Prayer for Struggles and Trials

Jesus, I pray that in the midst of trials and struggles we are experiencing right now, that we will look to You to be our strength and refuge until these calamities have passed by (Psalm 57:1).

Only You know the depths of pain, fear, anger, sadness, and hurt. Only You can save. Only You can make all things new. Only You can heal hearts.

I put my trust in You, Lord, and believe that You are in this. I know You have a plan and it is for good. Help us to focus our eyes on You.

Place a hedge of protection around our household and keep us safe from evil. Give us wisdom as to where You want us to be, and what actions we need to take. Guide our every step and help us to choose love in all things.

Thank You for Your grace, mercy, love and forgiveness.

Amen

Prayer for my broken heart

Jesus, I come to you with a broken heart, hopeless and agonizing over the spiritual condition of someone I love so much. I confess that I just want to scream, “Why don’t you get it! Jesus loves you and He deems you worthy. He is the only perfect way to the Father. It doesn’t have to be so hard. LIFE doesn’t have to be so hard! See your blessings and count them as joy. Open your heart and let Him in. Can’t you see how much sense being a christian makes?”

Lord, please forgive me for trying to control the situation, and taking it out of Your hands. I don’t want to get ahead of You and Your plans. Help me to use this trial to develop my relationship with You. I know You are the God of miracles, and I believe You are working even when the times seem so dark. Help me to keep my eyes on You, as You save the ones I love.

Amen

Prayer for Guidance

Dear Lord,

Turn my darkness into light, and guide me away

from things that are sinful and wrong.

Teach me to love my neighbors

rather than judge them.

Let me cast love and peace,

instead of stones.

Amen

Purity

Today I promise I will wait
Agreeing to stay pure.
Because I know God loves me and
His blessing is in store.

Because I know there are some things that happen only once and value my own purity; I’m choosing abstinence.

My body is God’s temple and I want to keep it pure. A precious gift I’m giving to the one I’m waiting for.

So I will be reminded every time I wear this token. A three-strand chord entwined in love is never quickly broken.

Because I trust that Jesus has a special love for me. I choose to love and honor Him by waiting patiently.

This is taken from a bookmark that holds the purity ring. It says Cross gifts on it, and it is simply beautiful. The ring itself says “today, I will wait agreeing to stay pure because I know God loves me and His blessing is in store.”

My 14 year old daughter is on the receiving end of some fierce prayers right now. I honestly cannot believe what she is bombarded with on a daily basis. It brings me to tears, and on my knees seeking Jesus.

I am proud of her for sitting through our discussion on purity, and for her honesty in sharing what is happening in her school. IN HER SCHOOL!! I am proud of her and the statement she is making when she wears this ring. I love her so much. I want to shelter her and don’t know how, aside from locking her in the house. I pray that I am doing enough, and saying the right things, but she really thinks I just don’t get it. And she may be right. I don’t want to get it. It’s too difficult for me to think about it long enough to understand. So I’m asking you to pray. Pray for my daughter, your daughter, your granddaughter, neighbors daughter- just pray for the youth of today. Sons and daughters alike.

“Moore” Monday

AS LONG AS THE SUN COMES
UP IN THE MORNING, GOD
WILL KEEP OFFERING TO
DELIVER HIS CHILDREN.

Lord, God, just as Your children the Israelites
were chosen out of all the peoples on the
face of the earth to be Your people, Your
treasured possession, I believe that we, the body of
Christ, have been too.
You did not set Your affection on Your
children and choose us because we were more 
numerous than other peoples.  It was because 
You loved us that You redeemed us from
slavery and from the power of the enemy.
Help me to know with certainty that You,
the Lord my God, are indeed God–the
faithful God, keeping Your covenant of love to
a thousand generations of those who love You 
and keep Your commands (Deut. 7:6-9).

