Tag Archives: Prayer

For the Love of God – The Best of She Said
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This, then, is how you should pray: ” ‘Our Father in heaven…

Right there. The place where there’s nowhere else to look, but up. That’s the entrance to heaven, I’m sure of it.

When you scan across the ridge, your eyes catch a glimpse of the outstretched arms of the pine trees and the breeze carries the sweet fragrance of the Father. This is the opening of heaven. Here I wave, and here I wonder if He sees me.

Most little girls adore their dad. I’m no exception. As a child, I loved my father, but we weren’t close. His time was spent working at the local paper mill which left him tired and grumpy most of the time. In fact, Dad was a gentle man, but rarely friendly. So I stood at a distance and longed to know his heart.

Things changed when I became an adult. Dad met the Father and his demeanor changed from the inside out. We drew close—inseparable. Then Dad died. He left me.

When I sit on the mountaintop and gaze across the valley, there is no doubt in my heart Dad is there. As the clouds sift their way through the cliffs and down into the pass, I see them form the illusion of stairs climbing their way upward and vanishing into the depths of the blue ocean. That’s when I lean back and pray.

Our Father in heaven…my father is in heaven. Thirteen years after his death, I miss him the same as I did the day he left me.

I find my heavenly Father in the breath of the mountains. Maybe that’s why I love coming to the summit. It’s here I search. And like a little child, I find myself peering under bushes and pulling back limbs to see if He is, by some slim chance, hiding there. I can’t see Him physically either and that makes me lonely and hungry for His presence. Sometimes fear tells me my heavenly Father will leave me too. Even when I know He won’t.

So on the rare opportunities when I get to climb the face of the mountain, I sit there and pray. I rest assured that God is close. And though at times I feel lost and alone, sometimes abandoned…I know I’ve never really been left. He’s never very far away.

To pray the prayer of Jesus and know that it’s for His love, ever present in me, filling me—keeping me, tells me both of the Fathers I love completely are in heaven.

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Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and cofounders of ChristianDevotions.us. They cowrite the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host Blog Talk Radio’s Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! along with Scott McCausey. Eddie and Cindy travel and speak at conferences across the country and they are available to speak at your church or conference. Contact them at cindy@christiandevotions.us.

 

 

 

Do you sense something vital missing from you relationship with your spouse, children, and God? Try He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion. This compilation of 54 devotions includes scripture verses, space for journaling, individual prayers and words of wisdom from two of today’s funniest and insightful Christian authors. This heart-warming collection of stories will inspire you to reach for the true source of joy: a life lived for and through God. These deeply personal devotions offer biblical insights and spiritual truths from the perspective of one man and one woman.

Print version $9.95
Kindle eBook $4.95
NOOK eBook $4.95

 

Obedient Prayer – Marie Weaver
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Pray, Pray, Pray

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them… Matthew 19:13

A deep sense of urgency almost overwhelmed me. “Pat, we must pray for Jennifer.” My body was warm, like someone was holding me.

I had been sitting on the floor playing with my preschool class of children. At 10:30 that morning everyone was happy, clean, and full of energy. Another teacher, Pat, had come to my room with her one-year-old class. We were pushing trucks back and forth along the floor, watching all of them play together, when I felt this sense that something was terribly wrong. Jennifer, a little girl in Pat’s room was in surgery, and we hadn’t heard how the procedure had turned out.

So, we prayed—prayed Jennifer would be healed and back with us soon.

The next morning, the director of the center came to my room. “Your prayers have been answered. Jennifer is still very ill, but recovering.”

“It wasn’t easy, though,” her mom said. “About 10:30 Jennifer’s heart stopped. The medical team worked for several minutes. Miraculously, her heart began to beat and she started to cry. Everything is okay. Her surgery was a success.”

Matthew tells us they brought children to Jesus so He could lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples tried to keep them away, yet the Lord said the children shouldn’t be kept away. Instead, He said the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them. Jesus calls us to pray for the children today as well. Sometimes we may be called to pray specifically for a child.

Wow. What an exhilarating experience for me. God knew what was going on, and Pat and I knew to pray. No coincidence here. We heard our Master’s voice and followed His direction. I felt truly humble and thankful that the Lord chose me for His purpose.

