In His Presence

I pray that we feel His Presence today in  overwhelming abundance. 

I pray that we draw near to His side with full confidence in His Power. 

I pray that we feel the perfect PEACE that only comes when we are in relationship with Christ. 

Draw close today. Seek His Face. Encounter Him. And experience that peace that only God can bestow.

“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) CSB

In His Presence, there is PEACE.

Amen

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for open eyes

Lord,

In this increasingly divisive time, it's becoming more and more difficult to see others who disagree with us with truthful hearts. We speak to one another in ways that dishonor Imago Dei. We view "the other side" as evil and demonic. We believe our way is the only way.

Father, help us to see our own blind spots. Open our eyes to where we are wrong, to where we have sinned, to where we can do better to honor You. Humble us, O Lord, reminding us we are dependent upon You. Remind us we don't have it all figured out, and show us where we need to have our own hearts and minds changed. May we know what pleases You, and revealed to us where we have been deceived. Show us how to see others who have been deceived with compassion and not with a sense of self-righteousness.

Give us eyes to see others with the truth. Give us Your eyes to see others and to the see the world: with compassion, mercy, justice, heartbreak, and love. Teach us to discern truth, to speak truth with love, but most importantly: teach us to listen. Teach us to listen to You and to others.

Amen

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THE JOY OF KNOWING JESUS

A wonderful place to go, if only in your devotions and imagination is the Garden to walk and talk with Jesus.  I love this old Hymn because it pulls me from the caous of our world and the roar of the crowds to the quiet of the garden where I can walk and talk with the One who calls me His own!

"I Come To The Garden Alone"

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

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

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

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

And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

Dear Heavenly Father, this old hymn is my prayer today.  The joy of knowing You, and the assurance that You know me and call me Your own.  Thank You for in your grace and your priceless gift of salvation through Jesus Chrisit.  I love you. Amen.

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Peace........Please

Pray for Peace

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (GW)  ¹ First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and prayers of thanks for all people, ² for rulers, and for everyone who has authority over us. Pray for these people so that we can have a quiet and peaceful life always lived in a godly and reverent way. ³ This is good and pleases God our Savior.

Dear Father, I am weary of the hatred, hostility, and outrageous behavior of all who talk peace and make war. War with You, with fellow human beings and war with creation itself. What a wreck sin has made of what was at first heaven on earth.  Paradise was not just lost it was destroyed by Satan’s deception and man’s complicity in evil.  So many foolish decisions repeatedly made through out human history by refusing to listen to You and to obey Your word.

Yet we are to pray for all people, for peace and for the gospel to be proclaimed and accepted through repentance and faith in Christ. This pleases You because it brings people to the opportunity of salvation, sanity and safety.  Father, only You make it possible for us to have peace with God, the peace of God and peace with people. And we know that someday the Prince of Peace will come, set up His Kingdom and then there will be peace on earth. This prophetic promise we long for, look for and live for.

Micah 4:1-4 (NLT)  ¹ In the last days, the mountain of the LORD’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. ² People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the LORD’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. ³ The LORD will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. ⁴ Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!

Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV) ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Thank you Father for Christ who is our peace now and for the assurance of eternal peace in Your presence forever. And we do pray for peace in this turbulent world.

 Through Jesus our Savior and Lord. Amen.

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without ceasing

Heard it once that the way to pray without ceasing is to always be listening.

With that in mind, please join me in offering ourselves to the Lord.

Help us Father to remember that you are always with us.

Open our spiritual eyes that we might see what you are showing us.

Sharpen our inner ears to hear what your Spirit is teaching us.

Soften our hearts that we might flow in the compassion of Christ.

Teach us Lord to always rejoice and be thankful regardless the circumstance.

That we might walk in your will and become more like you.

Amen

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for strength, courage and hope

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Draw close and Endure

Truly, life can be hard. 

Circumstances can seem impossible. Situations can feel unbearable. 

We can feel despairing, defeated, tired, and just plain worn out. 

So how do we cope? We refuse to allow the distractions of this world to pull our gaze away from God. 

We cling to Him. We draw near. 

We stay in the Word. We pray constantly. And we endure the trials of life with Christ by our side every step of the way.

Amen

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a prayer for discernment

Holy and Righteous God,

It's so hard to be living in days when there is so much deception that it is often difficult to know the truth. Most days it feels like no information can be trusted. Deception not only in the world but in the Church because sin still lives in this world, even though we have been set free from the spiritual bondage of sin. Lord, why can't it be so for the whole world, so that we can know the truth easily?

