Prayer

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?

Post your thoughts today…

Prayer

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.

Post your thoughts today…

God's Word - YOU Choose Your Attitude

Attitude for Challenges in Your LifeWhen Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." Note: It was believed that an angel stirred the water. The first person into the water after the water was stirred would be healed.
Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked
up his mat and walked. John 5:6-9 (NIV)

Jesus made the offer, “Do you want to get well?” The lame man wanted to be healed. He had been unable to walk for a very long time. He didn’t realize who Jesus was. Jesus cured him though the man never asked. The invalid admitted that he needed help. His hopelessness over getting into the water ahead of others is evident. Jesus didn’t hesitate to offer help even though the man lacked faith.

Jesus essentially said that the man could help himself by simply getting up, picking up his mat, and walking. The invalid man chose to immediately get up and walk. He didn’t wait and miss the opportunity. The man chose to help himself; to get up and live.

Facing challenges in your life is about choosing to ask God for help. Take on an attitude of trusting and obeying God to take charge of the decisions and directions in your life. Unlike the invalid in today’s scripture, you know God. You know He stands beside you waiting to help and to perform miracles in your life. Be in the habit of asking, responding, and accepting God’s help with a thankful heart.

You may not always recognize the work God is doing in your life when you are going through difficult times. God will make you strong when you are overwhelmed by life’s situations without you asking. Look for Him when you experience difficulties, you will find Him by your side.

So today take on the attitude of standing in Christ from whom your strength comes when you face challenges
in your life.

Prayer: Thank God for being by your side to help regardless of your situation. Ask Him to help you stay in His Word and in prayer daily to keep your heart and mind focused on Him.

God's Word - YOU Choose Your Attitude

Attitude for Planning

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

You can make plans for your life. It is a natural thing for you to want to take charge of your life, make decisions, and go out on your own path. However if your heart is in tune with God it will tell you that you cannot succeed on your own.

You need to submit your life plans to God’s direction. You can make plans but God will determine your future and how you will get there. Be careful to search out, through prayer, God’s agreement for any plans you make. Think about the reasons in your heart for doing what you are planning to do. Are they your motivations or God’s insight into the purposes for your life?

God takes your plans personally. He wants to be involved in your life. He can take some of the stresses off planning the path of your life. You need to trust Him.

Your plans will succeed when you have an attitude of humbling yourself and aligning your plans with God’s plans for your life. It will bring great comfort and peace knowing that you are living out God’s plan for your life.

Prayer: Thank God for wanting to be involved in every part of your life plans. Thank Him for creating a life-path for you. Ask Him to help you open your eyes and heart to desire to submit all of your life to His direction.

God's Word - YOU Choose Your Attitude

Attitude for Making Decisions

A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. Proverbs 14:15 (NIV)

Start with prayer. Listen. Trust and obey. Always ask, “Lord, what do YOU want me to do?” If you live with this attitude for making decisions you will allow God to fulfill His purpose in your life. You don’t need to be afraid because God has your best interests in mind. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Since He has the plan don’t you think you should talk to Him and listen so He can tell you His plan?

Look for guidance and direction in God’s Word. Identify the important points of your decision and use the concordance of your Bible to find relevant scripture. Read all of the scripture surrounding the verse to get the full picture of what is going on and how it may relate to your situation. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Talk with a mature believer who can encourage you in your faith, offer new insights, address any concerns, and help confirm insights or remove doubts. Ask them to pray with and for you. Remember, they are not making your decision, only helping you make a decision in keeping with God’s will for you. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)

Act on your decision when your heart is sincere and confident that you are going on the right path, God’s direction. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Sometimes you won’t hear God or it’s not clear what God wants you to do. You might have to “just do it” to move forward. If you make a mistake God will help you learn from your mistake, redirect your steps, and move you forward on the right path. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

If you keep an attitude of being in touch with God you will find paths through decisions to go where God wants you in your life.

Prayer: Thank God for caring for you when life seems tough and decisions need to be made. Ask Him to open your eyes and heart to Him to keep your life on the right path.

God's Word - YOU Choose Your Attitude

Attitude for Thinking

Finally, brothers, 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 4:8-9 (NIV)

Scripture Comments: It is a familiar thing to think on and rehearse past happenings in our lives. We become frustrated over our mistakes and feelings of inadequacy. We are angry toward someone who mistreated us or bitter about our difficult circumstances. We allow negative thoughts to replay in our minds and hearts. Our thoughts block out God. God cannot work His plans in our lives when our minds and hearts are filled with distractions.