Allow God to use you for His purpose. Listen to the voice of God. He will speak to you and guide you in your work for Him.

Marie Weaver lives in Elizabethtown, Kentucky with her husband and two children. She is currently a caregiver for a disabled American Veteran and a contributor to Christian Devotions. She writes children’s books and stories.
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Does Prayer Guarantee Protection? – Jana Dean
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Prayer and Protection

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38

He didn’t win. When my cyclist son feels good about a race, his voice tilts upward into the curves of a smile, which I can hear even over a cell phone. Not hearing the smile, my mind went into instant Mom mode.

“Are you okay?” He was chasing the breakaway. It started raining — then the pack caught up and in the slippery conditions, gravity took over and cyclists piled up like matchwood in a crash. My son landed on his chin. He’ll need stitches. I ‘m hundreds of miles away. What about all the people praying—shouldn’t that have guaranteed victory? Success? At least protection from a crash?

Why do we automatically think that way? God never promised a pain-free, risk-free existence. Paul talked about enduring the race set before him and his race was no picnic — shipwrecks, beatings, snakebite, imprisonment. Yet we hear the curves of a smile in his voice, for nothing can separate us from the love of God — neither death, nor life, nor the powers that be — and I add, or another scar on your chin.

Does prayer guarantee protection? No. But God is with us, and when we turn to Him in prayer, the shipwrecks and bike wrecks go under His management instead of ours. In prayer, His peace that passes understanding has a chance of passing into our hearts and minds—as far as we will let it. God’s perfect love trumps our need to be in control.

Hundreds of miles away, I can trust that the Almighty Creator is in charge, and is in love with my son, and with me. Regardless of how the race goes, God’s love covers us, and that’s all we need. Accept the challenge God is offering you. Trust His love today.

Jana Dean is a globe-trotting missionary kid who resides in Kentucky. She supports her writing habit as a corporate communicator and sales trainer. She also teaches youth Sunday school, and performs as keyboardist and vocalist with Aaron Austin and the Bootleg Preachers, as well as the women’s trio, Rahab’s Rope.

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Details, Details – Jackie Confalone
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So make yourself an ark of cypress wood…this is how you are to build it…Noah did everything just as God commanded him… Genesis 6:14-16, 22

I took the crisp white sheet, carefully unfolded it, and spread it out with care, brushing away the wrinkles. The daylight from the bay window cascaded just the right amount of illumination on the objects there. Perfect, I thought. Now the background for the photos of items I was selling on eBay was ready.

I’ll admit it. I’m an eBay addict. If I’m looking to purchase an item, I will often pursue eBay first. I’ve listed treasured household items that have collected dust over many years, and I’ve also bought hard-to-find items on eBay. Whether buying or selling, I take great care to prepare items for sale or to examine photos of items for sale and email questions to the seller. My pulse races when I’m going head-to-head with another bidder at the end of an auction.

As I laid out the white sheet to take my photos, the question came to my mind: Do I take the same care when I prepare myself for everyday service for Him? Do I take the time to feed on His Word with my breakfast and digest it so I can apply it to my life that day?

Noah was a godly man who followed God’s commands exactly and prepared 100 years for a flood when he’d never even seen rain. God gave Noah a visual blueprint of the ark, naming the materials he should use and the exact size and location for those materials. When God calls us to a task, He will give us all the details needed. He wants us to pay attention to those details and carefully use our talents to prepare for this task.

I don’t always read the Bible and my devotions with passion and concentration. Many times I glean wisdom for my day, but just as often I quickly read it with my mind distracted. I don’t always like working out the wrinkles of my life or the details God gives to put my feet on a level path, yet I know my time spent in the Bible and in prayer is the most valuable time of my day. When I’m attentive to the details, God blesses and surprises me!

Take a cue from a man who lived for 950 years, prepared for God’s task for 100 years, and walked faithfully with God, and do all that the Lord commands you.

Jackie Confalone lives in Pennsylvania with her “groom” of thirty years, Gary. They have two grown children. She loves God, Jesus, her family, ministering and teaching with her husband, teaching fitness classes, sleeping, technology, writing, and cherry pie—in that order. She has started posting some writings at http://jackieconfalone.wordpress.com/.
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A Parent’s Prayer – Martin Wiles
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My child how happy I will be if you turn out to be wise!
Proverbs 27:11 NLT

Will they be wise? I may not have asked this out loud, but when I first laid eyes on each of my children, I surely prayed it silently. At the first signs of rebellion I’m sure I voiced it again.

