Therefore I Tell You, Do Not Worry (4.9.15)

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life…. - Matthew 6:25

Faith Believers,
Worry and anxiety can constantly plague us. 

We worry about completing our to-do lists, what our bosses or co-workers think of us, or having enough money to make it through the month. It sometimes gets to the point where we don’t feel right if we’re not worried about something.

I know people who find part of their identity in being "worriers" and who actually define themselves by it. But when we Christians do this, it seems like a major contradiction. Worry is another word for fear. And in GOD’s Word, the message is clear: do not worry (Matthew 6:25); and do not fear (Isaiah 41:10).

In 2 Timothy 2:7, Paul writes that GOD did not give us a “spirit of fear.” 

So if fear is not from GOD, then it can be defeated through the work of GOD’s Spirit in us; and through the renewing of our minds in Christ. Changing our fearful minds is hard work, but the Apostle Paul challenges us to “work out our salvation” with the fear of GOD, not out of fear of the world around us (Philippians 2:12).

While our world may be full of frightening things at times, we are all works in progress. But when someone becomes a believer in Christ, that person gains the power to overcome fear. We are children of the One who created the world and everything in it. Therefore, we are co-heirs with Christ, the One who overcame the world (Romans 8:15-17; John 16:33). 
     - Marilyn

Lord God, 

I recognize that worry is 

an attempt to control things 

over which I have no control. 

Fear rules in my mind 

when the things and people around me 

seem bigger and stronger than You. 

Forgive me and help me 

to switch my thinking from fear 

to trust in You. 

Amen.

Having Done All that You Can - Stand & Continue to Pray, with Complete Faith & Trust in God (4.8.15)

Faith Believers,
There comes a time in all our lives, when we have done all that we know to do, and we have fought as hard as we could. And now we stand helpless in the sight of a situation that we cannot change. It is at this point in our "faith walk" that we must not allow the enemy to make us believe that our prayers have fallen on deaf ears. Don’t stop standing on GOD’s Word.  Do not say, “What’s the use of praying?” and just give up.

Giving up won’t accomplish anything, except push you further into despair.

The first thing I want you to remember is this - when the opposition comes on strong, it’s because the enemy is trying and testing your faith. He’s putting thoughts of despair into your mind so you will give up, because he knows you are so close to victory. We must close our minds to his tricks of intimidation and hold fast to our profession of faith.

We must persevere in prayer and not allow the enemy
to steal the Word that GOD that has been planted in our hearts.

The second thing is this - GOD and GOD alone will bring you out of your difficulties, but only if you continue to trust Him, have faith, and continue to pray.
 - Marilyn


The Lord our God wants you to know:

My Child,
I want you to come boldly to the Throne of Grace to seek mercy; and to find grace, in order to help you in your time of need. Having done all that you can, stand and continue to pray; for the effectual fervent prayer the righteous availeth much.

Do not waver when you pray.
Do not waver in your faith.
Be strong and of good courage, knowing that I, Your Father, always hear you when you pray. Never forget that I can do great things in your life when you have complete trust and faith in Me.

Do not allow the enemy of your soul to tempt you to give up. You must live by faith, for it doesn’t bring pleasure to My soul when you do not have faith. Have faith in Me to bring to pass My Word, in your life.

Trust Me to bring increase into your life.

My Child, you have battled storms before and won; why is this one so different? 
Is it because it’s lasting longer than expected? 
Well, let Me tell you this - when you see your blessing,
you will understand why it lasted so long.

So continue to pray.

  

MEDITATE ON HIS WORD: 

Luke 18:1 - And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 - I have planted, Apollos watered; but GOD gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but GOD that giveth the increase.

Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Hebrews 10:38 - Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

1 Peter 1:7 - That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Not My Will, but Yours, Lord (4.7.15)

Father God, 
I thank You that I don’t have to have
all the answers before I pray to You. 

I come to You, trusting that You know all things. 

I humble myself before You, Lord;
and ask You to show me how to pray,
according to Your Will.

Help me to understand that
You know and see everything.

You are the ultimate master planner over my life,
let Your Will be done in my life, always.

Not my will, but Yours, Lord. 

In the name of Your Son,
Jesus Christ, I pray this prayer. 

Amen 

 

An "Easter Monday Morning" Prayer (4.6.15)

Lord God,

Make me an instrument of your peace!

Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 

where there is doubt, let there be faith; 

where there is despair, let there be hope; 

where there is darkness, let there be light; 

and where there is sadness, let there joy.

O Jehovah Shammah, 

Grant that I may not seek to be consoled, 

but that I may be a consoler, 

to those who are going through tough trials right now.

O GOD, help those who are hurting right now, 

to understand that you are the ultimate consoler; 

and that there is nothing they are going through, 

that you cannot change. 

You are Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. 

You are the Great "I Am." 

Who can stand against you Father? 

No one can because you are GOD alone and there is no other. 

Comfort me Lord, as I start my day, 

and protect me from my enemies. 

In the name of Jesus I pray.  

Amen

Open Your Heart to Jesus, Love Him with All Your Heart (4.5.15)

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Mathew 6:21

Faith Believers,
In Matthew 26, a woman poured extremely expensive perfume all over the feet of Jesus. She was met with indignation, even disgust, by Jesus’ disciples. They provocatively asked,“Why this waste?”

It was a year’s worth of wages wrapped up in a bottle. This lavish act of love stirred criticism amongst the others, as they considered a more noble use for her perfume. They said, This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor. - Matthew 26:9.  What did this woman believe about Jesus to take such a precious commodity, and in a moment, spill it out over his feet?

