Search Results for: praying for others

Patience With Others

The Spiritual Battle Rages On

Is there someone in your life who denies the existence of God?

It’s sad, isn’t it?

You want so desperately to reach them, but nothing seems to get through.

They may even shut you out by using some choice words.

“Keep your God to yourself.”

Sadly, isn’t that what society as a whole is trying to do right now?

In the spiritual battle going on in this world, just below the surface, it appears the Adversary is gaining ground.

Christians here in the United States are feeling the stirrings of persecution.

It breaks my heart.

Learning To Have Patience With Others

 

trust in God

Are the atheists and agnostics whom we know hopeless in the eyes of God?

No.

As long as there is breath in their bodies, there’s still time.

And their willingness to turn to Christ may not even start with you.

The Holy Spirit can use someone else in the life of a lost person.

The timing is our Sovereign God’s alone.

He gets the glory, and only He knows who will be saved.

I saw this quote from Dr. Woodrow Kroll that applies perfectly.

patience with others

Please be patient with your loved ones who are lost.

Keep praying for them.

You never know when you may get that joy-filled phone call that they’ve turned their lives to Christ.

###

*Quotation from Dr. Woodrow Kroll, Bible teacher and preacher, as quoted, from Christianquotes.info.

Share

Does prayer work for some and not others?

Does prayer work for some and not others?

It’s a question that’s usually asked out of frustration and, sometimes, even anger.

Does prayer work for some and not othersHere’s the better question: Is your heart right with God and are you praying with the right intentions?

Prayer does work and God does answer them, but just remember, His answer may not be the answer you were hoping for. He will answer your prayers in one of three different ways, and that answer depends on His providential will regarding your particular circumstances-

God can reply:

1. “Yes” (We all want that answer, right?)
2. “No” (This is the answer that hurts sometimes, but God knows best.)
3. “Not now” (This is an answer that can also hurt, but only God has perfect timing. Even though that thing you prayed for seems to be the most pressing issue in your life right now, God may decide that it’s better for you to wait.)

Bottom Line: Keep praying!

Don’t give up on God because you didn’t get the answer you were looking for. Someone actually said to me once: “I did pray and God didn’t answer the way I wanted Him too. He has forsaken me.”

Remember, He hasn’t given up on you and He hasn’t forsaken you at all.

We must trust Him even when life doesn’t seem fair. Don’t blame God that sin entered the world. We’re dealing with the repercussions of that to this day.

As our Heavenly Father, He cares for us more deeply than any earthly parent would care for their child. His saying “no” or “not now,” even when it doesn’t appear to make sense or doesn’t seem fair at the time, is the most loving thing He can do. You may not understand it now, but you will someday, if you trust Him. That’s what faith is all about. He grieves over the sins of this world right along with us.

Examine Your Heart Before You Pray

Prayer is also about gratitude. Prayer isn’t simply a means for us to ask God for things. He’s not a magic genie and He’s definitely not tied to those nutty chain letters that promise a miracle will happen if you forward the letter to 10 of your closest friends.

You should examine your heart before you pray. Are your prayers full of selfish wants? Have you put your own desires aside to thank Him for His blessings? Are you even showing your gratitude to the One who gave you life?

The Bible tells us that, as we go through life, we will face many challenges. Sometimes the only thing we can do is pray for guidance.

It’s okay to go it alone, but sometimes the best thing is to ask for prayer support from our Bible-believing family and friends.

When’s the last time you shared a painful experience with a Christian friend and asked him or her to pray with you? You may be surprised at how quickly they can’t wait to do so.

You’re not alone, you know.

The immense support you can receive from a fellowship of believers can help sustain you through the difficult times. It has happened to me.

A Resource That May Be Helpful For You

If you don’t have that intimate prayer support, I want to share with you a resource that might help you.

It’s called “Prayer Works.”

You can find here.

http://www.fromhisheart.org/prayer/prayerworks

It’s part of Pastor Jeff Schreve’s “From His Heart Ministry” website. Simply visit the site and submit your request for prayer.

Christians visiting the site have the opportunity to read your request and then can pray for you. That’s a good thing, but I think the even better thing is that you can check the option to be notified anonymously when someone lifts you up in prayer.

What could be more encouraging than that?

For example, imagine that you’ve just lost your job and you have no idea how you will support your family. Your situation seems hopeless. You want to ask for prayer, but don’t have anywhere to turn. Go to the Prayer Works section of the site and list your request there. Those little “I’m praying for you” notifications you can receive during the stressful days ahead are like little beacons of hope in the darkest of circumstances.

Here’s Ricky Skaggs singing “Somebody’s Praying.” I urge you to listen to this song. It’s hard to hold back tears when you ponder the meaning of the song.

Even Mr. Skaggs chokes up.

God bless!

Share

Eyes on Him Not Them

Keep Your Eyes On Him Not Them

Have you ever heard the expression, “Keep your eyes on Him, not them”?

That means us, Church!

Let’s face it: It’s hard.

fear-mongering

It’s very difficult at times to not get caught up in the bad news and fear-mongering coming from the mainstream media, or the rampant immorality and harmful content in the entertainment world.

