Change is Never Easy

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  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.”

Change is never easy.  Whether that change is out of your control or things you desire to change about yourself.  Life never stays the same we are either moving forward or move backward but we never just stay where we are.

No matter where the change is coming from we have a choice to seek God in the midst of that change and allow Him to be our guide or we can become bitter and resistant.  Either way that change is going to take place so why not listened to your Heavenly Father.  In the mist of change He will send people and scripture into your heart and mind; do not be so selfish with your desires that you miss what God has for you.

Abba Father, everyday is a fresh start, a new beginning.  Forgive me for the ways I sinned against you and wash me anew this day.  Father change me from the inside out, cleanse me of my selfish desires and make me anew.  Help me recognize when my wants and desires are pulling me away from what You want for my life.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Walking in Freedom

Pslam 32:4-5 “For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sappped as in the heat of summer.  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity, I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’ – and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Ever feel as if the weight of the world is on your shoulders?  Ever think that is the weight of God’s hand trying to get your attention?  When your strength is sapped you are trying to do life your way and not God’s.  When we allow God to lead and stay in continual prayer He will guide us, free us, and forgive us.  Stop trying to do life alone; for we were never meant to walk this earth alone.  God puts people in your life for reasons you my never know, but trust Him and learn to love the journey knowing that God is in control.  Allow God to free you from the guilt and shame that you have/ are carrying with you.  Walk in freedom.

Create in me a new heart LORD.  I come seeking Your grace and forgivness for all the ways I have fallen short of Your glory.  Father, You are the one that can and will redeem me and wash me clean from guilt and shame.  Wash away all my sins and remember them no more; as I continue to learn what it means to follow Your will for my life.  In Jesus Name,  Amen

God See My Heart

1 Samuel 16:7 ”But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The LORD does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” 

God is always at work in our lives.  There are times when things are going great and it is easy to praise God.  However; when we are facing challenges praising God can seem more difficult.  During these difficult times, God is growing us.  He uses trials in our lives to bring us closer to Him.  He teaches us during these times to lean on Him and to cry out to Him for support and strength.  Lean on Him when trials come because He cares for you and will strengthen you.  On the other side of the trail you will see God’s hand and His glory.

Abba Father my heart longs for You.  In the trials of life show me Your ways and draw me ever closer to You.  Help me to see you in the midst of my everyday life.  When I stumble and fall help me to know that You are there not to judge me but to hold me up with your righteous hand.  Draw me closer as You heal the broken places in my life.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Instead of Worrying, Pray

Philippians 4: 6-7 (MSG) “Don’t fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your 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.”

Go to God with specific needs in your hearts, be specific with your requests.  Don’t be vague in your requests.  If you need a blessing, ask for the specific blessing.  If you need help, ask specifically for what you need.  If you need healing from an addiction pray for restoration, strength, and the craving to be gone.  If your marriage is lacking in a specific area be specific with your request.  Make your requests made know to God because He cares for you and will give you the desires of your heart when these desires are His will for your life.  Remember that when you don’t know what to pray, God hears your groans and the Holy Spirit will come on your behalf and speak for you.  During these times just sit, be still, and seek God’s wisdom.  Trust Him to lead you in your time of prayer; He will bring healing and restoration to your life.

Abba Father, thank you for always hearing my prayers no matter what.  Help me to seek your will for my life and be specific with my needs and desires.  Father, free me from my past pains and allow me to look to the future with You as my guide.  Give me the words to speak, ears to hear, and wisdom that can only come from You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Praise God; Not Man

John 12: 42-43 “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.  But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”

Things of this world tend to get our attention more than God.  We look to man for encouragement, praise, and reassuracnce.  What would life be like if instead of looking to the people in our lives for these things we looked to God?

God is love.  God is peace.  God is strength.  God sees you and me.  If we lived life repeating these words instead of the words of the world such as: I am not enough, my life is not worth it, no one loves me…..  Imagine how much happier we would be. When we look to God for our peace, strenght, and love we can begin t o see people and our lives in a different way.  No matter what you are facing know that god is good all the time and He has your back, front, and side.  His angel army is all around you giving you what you need every moment of the day, just reach out and take his hand knowing that He will give you strength to face the day.

Abba Father, You and You alone are worthy of praise.  You are the One who brings healing to the broken places.  You are the One who brings peace with just a whisper.  You are the One who gives me strength to face the day.  Help me Father to look to you and not man for strength and encouragement.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Still Small Voice

Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one wo will keep you on track.”