When we love Jesus with all our hearts, nothing is too good for Him. And when we recognize the goodness that comes from Him — that He came to set us free from the bondage of sin and heal our brokenness, exchanging the ashes in our lives with the beauty and purity of His own — we can’t help but worship Him completely, even amidst scrutiny.

This woman knew that Jesus could offer her what the world could not, a new life with total forgiveness. Her treasure was in Jesus. Her heart was completely set upon Him.

Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks.
When we open this door to Him, nothing we offer to Him is a waste.

A life lived in total surrender to God is the richest life one can ever live.

 Lord, 
Give me strength and courage 
to share with others 
what You have done in my life.

May everything I do, say, and think 
bring You glory. 

Amen.

Never Give Up. For Jesus is With You & He is For You. (4.4.15)

Beloved,
Never give up, for I am with you, and I am for you.

I know you’ve battled long and hard, but do not give up.
I sit at the right hand of My Father, the place of all power,
and I am forever interceding for you.

This is why I don’t see you failing.
I see you conquering the things that have come against you.
The battle has already been won.
You are a mighty conqueror, an overcomer.

You have a lot on your mind, but if you keep worrying about the things you are asking Me for, they will not come to pass.  However, if you pray to Me, and believe that I am going to do what I promised; then what you are believing Me for, will come to pass. 

You are on My mind at all times, so why should I not be on your mind at all times?

When you think about Me, thoughts of despair will fade away. When you think about Me, you will begin to see things in a different way.  If you just stop worrying, I assure you, you will begin to see what I see.

You will see yourself as an overcomer.  
Think about your blessings; think about Me.  

MEDITATE ON HIS WORD:

Matthew 6:25 - Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?(NLT)

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 - We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

A "Thank-filled, Easter Prayer" (4.3.15)

Dear Lord God,

I come to You today to thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. 

This Easter season, Jesus, I thank You for suffering on the cross and demonstrating Your enormous love for me there. Thank You for loving me enough to die for me! Your resurrection is the whole reason for the hope that is within me.

Today, Lord God, I want to embrace the reality of what Easter 
should be all about; and that is You. 
I want my life to be an act of worship to You. 
Open my heart, Oh Lord, to feel Your love and forgiveness this Easter. 
Help me to take time to allow You to impress upon my heart, 
the magnitude of what You did for me. 

Thank You that Jesus' death saves me from the penalty of sin and that Your resurrection power, which is at work within me, saves me from the power of sin. Thank You that because of the Cross, all the powers of darkness are disarmed and hold no threat to me; as I open my heart fully to You.

Thank you for Easter and all that it means for me. 
Thank you that I can release all of my past sins, and hurts, to You. 
Help me to truly learn to leave these burdens of guilt at Your feet.  

May my life reflect a living hope to those around me. 

May Your resurrection power flow through me, 
as I embrace Your grace and remember all that You are to me. 

Thank You Lord God.  Thank You Father God.
In Your Blessed Son Jesus’ name I pray, 

Amen

Do You Know What Time It Is? It's Time, My Child. It's Time. (4.2.15)

My Child,
It’s time to stop thinking that your strength will sustain you in these troubled times.

Your strength is limited, and will come to an end. 

However, My strength is everlasting and has prevailed against every attack of the enemy.  Therefore, it is time to rise up in the strength of the Lord and stand against your enemy.  It’s time to let the enemy know that his attacks of discouragement and fear will no longer work.  It’s time to call on My Name, be strengthened and find help in your time of trouble.  It’s time you remember that I Am your Rock, your Fortress, and your Strong Tower.

So, trust in My strength, and I will deliver you from your enemies.

It's time to stop thinking about giving up and becoming a victim of your circumstances.
It’s time to refuse to allow the tactics of the enemy to bring you down, anymore.
It’s time to stand and pull down every stronghold of the enemy coming against you. 
It’s time to stop allowing yourself to be held back by the lies of the enemy.
It’s time to ask Me to rebuke the enemy for your sake, so that the work of your hands can prosper.
It’s time to be strong, to be of good courage, and to know that if you continue to stand in My name; that you shall have the victory.

It’s time to embrace who I have created you to be.
It’s time to embrace the calling and destiny that I have put on your life.
It’s time to rise up in My strength and power, and go accomplish all that I have given you to do.
And it’s time you remember that you are never alone.

I am with you, and you do not have to go in your own strength.
I will be your strength. 
I will empower you; and I will cause you to be triumphant in all you do.

Do you know what time it is?

It is time, My child; it's time.

MEDITATE ON HIS WORD

Psalm 18:2 - The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my GOD, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 
 
Psalms 37:39 - 40 - But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. 
 
Romans 13:11 - And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 
 
2 Corinthians 2:14 - Now thanks be unto GOD, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savoir of his knowledge by us in every place. 

Slow Down, Pay Attention & Take Time to Listen to the Lord (4.1.15)

Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!’ - Mark 9:7

This is a very clear command from GOD that we are to listen to His Son, Jesus.  

It is impossible to do what the Lord desires unless we take time to listen to Him. We can only do this by being still and ceasing our busy, activity-filled lives. Sometimes all GOD wants to do is speak words of love and affirmation. 

Many times He may require nothing of you but to sit and enjoy His company.  Do you wonder how that is even possible, in the midst of our hectic lives?  If so, ask the Father to give you a desire to slow down and pay attention to His Son so that you can be obedient to His wise instruction.

Lord God, 
I don’t want to disobey You, 
but my life has become so hectic; 
and I hardly spend any time with you.  

Take back my heart Father.  
Captivate me with the beauty of Your Son, Jesus.  
May I be still to hear Your Words of joy and affirmation. 

In Your Son Jesus' name we pray,
Amen 

April Cover Photo (2015)

Photo courtesy of  ~ Lynne "In His Hands"