Turn Worry To Worship

“Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

In one breath I say Lord help me not judge them in another breath I find myself judging. In one breath I know God is in control but yet in another I stress over so much stuff. 

As hard as it is try praising God when you are tempted to start worrying. Try it right now, shout to God with a voice of triumph. Don’t let the enemy defeat you and make you stress over your problems. Say Lord thank you for what you have purposed for my children and grandchildren will come to pass. 

Stop fighting the battle on a human level. Say positive things out of your mouth, don’t let your words defeat you. Start praising God when you are tempted to be in anguish. 

PRAYER: Thanks God you are working. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Do You Have A Foundation?

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11

When the rug is pulled out from under you so to speak who do you turn to or what do you turn to?

Think back to the horrendous day of grief and shock 25 years ago when the unthinkable happened and the World Trade Center came tumbling down and The Pentagon was attacked. A mind numbing event gripped not only the nation but the world as sheer hatred was aimed at America. 

Christ is the only place to turn and the only firm foundation to stand on in times like these. You just ask yourself why God but do not blame Him. All things happen for a reason and some are not easy to hear about or witness. If you have not made Jesus your foundation and asked Him into your heart why not do it now. 

PRAYER: Father your light shines bright through the greatest darkness. You are the only foundation. I pray for evil hearts and lethargic hearts to turn to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Do You Need To Make Peace With Someone?

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

Has a misunderstanding occurred between you and a friend or family member maybe misspoken hurtful degrading words that stung bad? You know God wants reconciliation but don’t know how to start the process. 

Probably everyone has had some issue in life where it caused separation between relatives, co workers, neighbors whatever the case. It hurts when a person doesn’t want anything to do with you especially when claiming to know Christ. 

Take a moment and confess any sins on your heart. Repent if you know you are wrong. Shut all doors to the enemy Satan in your life that if they remain open will cause junk to continue and fester. Satan is the divider not God. 

PRAYER: Father I need you. Thanks for people you have brought into my life and help me to overlook faults and be in prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Stop Comparing And Belittling Yourself

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

Do you have issues with comparisons to others? In this world on social media posts it can be easy to be discouraged and dissatisfied. 

First Satan is behind all that. Every person is unique and has a different gifting. As for looking at someone’s beauty or material possessions once again you don’t know the whole story and why should it matter anyway. 

Be happy with what God has done for you don’t let others beat you down or make you feel little and insignificant. You don’t know what everyone’s story is so go forward and live you life for Jesus seeking ways to help others. 

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for each day of life even when things don’t go as I wish I still praise you for you have a plan that is greater than mine. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Letting Things Go

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”Matthew 11:28-30

No matter what it is sometimes it is better for all parties involved to let things go and not try to be right. Give your concerns and those you are concerned about to God. 

What has you troubled today? Have you been misunderstood? Is your heart broken and you feel the pain will never cease? 

Whatever it is know the enemy Satan is the only one glorified if he can keep you in that unproductive rut and wrong thinking. You give your concerns to God get on your knees and talk to God. Let Him work in the hearts of the person you have been praying over. That’s it. Go have a good day. Be productive for the kingdom. That kingdom might be right there in your own home. 

PRAYER: Inside I at times am weeping over issues I can do nothing about. I know Lord you hear my prayers and are working. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Twenty Five Years

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”2 Corinthians 3:17

It is hard to believe 25 years ago today at around 8:47 CST America was attacked by a foreign country who hates freedom. You walk on egg shells talking about it to some people which blows my mind as it was outright terrorism those who hated America and what we stood for. 

Don’t ever assume just because you are in the land of the free because of the brave you are out of the woods so to speak. Other events such as the Ft Hood mass shooting of 2010 proved the enemy can even infiltrate our ranks to carry out pure evil. 

We are to pray for our enemies and be kind to them but to also be wise. There are reasons for boundaries, rules, laws and even in the Bible these exist. Today stop what you are doing and reflect on that horrible day. Thousands lost their lives. Always be in prayer. 

PRAYER: Father help those of us in America never take freedom for granted. Help people hear and know the truth. Silence anyone who spreads evil and lies that would hurt our country. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Crazy Prayers

‘Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23

Do you ever pray prayers that if people heard you would think you were a nut case? I have. Bold prayers where you are believing for breakthrough or something only God could do. 

Not a name it and claim it thing but sincerely believing God is at work and you don’t know how He will do but then His timing is perfect and His ways beyond any of us finding out. 

You know God heard you and what you are praying isn’t crazy it is having faith and trusting God still is God of breakthrough and miracles. Do you believe? 

PRAYER: Father you know what I need and when I need it so I trust you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Hurting Hearts

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18 

Everyone has experience heartache before for various reasons. No one is immune. Maybe the reason for your heartache seems trivial compared to say someone who just buried their child. But all pain is real and God cares. 

What has your heart hurting? When you hurt if you can try to find a way to help another person you too will receive a blessing and maybe joy. 

Whatever burden you may be carrying try to find a trusted friend or family member to share it with. I say ‘trusted’ because you don’t want to share details of something then hear about it in a gossip circle. In Moms in Prayer we have a motto ‘what’s prayed in the group stays in the group’. 

PRAYER: I pray for those people who need a prayer partner to share life with. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

I’ve Never Prayed For Robots Before

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians  4:6

Do you have an active prayer life? Do you know you can pray for anything? In the movie ‘War Room’ Miss Clara character played by actress Karen Abercrombie had a true heart for crying out to God in a literal prayer closet she affectionately called her ‘War Room’ as it is there she went to war against demons of darkness and cried out to God for so many things. 

She later had a small role in the film ‘The Forge’ where she made the comment which is today’s title. It was about a factory needing to meet quota to win a contract and yes Miss Clara cried out for the robots and the people who programmed them. 

What or who do you need to go to prayer for? Is prayer an after thought or is it vital everyday? There are prayer apps that you can get to help you. You can journal prayers or put them on sticky notes on your closet wall if you have a space for your own ‘prayer closet’ war room. Now go have a prayerful day. 

PRAYER: Father when my heart is groaning or breaking help me not forgot to go to you in prayer. I lift up all those I pray for who need you in their life or back in their life. You know who they are. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Note: I highly recommend both movies I mentioned in this devotion. ‘War Room’ and ‘The Forge’ both products from The Kendrick Brothers and Sony Pictures. 

Work Hard

“Every man also to whom God has given riches and possessions, and the power to enjoy them, to accept his lot and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God”Ecclesiastes 5:19

Labor Day was first celebrated in the US in 1894. Started by trade unions and labor movements to celebrate work. Work is good. If you don’t work you don’t eat simple as that. 

Colossians 3:23 says “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Labor Day itself is a secular holiday celebrating work designed by God. Imagine had God not put ideas in man’s brain about how to build and create things what a shambles we would be in. 

As believers you serve others through your work. The ability to work is a gift from God. Jobs are a gift from God. Initially after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden came toil but all in all mankind can prosper for himself and help others through his labors thanks to God. So if you have a job be thankful. 

PRAYER: Thanks for each and every hard working person who makes up the labor force and for prospering America so we in turn can help the less fortunate. In Jesus’ name. Amen.