world with the image of Jesus shining out of us. To interact with others as Jesus might. To overcome our own evil and selfish desires and do the will of God.

No, not the popular thing to do at all, is it?

And yet when we see someone who has done this, we want the same thing. To shine with love and grace and mercy. To treat people, regardless of their station in life, with respect and honor. To bring light and life to people who struggle in the darkness. That's Jesus, and that's putting on the new man (or woman) which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Did you put on the new person God created you to be today? If not, it's not too late. Do it now. Go to your prayer journal and write your requests to God about this. Then remember to record how He answers you.

Father God, may we remember each day to put on the new person you created us to be. May we always look to You and to Jesus for wisdom and direction in this new creation. May we be a light in the darkness for the ones we love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Blessings on you today, dear ones.
Shelley

A resolution to fall in love

Falling in love is great fun, isn't it? Your beloved spends all his or her time with you, surprises you with tokens of affection, tells you how wonderful you are, and makes you feel like the most important person in creation. Fun indeed.

And a lot of work. No wonder the fires of passion cool after a few months (years, if you're especially fortunate). It's not much different in our walk with God. As new believers, we read our Bibles and pray often. We spend time getting to know this Almighty One who fills a place in our hearts we never knew existed. We tell Him we love Him and we list all the reasons He is the most important thing in our lives.

And then we get busy. Kids come, work calls, distractions abound. Little by little, we stop spending time with Him. We forget to pray. We don't have time to read our Bibles. We grow distant and God grieves our absence. We mourn the relationship that once was so precious and important and seems to have taken a back seat to everything else in the world.

Maybe it's time to set another kind of resolution. A resolution to fall in love with your Creator again. Here are some of the many reasons to spend time enacting this change:

• God is love. (1 John 4:8)
• We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
• God loved you so much that He sent His only Son as your Savior from eternal death. (John 3:16)
• As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed your transgressions from you. (Psalm 103:12)
• He heals all your diseases, redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. (Psalm 103:3-4)
• He is faithful even when we are faithless. (2 Timothy 2:13)
• He provides rest for our weary souls. (Matthew 11:28)
• He has redeemed you and called you His own. (Isaiah 43:1)
• He is patient and waits for you with mercy. (Isaiah 30:18)
• He is your rock, your fortress, and your deliverer. Your stronghold and your refuge. (2 Samuel 22:2-3)
• He is worthy. (Revelation 5:12)

Scripture is full of people who loved the Lord and followed His ways. They give us a solid foundation for loving Him, too. When you feel like you're slipping away, take a few minutes to catch up with some of those followers and see yourself in them. Use your prayer journal to record these and other reasons you have for loving the Lord.

Praying many blessings on you,
Shelley

Devotion Challenge

Spiritual Challenge for January:  Prayer Journal


Happy New Year to all of you!!!  This year Shelley and I felt compelled to provide a topic of spiritual challenge each month in addition to our prayer blogs.  Since our focus for January is a New Year, New Love, New You we decided that we want to push the boundaries of our own comfort zones and find areas to grow.  Then of course we had the hair brain idea of asking you to join us because more is better when attempting change and for support in change. 

For the month of January, the spiritual challenge is to begin a prayer journal.  All through scripture you will find exhortations to “remember” the goodness, works, ways, thoughts and the attributes of God.  Psalm 77: 11-12 says “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.  I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”   One way of remembering God’s work and direction in your own life is to write out prayers for reference in the future.  Your prayers can be written out in snippets, in part, or in whole and then as God answers your prayers these too can be added to your journal.  

The prayers can be responses to the Lord from your reading, your own daily devotional prayers, praise and thanksgiving for the blessings you have been given, or maybe your prayers for others.  The goal of a prayer journal is threefold; 1) to encourage your prayer life, 2) to look back at your prayers and remember God, and 3) to look back and see how God has answered your prayers.  As you sit with God for any length of time you will begin to gain understanding in situations that might have alluded you before.  God will communicate to you through your thoughts, interactions with others, or in a myriad of ways.   These outcomes too can be added to your prayer journal for future reference and to remember how God has spoken to or directed you. 

