Getting Through Hard Times - Pray

God Wants Us to Ask So He can Bless Us

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: You are to ask, seek and knock and be persistent and constant in prayer. Do you watch for God’s answer to your prayers? Do you give thanks when answers come? This doesn’t mean that you will get everything you ask for, only that God will answer. His answer may be yes, no, maybe, not now, or not in your way. Also, no answer is an answer. You will be blessed with God’s will, not your desires.

What stands out in your mind today? Post your thoughts...

Getting Through Hard Times - Pray

Paul Instructed Christians to Devote
Themselves to Prayer

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: Paul instructed the Colossian Christians to make prayer important in their lives. Further they were to be watchful and thankful anticipating when the Lord would return. How are you doing at setting aside quiet time each day to be with God? This week is about the importance of being persistent, not giving up in prayer, and making prayer an important part of your daily life. Make a commitment to spend time on reordering your life to include more time building your relationship with God.

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Getting Through Hard Times - Pray

Jesus told His Disciples to Always Pray

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: Jesus gave this instruction: pray always and with persistence, to his closest followers. What does this mean to you? Do you schedule time each day to pray? Are you persistent in prayer even when facing hard times and conflict? What can you do to commit more time in your day to talk and listen to God? If you’re not spending time with God each day, what has replaced him in your life? What has become more important? Just as Jesus directed his disciples to “always pray” you are to do the same. How would your day be different if you made more time for prayer as a priority?

What are you thinking? Post your comments…

Getting Through Hard Times - Pray

Jesus Prayed in Solitary Places

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: Do you have a quiet place to pray? Are you willing to get up early in the morning when it is still dark to pray? Have you thought of leaving your house, your friends and family, to find a quiet, solitary place to pray? What would it look like for you to spend quiet time talking and listening to God every day? Don’t wish for the time and place to spend in prayer, make it happen. It is the most important conversation you will have to help you jump over hurdles during your day.

What are you thinking? Post your thoughts.

Live Outside Yourself

Live Your Faith

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:15-17 (NIV)


Scripture Comments: Mere words, prayers or well-wishing does nothing to satisfy someone’s hunger for food, warmth or love. This is just wishful thinking. Words without action are useless. Faith without action is dead and useless. Real faith is accompanied by actions. The faith of believers is seen through the loving actions that flow out of faith. It opens eyes and hearts to receiving the good news.

We all have experienced thinking without taking action regarding reaching out to those experiencing all kinds of needs. During hard times we understandably withdraw within ourselves, weighed down with our circumstances. God calls us to action through our faith, to share and care for one another and carry each other’s burdens when He gives us the opportunity. Opportunities come in good times and hard times. When you share God’s love you will receive many blessings in return.

How has this week’s scripture and comments prompted you to look for ways to live outside yourself. How will you live your faith accompanied by actions in good times and hard times?

Post your thoughts today…

Live Outside Yourself

Take Care of People in Need

"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Luke 3:10-11 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: How does John the Baptist answer the crowd’s question, “What should we do [to demonstrate our faith]? Look back at today’s scripture.

What one thing can you do [or are you doing] to show your faith in keeping with this scripture?

Post your thoughts today…

Live Outside Yourself

Take care of the Family of Believers

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:10 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: When “we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” God puts opportunities in our path. Helping and serving is not voluntary. We are to help and serve ALL, which includes nonbelievers and believers. Our focus should be “the family of believers” regardless of church or denomination. However our helping and serving should reach outside as well to nonbelievers opening ears and hearts to hearing the good news.

Read today’s scripture again. What jumps out at you? How are you doing?

Post your thoughts today…

Live Outside Yourself

Take Care of Family and Relatives

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: A Christian, who neglects the basic care and support of his family denies his faith, denies what he professes to believe. He is “worse than an unbeliever” because he knows what God expects of him and even an unbeliever has been known to take care of his family. A believer loves and has allegiance to God. We demonstrate our love for God through the privilege of loving and caring for our families.

How do you honor taking care of “relatives, and especially [your] immediate family?”

Post your thoughts today…

Live Outside Yourself

Take Care of Each Other

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: We are to share, in love, the struggles and problems of others. The “law of Christ” is His command to “love one another” [John 13:34]. When we carry “each other’s burdens,” we fulfill the law of Christ.

What sort of burdens are your family, neighbors, co-workers or friends carrying? How can you [or do you] help carry their load?

Do you hold doors for people? Do you make pleasant small talk with cashiers or anyone who could use a smile during their day?

Post your thoughts today…

Where is Your Hope?

My Hope is in Jesus!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Scripture Comments: Read today’s scripture several times. Where is your trust? Where is your hope? Nurture your hope through prayer, meditation, reading scripture and looking for opportunities to lovingly share the hope you have. Overflow with hope and spread the good news!


He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Please journal your thoughts today.

Where is Your Hope?

What is Your Answer?

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: Christians have hope that gives them strength in daily life. You have access to peace and joy in happy times, ordinary times, and hard times. Your hope is noticeable to others. Others will ask you about it. You should be able to explain the reasons for your hope, for being a Christian. What will be your answer for the hope you have when someone asks you?

Look for opportunities that God puts before you to share, in love, your hope.

Please journal your thoughts today.

Where is Your Hope?

God’s Promises

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19a (NIV)

Scripture Comments: Think about what an anchor does. It firmly and securely attaches to things and keeps them safe. Jesus, through his death on the cross, gave us the way into God’s presence. Hope, confidence in God’s promises, is like an anchor for our souls. Jesus interceded taking on our sins that separated us from God. This allows us to be adopted as sons and daughters of God. We are secure in His promises.

