How is your prayer life? Do you have one? Recently someone messaged me that she wanted to pray but did not know how to go about doing it. Surely we have all felt like that a time or two.
Basically, praying is talking to God. There are not any rules, except I would say it should be done respectfully. Don’t concern yourself with the shortness or length, just pray. For me, I like to go someplace quiet and without distractions. Then I start talking to God. Out loud or silently are both fine. Sometimes you hurt so much all you can do is cry out His name and let the Holy Spirit pray for you.
What prayer is not is magic, a way to get people to notice you, or a wish list. Prayer is asking for God’s help, healing, guidance, or provision. It is not asking for things you want but rather things you need. We pray for everything according to His Will. Not ours…His.
For those that are seasoned praying people, how do you pray? Do you have a prayer partner? Do you use scriptures in your prayers or maybe the Names of God? Do you fast and pray? Personally, I have like to do all of those things. Every morning that we can, my prayer partner and I pray via telephone. She’s up in Michigan and I am in Southern Indiana. We use scripture and some of God’s names in our prayers. For us it is a way of showing our love for Him and His Word.
What do we pray about everyday? Everything! Our children, family, parents, jobs, the nation, our friends that have requests, even our animals. God cares about every area of our lives so we seek His guidance in all things. We praise Him for His power, omnipotence, and might. Thanks are given for what He has done and answered prayers.
However you pray, just do it. If you are a parent, think how happy you are when your child contacts you. God is our Heavenly Father and wants to hear from us. Good things happen when you pray. Try it today.
The Prayer Warrior by authors by Traci Wooden-Carlisle and D. Tina Batten is a phenomenal story and should not be missed! It is a powerfully moving contemporary tale of spiritual warfare based on real-life circumstances. Anyone who reads this fabulous book will glean greater insight into prayers as well as spiritual warfare.
This mesmerizing story is a powerful Christian tale of spiritual warfare among everyday life. Set in a Christian school with struggling teens, their wonderful counselor, Ms. V., provides sage advice and effective prayer support. The situations are presented from her point of view. The characters are believable and relatable. I loved the inspirational message that was woven throughout the story beginning on the first page. I was invested in the book and prayer warrior immediately. This was a true page turner.
The authors did an excellent with their melded writing style. The story flowed smoothly. I could imagine it being played out like a movie. It was so interesting and followed what I have been taught about spiritual warfare. In some ways it reminded me of The Prayer Room because it talks about a powerful subject that can change a person’s life.
This novel will definitely stick with you long after you finish reading it. Give yourself time to process its powerful, mighty message. The authors have included dual endings that are both engaging. I highly recommend this novel. It would make a great movie and will surely end up on the big screen soon. I gladly rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
I recommend this for everyone. Small church groups or reading groups will benefit by discussing this in a cozy setting. I can think of many people that would like to see this under their Christmas tree. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own, honest ones.6
About the Book
Book: The Prayer Warrior
Author: D. Tina Batten and Traci Wooden-Carlisle
Genre: Christian Fantasy
Release date: March 25, 2021
There is a thin line between the natural and the spiritual realm.
Ms. V., a humble servant of the Lord, has been placed on assignment at Center of Hope Christian Academy.
By day, she serves as a trusted counselor for students, giving them a safe haven to pour out their innermost feelings while providing professional and honest truth wrapped in a firm kindness and love that inevitably draws them closer to Jesus. Not to be outdone, the faculty also bends her ear from time to time.
By night, Ms. V. enters the spiritual realm and takes her place on the battlefield as one of God’s faithful prayer warriors. She wields her whispering sword, slicing through the enemy’s plans to bind the precious hearts under her charge. Her assignment’s burden on her physical body is taxing, but can she withstand the strain and remain victorious? Saving souls is her true mission, but at what cost?
Readers are in for a journey of spiritual intrigue and biblical insight as they experience the ramifications of each character’s life-altering decision.
“Tina” Batten is a loving mother, wife, sister, daughter and Mima to her grandchildren. She is a gifted visual storyteller who is passionate about bringing encouraging messages of inspiration and hope to the world.
Tina Batten, a writer for over eighteen years of various dramatic works of performing art via stage, and film, encompasses unique ways of creating fascinating story concepts that touch the heart of most who view or read her work. She is both honored and thrilled to have teamed up with long-time friend, sister in the gospel and co-author Tracy on this phenomenal collaborative book project. With such a humble heart and desire to bring people together in love and unity, Tina Batten will continue her work as a visual storyteller spreading the good news of Jesus Christ one project after the other.