Choose to put into practice Philippians 4:8-9 to turn your thoughts around to Godly things. Plan ahead. Memorize Philippians 4:8-9. When you begin negative thinking, crowd it out, turn your thoughts around with God’s Words. Keep your eyes on God. He loves you and is with you all the time. Let your thinking free your mind and heart allowing God to take over your life.

Prayer: Thank God for His presence in your life. Ask Him to help you free your thoughts of clutter, worry, anger and frustration. Ask Him for insight, power, and perseverance to develop the Philippians 4:8-9 attitude for thinking in your life.

God's Word - YOU Choose Your Attitude

Good Morning, God!

This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (KJV)

Scripture Comments: When you wake up in the morning you make lots of choices. Everyday you choose what you are going to wear, what you’ll have for breakfast, IF you will have breakfast, or if you will stop at your favorite coffee shop for a cup of coffee to start your day.

Do you wake up and say “Good morning, God, thank you for this day”? Do you start your day by choosing the attitude you are going to wear throughout your day?

Sometimes circumstances get in the way of the how you approach your day. Look for the good things in your life. Even in rough circumstances you can find good things happening in your life to focus on and help you through!

With God’s help and the right attitude, you can awaken refreshed and your life will be renewed each morning.

Try this, when you wake up in the morning think on
Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day the Lord has made, [I] will rejoice and be glad in it.” YOU can choose your attitude and refuse to let anything or anyone take away the joy the Lord wants to give you for the day.

Prayer Suggestions: Thank God for each day He gives you. Thank Him for the joyful blessings He gives you each day. Ask Him to help you live an attitude of gratefulness and love each day, regardless of your circumstances, so others may see the joy you have in Him.

Read His Word Daily

His Words tell you what to do

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22

Scripture Comments: Just listening or reading God’s Word won’t do anything for us. We must obey God’s Word and do what it tells us. We are not just gathering knowledge of the scriptures. Our knowledge should lead us to applying God’s Word to our lives. God’s Word should not only enter our minds but our hearts as well.

Comments: Living our lives as Christ wants assures us that we belong to Him. Our thoughts, actions and attitudes are to show love toward others. Our lives should be lived in a way that honors God. Reading His Word and praying daily keeps us on the right path and in step with His Spirit.

This Week: Thoughts on Reading His Word Daily
Monday – God’s Word is Living and Active
Tuesday – His Word Should be Hidden in Your Heart
Wednesday – His Words are a Joy to Our Heart
Thursday – His Words are a Light Unto Your Path
Friday – His Words Tell you What to Do

Bible Gateway has many choices to help you read through the scriptures. Click on the Bible Gateway link in the right column of my blog. Click on the Reading Plans link in the left column when Bible Gateway opens. Find a plan that works for you.
Precede your readings with a quiet time of prayer asking God to open your eyes to understanding what He wants you to know from your reading time. Read your selected scripture. Close your quiet time with prayer.

Next Week: YOU Choose Your Attitude

Read His Word Daily

His Words are a light unto your path

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105

Scripture Comments: When the electricity goes out, we reach for flashlights or candles, anything that will light our way in the dark. Likewise, God’s Word is our light to show us the way. It reveals lessons, attitudes, commands or examples we can apply to our daily lives. It reveals a God who loves us, takes care of us, and lights our path in the darkness of this world.

Comments: Everywhere we look we see temptations and distractions to living our lives as God wants us to. How can we get through this darkness? We can’t get through this world on our own. We have to have someone who can guide us; someone with power to take the things that surround us off our minds. We must not only have God’s Words in our minds, but we must practice them in our daily lives. We must read and study His Words. We must pray asking for the Spirit’s help to remain in step with what God wants us to do and to be. Are you turning to God’s Word to be your light, your joy, your hope or are you turning away trying to make it on your own?

Read His Word Daily (2)

His Words are a Joy to our Hearts

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
Psalm 119:111

Scripture Comments: A demonstration of love for God would be to declare His Word a treasure forever in one’s heart. Not only thinking on God’s Word but taking great joy in following them.

Comments: God’s Word overflows with messages of hope, love, and of the salvation received through Christ. Reading and hearing these messages bring us great joy. How great is our God! He is good to us all the time. To know of His grace and mercy is a message of hope and joy for the hearts of everyone who believes. We demonstrate our love by building a relationship with God through reading His Word and talking with Him daily as well as striving to live our lives according to His will. This relationship will bring great joy and peace to our lives no matter what our daily circumstances may be.