If you have been a Christian for a long time you might have heard this practice referred to as a spiritual discipline.  A spiritual discipline has the purpose of creating habits designed to bring you closer to God which is also one purpose of our challenge for January.  Keep in mind that the main goal of this challenge is not to become “formal” pray-ers or even to document your prayers but rather to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus where we know and love him more. 

So grab a notebook, anything you can carry around with you easily, and jot down your prayers, praises, and conversations with God.  What is on your heart that needs to be put into a prayer??  God already knows so put it into words and allow the Lord to increase your faith or challenge you as you wait on God to move.  At the end of the month Shelley and I will give you feedback on how our month has gone with this discipline.  Please contact us through our e-mail at Elohimprayer@gmail.com and give us your feedback on this challenge. 

Philippians 4:4-7 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.”

And finally as we go deeper into our relationship with the Lord our whole mental attitude can shift and so that we desire a more holy and faith-filled life and a better way of being.  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8

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.

Monday prayer - a psalm in times of trouble

I heard from a friend today that she is experiencing possibly the most intimidating circumstances of her life. She is frightened, isolated, and more than a little lost.

Whatever the circumstances, many, many people can relate to those feelings.

What do you do when life throws you on your face and struts away chuckling? If you're smart, you stay there. Not just to hide, but to seek refuge and comfort. This is the perfect time to pray according to Scripture. And the perfect Scripture to pray? Consider one of the Psalms. David often wrote of being in trouble, being chased by the enemy, being alone and frightened and uncertain of everything but this: God was his refuge, his strong tower, and his shield. Once you've read what David and other writers said to the Lord, go to Him with your own psalm.

I offer the following prayer in honor of my friend, but also for those of you who feel alone, frightened, and lost.

O God, I'm in trouble.
My foes rise against me on either side. The enemy is so high I can not see the light.
My heart is weak. My strength is gone.
Where are you, El Shaddai, O God of the mountains?
How long will you hide your face from your beloved?
Have mercy on me, Lord. Return and deliver me for your own sake.
As the psalmist said, in the grave who will give you thanks? For in death there is no remembrance of You.
I know that you have heard the voice of my weeping.
You are a shield for me, my glory and the one who lifts up my head.
You are my refuge in times of trouble.
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep, for you alone make me dwell in safety.
I will sing to the Lord, because you have dealt bountifully with me.

(Taken from Genesis 17:1, Psalm 3:3, 4:8, 6:5, 6:8, 9:9, 13:6)

Prosperity is more than we think

I didn't want to write this post today. As Carol said yesterday, prosperity is a tricky subject in the church. It invites scorn and skepticism. But in an effort to be transparent and give God the glory, it seemed important to share just some of our story and my reasons for bringing this subject to the blog at all.

I ask that mercy would triumph judgment as you learn more about me.

* * *

I press the End button on my cell phone with shaking hands. Bile rises in my throat and I grit my teeth against it.

"O God. I'm going to throw up."

That's not the voice of faith. Take heart, child.

"Take heart? Your Word says the righteous shall not beg. Your Word says You will supply our every need. Your Word says ask anything in Jesus' name and it will be done by my Father in heaven. How can this be happening in light of what Your Word says, God?"

Silence. Of course. Like a patient parent, He waits out my temper tantrum. Or is He, like I do when my toddler throws a fit, thinking of a suitable punishment for my insolence?

I draw a deep breath and swallow. This is the Almighty I'm talking to. Maybe I should dial down the attitude a bit.

"Is this what's it's come to, then? Two years of clawing and fighting to stay out of the pit, and we have to file for bankruptcy anyway? Where is our abundance? Where is the prosperity You promised?"

I know your needs before you ask. Have I not clothed the lilies of the valley and fed the birds of the air? Will I not do this and much more for you?

"Oh, good. I'll just tell those creditors that God knows all our needs and He'll bail us out soon."

More silence, and I wonder what people would say if I really did bring God into our conversation about money. Somehow, I doubt it will change the bottom line.