As Always, D. “Tina” Batten gives God All the Glory!
Traci Wooden-Carlisle began writing to publish in 2011 and enjoys writing stories that provoke thought and evoke emotions. Her desire is to draw readers into the lives of her characters and share messages of God’s love, His faithfulness and peace. The messages in her books speak to her way before they speak to her readers.
Traci lives in San Diego with her husband, David. When she isn’t writing she does some light traveling or assists people with their physical fitness, creates graphics, designs pretty things for her jewelry business and swag for authors.
More from Traci
The Backstory of the Prayer Warrior: Two authors, Two Thousand Miles Apart, One Supernatural Story
I used to believe writing wasn’t a team sport. With a few Christian fiction titles in my backlist, I believed there was truly only enough room for God’s message and my writing style in a book. From January 2019 to March of 2021 I was proven wrong.
Tina Batten and I, Traci Wooden-Carlisle met in 2004 at a performance and praise showcase Sister Batten produced. As a liturgical praise dancer, I performed in her showcase and we became fast friends.
Over the years we would support each other on goals reached, such as Sister Batten’s film success and my books, even when Sister Batten moved to the other side of the country.
At the end of 2018 the Lord prompted me to give Sister Batten a call. It felt like more than a greeting to see how she and her family were doing and by the time we finished talking we had committed to seeking God for an idea for a story we could write together and what message He wanted us to share.
When we came back together at the beginning of the next year, we merged our storytelling, fiction writing skills and desire to share God’s message of encouragement and perseverance. We spoke on the phone every Sunday afternoon for months, discussing the previous week’s writing, before a family emergency on my side forced us to take a short break. When we resumed our calls, it was as if no time had passed.
A year later, amidst a few tears and a great deal of praise to God, we completed The Prayer Warrior and I was more than proud of what we were able to accomplish.
The Prayer Warrior is the story of a Christian School student counselor who allows the Holy Spirit to guide her when listening and discussing issues with the students, and sometimes staff, she counsels. At night in her dreams, she is led to war in the spirit and finds that some of the battles she wages against demonic forces affect her waking world and the people she interacts with daily.
There are a lot of twists and turns with a few big surprises, especially after one strenuous battle.
One of our hopes is that readers come away from reading this book with a greater sense of encouragement, empowerment and understanding that the line between the spiritual and natural realm is thinner than most of us realize. Prayer is powerful and it truly changes our lives and the lives of those around us.
In His Presence, The Secret of Prayer by author Dr. E.W. Kenyon is an inspirational Christian book. The words on prayer are timeless. This is a great addition to any Christian library.
The author has a passion for God that shows through this book. He emphasizes the importance of daily prayer and having a strong prayer life. If readers need help establishing that, the author offers suggestions.
There is a wealth of information packed into the pages of this book. It is so edifying that I had to read it a little at a time and mull over what I had just read. The author offers wise counsel to deepen one’s walk and relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Scripture is heavily referenced in various translations throughout this informative and encouraging work.
The style of writing is easy to understand. The book is well planned and designed. I found it easy to follow. There are many good ideas on prayer as well as our authority from being children of God. We miss out on so much because we have not asked.
I highly recommend this book to any Christian wanting to strengthen their prayer life and walk with the Father. It would make a nice small group study. This one will definitely be placed on my shelf to refer back to time and time again. I gave it a 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my own, honest words.
About the Book
Book: In His Presence
Author: Dr. E.W. Kenyon
Genre: RELIGION / Christian Living/Prayer
Release Date: December 11, 2020
Here, at last, is a real solution to the prayer problem!
In His Presence by E. W. Kenyon is not about who others were and what they did in prayer, but about who we are and what we can do in prayer. It lifts the curtain to the Holy of Holies and reveals our ability to enter in and stand before the presence of God.
In this book, you will discover that God’s ability is available to every one of His children. You will be challenged to climb the heights and sound the depths of tremendous spiritual realities, including the authority of the name of Jesus and how to use it.
In His Presence has been a challenge and blessing to countless multitudes all over the world. It removes the mist surrounding the prayer life, leading us out of spiritual mysticism into the true light of life.