Thank You that we are already free form the bondage of sin and death. Thank You for planting my feet firmly planted on the Lord Jesus Christ. But I also ask that You would grant us discernment and an understanding heart to know what is good and true, and to be able to identify and reject what is false and deceptive. For we know this is a promise You've made for us. 

Help us to test every spirit to see what is truth or whether deception is being peddled. Give us wisdom and understanding to discern the difference between truth and error. And give us courage to speak against error when we see in in this world. May we listen to Your voice, and may we do what it says.

You are the God of peace. Give us gentle spirits and an understanding hearts.

Amen. 

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth -1 John 2:20 

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Prayer for Wisdom

Father, we don’t know how to navigate all of the things that are happening around us. There are many voices trying to sway us and we are unsure who to listen to. Give us wisdom and insight to know the right way. Help us to be good ambassadors for the Kingdom and point others to Jesus. Amen

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HOPE WILL ARISE

"Up from the ashes, Hope will arise

Death is defeated, the King is alive.

Hallelujah. 

I will watch the darkness flee."

Heavenly Father, where do we find hope when all we see is ashes.  The fires that have swept California and neighboring states have left many without homes and hope.  The words of this song talk about your death and ressurection, but like the ashes of the fire, Hope Will Arise, because you are in control and have not forgotten those who have suffered such great loss.  The hope comes from Your Word.  Your promises.  Your character and attributes.  You are a Holy God, and a giver of Hope to the Hopeless.  Thank you for the promise that you are with us, and will never leave us hopeless.

I love You

Amen

Amen

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Witness

“You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the LORD.”

A witness is a person who has knowledge, observation, and experience about a person or event in which he or she was personally involved.  They honestly tell the truth about the event or person. The value of their testimony is based on their integrity and clarity in relating factual evidence of what they saw or encountered. In this context it is both astonishing and humbling that God has called believers to be His witnesses. Isaiah 43:10-12 (NLT)

     ¹⁰ “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the LORD. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. ¹¹I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Savior. ¹² First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the LORD.

 Father what an honor you have bestowed upon us to share with others the uniqueness of your existence, nature, character and salvation. Salvation planned by the Father, purposed in the Son and powered by the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   Acts 1:8 (NLT)

 Dear Father our witness for you has such infinite value because “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NLT)  And “Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. Ephesians 2:18 (NLT)

Father help us to joyfully, humbly and with courage be faithful witnesses of your salvation granted to all who will believe in your Son and our only Savior, Jesus. Amen!

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he hears our groans

Many times we see the psalmist begin this way. It is encouraging to know that people of faith often offer prayers when they are desperate for answers. Often these kinds of prayers are offered with cries and groanings. God hears us in such difficult times.

We ask you today Father to consider our groanings and cries. Help us to know that you are near and that you feel our pain. We confess you as our God and our King. We commit our hearts and lives to you. We trust you. Amen.

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praying with confidence

I love the simplicity of this passage of scripture.
It says that we can present our prayers with confidence.

When we pray we can be confident that we will receive mercy.
And that we will find grace to help us in our time of need.

It did not say that our prayers would always be answered.
Just that mercy and grace would be given.

I bring my needs to you today dear Father.
I bring my hurting back and pain filled ankles to you.

I bring my wife's health and her well being to You.
I bring all of my needs to you.

I trust You with my needs and believe that you will help me.
And I thank You that You will give me grace and mercy. Amen.

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Cry out!

Let’s never forget that when we cry out to God, He answers us! 

He hears! He cares! And He responds!

Amen

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WITHOUT EXCUSE

Romans 1:19-20  "Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities ~~ his eternal power and divine nature ~~have been clearly seen, being understood from what he has made, so that men are without excuse."  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God or gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images make to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."

Oh Lord, my Creator, the whole earth is full of Your glory.  I choose this day to glorify You and to give thanks.  I will worship and serve You as my God.  I will look to You rather than my own mind for wisdom.  I will hold on to Your Word of truth and resist anything that raises itself up against the gospel.  I will flee anarchy and its degradation; a darkened heart, shamful lusts, a depraved mind, the surpression of truth and the worship of lies.  Your truth has been made known.  There are no valid excuse.  Thank You for loving me.   Amen.

