Worry Less, Pray More

Living at Peace

**Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. ***

Peace is one of the most important elements to enjoying your life.

A life of frustration and struggle, a life without peace, is the result of focusing on things you can’t do anything about. When you worry about things beyond your control, stress and anxiety begin to creep into your life.

The apostle Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).

Once we realize we are struggling with something and feel upset, we need to start praying and immediately turn the situation over to God, thankful He will provide according to His will and offer us peace. You and I are not called to a life of frustration and struggle. Jesus came so we could have righteousness, joy, and peace!

Prayer of Thanks: Father, I am grateful for peace. It is a wonderful gift that You have given me, and I ask for Your help to always be peaceful in every situation.

Be Patient and Wait for the Lord

Wait for the Lord ; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord .
----Psalm 27:14 NIV
http://bible.com/111/psa.27.14.NIV

So many if us get impatient when we want something, even pray for something, and it doesn't happen when we want it to.

It is key to remember these 2 things:
1. Our plans don't always equal His plans
2. If our plans are what God wants for us, they will happen on His time schedule and not our own.

God is always there with us and He hears all our prayers. Be patient. Trust Him. He will answer them at the right time.

Nurture Your Faith

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches." (NLT) -Matthew 13:31-32

Are you nurturing your seed of faith? Do you regularly water, weed, and fertilize it for optimum growth? Steady plotting of spending time reading, praying and praising God will result in a beautiful tree of faith. Pretty soon your strong faith will be attractive to all who surround you. Start today with putting 15 minutes of your focus on God.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://bit.ly/16uZrQ5

Try starting a prayer journal. Write down your prayers, letters to God,  blessings, Bible verses, or anything that helps you spend time with God.

Tips On How to Pray

How to Pray

1. Say hello! 
When a friend enters a room, the first thing most people do is say hello or throw up a wave or nod. In many ways, this is the beginning of prayer: an acknowledgement of God's presence. When we walk into a Church, we genuflect in front of the tabernacle to humble ourselves while we acknowledge and reverence the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist inside. As you begin to pray, whether it's just walking somewhere during the day, in a chapel or in your room, take a moment to acknowledge whose presence you are in. 'Be still, and know that I am God' (Psalms 46:11).

2. Be yourself. 
So many people think that holiness is unattainable, and that to pray we need to look like a statue of St. Francis with our hands folded piously. The reality is that we were created to be in communion with God, and He desires to be in a relationship with us. He doesn't want you to be a carbon copy of a past saint. He created you with your own gifts and passions, and wants to shine through you uniquely in them. Come to him as you are and let Him transform you into the saint He wants you to be!

3. "Teach us to pray' (Luke 11:1).Jesus' apostles asked Him these words, and that conversation resulted in what we call the 'Our Father' prayer. If his own apostles asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, how much more should we ask him to teach us to pray! Ask God to help you and know that He listens. 'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you' (Matthew 7:7).

4. Hit the brakes! 
The world we live in today blasts us with media and noise from every direction all day, from texting to music to tv and internet. These aren't bad things, but too much can be distracting from our relationship and conversation with God. “Silence is so lacking in this world which is often too noisy, which is not favorable to recollection and listening to the voice of God” (Pope Benedict XVI). Take 10 minutes every day from the time you spend on facebook or tv, and use that time to pray. Put God back at the center of your heart and mind.

5. Keep it alive. 
A prayer life that isn't kept up is like a pond with no water flowing in or out. It becomes stagnant. There's no oxygen coming in, and it becomes uninhabitable. All you’ll find is scum and mosquitos. Nobody likes mosquitos; don't be that person. Yet a person who cultivates their relationship with God in prayer finds a much different picture. There is fresh water flowing in and out of the pond. It is life giving! There are flowers and trees that grow along the sides. Your prayer life will affect the other areas of your life.

'Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy; God’s law they study day and night. They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers' (Psalms 1:1-3).

6. Let it transform you. 
Practice makes perfect. The entire Christian life, including prayer, is something that we have to work on to become better at it. God can do amazing things in us through our reaching out to him in prayer!

'Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven' (St. Ephraem of Syria).

Www.lifeteen.com

Prayer List

Dear Lord,

We are giving all our troubles and concerns to you today, Lord. Only you can change lives and help people.  Please take our prayers and all the prayers of those around us and give us all what you know is best. Help us all to accept your answers with open hands and an open heart.  Thank you for all the blessings you have given each and every one of us.