This is your invitation to open the door…enter…and stand in the Father’s presence!
Dr. E. W. Kenyon (1867–1948) was born in Saratoga County, New York. At age nineteen, he preached his first sermon. He pastored several churches in New England and founded the Bethel Bible Institute in Spencer, Massachusetts. (The school later became the Providence Bible Institute when it was relocated to Providence, Rhode Island.) Kenyon served as an evangelist for over twenty years. In 1931, he became a pioneer in Christian radio on the Pacific Coast with his show Kenyon’s Church of the Air, where he earned the moniker “The Faith Builder.” He also began the New Covenant Baptist Church in Seattle. In addition to his pastoral and radio ministries, Kenyon wrote extensively. Among his books are The Blood Covenant, In His Presence, Jesus the Healer, New Creation Realities, and Two Kinds of Righteousness.
More from Whitaker House
In His Presence by EW Kenyon is not written about what others were and did, but about what we are and can do! It is a lifting of the curtain and a revealing of the holy of holies and our ability to enter it and stand in the presence of the Father. In His Presence is a discovery of the fact that God’s ability is available to every child of God. This is your invitation to open the door…enter…and stand in His presence, in the presence of the Father!
Happy New Year! Doesn’t it feel good to be finished with 2020 and move up to the new and improved model 2021? It does to me. Last year was certainly for the memory books. Now we shall move on to bigger and brighter things.
Do you have any New Year’s Day traditions? Perhaps you make a resolution to improve an area of your life. My husband has had the same resolution since the eighties……to make no resolutions. If he doesn’t make them, then he won’t break them or such is his logic.
Me? Oh, I have a few things I like to do. The first is to write down a major prayer request. This is something that is troubling me that I have tried to give over to God. I do give it over, but then I keep sneaking back and picking it back up. Instead of leaving it in God’s highly capable hands, I decide to manage it myself, a mere human.
On New Year’s Eve or Day, I will hand write this issue on a piece of paper. Next I pray over it, and completely give it to God. Finally, I burn the paper to symbolize that I cannot and will not worry about or pick up this problem again. It is in God’s hands. He will take care of the situation according to His will.
If you do not do this, you should give it a try. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:6-7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
What a great way to begin 2021…with the peace of God that passes all understanding. We don’t know why we are so at ease and peaceful in the middle of chaos, but we are. Actually, we do know. We have given the trouble over to God. He is in control of our lives.
Another thing I like to do is pray a blessing from the Bible over my husband, mother, sister, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews (even those by heart and not blood). I individually name each one of them and say this Old Testament prayer from Numbers:
‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ‘
Isn’t that a wonderful blessing? This is a perfect way to enter into any new year. I would encourage you to pray it over your family as well as to write down your burden, give it over to our most powerful God, and then burn it. These two acts will make you feel happy as you begin 2021. May God bless us as we begin the adventure called 2021.
Do you have a prayer request you would like to share with me? I would be honored to join you in praying. Just fill out the contact form.
Help from Heaven: True Stories of Rescues, Miracles, and Answered Prayers from a First Responder by author Andrea Jo Rodgers is a Christian non-fictional compilation of true stories. These accounts of miracles, rescues, and prayers that were answered are so inspiring. What happened in them is nothing less than miraculous.
The author uses her experience as an EMT and writes about actual events that have happened. It is a heart stirring book, and one that will make readers realize how much first responders actually face. Each story is accompanied with a scripture. It is important to see that God is the One the works miracles. The reflections allow readers to recognize that God guides and direct people here on Earth to help.
The writing style of the author is nice. I was able to follow each chapter and was emotional as I read them. Her passion for the job and patients comes through in her writing. I did not tire of reading these accounts.
If you are expecting stories of heavenly angels, you will be disappointed. This is not that type of book. There was one or two, but that is all. I was encouraged as I read these and filled with hope. If readers take anything away from this book I hope it is how powerful prayer is.
I recommend this compilation of true events. It would be a nice reading group discussion. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my true words.
About the Book
Book: Help from Heaven
Author: Andrea Jo Rodgers
Genre: Christian Nonfiction
Release Date: September 1, 2020
Do You Believe in Miracles?