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Maranatha Worship Bible

Amen

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How To Beat The Giants

“So David triumphed over the Philistine 

with only a sling and a stone…..”1 Samuel 17:50 (NLT)

Five Stones. ”He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then…..he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:40 (NLT)

A metaphor of the stones:

Knowledge – His understanding of the LORD. “….I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies….” 1 Samuel 17:45 (NLT) 

Faith – His confidence in the power of God. “Today the LORD will conquer you….  I. Samuel 17:46 (NLT)

Courage – His bravery in facing overwhelming opposition. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, ³⁵ I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth…” 1 Samuel 17:34-35 (NLT) 

Experience – His victory in fulfilling his responsibility. “The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear” 1 Samuel 17:37 (NLT) 

Skill – His natural ability to use a sling with precise technic. Such skill is mentioned in Judges 20:16 (NLT) “Among Benjamin’s elite troops…. and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing.”

We all face Goliaths of monstrous proportions that are beyond our capacity to confront or conquer. But like David we must do our part in confronting the giants who oppose us with confidence and courage that victory is ours through Christ. Out of his experience here is what the Apostle Paul says: “despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (NLT)

Father we acknowledge our total reliance and dependence on you for victory in our daily struggle with the Goliaths that threaten us. Help us to recall: “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid…” Psalm 118:6 (NLT)

In the name of Him who is the mighty conqueror, Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

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reminders of your love

Help us Lord to see You in creation

when the sun rises and sets, remind us that you have given us a new day

as floral fragrances come across our paths, remind us of your sweetness

at the sounds of waves filling our ears, remind us of your greatness

Help us Lord to see you in each other

remind us of your love when a friend forgives and shows us compassion

remind us of your healing as doctors and nurses touch our lives

remind us of your providence when we see first responders rush to help us

In all things help us to keep our minds stayed on you.

Amen

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as the school year begins

Thank you for the gifts and lessons of this summer.

God bless teachers, faculty and administrators as they guide us through this big question mark of a school year.

Bless the parents trying to make it all work.

And the children who are learning to make the best of things in ways we couldn’t have predicted.

Help us remember we hold each other in our hands.

And please God, preserve our collective sense of humor.

Amen

- a prayer by Jennifer Garner

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Effectual prayer

Amen

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walking away and running toward

Father,

From the time we first rebelled, we've been a people in bondage to the reality of sin. We are oppressed by our own sin and from the sins of others. Throughout history, we have seen the effects of sin on our people, and the powerful ways in which you have rescued them. From the moment you commanded Noah to build the ark to save his family to the moment the veil in the temple tore, you have been a God desperate to rescue and redeem us, calling us back to you. The work of Jesus on the Christ changed our relationship to sin and we are now free from that bondage, yet we will live with the effects of the Fall every day, in the own bodies and in the world.

You work in the hearts of your people each and every day, and you are transforming and changing us! And calling us to be part of the big story of you changing the world. You continue the work of redemption and invite us to be part of it.

We stand in the power and freedom of your rescue, O God. Knowing you continue to pursue us and deliver us from the chains that bind. We are given new freedom, new life, in Christ Jesus. Help us see those who are oppressed by sin, and use us as instruments of your peace, your freedom. Guide us and give us strength to continually walk away from this bondage and give us eyes to see where you are already working, so we can join in. Give us the passion to run toward all the good you are doing, and lean into a remembrance of all you have already done.

Amen

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14th Week After Pentecost

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as
you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength,
so you never forsake those who make their boast of your
mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen 

Book of Common Prayer 

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HOPE

The other day when I was on my walk, I saw an large old cactus that appeared to be dead, and looked like it had leprosy.   But to my great surprise, I noticed near the top a brand new baby cactus.  Bright green. It made me think that hope can come from something that looks dead, ugly and ready to be cut down. But there was HOPE in a brand new sprout coming from the stump!

Heavenly Father, what an object lesson you gave me with the old leprosy looking cactus and the new life spring forth from it.  What a reminder that from the ugliness of the OLD RUGGED CROSS came the hope for new life, for eternal life!  Thank you Father for this reminder.  May we never forget the cross and what hope and life it brought forth with the sacrifice of Your dear Son.  He took the punishment for my sin that was a leprosy destine to kill me.  My hope is in YOU, my destiny is heaven.

I love You.  Amen

Romans 8:1-3a "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering."

Amen

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Troubles and Trials

John 16:33 (NLT)

 “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.

In these days of our lock down, lock in, lock up and lock out existence there is a heart breaking reality. The overwhelming agony of troubles and trials have driven many to desperate measures. Alcoholism has increased; domestic violence is painfully destroying many families, economic crisis of jobs being lost and basic needs unmet, friendship gatherings being forbidden, sporting events and entertainment shut down, churches prohibited from indoor worship of God and Bible Studies, and some people drowning in the depression of hopelessness have ended their lives.