Amen

PRAYER LIST:
-Help those who don't know you, to find you.
-Help those who know you but don't accept you, to allow you in
-Ralph, heal his body, take away his cancer, help him to remain strong during his fight
-Linda, keep her strong and healthy
-Brady, help others to understand his Autism
-Elyshia, help her with her health and help her to continue to do well and accomplish her goals
-Makenzie,  heal her and bless her
-Heal those in the hospital or at home sick
-Keep everyone on the road safe
-answer all the unspoken prayers today

Breakdown: Pray Without Ceasing

RESOURCE: www.gotquestions.org
Question: "What does it mean to pray without ceasing?"

Answer: Paul’s command in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray without ceasing,” can be confusing. Obviously, it cannot mean we are to be in a head-bowed, eyes-closed posture all day long. Paul is not referring to non-stop talking, but rather an attitude of God-consciousness and God-surrender that we carry with us all the time. Every waking moment is to be lived in an awareness that God is with us and that He is actively involved and engaged in our thoughts and actions.

When our thoughts turn to worry, fear, discouragement, and anger, we are to consciously and quickly turn every thought into prayer and every prayer into thanksgiving. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul commands us to stop being anxious and instead, “in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). He taught the believers at Colossae to devote themselves “to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2). Paul exhorted the Ephesian believers to see prayer as a weapon to use in fighting spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:18). As we go through the day, prayer should be our first response to every fearful situation, every anxious thought, and every undesired task that God commands. A lack of prayer will cause us to depend on ourselves instead of depending on God's grace. Unceasing prayer is, in essence, continual dependence upon and communion with the Father.

For Christians, prayer should be like breathing. You do not have to think to breathe because the atmosphere exerts pressure on your lungs and essentially forces you to breathe. That is why it is more difficult to hold your breath than it is to breathe. Similarly, when we are born into the family of God, we enter into a spiritual atmosphere where God's presence and grace exert pressure, or influence, on our lives. Prayer is the normal response to that pressure. As believers, we have all entered the divine atmosphere to breathe the air of prayer.

Unfortunately, many believers hold their “spiritual breath” for long periods, thinking brief moments with God are sufficient to allow them to survive. But such restricting of their spiritual intake is caused by sinful desires. The fact is that every believer must be continually in the presence of God, constantly breathing in His truths, to be fully functional. 

It is easier for Christians to feel secure by presuming on—instead of depending on—God's grace. Too many believers become satisfied with physical blessings and have little desire for spiritual ones. When programs, methods, and money produce impressive results, there is an inclination to confuse human success with divine blessing. When that happens, passionate longing for God and yearning for His help will be missing. Continual, persistent, incessant prayer is an essential part of Christian living and flows out of humility and dependence on God.

Recommended Resources: Prayer, The Great Adventure by David Jeremiah and Logos Bible Software.

 

Basics to Prayer

Basics to Prayer
What Does the Bible Say About Prayer?

By Mary Fairchild, Christianity Expert

Have you struggled with prayer? Does prayer seem like an exercise in eloquent speech that you just don't possess?

Prayer is not a mysterious practice reserved only for clergy and the religiously devout. Prayer is simply communicating with God—listening and talking to him. Believers can pray from the heart, freely, spontaneously, and in their own words. If prayer is a difficult area for you, learn these basics principles of prayer and how to apply them in your life.

What Does the Bible Say About Prayer?
The Bible has a lot to say about prayer. The first mention of prayer is found in Genesis, chapter 4.

Genesis 4:26
And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD. (NKJV)

What is the Correct Posture for Prayer?

There is no correct or certain posture for prayer. In the Bible people prayed on their knees (1 Kings 8:54), bowing (Exodus 4:31), on their faces before God (2 Chronicles 20:18; Matthew 26:39), and standing (1 Kings 8:22). You may pray with your eyes opened or closed, quietly or out loud—however you are most comfortable and least distracted.

Should I Use Eloquent Words?Your prayers need not be wordy or impressive in speech.

Matthew 6:7
"When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again." (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 5:2
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.(NIV)

Should I Pray?
Prayer Develops Our Relationship with God. 
If we never speak to our spouse or never listen to anything our spouse might have to say to us, our marriage relationship will quickly deteriorate. It is the same way with God. Prayer—communicating with God—helps us grow closer and more intimately connected with God.

