Just Pray - Phoebe Leggett

“Pray continually;” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing. Prayer should be more than a few words spoken over a meal. It is constant intercession with thanksgiving, praise and need.

Pray for situations as they occur. Instantly pray for someone who says “pray for me.” I call them arrow prayers—moments of instantaneous thoughts for those in immediate need. So often friends ask us for prayer and we agree, never taking to heart the needs they have or the importance of the request. But each request is a cry of the heart, not to be taken lightly and not to be forgotten. So, shoot an arrow prayer into heaven.

There is great power behind the words of a prayer. Jesus constantly slipped away from the crowds to talk to His Father. He came to God for His strength and the guidance and wisdom He needed daily to carry on the work He was assigned.

Conversation with God is not one-sided. Even when we feel as though He is not listening, or has turned a deaf ear to us, He hasn’t. God hears every word we utter and senses every need we own.

So, pray wholeheartedly for those who express their grief to you, for those who are sick or injured, or those who are lonely. Speak words of praise for the joys of life and the blessings that are given to you and never forget to thank Him.

Be instant in season and out of season. Be aggressive in your prayers. Faith grows when it is worked. Believe when you pray.

You don’t have to pray out loud—just have a prayer in your heart and on your lips continuously. Just try it. God will answer your prayers and you will have
accomplished what Jesus wants you to do—pray without ceasing,

Phoebe Leggett was the recipient of two poetry awards from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference in 2007. Many of her poems, articles, and short stories have appeared in various magazines and Christian literature; and she is currently working on a book about grief. She is married with two grown children and one grandchild. Her youngest son was killed in tragic accident in 2004. Phoebe is the Assistant Editor of DevoKids.com Learn more about Phoebe at http://www.phoebeleggett.com/.

Saying Grace - Kay K. Mortimer

“…commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
I Timothy 4:3-5 (NKJV)

“God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we all are fed. Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen.”

Many of us recognize the words of this simple prayer we learned as a tot. But do we realize how important such a childlike prayer is?

Before eating, “grace” is expected by many. But is this a meaningless tradition, or is it steeped with Biblical truth, applicable for our daily lives?

I found my answer in the truth of the text above. We should, receive our food with faith and thanksgiving, by “saying grace”.

By giving thanks, we also sanctify our food. By asking God’s blessings, He sets our food apart for our good and nourishment.

According to this verse, the food we receive is sanctified by both prayer and the Word of God. I have learned the importance of speaking and praying the Word of God over my life.

Even the time-honored child’s prayer we echoed earlier attests much Scriptural truth. Consider the following:

• Psalm 48:1 – “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.” (God is great.)
• Psalm 100:5 – “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (God is good.)
• I Timothy 4:4 – “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving.” (Let us thank Him for our food.)
• Psalm 103:2, 5 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul…who satisfies your mouth with good things.” (By His hands, we all are fed.)
• Matthew 6:11 – “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Give us, Lord, our daily bread.)

Therefore, it seems clear that our prayer of thanksgiving before our meals should include and be based upon the Word of God. In doing so, God blesses our food for us.

Be thankful. Say grace. A childhood prayer is a good place to start. For God is great. God is good. Won’t you thank Him for your food?

Kay K. Mortimer is a freelance writer, Licensed Tax Professional, and bookstore owner who lives in Aiken, SC with her husband. She writes for a local newspaper, as well as nonfiction devotions, meditations, and Bible studies. She is a member of the SC Writers Workshop. Her greatest passion is teaching and sharing the Word of God, helping Christians to grow and be encouraged in the faith.

He is Everything -- Cindy Sproles

He is Everything

“Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8

Prayer is essential to our spiritual growth. There was a time when I began bedtime with prayer but I rarely got past thanking God for my family before I fell asleep. I figured that was okay since God knew my prayers anyway because He's omniscient (all knowing).

Then I realized that if I wanted to make a bigger impact for God I needed to keep my eyes open or closed but above all alert. I changed times, moving my prayer time to an earlier part of the day but still my mind wandered. I figured that was okay since God knew my prayers anyway, what with Him being omnipresent (always there).

Finally I began to rise early and pray for five minutes. I wrote my prayers down. Soon I began to look forward to my one-on-one time with Christ on. My prayers grew longer, became more intense and more focused. I sensed God creeping into my heart.

I can't say God answers "yes" to my prayers today anymore more He did in the past. But I do know He hears. He has promised us that. He's also said that He's omnipotent (all powerful) and all loving which means that sometimes His answer is no answer at all. It's "a figure it out for yourself, Cin" silence that causes me to rely on Him more for the hard tasks that come with each day.

Do you really pray? Do you continue to seek after the Master even when His answer is silence? Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.

God is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. Trust in His love. Submit to His authority. Yearn for His wisdom.

He is, your God. There is no one above Him.


Cindy Sproles, along with Eddie Jones is the co-founder of ChristianDevotions.us. Together they host Christian Devotions Speak Up on BlogTalk Radio.com and author the popular He Said, She Said Devotions.

From the Mountaintop to the Edge -- Cindy Sproles

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry."– Psalm 40: 1

You could say, today I had the best of both worlds. Cliché as it is—it’s true. I often wonder as I stare from my window, just what lies beyond the rise and fall of the majestic mountains.

Some say I’m naïve to the world that lies past the rolling hills, and perhaps to some extent, that s ’true. When God created the mountains of Tennessee, He built a small protective covering around the inhabitants of the area. Life has remained simple, even somewhat pure in its hidden alcove. Things are….safe.

Today I stood on the mountaintop and peered over the edge into the valley that rolled toward the sand and surf. In the distance I could see the foam washing aground and I wondered what life must be like there.

There was a time in my life when I stood at a pinnacle, happy with the life I pursued. Believing in God but not living in Him. I thought my life was complete….I had all a simple life could offer; a family, a job, a home. I didn’t need anything else. Or so I thought.

Then it crashed around me. I found I needed more than what I already had. I needed fulfillment, peace, and assurance for something more than what the world held before me. I needed to know Him. I needed to feel as though He knew me.

I cried to Him, “Take me to the edge of the world.” And then I waited. I know He heard my cry because the clouds on the mountaintop shifted. You see, God is like that. Always listening. Always waiting for me to call to Him and when I do, He answers. He brings me into Him with a closeness that is so comfortable, I’m completely content.

We have a Father who longs for us to love Him—who patiently steps to the side while we ignore His biding. But He never leaves us.

Do you have a longing for something more meaningful in your life? Cry to Him. Listen.
Today, I began on the mountaintop and by nightfall, I stood at the edge of the world with the ocean washing across my feet. And life is good. It’s complete and whole. I cried to Him and He heard, then answered.


Christian Devotions

Cindy Sproles co-writes with
Eddie Jones in the popular
He Said, She Said devotions.
They are friends and co-founders
of ChristianDevotions.us.