There’s more.

protect the innocence of children

Even in school systems across the country, there are radical programs – all of which affect the next generation.

The downward spiral of family values is heartbreaking.

Lord, please make it stop.

How can any person, any school system, any agenda, think it’s okay to steal the innocence of children?

We can’t be alright with a world that encourages these things which ultimately represents hostility towards God and His design for the human race.

Thankfully, brave and concerned parents are speaking out against this.

There’s no quick fix.

The devil fights hard.

We’ve got to be ready. 

How about a New Year’s resolution to pray more than ever before?

We need to pray to Jesus.

Not to His mother Mary nor any saint, nor any religious leader for that matter who takes our eyes off of our only Triune God who deserves our prayer and worship.

eyes on Him not them

We must keep our eyes on Him and His promises.

Whatever happens, we can’t let these upsetting changes “take over” our lives and stall us in our mission to keep praying for others, and help reach the lost for Christ.

There are many issues dividing our communities right now: abortion, gender identity, human sexuality, racial tensions, religious liberty, and education, among others. But the gospel offers a light to our path! The scriptures are full of good news about our inherent value as humans, from our mother’s womb all the way to natural death. And about how God has uniquely made men and women. And there’s good news about His design for marriage as a reflection of Christ and the church. We need to share it! As citizens, we need to be advocates for sound policy. But as we do so, we should always seek to be as bold and truthful as Jesus, and we should also always seek to be as loving in our approach. – Dobson Policy Center.

Are we ready?

# # #

– Quotation from Dobson Policy Center. “An Important Resolution for 2022.”. January 6, 2022., para. 6. Accessed 10 January 10, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.drjamesdobson.org/news/important-resolution-2022

Share

Your Vote: Make It Count

Your Voice, Your Vote: Make It Count!

Last Saturday, we met up with family at a local breakfast hotspot.

We had the best time!

Of course, the youngest in our party stole the show. At five years old, she is adorable and hilarious.

We colored together at the table and all of us got to hear about her latest adventures in kindergarten.

My husband and I love that precious little girl.

I look into her eyes and wonder what her future will be like.

Sometimes, it’s a frightening prospect.

This is not the same America I grew up in. I used to feel relatively safe, but not anymore.

Our country needs prayer and a major spiritual revival.

Here’s another thing . . . everyone needs to vote.

Election Day 2024 is right round the corner and early voting has already begun.

Have you heard the disturbing statistic that over 40 million Christians do not vote?

Not only that, why aren’t more churches encouraging their congregations to vote?

I find that beyond comprehension.

Your Vote: Make It Count

Your vote counts

From what I’ve heard, one of the reasons some people give for “not voting” is:

“Bad moral character”

Friends – we are all sinners and, even more importantly, we are not trying to elect a Savior.

There is only one Savior through whom we can be saved – Jesus Christ.

However, we are electing a President and Vice-President.

Whomever wins will be sitting at the same table with other world leaders over the next four years making major decisions that will affect our great country deeply – and that’s you and me on a personal level.

As evidenced in the Bible, God has, and still can, use “flawed” leaders to accomplish His will.

Besides praying, the best we can do regarding the election is to vote for the candidate whose platform most closely aligns with the Judeo-Christian values our country was founded upon.

Think of all of the veterans who have fought tirelessly for our freedoms.

You matter, and your vote matters.

Please pray for the election outcome, and also for peace in our nation no matter who wins.

Please vote, and encourage others to do the same.

The future of the next generation is at stake.

The next generation

Share

Offering Thoughts And Prayers

Encouragement for Offering Thoughts and Prayers

offering thoughts and prayers

Have you ever told a hurting friend or family member that they’re in your “thoughts and prayers?”

Have you ever commented online about praying and received an onslaught of angry comments back from atheists?

I guess those commenters think that the more they badger Christians online, the better their chances to shut us up.

Even the sentiment “thoughts and prayers” has gotten a black eye.

This is our world, folks.

Christianity is being singled out.

The following true statement can really get them going . . . 

“Jesus is coming again.”

The Coming Day of the Lord

3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water. – 2 Peter 3:3-6, (NASB).1

Do Say, Don’t Say

Atheists love to tell us what we can and can’t say.

Here are some of the comments I’ve read recently:

“Thoughts and prayers don’t work”

“You’re praying to a sky god”

“So where is Jesus? I thought He was coming back”

Truth: We can’t expect unbelievers to act like believers.

And, until Christ returns, there’s nothing we can do, except be patient and pray for lost people in this broken world.

These unbelievers have no idea how much they need our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile, whether it’s an atheist or anyone else (including the media) trying to change what we can and can’t say, I hope you ignore them like I do.

Offering Thoughts and Prayers and Even More

When we went through our family accident years ago, we received a lot of love and grace from others.

Friends brought meals and more. I also knew who I could call if I just needed to talk to someone.

I welcomed every prayer during that difficult time.

It was a beautiful example to me (as a relatively new Christian) to witness these pure-of-heart demonstrations of what Christlike love is all about.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. – 2 Cor 1:3, (NASB).2

# # #

1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Share
1 2 3 … 6