Zechariah 13:9 
I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'These are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' " (NLT)

John 15:7
But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!(NLT)

The Lord Instructed Us to Pray. 
One of the simplest reasons to spend time in prayer is because the Lord instructed us to pray. Obedience is a natural by-product of discipleship.

Matthew 26:41
"Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!" (NLT)

Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parableto show them that they should always pray and not give up. (NIV)

Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV)

(See also - Matthew 7:7 and 1 Timothy 2:8)

What If I Don't Know How to Pray?
The Holy Spirit will help you in prayer when you don't know how to pray.

Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (NIV)

Are There Requirements for Successful Prayer?
Yes, there are some requirements found in the Bible for successful prayer.

Successful prayer requires:

• A humble heart

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV) 

• Wholeheartedness

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (NIV)

• Faith

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (NIV)

• Righteousness

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.(NIV)

• Obedience

1 John 3:22
And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him. (NLT)

Does God Hear and Answer Prayer?
Yes, God hears and answers prayer. Here are examples of this promise from the Bible.

Psalm 34:17
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. (NIV)

Psalm 91:15
He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (NIV)

Also:
• 1 Samuel 1:27
• Psalm 4:3
• Psalm 18:6
• Proverbs 15:29
• Isaiah 58:9
• Luke 11:9

Why Are Some Prayers Not Answered?

Sometimes our prayers are not answered. The Bible gives several reasons or causes for failure in

• Disobedience - Deuteronomy 1:45; 1 Samuel 14:37
• Secret Sin - Psalm 66:18
• Indifference - Proverbs 1:28
• Neglect of mercy - Proverbs 21:13
• Despising the Law - Proverbs 28:9
• Bloodguiltiness - Isaiah 1:15
• Iniquity - Isaiah 59:2; Micah 3:4
• Stubbornness - Zechariah 7:13
• Instability or Doubt - James 1:6-7
• Self-indulgence - James 4:3

Sometimes our prayers are refused. Prayer must be in accord with God's divine will.

1 John 5:14
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (NIV)

(See also - Deuteronomy 3:26; Ezekiel 20:3)

Should I Pray Alone or with Others?

God wants us to pray together with other believers.

Matthew 18:19
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. (NIV)

Luke 1:10
And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.(NIV)

Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (NIV)

God also wants us to pray alone and in secret.

Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (NIV)

Mark 1:35
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. (NIV)

Luke 5:15-16
Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (NIV)

Luke 6:12
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (NKJV)

Prayers

Not sure what to pray or how to pray? Just need the right prayer for the right thing going on in your life? Here are a few prayer starters for you!

Just go ahead and read me :)

Here are a few inspirational pics I found on pinterest that I wanted to share with you!
I also want to send out prayers to each of you who need them. Unspoken vut not forgotten.

Need help praying?

Do you ever just not not how to pray for certain things or maybe you need help knowing what to pray for? God is always listening so lift up your prayers to him daily and watch the miracles he places in your life!

Today's post is a multitude of who to pray for and how to pray. I hope they help..ill be praying they do! :)

Prayer and Reflection

Below are some items I found on pinterest.  Amazing bible verse, thought provoking quote and a lovely prayer. Enjoy and be blessed!

Day 5: Marriage

Marriage In God's Eyes

• 50% of all marriages end in divorce
• You CAN save your marriage
• Couples owe it to themselves and their partners to learn to stay together, not give up.
• If you are single, do NOT get married thinking it will solve your problems (financial debt, lonliness, boredom, irresponsibility, immaturity)

Problems

• Marriage combines two different people with different likes, dislikes, backgrounds, personalities, etc
• Financial issues
• Different disciplinary styles in raising children
• Lack of knowledge of how to be married, no clue what you're doing
• Too self-centered, expect to get more than they are willing to give
• Wanting someone else to change, yet unwilling to change themselves

*Problems lead to broken marriages and families, violence, emotional issues, infidelity

Good Marriage

• Both partners know what marriage really is
• The marriage improves as time goes on
• Having good insight and clear judgement, making the right decisions for the right reasons
• Sharing a relationship with God
• Partners focus on each other
• Couples give themselves completely to each other, physically, emotionally, and spiritually
• Marriage requires trust
• Pray together
• Have disciplined obedience against sinful temptations such as sexual immorality, addictions, overspending
• Love each other beyond the superficial love
• Forgive each other's past and move on together, exception: abuse and addictions (forgive but move on alone)