Read God's Word Daily (2)

His Word Should be Hidden in Your Heart

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11

Scripture Comments: Keeping God’s Word in your heart discourages
sin in your life.

Comments: We must read and study God’s Word, pray, and live our lives according to God’s instruction. We are capable of sinning and should never let our guard down on what is in our heart. We must carefully consider God’s Word and bring His Word into our daily living as a guide, allowing it to change us. Our thoughts, attitudes and actions must grow and change to reflect what God wants
us to be and to do.

Keeping his Words in our hearts and minds will help us understand more and more. We will grow in our faith. If we do nothing with the Word God has given us, it is as if we are refusing God and His Spirit within us, we are blind, deaf, and God can not use us.

Is reading God’s Word part of your daily routine? Are you practicing God’s Word in your life? Are you sharing God’s Word or your
stories with others?

Read God's Word Daily - Part Two

God’s Word is Living and Active

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

Scripture Comments: God’s Word is living and life changing as it works in us. His Word detects what is within our hearts. Nothing about us is hidden from God.

My Comments: What I sense God saying is that His Word is living and is life changing as it works within us. His Word perceives what is within our hearts; the thoughts and attitudes deep in our hearts. It is not enough for us to KNOW about Christ. We must combine that knowledge with faith in Him and, with the help of His Spirit, live our lives according to what His Word tells us. Each day we make the choice to focus on and grow closer to God or to turn away from Him. Our commitment to daily prayer, reading His Word and living our lives according to His will are essential to keep us on the right path.

Please Post or email your comments.

Read God's Word Daily

His Words Nourish Our Cravings

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 1 Peter 2:2

Talk it! Newborn babies crave milk. They demand nourishment and receiving it they grow. When we read God’s Word, our hearts and minds should desire to read more in the same way a baby craves more milk. We find nourishment in God’s Word and learning about Christ and about salvation. We cannot stay babies. We must grow by constantly feeding on God’s Word. Feeding our Spiritual craving creates a more mature faith.

Live it! Reading God’s Word daily allows you to see more and more of the Lord’s goodness. As you read your desire to know more about God, His Son and His Spirit increases. The more you read God’s Word, the less you will crave worldly attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and actions. Reading God’s Word will fill your life with hope, comfort, security, peace, joy, self-control; everything you need. You will grow to trust God, who created you, to constantly be with you loving you, taking care of you, saving you and through His mercy give you life in eternity. Feed your Spiritual craving daily. Grow up in your faith, in your salvation.

I pray that God has spoken to you through what has been discovered in the scriptures this week. You cannot stay where you are in your relationship with God. You need to take steps to nourish and grow in your faith and trust daily. Reading His Word daily and being in prayer will allow God to bless you in many ways.

Pray it! How are you doing at meeting God daily in His Word? Take your thoughts to God in prayer.

Next Week: Read God's Word Daily - Part Two

Read God's Word Daily

His Words Create Faith

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17

Talk it! Hearing and responding to the message of salvation in Christ creates faith. Believing in salvation through Christ and trusting the One who is the source of the message is faith. It is God’s grace, not your faith or anything you do that saves you. In His mercy, He saves you.
He gives you faith.

Live it! Has your family, neighbors, or friends heard the good news of salvation? God wants you to make His message known to them. Pray, asking God to point you to someone you have a relationship with who needs to hear the message. Step out and do what God is asking you to do; help them hear the message. God is the only One, through His love, that can save. You are not responsible for anyone responding to what you tell them. You are only asked to take the Good News to them. God’s Spirit will do the rest.

Make every effort to spend more time with God in prayer and studying His Word. Keep your heart and mind renewed with His love and presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your steps to live your life as God asks passing
on the truth to others.

Take every opportunity to share your stories of God’s loving care with others. As others see the peace and comfort you have in Him they may be drawn to Him.

Pray it! Thank God for his presence and His loving care. Ask Him to make His direction in your life clearer; that you want to honor Him by sharing the Good News of salvation with others. [continue praying in your own words]

Read God's Word Daily

His Words Make You Holy

…to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…
Ephesians 5:26

Talk it! Christ cleansed you from your old ways of sin. He made you holy through the shedding of his own blood. He sacrificed Himself because of His love for you and the church. He cleansed and prepared people for entrance into the church by the “washing with water” of baptism. It is God’s Word that does the cleansing.