All parents have been there. I remember the day I first held my children and thought how beautiful and sweet they were. I couldn’t imagine them doing anything wrong or spiteful. Of course, that was before they woke you at night screaming for a bottle or before they sprayed baby food all over you. Before they cried, yelled, and threw a temper tantrum.

I suddenly discovered they weren’t the most charming children in the world and I began to worry about the decisions they’d make as they grew. Peer pressure, smoking, alcohol, drugs—the world was primed to toss terrible things their way. When I gazed on them in their cribs I was confident they would always make intelligent decisions, but now with a little experience, fear crept in. My wife and I prayed diligently to keep them on the right path.

Teaching your children to choose the right path is a challenging command with a double edge. The teaching is easy. Trusting our children to make sensible decisions is more difficult and disappointment follows when they fail. God keeps my children nestled in His hands and covered in His promises.

Unlike my father, I don’t blame myself when my grown children make unwise decisions. My conscience is clear. I taught them godly standards and if they choose to walk the broad path of disobedience, that’s between them and God. But I’m always overjoyed when they choose the wise path of faithfulness.

Our responsibility is to teach our children godly principles and turn them over to God. Love them through their failures and celebrate them in their triumphs. Most of all . . . pray.

Each night, when you lay down to sleep, trust your children to Christ. He holds them tight in His palm.

Dr.Martin Wiles is an ordained minister currently serving as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Harleyville, South Carolina. He holds degrees from Baptist College of Florida and Southern Baptist School in Jacksonville, Florida. He has authored two books and has served as a regional correspondent for the Baptist Courier. He has also been published in Proclaim, The Sounds of Poetry, Fires of Genius, as well as other anthologies of poetry. Martin and his wife Michelle, currently reside in Harleyville, SC. They have two children.
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Here Are My Needs, God – She Said
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Pray for Me

Here Are My Needs, God – She Said

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 Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18

to Here Are My Needs, God – She Said
She brought tears to my eyes.

“Cin,” she said, “I just wanted you to know, I’m praying for you. I don’t know what’s going on. But I woke up with you on my heart.”

It couldn’t have been better timing. My husband and I were in the middle of a major decision. We were hurt, sad…broken. Tears welled.

“It’s just I hear you pray so often for others and you rarely ask for prayer for yourself.”

She was right. I rarely ask for prayer for myself. It’s not that I feel as though I don’t need it…Lord knows I need it a lot. But when I look at the needs of others, my issues are so much less. How wrong was that thought? Very.

Paul stressed the importance of “all kinds” of prayers and requests. He’d previously reminded of us the importance of suiting up in the full armor of God. Covering ourselves in the protection of Christ then taking every type of prayer request before Him. No one knew better than Paul, the importance of every prayer. He’d been in some pretty dicey spots and had he chosen not to pray for himself who knows what would have happened. In fact, Paul never hesitated to ask his brothers in Christ to lift him before the Father. Those prayers presented to God, played a part in saving Paul over and over.

I’ve been wrong about a lot of things but never as wrong as when I assume my personal prayer needs are less than someone elses’. When I fail to ask my Christian friends to pray for me, I’m telling God I can handle things on my own…I don’t need or want His help. Even though that’s not my intention, it’s certainly the impression I give my Abba Father. Christ was the one who instructed us to pray for one another, to lift every need before Him. The God of all loves me and my needs as much as He loves the next person.

Christ set the example in the garden when He looked to His Father in heaven and asked, could this be taken from Him? Jesus carried even His personal needs and concerns to His Father.

I need to lay all my needs at the feet of Christ. My guess is, you do too. What do you say, we go hand in hand to our knees and say, “Here are my needs God.” Then let Him take them.

Read Cindy’s devotions

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and cofounders of ChristianDevotions.us. They cowrite the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host Blog Talk Radio’s Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! along with Scott McCausey. Eddie and Cindy travel and speak at conferences across the country and they are available to speak at your church or conference. Contact them at cindy@christiandevotions.us.

 

 

Do you sense something vital missing from you relationship with your spouse, children, and God? Try He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion. This compilation of 54 devotions includes scripture verses, space for journaling, individual prayers and words of wisdom from two of today’s funniest and insightful Christian authors. This heart-warming collection of stories will inspire you to reach for the true source of joy: a life lived for and through God. These deeply personal devotions offer biblical insights and spiritual truths from the perspective of one man and one woman.

Print version $9.95
NOOK eBook $2.99

Receive He Said, She Said on your Kindle!

Bobby’s Prayer – Kevin Spencer
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Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quick Lord and help me. Psalm 40:13

The year was 1937. On a sick bed in Caswell County, North Carolina, a seven-year-old boy lay dying of pneumonia. In 1937, before penicillin and sulfa drugs, pneumonia was death.
It was a lingering death, at that.

As the young boy’s condition worsened, ladies in the neighborhood came to relieve his exhausted mother. They would sit through the night at his bedside, wiping his fevered brow. But their efforts did nothing to slow the gradual strangling as the boy’s lungs filled. He could keep no medication down. He was dying.

At last, the end came. “The last day,” the boy’s doctor said. His name was Dr. Simpson. He had been coming to see the boy twice a day, visiting and treating him in the family home. And now he gave the family the bad news. The boy wouldn’t last the night. The young seven-year-old, although drifting in and out of consciousness, nevertheless heard this. He understood his condition and although he could no longer speak, in his heart and mind he began to pray, “Lord please don’t let me die; it would hurt my mother too much.”

Day drifted into night. The boy, when he was conscious, continued to repeat his simple prayer. And then, in the upper left corner of his darkened room, a light appeared. Out of that light came a voice: “Stop worrying. You are not going to die. Go back to sleep. You need the rest.” Immediately a deep peace came over the boy and he drifted back to sleep.

When the boy next awoke, Dr. Simpson was back, checking his breathing. Daylight filled the room. The boy heard Dr. Simpson tell his parents, “I don’t want to give you false hope, but his vital signs are just a little better than yesterday.” Again the boy slept, and again he awoke to Dr. Simpson checking him. Late afternoon light filled the room. The doctor turned to the boy’s mother and told her, “There is improvement. I think we may be turning the corner.” The boy’s mother left the room so no one would see her tears.

Dr. Simpson turned to pull the boy’s covers back up. As he did, the boy touched his arm and struggled to speak. “I’ll not die,” he rasped out.

Dr. Simpson bent low and spoke softly. “No, Bobby, you’re not going to die.”

He started to rise, but Bobby wasn’t finished. He tugged at the doctor’s arm again. and spoke, his voice barely a whisper.  “Last night I prayed, ‘Lord, don’t let me die.’ and He answered me. God told me, ‘You are not going to die.”’ That took all the boy’s strength and he collapsed back onto his pillow.

Dr. Simpson leaned close and said, “Bobby, you keep talking to God. He is a better doctor than I am.”
____________________________________

Bobby would keep talking to God. Through his recovery from pneumonia and through his multiple surgeries as a teenager to recover from the devastating effects of polio, Bobby kept talking to God. And God kept answering with His healing mercy. I know this, because Bobby was, is, Robert Eudean Spencer, my father. And on March 26, 2012, he will celebrate his eighty-second birthday.

God listens. He hears. Put your cares before Him . . . and listen for His answer.

Kevin Spencer lives in Tennessee with his beautiful wife Charlotte and grandson Caleb. He is a staff writer for www.ChristianDevotions.us.  A former prodigal son, Kevin is now trying to use the gifts God gave him, and by the grace of God has a life far better than he ever deserved.

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Hurry Up and Wait – Delton de Armas
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In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.. Psalm 5:3

The arrival of a baby is such bittersweet anticipation. For almost thirty-seven weeks, my soon-to-be-born son was developing in his mother’s womb. The normal gestation period is forty weeks, but at this point, he could arrive at any time. We knew he would be here soon, but we didn’t know exactly when.

He was our third child, so while the beginning of the pregnancy was still very exciting, we were perhaps a little complacent. After all, it would be months before our little one would be here, so it almost didn’t seem real. The due date seemed an eternity away.

Month by month, though, the time flew by. Every day, our eagerness intensified. We could hardly wait to meet this new addition as he was introduced into our lives. The day that seemed so far away was suddenly upon us. Our expectation of our son’s arrival both lengthened and shortened the waiting period. It made time both speed by and drag.

Sometimes prayer can be that way. We bring our requests to God, expecting an immediate answer. Unfortunately, there is never a specific timetable. God promises to answer our prayers, but he does not say when. We should pray with expectation, though, anticipating his response, regardless of how long it takes. This can make things go by quickly and slowly, both at the same time.

What are you praying for? Are you eagerly awaiting an answer? Spend some time today thanking God for prayers that He’s already answered, and in advance for the prayers he’s going to answer in the future.

After all, we know he’s going to answer, we just don’t know when.

Delton de Armas was born in Orlando, Florida. He moved with his family to Carrollton, Texas in 2010 to attend Dallas Theological Seminary where he is pursuing a Master of Arts in Media and Communication (M.A./MC). He married his high school sweetheart Pam, and has three children: Amber, Alden, and Abram. Delton loves cycling, snowboarding, reading, and writing.
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Don’t Save Me from the Storm – Sandra M. Hart
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They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah 6:9

Here I was again, walking away from another argument. Another chance to stand tall and face the heated words went out the window. I blew another opportunity to be a positive witness for my Savior. I failed to give an unpopular answer which might have later sparked some serious soul-searching on the part of someone I love.

Instead of facing some uncomfortable moments, I caved like the coward I am.

Worst of all, my daughter witnessed it.

If I want her to live with courage, then I need to portray it. I need to provide an example.

Nehemiah’s enemies threatened to kill him and the other Israelites who worked to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. When the threats continued, Nehemiah knelt to pray. He didn’t ask God to save him or send the enemies away. He asked for strength.

When I’m in the middle of a struggle, too often I ask God to save me. I pray for His protection. I don’t want to endure the pain. I shy away from the battle.

God saves me when I request it, but is He disappointed with my lack of trust? Does He sigh inwardly and wonder when I will learn that these trials can bring Him glory if I allow Him to lead me?

God gave Nehemiah a burden to do what He called him to do. Then He answered Nehemiah’s prayer to help him do it.

Asking God to strengthen us for the storm, rather than to save us from it, may change the outcome as well as our attitude. It could change eternity for someone who silently watches.

God is up for the challenge. He is equipping us, even now, to do what He requires us to do.

Lord, strengthen our hands.

Sandra M. Hart writes for the A Hart for History link on DevoKids.com, where she serves as Assistant Editor. She has written for The Secret Place, Voice, Afictionado, and Common Ground. She is a contributor for Faith & Finance: In God We Trust, and writes historical romance novels.

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The Spirit is Willing – Sandra M. Hart
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Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. Matthew 26:40 NIV

I am in God’s waiting room.

I’ve been praying and asking for guidance for a particular request for several years. While I have had some answers and direction, I am still waiting.

In the meantime, I haven’t been idle. I have worked toward the goal where I feel God is leading me. I’ve suffered through some painful times when it seemed that God was doing His part to prepare me for the future.

Sometimes I want to tell Him, “Surely I’m ready now, Lord. Can this be the time?” It’s not easy to wait when I can’t understand the reasons behind the delay.

“Could you not wait for me for one hour?”

His question brings me to my knees. My spirit is willing to trust His leading, but I’m so very weak.

Jesus spent tortured minutes in the Garden of Gethsemane, pleading with God to avoid the brutality of the cross. If there was any other way to save us, God would have cleared the path. But there wasn’t. Jesus had to go to the cross.

His disciples didn’t understand His agony and fell asleep when He most needed their support.

We don’t always comprehend the unseen struggle unleashed by our prayers. We simply look for an answer – yes, no, or not now. He says all three answers to our prayers at different times.

There’s another possibility. Maybe He wants us to trust Him for an answer He’s not yet ready to give.

Sandra M. Hart enjoys writing historical fiction novels set in the Midwest. She is inspired by the people around her. Those labeled as “everyday people” are the ones who inspire her most. She hopes to have a nonfiction book published about a couple of these ordinary heroes who fill our lives with hope.

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