Experience the heart-pounding drama of real-life emergencies. Veteran EMT and physical therapist Andrea Jo Rodgers shares this all-new collection of accounts from her 30-plus years as a volunteer with her town’s local first aid and emergency squad.
Arrive on the scene with Andrea and encounter…
Lou, a dedicated war veteran who is granted a new tour of duty from God.
A fearful flock of ducklings that slip down a storm drain during a false alarm.
Everett, a resilient older man who goes for an unexpected ride on the hood of an intoxicated driver’s car.
Jenna, a young woman whose dangerous heart condition is both physical and emotional.
Frank, a husband whose nasty fall down a flight of stairs earns him instant angel status from his devoted wife, Doris.
As you discover these and many more unforgettable stories, you’ll be reminded that miracles do happen, whether it be through the heroic efforts of first responders, the Lord’s divine intervention, or, often, both.
Andrea Jo Rodgers is the author of award-winning Christian middle grade fiction as well as inspirational adult nonfiction novels. She holds a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and specializes in women’s health, orthopedics, and lymphedema. She has served her community as a volunteer emergency medical technician for over thirty years, responding to more than 8,200 first aid and fire calls. She lives on the east coast with her husband, two children, and their two rescue dogs, a Shih Tzu and a Dachshund.
More from Andrea
I’ve been blessed to volunteer as an emergency medical technician for more than thirty years and to work as a physical therapist for more than twenty-five. Help from Heaven: True Stories of Miracles, Rescues, and Answered Prayers from a First Responder relates inspirational and memorable first aid and emergency calls from my years on the rescue squad. First responders have a unique opportunity to assist people in moments of crisis when they walk along a tightrope between heaven and earth. Over the years, I have witnessed miracles in which people have been saved from danger with what I believe to be divine intervention. By sharing my experiences, I hope to comfort or inspire others.
Have you ever been absolutely scared out of your wits? It happened to me several years ago, when my son and I survived a life-threatening elevator accident. When we escaped death, I decided we were saved with help from our guardian angels and the Lord. The accident marked the first time that rather than responding to an emergency call, I was the 911 call. After working through the pain and fear, I realized something good came out of the accident, for it inspired me to start writing. As a result, my first book, At Heaven’s Edge: True Stories of Faith and Rescue, was born.
I live in a small town. Without a doubt, I can say that some of the most precious moments in my life have occurred precisely when I was volunteering to help others. Participating in the rescue and resuscitation of fellow community member is an incredible blessing. Seeing people I’ve helped biking, shopping, or receiving a text from them makes all the nights of broken sleep and interrupted family gatherings worthwhile.
I’m currently the Lieutenant and training officer on my squad. Facing the COVID-19 crisis has catapulted us into unprecedented times. The outpouring of love and support from our community helped my fellow squad members and I to hang in there, face our fears, and do what we need to do to help those in need of assistance. As a first responder, all I can say is thank you! I hope you enjoy reading Help from Heaven. Maybe it will inspire you to find a way to volunteer in some capacity.
To celebrate her tour, Andrea is giving away the grand prize package of signed copies of At Heaven’s Edge: True Stories of Faith and Rescue and Help from Heaven: True Stories of Rescues, Miracles, and Answered Prayers from a First Responder as well as a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Diane Stortz has written a bible storybook perfect for babies to young preschoolers in her Say & Pray Bible. This colorful, sturdy board book uses simple, vividly colored picture to teach children words, objects, and bible stories. The young ones will be engaged and entertained while they learn.
On the sturdy, coated pages are pictures, a simple sentence, and a prayer. This is simple enough that it maintains attention and can easily be memorized. The size is nice and the pages are turned effortlessly.
It is such a blessing to have books such as this one to read to our children and grandchildren. Establishing bible time early helps them maintain it in future years. This is a perfect gift for a baby shower, new parent or grandparent, and church nursery.
I highly recommend this book. Children need to have nurturing for their minds also, and this is a book that will give their spirits some nourishment, too. It gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Say & Pray Bible
Author: Diane Stortz
Genre: Bible stories, board book
Release Date: 2015
Curl up together and experience the Bible in a fresh, new way. Young children will enjoy pointing to and naming objects on each page for early learning. Most important, they’ll discover favorite, age-appropriate Bible stories, with Scripture verses and short prayers that also hide God’s Word in young hearts.