What possible answer can we find to help us in and through these uncertain and difficult times? What answer can we share to give people hope that there is a future to live for? Science is not the answer, nor is education, politics, philosophy, government, religion or anything man can devise on his own. But there is an answer!

What is the answer: “Jesus told him I am the way…..” The way God the Father provided for us is God the Son. And how we respond to him will determine whether we endure and escape our troubles and trials. The following is not a formula but the truth based on the authority of God's word and promise.

Focus on Jesus – “Looking to Jesus” Hebrews 12:2

Faith in Jesus – “….Trust in ME….” John 14:1

Follow Jesus – “the LORD is my Shepherd…..He leads me…” Psalm 23:1-2 

The way through and the way out of troubles and trials is in Jesus, but in order for us to experience his deliverance we must accept him as our Lord and Savior. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (NLT)

Thank you heavenly Father for your love in sending Your Son to be our Savior. Thank you Lord Jesus for your willing obedience in sacrificially providing salvation for us. And thank you Holy Spirit sealing and confirming that salvation by your wittiness in our heart. Thank you for deliverance.

Amen.

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a prayer in our deep need

With the psalmist we confess our spiritual poverty. We are needy and cannot save ourselves. Come into our lives Lord Jesus and rescue us. Teach us to let go of control and rely on you. Give us hearts that trust, spirits that hope and hands that love. Amen.

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prayer to not completely freak out

God of many names,

We don’t know how to feel less tired.

We don't know how to vanquish our own fears.

We don’t know how to stop being angry at stupid people on Twitter. (personal note: that might just be me)

We don’t know how to live through a global pandemic and anti-black violence and wildfires and hurricanes and the fact that Chadwick Boseman just died. (Personal note: please keep anyone who might say some kind of “God needed another angel in heaven” nonsense far from me for their own safety, Lord)

We don’t know how to sustain the effort it takes to not completely freak out, and the effort it takes to keep from freaking out is one of the things that is making us so tired.

So we need some reminders right now, Lord.

Remind us that for every tragedy that’s “newsworthy” there are a million kindnesses, and countless acts of love that go unreported.

(Personal note: remind me that I can take Twitter off my phone. Like, always an option)

But more than anything, remind us of our own souls. Remind us that there is an essential, holy, un-hurtable part of ourselves that never tires, that does not know fear, that is un-affected by other people, that cannot be irritated, that has nothing to achieve.

If taking a few deep breaths reminds us of our truest center, then nudge us to breathe (but personal note; please, Lord, not in the voice of a 24 year old white girl yoga teacher. You know I can’t handle that). If laughing our asses off reminds us of what is most true, then nudge our friends to send funny texts. If eating a damn vegetable now and then reminds us that our bodies need us, then give us the will to make a salad.

Amen.

-a prayer by Nadia Bolz-Weber

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The Spirit prays for us...

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (Romans 8:26)

Have you ever needed God so desperately but you just didn’t know what to say? You had such an overwhelming emptiness in your spirit but you just couldn’t formulate the right words?

We have all been there. We have all experienced this in our lives. 

It’s such a blessing to know that when we don’t know the words... when we don’t know how to pray... that the precious Spirit of God will utter them for us.

In our weakest moments, He is there.

In our darkest hours, He is there. 

Simply fall on your face,  cry out to Him, and let the Holy Spirit intercede on your behalf. His Words never fail and He will minister to us as only He can...

Amen

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confession

Out of the depths we cry to God, in our suffering and in our pain. 

Out of the depths God cries to us, asking us to repent, to return to God with our whole hearts, to admit our sin, and to accept forgiveness. 

Holy God, Creator of all that is, Giver of Grace and Life: 

Hear our prayer. 

There are chasms in our lives, deep valleys that separate us From one another and from You. We confess that we have allowed those rifts to grow, For fear of admitting our part in the separation, For fear of being rejected when we reach out. You call us to a reconciled life, to healed relationships, To a wholeness with each other and with You. 

Mend us, we pray, and make us new creations.

Holy God, hear our prayer: 

For the mending of our hearts, torn apart by our unkindness; 

For the healing of our souls, wasting away from the despair around us; 

For the forgiveness we seek for the sin we have allowed to persist;

For the reconciliation of the world, whose division condemns us; 

We pray for the courage to admit our fault, the strength to amend our actions, and the hope that your grace awaits us.

In Your Son's name we pray,

Amen

 

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