Recommendations

• Communicate honestly and openly
• Forgive one another, first with words, then actions
• Re-examine original hopes and dreams that got you together
• Discuss the benefits you enjoy as a couple
• Seek help of counselor if needed
• Read the bible and pray together
• Pray for wisdom and patience in your marriage
• Marriages change as people change, and its ok

Habits of Loving Couples

• Pray for one another
• Take care of one another
• Suffer with one another
• Get help from trained counselor if needed
• Do not compare partner to others unfavorably
• Do not spread stories about partner
• Have confidence in each other
• Talk to each other
• Listen to one another
• Treat each other with respect
• Apologize and make amends when one treats the other unfairly
• Never domineering, abusive, temperamental, manipulative, insensitive or irresponsible
• Remind each other that they love each other, never assume they know

God and Marriage

• God created the human need for companionship
• God made us sexual beings that complement each other
• Marriage and intimacy satisfies the human need for companionship
• Sexual intimacy in marriage is a way to honor God through a couple's harmony
• Sexual impulse is a special creation of God, designed to enrich your life as a means of commnication between married partners and a way of sharing their love with each other

Bible Verses And Quotes

• "Marriage is a process of growing together in love, loyalty and understanding"
• "Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate" -Mark 10:9
• "A good marriage takes unshakable determination"
• "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" -Ephesians 5:21
• "With forgiveness, any marriage can become a good marriage"
• "It is not good that man should be alone..." -Genesis 2:18b



Prayer List

• Raechel: has been getting bad news lately and is on her final appeal for the insurance company to pay for her stem cell transplant
• Tammi: needs some home repairs
• "Sassy": in an abusive marriage and needs to have the courage and strength to stay away
• Joe: needs help with insomnia and substance abuse
• Charlotte: recovering from eye surgery
• Jon: needs guidance and love in his heart
• Ashlee: single mother of 3, two with disabilities, needs love and support
• Marcy: battling Crohn's, needs to be healed and needs positive energy sent her way
• John: recovering from bowel surgery
• Gracifer: dealing with emotional aspects of Crohn's disease..needs prayer that her life can return to normal and that she'll have faith in her future

Day 4: 50 Way to Beat the Self-Injury Blues

Self-Injury

This post is a special one. For some, you might not understand it and may never need it, God willing. But for others, this post could be a life-saver...or a sanity saver.

Sometimes some of us can find it difficult to deal with our emotions in a healthy manner. At times, this can lead to self-injury, which is different for each person. Various forms of self-injury can include, but are certainly not limited to cutting, scratching, isolation, hair pulling, picking at wounds, digesting harmful substances, eating disorders, burning, and so on.

People who self-harm need professional help, such as therapy and rehab. However, overcoming self-injury is a lifelong process and those of us who are trying to recover need to find things to occupy our time and minds when self-harming enters our thoughts. Below is a list of ideas that people can try when they find themselves in a self-injury situation. I hope they help. (Would like to give credit to ArtistMWS from Daily Strength for some of the items on this list...great ideas!)

50 Distractions

1. Call a friend. Always have someone on standby as your emergency "safety" to talk you out of it, or just, well, talk. they don't even have to know you self-harm, but it would be a good idea to tell atleast one person what your going through

2. Sing and dance to your favorite music

3. Go somewhere public, like Wal-Mart or the mall

4. Get a pet and love it unconditionally, people with pets are proven to be happier

5. Play with a rubberband

6. Surf the web, watch funny youtube videos

7. Put up pictures of your nephews, nieces, children, cousins, any small kids in your family, its hard to hut yourself when small children are "watching"

8. Watch tv

9. Clean your house, and re-arrange it..a new look and a clean house can be very uplifting!

10. Pray, God is always listening...and listen back, you may be surprised to know he's talking too

11. Blog, post to a forum, write a poem or in a journal, sometimes we need to just express our emotions in a positive way

12. Be around another person, you can't hurt yourself around another person

13. Paint, draw, color, make something crafty..you dont have to be good at it, just do it and love what you make :)

14. Read a good book

15. Go for a run or walk, OUTSIDE..there are so many positive distractions outdoors

16. Pick up photography..take pictures of everything and see what kind of different ways you can wiew such simple items like a vase, a tree, a flower..find the joys in simple objects