Diane Stortz is a multipublished author who writes to make God’s wonders known to the next generation. Her children’s releases include the best-selling Say & Pray Bible and I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God, both from Tommy Nelson. Diane’s books for women, A Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a Yearand Encountering God’s Heart for You, both from Bethany House, encourage women to get to know God through His Word, the Bible. Diane and her husband have two married daughters and five grandchildren—all boys! Visit her at www.DianeStortz.com.
More from Diane
Once upon a time there was a little boy who loved his books. Long before he could talk, he loved turning pages, looking at the pictures, hearing his grandpa name the objects in the pictures, and pointing to those objects.
And once upon a time there was a grandma looking for a truly age-appropriate Bible storybook for that same little boy. And the best ones she found still contained too many words.
And she wondered . . .
Why not write a Bible storybook that could be designed especially for babies, toddlers, and young preschoolers? With the shortest stories you’ve ever seen, and with labeled objects and people in the illustrations that little ones could point to and name?
That’s how my book Say & Pray Bible began.
I wanted a book with age-appropriate, SHORT Bible stories. Babies and toddlers LOVE turning pages. Listening to long stories has to wait until they’re older.
I wanted short Bible verses and prayers to go with the very short stories.
And I wanted the illustrations to have lots of LABELED objects to encourage little ones to point and name.
Some days you might just read the stories. Another day, just the verses. Yet another reading, just the prayers. And some days, you might just talk about the pictures.
Most children begin to say single words with meaning, always nouns, at 12–18 months. This is the stage when children can point to—and eventually name—photos or illustrations of objects in their books.
Around 24 months, children begin to say two-word, noun plus verb sentences, such as “Cat run.” In time, sentences become longer and include adjectives and adverbs, but no function words: “Big cat run fast.” Last to develop is the use of function words (such as the and an) and more complex sound combinations and sentence forms.
Human beings seem to be hardwired to acquire language and learn to speak—evidence that, as the Bible says, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139). But there’s a lot we can do to help little ones develop language skills and expose them to God’s Word at the same time!
To celebrate her tour, Diane is giving away the grand prize package of a signed copy of the book, a signed copy of the companion book (Say & Pray Devotions), and a $10 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Pet peeves. We all have them. Most of us have a long list of them. I know I do. Incorrect grammar drives me crazy. Younger people being disrespectful always makes me want to correct them on the spot. One of the biggies for me though is people saying “I am sending good (or positive) thoughts.” What is that? Explain it to me.
How does one send a thought? Do you put it in a box and send it? No, that wouldn’t work. I suppose in lieu of praying people believe this is the next best thing. Perhaps for them it even is the best thing, but it is not for me. I would much rather have and offer prayer. In fact, scripture tells us to “Pray without ceasing.” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Do you believe a person’s thoughts are powerful enough to change someone else’s life? I don’t. Do I believe prayer is that powerful? Pull up a chair and let me tell you some first hand experiences. Yes, prayer is absolutely that powerful and effective. Why, because God is powerful.
Several years ago I had a stroke. The doctors said there was damage done to my eyes and I would always see bright flashing lights, like strobe lights. Always meaning every minute of every day for the rest of my life. To the doctors’ baffling surprise my eyesight improved almost back to normal. I had an army of faithful prayer warriors praying for me. God heard and answered our prayers. No positive thoughts or vibes sent my way could have healed me.
Family members have had cancer literally disappear thanks to our healing Heavenly Father answering our prayers. Lives have been saved, jobs secured, and babies added to our family all because we prayed and God answered. Money miraculously became available to pay for food or important bills, all because of answered prayers. Accidents were avoided, injuries not as severe, and diagnoses not fatal where first thought, all due to faithful praying family and friends. God heard and answered. Prayer makes a difference, a big difference.
I encourage you to pray for one another instead of merely saying you are sending thoughts. It is not difficult. There is no special way to pray. It is a conversation between you and your Creator. He knows everything about you already, even what you are going to say. Open your heart and just talk to God. The more you pray, the more you will want to pray and the easier it will become.
Don’t get me wrong. Positive thinking is important. It makes a huge difference in a person’s day. We all awake each day with the choice to be happy and see life with the glass half full or we could be grumpy and negatively say the glass is half empty. I do believe in positive thinking, but I just don’t believe in sending positive thoughts.