What promises of God are like “an anchor for [your] soul?”

Journal your thoughts today...

Where is Your Hope?

Focus on Christ

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: What cannot be seen or touched, but is eternal and forever really matters. A believer’s hope is not in the present world on earth. Our present world is temporary. Our hope is in Christ who died that we may live and live eternally. Christ cannot be seen or touched but His significance in a Christian’s life is very real. Focus on Jesus!

Where is your hope? Where is your focus?

Please journal your thoughts today...

Monday: Where is Your Hope?

He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Do you believe this? Has the reality of the resurrection of Christ caused a change in your life? Challenge yourself to spend more time in your love for God through daily prayer, meditation and reading scripture. Allow God's blessings to flow to you and through you.

Paul says, “I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do…”
Ephesians 1:18 (The Message)

Please journal your thoughts for today...

Thoughts on the Way to the Cross

Jesus, Our Savior

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15:34 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” Jesus had no sin but took on sin, the world’s sin, which separated Him from God. He was in agony. He took on our sin, your sin, and died so you would never have to experience eternal separation from God. Jesus is the only path for us to cross over from the death of sin (past, present, future) to a life of righteousness, peace and joy in fellowship with God.

Consider:

• How the crucifixion can make a difference in your life. If there is something standing in the way of your having a relationship with God, pray daily asking God to help you remove the barrier and be made new.
• How the crucifixion has made a difference in your life. Pray thanking God for His love and faithfulness in your life. Ask Him to point out people in your life who need to hear His message. Ask Him to provide you with the opportunity to share and with the things you need to be able to share your story in a loving way with others.
  
  Please journal your comments on this scripture.

Thoughts on the Way to the Cross

Jesus, Our Reconciler

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Scripture Comments: God, through Jesus, has made believers right with Him. In Christ we are made new. Our old selfish, sinful selves have gone. Reconciliation with the world came from God working through Christ’s self-sacrificial work on the cross. We can enjoy fellowship with God because Christ reconciled us to Him. This is a wonderful message; a message we need to hold close and share with others.

Does this affect the way you look back on your past life and/or your life now? Enjoy fellowship with God. Pray daily, thanking Him for His gift of His Son. Praise Him for His great love. Ask God to help you come to peace with the sins that are heavy on your heart from the past; that not only He forgives you but His forgiveness sets you free to forgive yourself. Ask Him to renew your heart each day with the desire to remain close to Him and to share His message, through your story, with others.

Please journal your comments on this scripture.

Thoughts on the Way to the Cross

Jesus, Our mediator

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
1 Timothy 2: 5-6 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: There is only one God, one mediator and the mediator, Christ Jesus, gave Himself as ransom to pay for the sins of everyone. As Christians, we believe this!

What has Christ done for you? Do you live a grateful life? Do you plan a time for prayer as a part of your daily routine? Do you thank God for His great gift of love freely given to you?

Please journal your comments on this scripture.

Thoughts on the Way to the Cross

Jesus, Our Representative

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: We deserve punishment for our sins, but Christ took them on and died for our sins once and for all. We cannot grasp Christ choosing to be our representative, taking on “our sins in his body on the tree”. Our sins, our every wrongdoing, died with Christ on the cross. We, as believers, are forgiven and made right with God. His wounds have healed us and given us new life!

What is so humbling about what Christ did for you?

Please journal your comments on this scripture.

Thoughts on the Way to the Cross

Jesus, Revealer of God’s Love

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: Do you find it difficult to see God’s love in your life, are you beginning to see His love, or do you see God loving you daily? Where are you in believing that God loves you? Pray, thanking God for His love, and asking Him to help you grow stronger in faith so you can more fully know and see His loving presence in your life.

Please journal your comments on these scriptures.

Thoughts On the Way to the Cross

Jesus, Connected to the Father

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:24 (NIV)

Scripture Thoughts: To believe the Father is to believe in the Son who was sent by the Father. Believing in the Father and Son gives eternal life. Believers will never receive condemnation for their sins and will “cross over from death to life.”

Consider what John 5:24 means to you.

Please journal your comments on this scripture.

Thoughts on the Way to the Cross

“…not what I will, but what you will”

"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mark 14:36 (NIV)

Scripture Thoughts: Jesus could have used His great powers and escaped. Jesus accepted God’s will for Him, not His own. His suffering and forthcoming death were overwhelming. He knew He would be taking on the sins of the world and would therefore greatly suffer from being separated from God. God did not take away the “cup”. God took away Jesus’ distress and overwhelming sorrow. He gave Jesus the peace and strength He would need on His way to the cross to carry out His Father’s will.

What is God calling you to do? What is standing in your way? Pray. Trust Him to give you what you need.

Please journal your comments on this scripture.

Thoughts on the Way to the Cross

Jesus Devoted Himself to Prayer

He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Mark 14:33-34 (NIV)

Scripture Thoughts: Jesus, in His human nature, experienced distress and was troubled. He knew of His coming death and what it was to accomplish. He had shared it with His disciples to prepare them. As the time came closer, Jesus became overwhelmed at the thought of what He was going to experience. He wanted to spend time with His Father, in prayer, as long as He could.

Who or what do you want to spend time with when you are overwhelmed with life situations?

Please journal your comments on this scripture.