Hope is an amazing thing.  It has the ability to heal a broken heart, mend a hurting family, make us smile in the midst of trials, and heal a wounded soul.  Are you broken and hurting?  Does your soul feel lost?  Do you feel alone in your battles?  There is hope.  Look to the sky and see what God has painted for you.   Look around and see all that God has done and is doing in your life.  Let the warmth of a smile comfort your heart.  Hear the still small voice that lives in your soul and calls you into a relationship with your loving Heavenly Father.  Find hope in the midst of your trials knowing that Jesus will make all things right.  All you need to do is surrender to his will and listen to that still small voice calling you to Him.

Abba Father, I have tried so many times to do life on my own.  I grow weary and tired living life the way I want.  Help me LORD to listen to Your voice in my life.  Open my eyes and my heart to areas where I have not released control to You and allowed You to be my guide.  Remove from me my selfish ways and draw me ever deeper into a relationship with You.  One filled with a hope that can only come form You..  In Jesus’ Name, Amen 

God Makes Sense

Psalm 16:1-2 “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.”

As we walk through challenges in our lives it can seem as if God is keeping His distance.  When our prayers seemingly go unanswered.  When we are confused or feel forgotten.  In the midst of every battle or challenge we can rest assured that God is right there with us either giving us strength through His word or sending a friend to walk beside us, pray for us, or just sit with us.

When you feel hopeless, lost, afraid, distant, or alone, know that you have a Father in Heaven who is keeping you safe.  So, run to Him and know that without Him there is no love, peace, joy, and nothing will make sense.  God is love, peace, joy, strength, and ever present in your life.

Abba Father, thank you for always sending me what I need at just the right time.  I tend to make a mess of things when I turn to and rely on my fleshly desires instead of seeking You and Your plan for my life.  Help me to listen to the still small voice that can only be You; give me ears to hear.  Remind me that You place people in my life to breathe Your breath of life into my soul.  Father, I need You to be my guide, without You nothing makes sense.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

The Perfect Plan

Isaiah 30:18 “But God’s not finished.  He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right-everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.” (MSG)

Are you tired and warn out?  Have you prayed and prayed and are still waiting for God’s blessings and healing?

During the storms of life it can be hard to wait for God’s answer or healing.  He tell us over and over in his word that His timing is perfect and His plan for our life is one filled with prosparity and love.  The frustration and anger you are experiencing is because the expectations you have are not being met.  You want your plan not God’s.    God does not want His children to suffer.  We often don’t like his answer, feel our plan is better, or we simply get tired of waiting on God.  The problem is that we give up just before God can show His mercy.  Wait on Him and become the lucky ones.  Stop trying to control everything instead go to God, humble yourself before Him and seek His wisdom and guidance.

Abba Father, I make a mess of my life when I don’t trust you.  I can find everything wrong with my life and get stuck focusing on all the negative.  This is not what You want for me.  Help me to completely trust You and Your plan for my life.  Help me to patiently wait with expectant hope.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Come Out

John 11:38-39 “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb.  It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.’take away the stone,’ he said.”

We all face times in our life when we cannot see anything good. Coming from our heartache.  Yet, God shows up and everything changes.

Often times I am a lot like Martha.  Jesus tells them to roll away the stone after the death of Lazarus.  Then there’s Martha, “But Lord” John 11:39.  How often does the Holy Spirit prompt us to do something that we don’t think is a good idea or want to do.  I love Jesus gental response, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40.

I don’t know about you, but I want to see the glory of God in my life.  I am learning everyday to walk expectantly.  I also know that I don’t do this life perfectly and I often stumble and fall because I, like Martha, think I know the outcome instead of trusting God with all that I am.

Abba Father, thank you for seeing me when I am weak and being deeply moved.  You will never allow me to walk through sadness or trials that you are unable to redeem.  I know that my trials are a result of my poor choices and You are there to help me seek and find forgiveness. Thank you for calling my soul out of the tumb and redeeming me every moment of everyday.  Be with me and open my eyes to the character defects that are ready to be removed from me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Perfect Timing

 John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in my will live, even though he dies;’”

We all have our struggles.  Some seem to be bigger than others yet, each person is given the strength to overcome through the power of Christ.  When we step out of the way, we allow Christ to move in our lives and the lives of those around us.  No matter what you face on a daily basis know that the creator of the world is in control.  He will give you the strength you need and will fulfill desires of your heart when the time is perfect.

Abba Father, I seem to want my way and not consider that Your ways are perfect.  You allowed Mary and Martha to loose their brother so that You could show your great love to them.  I am not only Your friend but Your beloved.  You Lord, give me the strength, wisdom, and courage to face everyday with all of its challenges. You bring light to the darkness and hope to the hopeless.  Father, fill me today with the love and understanding that only comes from you.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen