Daily Prayer: May 2015

HE IS ABLE!

"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." ~Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

Oh Lord, You are able, more than able, to accomplish what concerns me today.

Oh Lord, You are able, more than able, to handle anything that comes my way.

Oh Lord, You are able, more than able, to do much more than I could ever dream.

Oh Lord, You are able, more than able, to make me what You want me to be. Amen

~He is Able ~Rory Noland and Greg Ferguson (1989)

Amen

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Prayer for Graduates

Father, a little prayer for all those graduating from high school of which our grandson Elijah is one. Many roads, avenues and opportunities lie before them. Give them wisdom to make good choices, determination to pursue their goals and discipline to stay the course. May you also watch over them in your gracious providence and loving protection. Help them to understand how much that need your presence in their lives and the enormous benefit of trusting you.

We are proud of what they have accomplished and look forward to their greater achievements. It is a world of great challenges they are entering and I pray they will bring excitement, joy and hope in all of their endeavors. They are our future leaders; help them to embrace the honor of that calling and to exercise their gifts and talents with integrity. The mantle will soon be on them, may they wear it with dignity and fulfill your purpose for their lives. For Your glory we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior.

Amen

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My First Real Prayer

It was April 1976. I was at a meeting of Christians on a Saturday night. The meeting was ending. An invitation to come forward for healing prayer was announced. As I watched my wife Ellen journey towards prayer I began a journey myself. I watched her and my heart broke once again. I so wanted her to be healed.

I closed my eyes and prayed my first real prayer. I began by saying “God if you will heal my wife I will stop drinking”. As I spoke a presence came over me. I became aware that I was a sinner. I felt dirty on the inside in my attempt at divine manipulation. I changed my prayer and told the Lord I would give up the booze because it was what he wanted me to do. I didn't really know it but I was surrendering my heart to Him.

Lord help us to pray real prayers. Prayers that cause us to sense your presence. Prayers that want your will in our lives more than anything else. Teach us Lord what it means to ask for your kingdom to come.

Amen

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Our HOPE

Our soul waits for the LORD;

He is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in Him,

Because we have trusted in His Holy name.

Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,

Just as we hope in You.

(Psalm 33:20-22) NKJV

May we always remember that our HOPE is solely in our LORD. He is our everything. He is our help and our shield. We can trust in Him because He is faithful in all things and at all times. We can find sweet rest at His Feet....

Amen

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Noticing Beauty

Sometimes we can walk through life and not notice the beauty and good things God has created. We can focus on the bad things (and there are real bad things; we live in a fallen world) and miss the good.

Father,

I thank You for the many good things and beauties You have created. I thank You that even in a fallen world, they still show through. I thank You for the many real and innocent pleasures we so easily take for granted. Help us to appreciate your goodness.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Memorial Day

Father, we give you thanks for the freedom you have given us. We think of those who have given their lives for our nation and we long for the return of the Prince of Peace and the end of war. Comfort those who have lost loved ones, we pray. Amen

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AMAZING LOVE, HOW CAN IT BE?

No condemnation now I dread;

Jesus and all in Him is mine!

Alive in Him, my living Head;

And clothed in righteousness divine.

Bold I approach the eternal throne,

And claim the crown

Through Christ, my own.

Amazing Love! How can it be,

That Thou my God, should die for me?

Charles Wesley (1738)

Dear Lord, how wonderful that I can boldly come into Your Throne Room because of my position through Jesus Christ. That I can come like a child to Father and ask anything, know how much you love me. Father, help me seek you many times during the day. I love you. Amen

Image from googleimages.com
Amen

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Vulnerability

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT)
“….I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Father, for Paul to find pleasure in his vulnerability is surprising if not amazing. Weaknesses usually expose our frailty, fear and potential failure, yet Paul found the words of Christ more than sufficient and so can we. Jesus says to all of us: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9a (NLT)

Father, how wise was Paul to understand that at his greatest moments of vulnerability was the opportunity to experience the greatness of Christ’s strength. So he could optimistically say: “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9b (NLT)

Yes Father, because of your grace, we can say with Paul: “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

Father how wonderful that our weaknesses do not have to inhibit us from doing your will and accomplishing your purpose, even in the most difficult circumstances and hardships of life. Our vulnerability is no match for the grace and power of Christ at work in us.

Amen

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Father, make us sensitive to your voice. Calm our hearts and tune our ears to hear the guidings of your Spirit. Make us attentive and give us the faith to trust you when you speak. Amen

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A HEART LIKE HIS

Today, O Lord ~~~
let me put right before interest;
let me put others before self;

let me put the things of the spirit
before the things of the body;

let me put the attainment of noble ends above the enjoyment of present pleasure.

let me put principle above reputation: let me put Thee above all else.

Give me a heart like Jesus Christ today ~~ a brave heart, a true heart, a tender heart, a heart with a great room in it, a heart fixed on Thyself; for his name's sake. Amen

image from googleimages.com
Prayer ~ A Diary of Private Prayer ~ John Baillee
Amen

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Praying for Others

1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

Father in this short verse you have given us the passion, priority, purpose and perimeter of our most effective ministry, prayer. You have given us the wonderful privilege of participating with you in the lives of others through our prayers for them. Help us to consider once again how much can be accomplished as we pray about the needs of others, speaking on their behalf and being grateful for them.

You tell us Father to: “…. come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) Father we understand this verse is not just for us but also for those we pray for. Thank you Father that prayer is big enough to embrace the whole world and small enough to touch each heart. Help us to be faithful in this unique opportunity of praying for others.

Amen

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A Birthday Prayer

May our God bless you today
and each day that follows
May you hear his voice
Follow His footsteps
Be comforted by His care
And live in His grace
Now and forever
Amen

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Loving People

Linus Van Pelt of Peanuts once said, "I love mankind, it's people I can't stand." Sometimes it is easy to love people in the abstract, but lack love for particular individuals we cannot get along with.

Father,

Help us to love people. Not just some imagined ideal, but the real people we meet every day. Help us to get along with the people we have trouble getting along with. Help us to remember that they are made in your image and should be treated as such. Help us to go the extra mile to live in peace.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Beauty

Father, thank you for the gift of beauty. You have created a world that has an overabundance of glorious beauty. We look at the magnificence of creation and see you. We look at the people you have made and see your image. We thank you for the creativity you have given us as we imitate what you have done. In all these things we see your glory and your love for us. Amen

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GIFTS FROM MOTHER

Mother's Day ~ The most celebrated holiday. More flowers, gifts and dinning out are done on Mother's Day than any other holiday in the year.

However, this year I want to share about three mother's and what they gave.

Jocahebed ~The Gift of Moses ~The Law Giver

Exodus 2:1-4 "And a man from the house of Levi went and took a wife, a daughter of Levi, So she conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months. But when she could no longer hide him she took an ark of bulrushes, daubed them with asphalt and pitch, put the child inside and laid in the reeds by the river's bank. And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him."
Jacahebed saved Moses life, and he became the Leader of Israel and the Law Giver.

Hannah ~ The Gift of Samuel ~ The Prophet

I Samuel 1 The Lord had closed Hannah's womb and she had no children. She went to the temple year after year praying for a child. The Lord heard her prayer and the Priest Eli told her God had granted her request and she would have a child. She bore a son and named him Samuel. When he was weaned, she took him to the temple and prayed this prayer. 'O my Lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed and the Lord granted me my petition. As long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there.
Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord and be became a great Prophet of Israel.

Mary ~ The Gift of Jesus ~ The Savior

Luke 2:7 "And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger because there was no room in the Inn."
John 19:26-27 "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son". And He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother."
Mary gave human life and love to her son Jesus, and HE is the gift of all GIFTS.
He is the SAVIOR

The Bible is full of wonderful stories of Mothers, but today we focus on these three and the Mother's Day gifts each gave.

Lord, we take time this day, to thank you for your Word, filled with stories of mothers, and we thank you for our mothers, and all they stand for and have done for each of us. We love You. Amen.

Amen

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Every Day is a Bonus!!!

Ecclesiastes 11:8 (NLT)
“When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life….”

Father we never get to old to pray boldly, daringly or courageously. So may this day be filled with the adventure of faith, the excitement of hope and the enthusiasm of expectation. May we remember that: “This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NLT)

Father every day is a bonus of your grace and a glorious opportunity to participate in all of the magnificent moments each day holds. Thank you Father for the gift of life that unfolds its wonder and beauty one day at a time. So Father I pray that you will make today ridiculously amazing. I pray this for your honor and in the name of your wonderful Son and our Savior Jesus.

Amen

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Lost in Prayer

Sometimes the focus of our prayers is all about intercession and petition. We hurt and we seek healing. Needy and we seek relief.

Yet often what we need the most is not to gain but to lose. And in losing we are placed in a position where we can grow and mature.

We grow because loss puts us in a position of humility. And a great loss provides us with an opportunity for great humility.

And this great humility presents new opportunities for us because it transforms our love into something that sees past our losses.

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Our help

"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side...

...then the waters would have overwhelmed us,

The stream would have gone over our soul;

Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul."

"Our help is in the name of the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth."

(Psalm 124:1,4,5a,8)

Amen

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Let Us Be Peacemakers

Father, as you have given us peace with you, so help us to live at peace with our brothers and sisters, and with our neighbors. Help us bring peace wherever we go as your agents of reconciliation. Amen

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FEAR OF MEN

When we were children, the monsters of the dark seemed real and fanged, lurking in the hallway just outside our door. We heard the thunderous footfalls in the gloom. But they turned out to be only our father who heard us crying and came to comfort us. We never saw him in the darkness. But we felt his touch and knew he was there. The universe is vast and sometimes dark, but we are not alone. ~~Calvin Miller (1936-)

Proverbs 29:25 "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."

You , O Lord are my salvation. Why should I fear those who can only kill the body and after that, can do no more. Abraham denied his wife, Saul forfeited his kingdom, and Peter betrayed his Savior. All these were foolish deeds, provoked by misplaced fear. But to fear You, my Lord, is the beginning of wisdom. So I will put my trust in You and I will not be afraid of what anyone can do to me. I love You. Amen.

Image from googleimages.com
Prayer ~ Maranatha Worship Bible

Amen

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Garden of Prayer

Psalm 27:8 (NLT)
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

From the wonderful Hymn “I Come to the Garden Alone” the first and second stanza and refrain says:”

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

“He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.”

Father the privilege of being in your presence, the joy of having a heart to heart talk with you and the supreme honor of calling you Father is almost inexpressible. Your love for us is beyond comparison, comprehension and even conception. Who could ever imagine such love if you hadn’t revealed it to us through your beloved Son and it reminds me of 1 John 3:1 (NLT) “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”

What a glorious God and Father you are and what pleasure to meet with you in the Garden of Prayer.

Amen

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