Live it! Christ sacrificed Himself for you. Like Christ, you should be willing to sacrifice whatever you need to keep Him the number one priority in your life. Although God makes you Holy by baptism through His Word, it is not a magic act making you automatically perfect in thought, words, actions and attitudes. Maintaining a Christian life needs constant attention. Reading God’s Word and talking and listening to Him in prayer will keep you on the right path of growing and changing. You can trust that if you turn to Him and make Him a priority in your life, He will change your heart to be in step with what He wants you to be and to do.

Do not hesitate; look for opportunities that God puts before you to tell others what He has done in your life. What are the stories God has given you to share with others? Where have you seen His loving care getting you through the day or situation? Help others know the trust, comfort, security and peace of being in His loving care.

Pray it! What is on your mind and heart as you read today’s thoughts? Be honest with God in your prayer time. Remember it’s not about you doing all of the talking, but about you listening, as well, to what God wants to tell you.

Read God's Word Daily

Reading His Word Gives You Hope

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope. Romans 15:4

Talk it! The more you know about what God has done in the past, the more you can trust and have confidence in what He will do in the future. Diligently reading God’s Word can encourage you, help you persevere and give you hope.

Live it! Read your Bible daily to build your trust in God and His will for you. Reading His Word is the way to get to know God. Be encouraged by other believers you meet in the Bible
as you read their stories.

Your hope will grow through reading His Word!
Open your Bible or Use the Bible Gateway link to read the following:

• The stories of the saints whom God helped: Hebrews 11
• The hope and power of Christ living in you by the
  Holy Spirit: Romans 5: 1-5
• God remaining with you to help you, to
  rescue you: Psalm 46: 1-2
• Endurance and encouragement through trials and
  temptations: James 1: 2-4

Consider journaling your own stories of times when you have seen God helping you through difficulties in your own life. What scriptures came forward to comfort or direct you? Looking back at these notes during future tough times will remind you of the love and contentment you felt in His care. This will give you hope, trust and
strength to make it through.

Take every opportunity to share your stories of God’s care with others. This will show and encourage them of the hope that is in Christ, His constant presence in everyday happenings, and the insights realized
through reading His Word.

Pray It! Precede your readings with a quiet time of prayer asking God to open your eyes to understanding what He wants you to know from your reading time. Read your selected scripture. Close your quiet time with prayer.

Read God's Word Daily

Scripture: For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God…the word of the Lord stands forever.
1 Peter 1:23, 25

Talk it: You were born into the world by earthly parents and someday your life on earth will end. You are born again because of God’s mercy. God’s Spirit, which lives within you, makes you new. Reading and learning God’s Word is an important connection. It reveals the gospel message and illustrates the importance of repentance and belief in what Christ has done for you. You can put your faith and hope in God. As God raised Christ from the dead, He will also raise you to live eternally.

Live it: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness 2 Timothy 3:16
To grow in your faith you must discipline yourself to read God’s Word daily. It is a vital part of your Christian life to know the Bible, God’s Word, and to have a relationship with the Lord. Don’t just look for verses that fit your circumstances. Study the entire Word of God. How will you be in touch with what God is asking of you and what He wills for your life if you don’t know Him or what He is saying? What is keeping you from reading and studying
your Bible daily?

Your faith and trust in God will grow stronger as you carry God’s Word in your heart and mind. Remembering God’s Word, and His promises will take you through difficult times, joyous times, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy. They will give you love, comfort, power, peace and absolutely
everything you need.

Bible Gateway has many choices to help you read through the scriptures. Click on the Bible Gateway link in the right column of my blog. Click on the Reading Plans link in the left column when Bible Gateway opens.
Find a plan that works for you.

Pray It! Precede your readings with a quiet time of prayer asking God to open your eyes to understanding what He wants you to know from your reading time. Read your selected scripture. Close your quiet time with prayer.

Post Comments or send me your comments by email.

Share and Enjoy Scripture Week

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

Share your comments or share a scripture that comes
to you as you read today’s scripture.

Post comments or email me by using the link
at the top of the right column.

Next Week's Topic: The Living Word of God

Share and Enjoy Scripture Week

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

Share your comments or share a scripture that comes to you
as you read today’s scripture.

Post comments or email me by using the link
at the top of the right column.

Share and Enjoy Scripture Week

Finally, brothers, 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. Philippians 4:8

Share your comments or share a scripture that comes
to you as you read today’s scripture.

Post comments or email me by using the link
at the top of the right column.

Share and Enjoy Scripture Week

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

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as you read today’s scripture.

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at the top of the right column.

Share and Enjoy Scripture Week

We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16

Share your comments or share a scripture
that came to you as you read today's scripture.

Post comments or email me by using the link
at the top of the right column.