Beth Moore, Praying God’s Word Day by Day 

 

Winter Jam

On Friday, Brooke and I drove to Columbus Ohio.  We had a nice dinner at Applebee’s, then crashed out in our cheap motel.  Saturday brought a temperature of 24 with a wind chill of 13.  It was cold… and we stood outside the Schottenstein for 2 1/2 hours, waiting in line for good seats to see the Winter Jam artists.  It was a bonding experience as we were huddled together under a blanket, but it was soooo worth it!  We ended up with 10th row seats, so we had an awesome view.  We saw Stephanie Smith, Pure NRG, Francesca Battistelli, NewSong, Barlow Girls, Brandon Heath and TobyMac.  It was an amazing time, and over 2000 people dedicated their lives to Christ.  Brooke and I are sponsoring a little boy from Korea, through Holt International.  We were on our feet dancing the whole time, it was so much fun!! 

When it was over, we made our way around the concourse, and Brooke got Francesca and Stephanies’ autograph, and we even took a pic with Stephanie.  We also bought Francesca’s CD, and it plays continuously in the car now. 

We needed to be back by 3 am, as we had signed up for an hour of prayer at the church, so I took it slow coming home.  Brooke was able to sleep a little bit too.  We still got to church about an hour early, so we just went in and waited for our turn. 

It was our first time in the Prayer Room, and it was amazing.  There’s a large wooden cross on the end wall, and pillows on the floor in front of it.  There are chairs and benches too, but I sat on the floor, right in front of the cross.  Brooke sat in the corner to my left. 

The hour flew by.  It really seemed like it had been 10 minutes, but I could tell because my voice was hoarse from talking.  It was a wonderful experience, and it was just richer to share it with Brooke.  I can hardly wait to do it again.

The Rest of the Story

Paul Harvey and Prayer


Paul Harvey says:

This is the United States of America , a country founded on Christian principles.  

One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don’t think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world’s foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights.  Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep.   Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing.  Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.

God, help us.  And if that last sentence of fends you, well, just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long.  It’s time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn’t care what they want.  It is time that the majority rules!  It’s time we tell them, You don’t have to pray; you don’t have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don’t have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away.  We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!

God bless us one and all … Especially those who worship Him , God bless America, despite all her faults.  She is still the greatest nation of all.   God bless our military who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

Let’s make 2009 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions .. And our military forces come home from all the wars.

Keep looking up.

You have our attention Lord…

Our friends lost their house
The co-worker lost her job
The couple next door lost their retirement
It seems that everyone is losing their footing

This scares us. This bailout with billions.
These rumblings of depression.
These headlines: ominous, thunderous-
“Going Broke!” “Going Down!” “Going Under!” “What Next?”

What is next?

We’re listening. And we’re admitting: You were right.

You told us this would happen.
You shot straight about loving stuff and worshipping money.
Greed will break your heart, you warned.
Money will love you and leave you.
Don’t put your hope in riches that are so uncertain.

You were right. Money is a fickle lover and we just got dumped.

We were wrong to spend what we didn’t have,
Wrong to neglect prayer and ignore the poor,
Wrong to think we ever earned a dime. We didn’t. You gave it. And now, tell us Father, are you taking it?

We’re listening. And we’re praying.
Could you make something good out of this mess?

Of course you can. You always have.
You led slaves out of slavery,
Built temples out of ruins,
Turned stormy waves into a glassy pond and water into sweet wine.

This disorder awaits your order. So do we.

Through Christ,
Amen

“Moore” Monday on Tuesday

 

 GOD’S NEW TESTAMENT MATH

SPECIALIZES IN ADDITION

AND MULTIPLICATION, NOT

SUBTRACTION AND DIVISION.

I know, Father, according to Your Word,
that if I judge others, I too will be judged.  With
the same measure I use, it will be measured to
me (Matt. 7:1-2).
When I want so badly to judge or comdemn
or refuse forgiveness to another, I can
hear Your Word speak to my heart, saying,
“If you are without sin, be the first to throw a
stone at them” (John 8:7).
Help me to speak and act as those who
are going to be judged by the law that gives
freedom, because judgment without mercy will
be shown to anyone who has not been merciful
toward others.  Mercy triumphs over judgment!
(James 2:12-13). 

Beth Moore, Praying God’s Word Day by Day

“Moore” Monday

SOMETIMES GOD MAY PRIORITIZE

PERFORMING A MIRACLE ON OUR

HEARTS AND MINDS OVER A MIRACLE

CONCERNING OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

Though the fig tree does not bud and
there are no grapes on the vines, though the
olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no
cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in You, my
Lord.  I will be joyful in God, my Savior.

For You, Lord, are my strength.  You make
my feet like the feet of a deer.  You enable me
to go on the heights (Hab. 3:17-19).  How
inconceivable but true that You can take me to
heights far exceeding the depths I have known.

Father, continue to bring me along so that I
can rejoice in my sufferings, because I know
suffering produces perseverance (Rom. 5:3).

Beth Moore, Praying God’s Word Day by Day

More Than a Friend

I’ve been encouraged to spend some time in worshipful prayer, and I find myself singing this song to Jesus.  I had to post it.  Listen to Jeremy Riddle sing “More Than A Friend” 

Prayer for Purpose

 

I’ve been thinking about intercessory prayer lately.  Now, have I been thinking it, or has God been calling me to it?  Yeah, I know!  Anyway, while at the christian book store yesterday, I picked up a book about it.  I haven’t started it yet, because I’m currently reading two already.  Then I pick up my daily book of prayers and flip open to a page and find this.  Read on…

Lord, I believe I was born for such a time as this, and that You have called me to pray for others.  I pray for a divine visitation of Your mercy and grace upon my city, and my nation.  I declare You to be Lord over these places.  I know that part of my purpose on earth is to affect these places through intercession.  Help me to do that.  Help me to affect the world for Your glory.  Stormie OMartian, A Book of Prayer, page 40.

Um, yeah, so now what do you think?  Is it me, or is it God speaking to me? 

Courage

I can remember being my daughters age.  My BFF Amy and I, whom I no longer am in contact with but that’s a whole nother story, would sit and watch horrible scary movies.  Freddie and Jason were on the screen alot.  We’d scream and laugh, cover our eyes and yell at the heroine not to go upstairs! 

I guess you could say I had the living daylights scared out of me, and now I can’t stand to watch that kind of thing.  Give me a psychological thriller or romantic comedy anytime! 

Brooke is into the scary movies now.  She has one little friend who loves to watch them too.  A few weeks ago they saw one, and Brooke slept with her light on for 4 days.  Her friend slept on the floor in her parents room.  We laughed and made fun of them, but I can remember that fear and anxiety.  I struggle with it myself at times. 

When Brian travels away from home for business, it’s difficult for me to go to sleep.  I check and double check the doors to make sure they’re locked.  Every little noise seems amplified, and scary when he’s not here.  I’m alone and even more responsible for the safety of my children.  The night before last I really struggled with it.  And then I prayed for a hedge of protection, and gave my fears away. 

I was once told that the Bible says Do not fear 365 times.  That’s once for each day of the year!  So I just wanted to share some of the verses I found that will bless you wth courage. 

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6  NKJV

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”  Isaiah 43:1-2 NIV

So we can choose courage and pray.  Ask God to give you courage, and then trust Him.  Last night I slept much better! 

Sunday Scripture

Psalm 23:1-6

God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
You find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to Your word,
You let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.

Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when You walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.

You serve me a six course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.

Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.

Prayer for Guidance

Lord, I come to Your throne room
and bow at Your feet, humbly proclaiming
my love for You.  Thank You for loving me
enough to send Your Son to save me. 
I make You Lord over every area of my life.
I surrender all that I am, all that I have,
to You, and ask that You would rule every
part of me.  Mind, soul, body and spirit. 
I am Yours.  I make this commitment to You,
trusting You with all my being. 
Enable me to deny myself in order to take
up my cross daily and follow You.  I carry
the burden of the cross.  Make me Your disciple. 
Guide me and lead me.  Make me hear You. 
I want to lose my life in You, so I will be saved. 

Amen

A David Song

Psalm 16:1-11

1-2  Keep me safe, O God,
I’ve run for dear life to You.
I say to GOD, “Be my Lord!”
Without You, nothing makes sense.

3  And these God-chosen lives all around-
what splendid friends they make!

4  Don’t just go shopping for a god.
Gods are not for sale.
I swear I’ll never treat god-names
like brand-names.

5-6  My choice is You, GOD, first and only.
And now I find I’m Your choice!
You set me up with a house and yard.
And then You made me Your heir!

7-8  The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.

9-10  I’m happy from the inside out,
and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell-
that’s not my destination!

11  Now You’ve got my feet on the life path,
all radiant from the shining of Your face.
Ever since You took my hand,
I’m on the right way.

The Message

A David Prayer

Psalm 17:1-15             1-2  Listen while I build my case, God,

the most honest prayer You’ll ever hear.

Show the world I’m innocent-

in Your heart You know I am.

3  Go ahead, examine me from inside out,

surprise me in the middle of the night-

You’ll find I’m just what I say I am. 

My words don’t run loose.

4-5  I’m not trying to get my way

in the world’s way.

I’m trying to get your way,

Your Word’s way.

I’m staying on Your trail;

I’m putting one foot

in front of the other.

I’m not giving up. 

6-7  I call to You, God, because I’m sure of an answer. 

So- answer! bend Your ear! listen sharp!

Paint grace-graffiti on the fences;

take in Your frightened children who

are running from the neighborhood bullies

straight to You.

8-9  Keep Your eye on me;

hide me under Your cool wing feathers

From the wicked who are out to get me,

from mortal enemies closing in.

10-14  Their hearts are hard as nails,

their mouths blast hot air.

They are after me, nipping my heels,

determined to bring me down,

Lions ready to rip me apart,

young lions poised to pounce.

Up, GOD: beard them! break them!

By Your sword, free me from their clutches;

Barehanded, GOD, break these mortals,

these flat-earth people who can’t think beyond today.

I’d like to see their bellies

swollen with famine food,

the weeds they’ve sown

harvested and baked into famine bread,

with second helpings for their children

and crusts for their babies to chew on.

15  And me?  I plan on looking

You full in the face.  When I get up,

I’ll see Your full stature

and live heaven on earth.

The Message

 

Praying for our Nation

Today, on this National Day of Prayer, I pray for all of God’s people.  I pray that His people, who are called by His name, will humble themselves and pray.  Seek His face and turn from their wicked ways-then He will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal our land.  I pray for the revival of God’s people in the nation, that they will be like Jesus to the people in their communities, being used of God to lead others ever one step closer to Him.  I ask God’s forgiveness for the nation’s sins of pride, prejudice, insensitivity to the needs and hurts of others.  I ask that You will bless the local and national spiritual and political leaders and guide them in their decision making.  We’re in the midst of being inundated with negativity and evil in the election process Lord, and I ask that You will lead us to nominate who You want to see lead us.  I pray for those that don’t know You Lord, and those that are suffering and alone.  Touch them.  Heal our nation Lord, bless us with Your favor and unconditional love.  Thank You for working in us, and for Your presence in my life.  In Jesus’ name, Amen

Praying

Thank You, Father for the incredible privilege of partnering with Jesus in the work of intercession.  Help me to stay alert and consistent as I pray for my brothers and sisters  in Christ.  Help me to be clear minded and self controlled as I stand in the gap for others, especially during these times.  Remind me that prayerlessness for others is a sin against You.  Help me be instant in prayer so that it becomes a way of life for me, as continuous as breathing.  In Jesus’ name,  Amen

Andrew Murray on Prayer

The bond that unites a man with his fellowman is no less real and close than that which unites him to God: one with them.  Grace renews not only our relationship with our fellow human beings, too.  We not only learn to say “my Father,” but also “our Father.”  It would be unnatural for the children of a family to always meet their father separately, never expressing their desires or their love jointly.

Believers are not only members of one family, but of one body.  Just as each member of the body depends on the other, the extent to which the Spirit can dwell in the body depends on the union and cooperation of everyone.  Christians cannot reach the full blessing God is ready to bestow through His Spirit until they seek and receive it in fellowship with each other.  It was to the 120 praying together in total agreement under the same roof that the Spirit came from the throne of the glorified Lord.  In the same way, it is in the union and fellowship of believers that the Spirit can manifest His full power.