17. Play an online game

18. Find a "feel-good" movie and watch it when you're down

19. Cook (but no knives...avoid this if you're a burner too)

20. Remind yourself how you don't want scars and how hard it is to cover them up

21. Call your therapist (if you don't have one, get one..we all need someone to talk to who knows the professional side of things)

22. Scream or yell about whatever you're upset about (just don't yell AT anyone! that'll only make it worse)

23. Write a letter, email or text to someone

24. Create your own website or blog

25. Pop bubblewrap (love this one!)

26. Go for a drive

27. Go to the park...and go to the playground while you're there and play!

28. Try yoga or meditation

29. Play with clay or playdoe

30. Go buy some flowers, there's just something peaceful about fresh flowers

31. Make a list of blessings in your life..get specific like "i'm alive", "i had a great cookie today", "my mom loves me"

32. Make something, like jewelry or a dress

33. Tie dye..everyone loves tie dye :)

34. Read the Bible

35. Eat chocolate or candy or cookies! YUM!

36. Go get super dressed up...nicest dress, highest heels, curl your hair, put on lots of make up, set your camera on self timer and model! (and don't forget the fun music!)

37. Play a video game

38. Try boxing, even if it's just in the air at home or on the Wii

39. Search funny things on the internet, for example accidental inventions (I love that one! The results are surprising and cool!)

40. Do your nails

41. Smile at atleast 5 people (awesome idea Artist) and strike up a convo with someone at the store

42. Volunteer or plant a tree..do something good for someone else or mother nature!

43. Count to one hundred...and inhale and exhale as you count

44. Make a sock puppet..you'll end up with a little family of them..then put on plays for yourself..come on..sock puppets make you laugh every time!

45. Get a punching bag and use it!

46. Rip up a piece of paper

47. Get a big fluffy pillow, hug it; get a big comfy blanket, curl up under it; now cry your heart out

48. Make lists...lists about things you want to do, things you love, your fave books, movies, tv shows, songs, etc....buy a Listography book (you can find them on Ebay for really cheap) to keep on hand to give you ideas

49. Take a relaxing bath or shower

50. Read this list, or others, by time you're done, you probably won't want to hurt yourself anymore

If you have more ideas, please leave them as a comment. Any ideas are great ones and we all respond diffferently to each distraction so leave as many as you can think of!

Now, I ask that everyone who views this page will pray along with me for all self-harmers.

Prayer: Lord, be with each and every one of us today and every day. Show us all how much you love us. Remind us every day that you are with us, beside us. If we ever feel like we want to hurt ourselves in any way, please take those negative thoughts and fill them with positive ones. When we are down, bring us up. Fill our emptiness with your love. Be our light in darkness, Lord. And if we aren't the ones partaking in self-harm, please help us to help others during their dark times. Guide us through your word and allow us to change lives and save lives. In your name we pray, Amen.

Prayer List

• Charlotte: still grieving over the loss of her pet
• Ashlee: found out she'll have to go on medication to regulate her heart
• Drew: needs guidance and support
• Jon: needs guidance and love in his heart
• Missc: she's struggling through some things and needs a reminder that God is still on her side
• All self-harmers
• The unnamed

Don't worry, be happy!

Happiness resides not in posessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.
Democritus

Never let life's hardships disturb you ... no one can avoid problems, not even saints or sages.
Nichiren Daishonen

Every artist was first an amateur.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.
Horace Bushnell

Day 3: It's God's Plan, Not Ours



Thought of the Day

We must remember that the lives we live are not just ours, they are God's. When things happen that our not in our plans and we get so frustrated and think "it wasn't supposed to happen this way", Let us remember, that is WAS supposed to happen this way. Maybe not in our plans, but in God's plans. And let's face it, his plans trump ours any day! :) And I'm ok with that because He knows what He's doing a lot better than I do!

So when things seem to be going all off plan, remember that they are not your plans, they're God's. Have faith in where He's taking you. You may not see it now, but one day you will and you'll be thankful for it.

Think of all the times things didn't go as planned, but if it wasn't for that other things may not have come to you. For example, the high school love that broke your heart would have kept you from the marriage you have today or the children you have today. The doctors telling you that you were unable to have children, opened your eyes for an adoption that saved the life of a child who didn't get a choice. The extra diaper change before you left for work, making you 30 seconds late for work...and a car accident that happened just before you got there.