God doesn't promise a bailout of governmental proportions. I made mistakes in handling my finances, and I have to pay the consequences. If that means bankruptcy or working two jobs or selling everything we own, maybe it will teach me about good stewardship in the future.

I feel a prodding of the sovereign sort. He does not judge me as I judge myself or as the world judges me, and He is quick to forgive. He rescues His children as a father with limitless resources would.

Rescue is still possible. Prosperity is still possible.

But what is prosperity? When I pray for that specific blessing, what am I really asking for? Let me explain in wholly personal terms as I believe this differs for everyone.

For me, prosperity means paying - and paying off - my bills. It means going to the grocery store and not debating about a bar of soap or a package of dinner meat. Prosperity to me is taking a weekend to play with my husband and kids without worrying about the lost income from two days off. I'd like to have enough in savings to pay for a trip to the dentist or car repairs. Enough to give back to the community and the people that have helped us so much in our time of need.

Even more than money, prosperity is the ability to get up in the morning and look forward to the day. To have sufficient rest and abundant peace and joy. To be able to ward off spiritual attacks that threaten to derail my progress in the Lord. To have direction and energy and organization.

That's prosperous living to me. That's what rescue looks like to me.

I know we are not unique in our situation. Millions of people in our country face circumstances like ours. May we all turn to God, "who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20).


I feel, rather than hear, the Lord's voice. Fear not, child. I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

To have the God of the universe taking care of me and holding me up as I go through this life gives me pause. It surely does not get more prosperous than that.

I pray prosperity and abundance on us all,
Shelley

What's so important about prayer?

Sunday night. I sat on my queen bed, loathing the thought of sleeping in it alone, holding my five-month pregnant belly and fighting the lump that lodged itself in my throat. My husband quietly packed his bags.

“Can’t you quit?”

“You know that better than I do. We need the money.”

I cleared my throat, trying to find that eternal spring of hope. “You’ll find something else. They’re not paying enough for this.”

“There’s nothing else in this economy.” He placed his hand against my cheek and rubbed. “You’ll be staying home when the baby comes, and we need this job.”

“I need you, and so does this baby.” My face crumpled and I gave in to the tears. They rolled hot and fast down my face. My emotion made it harder on him, but I couldn’t stop.

He frowned and gathered me in for a hug. “I don’t want to do this. Don’t you know that?”

I nodded, but my sobs wouldn’t allow me to speak. Desperation filled my being.

And I began to pray.

Prayer is the most important and most powerful weapon in our arsenal against the enemy. As Ephesians 6 says, we do not fight against flesh and blood – or in my case, against employers and the economy – but against the powers and principalities of darkness. We are instructed to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17), to pray in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18), and to continue steadfastly in prayer (Rom. 12:12).

The desperate words I poured out to God that night continued for three years. They continue today. My husband did find another job – by the grace of God and no effort of his own – but we lived through two childbirths, two job losses, and the most frightening financial times of my life while God listened to my cries and comforted me. He drew me near and encouraged me as my friends and family supported me in prayer.

The Bible mentions prayer or some form of it nearly 600 times. What’s so important about it? Prayer is our lifeline to the eternal. Prayer keeps us connected to our Creator. Prayer changes lives, situations, and people.

It is my partner’s vision to teach us to pray. We offer unique, hand-crafted prayer beads with prayer guides to aid in teaching. These beads and prayers are absolutely Christian and point to the power of the triune God as our source.

It is my vision to illustrate the all-encompassing love of Jesus Christ that opened the door so we can pray, with boldness and confidence before the Throne of the Almighty. We are given a tremendous opportunity to approach the Creator of the universe and talk as though we would to our best friend. He longs to hear from us. So, let’s get talking. What are you saying to God? What does He say to you?

Let this be a place to share your prayers, but just as importantly, to share answers to your prayers. Let this be a place to support our brothers and sisters in Christ as we live through some of the most difficult times we will ever face. Let this be a place to learn about true love, true freedom, and true communion with our God.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7

We look forward to hearing from you!

Praying God’s richest blessings on you,
Shelley

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