Take a minute toda yand count your blessings, because if it wasn't for things not going as planned, you may not have them.

Prayer of the Day

 Dear Lord, thank you for taking over my life and giving me those unanswered prayers. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't hav e the many blessings you have put before me. I'm sorry it takes so long for me to see it sometimes, but I do want you to know I am thankful for all you do in my life. Please continue to turn goodness out of my misfortunes or deviations from plan. Your plan is much better than mine, Lord, and I accept it as my own. Thank you for being a faithful and merciful, Lord.  In your beautiful and gracious name I pray. Amen.



Prayer List

• John: his son is at a job interview in a bad neighborhood, pray that he'll be safe, and if he gets the job, he can help the people in the neighborhood
• LillyMaria: needs guidance and good health
• Charlotte: grieving over the loss of her beloved pet, May Abby rest in peace, she doesn't have to suffer any more
• Ashlee: having heart problems and needs to see a doctor immediately but having financial problems, single mom of 3 boys, 2 of which have special needs, help her find a way to be checked out and let her be healthy
• Tammi: having an ant infestation in her front yard, pray they are eliminated and she doesnt have a problem with them
• Kokusgurl: lost her baby 7 weeks ago, her daughter Briana is sick and may be being diagnosed with Crohn's disease, let's pray for their emotional and physical well being
• Carmen: has a tumor on her pancreas, let her be cured; also Carmen is a therapist, so pray for her patients to find guidance though this time and in the future
• Angela: if her meds fail, she will be wheelchair ridden. pray they work better than ever and her medical therapy continues to do her well
• Tanya: please pray for her healing, she has a crushed disc in her  spine from her job and refuses to stop working and they can't do surgery

Quote(s) of the Day

God's blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.    Proverbs 10:22

 '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

 

Day 2: Let go and let God



If you are battling with something today, give it to God. He is the only one who can truly handle your problems. So if you're already being proactive, and things just can't seem to work out right, then you know it is time to give it to God and let Him handle it.

Remember this: if it's within your control, pray about it and take charge of it. If it's beyond your control, pray about it and let what's supposed to happen, happen.

Also remember if it's not worth praying about, it's not worth worrying about!

Prayer: Dear Lord, please take my problems from me today. I'm handing them over to you now. I trust you with my life. Guide me. Lead me. Take care of me. I'm not strong enough to do it all on my own. I'm only strong enough with you by my side, Lord. Walk with me when I can do things on my own. Carry me when I feel like I can't make it through. You are my rock, my fortress, Lord. Please take my problems, my anxieties, my faults, my depression, everything that ails me, Lord, take them from me and take care of them for me. I put all my trust in you, Lord. In your holy and merciful name I pray. Amen.

Prayer List

• truthlives: has bad throat spasms and needs God's healing
• Charlotte: had eye surgery today and had to put her precious dog down due to kidney failure, she owned her pet for over a decade and needs support through this tough time
• Kelly: pray to guide through through her time in high school
• Jenn: having emotional and physical problems
• Jons' parents: please pray that Jon will call them, I've asked him to several times and he never does, I know they miss him
• Ron: having heart problems, pray for his physical healing
• Diana: has joint pain, pray for her healing
• Kayko: just underwent colon removal, let's pray for her quick recovery and lifelong remission!



Day 1: First Post

I have another blog, lifeofacrohnie.blogspot.com which follows my medical journey and life issues. Please follow it as well. However, this blog is devoted primarily to inspiration and prayer. If you want someone added to a prayer list, leave a comment. If you have feedback or would like to see something new on the blog, leave a comment. if you ever have anything to say, please please leave a comment!

I'd like to start this blog with a few lyrics from a song I love! "Here I am" by Downhere

"Here I am, Lord send me
All of my life, I make an offering,
Here I am, Lord send me
Somehow my story is a part of Your plan,
Here I am "

This song reminds me that every aspect of my life, even the bad parts are just part of God's plan for the world. It also reminds me that my life was given to me from God and that I should offer all of it back to Him. I want the Lord to use me for His good.



PRAYER: Lord, use me for your good. Take my life and help me do good for other people. Help me to progress daily as a Christian. Help me to reach others. Use me as your servant. Use my life and the events in my life to reach others, Lord. I am yours. Send me.