Speaking of thoughts, I hope this has given you something to ponder if you ask for or offer good or positive thoughts. Honestly, I would rather not have someone say that to me except for the fact that I can pray for them. If they aren’t praying, they are missing such a blessing. We all need blessings and prayers. We all need God.
Hello my friends! Are you settling into 2020 and finding all of the pieces coming together or do you perhaps have a piece that is not here? We have given the new year a week’s testing. Have you found it measuring up or lacking?
Our answers will be as varied as we all are. For some of us, this first week has been a delight. Bring on 2030! We are ready to see what this year holds. Others of us find fault with anything. Delight is found in complaining. Nothing ever brings joy. Do you know someone like that?
I have a friend who was constantly searching for something. There was a piece missing in his life, without whatever it was he could not be content. He tried hard to buy that piece.
Cars were always being upgraded and replaced in hopes that one would finally please him. Lexus, Jaguar, Porsche, and Mercedes Benz left him wanting. Automobiles that most of us only dream about owning weren’t good enough.
Adult “boy toys” were purchased. Boats, horses, helicopter, exotic dogs, and homes, but still there was something lacking. True happiness eluded him. He was a prominent professional with a high degree, but that did not satisfy him. A more prestigious career with additional majors was earned. Still no satisfaction was found. His hunt continued.
Yes, my friend was still looking for what would complete him. He had a wife, in fact he had gone through a few, and had children. Many people called him friend. What he didn’t have was Jesus.
Psalm 34:10b says “Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”
After trying everything else, he turned to the Lord. After a few Sundays at church he answered the pull on his heart. The ache and emptiness was gone. His half empty glass was now full. The missing piece had been found and he was now complete.
What about you? Do you feel like you are searching for something that is missing from your life? Are you yearning for something? Maybe that something is your Creator. We were made by and for Him.
If you don’t have a relationship with Him or know someone who needs Him, reach out in prayer. God will hear you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
As I begin each new year, God gifts me with a word or two for that year. Do you have a word for your year, also? It becomes something to ponder and work on making or doing better.
In the past I have had family, hope, victory, and other words. For 2020 my words, there are two, are pray and love. I was totally surprised. God will reveal in His time why He gave me each word. I might not even know until the end of the year when all of the pieces fall into place. What I do know is that for this year I will make a concentrated effort to pray more and love better.
Where do you get your word
People have asked me how to get a word for the year. Since it comes from God the first step is to pray for one. Then listen and look. I hear Him gently whisper my word to me. My best friend is inundated with her word. She sees and hears it multiple times after praying so it is hard to miss.
What to do with your word
I find it a place to start working, a goal for the year. Let’s take my word pray. In an earlier blog I challenged readers to pray for twenty people this year. I am taking extra time for intercessory prayer. Everyday I read prayer requests on Facebook or have a phone call requesting it. Honestly it did not take long to list twenty people.
My family is always on my list. Their safety, health, Walk or salvation are prayed for daily. I pray for my grandchildren, nieces, and nephews everyday, too. Asking God to watch over their future spouse is another prayer of mine. When we pray there is no limit to what we can bring to the Father.
Love is my other word. I am praying about the significance of this word for me. Perhaps I do not love my enemies and just think I do. There are so many types of love that I need to refresh my memory and read up on them.
Jesus has called us to love. In Matthew 22:36-39 it says: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” That is pretty simple. Love is what we need to do. Right?
What is your word
I would love to hear your word if you received one for this year. Please tell me so that I can pray for you as you learn from it. Let’s make 2020 a year of learning, doing things for the Lord, and helping each other. Are you in?
Happy New Year, my friends and welcome to 2020! Are you excited about a brand new year with endless possibilities? I know that I am. Are there things you want to do differently this year than last? Me, too. Let’s work on that together.
Contemplating the next twelve months, what would you like to accomplish? Do you have things you really yearn to do or maybe stop doing? I think some people call that resolutions.
Since I am a list maker, I took pen in hand and began. My list started and soon became overwhelmingly long. Immediately I felt discouraged. I would encourage you to keep yours challenging but still attainable. Don’t begin the year feeling defeated. Asking God to hone your 2020 aspiration list will make it perfect for you.
Tell me, do you have a strategically crafted plan to fulfill your dreams for this year? The first thing on that list should be to pray for that plan. Ask God to show you what to do and how to do it. That is what I intend. With His help it will be much easier.
Scripture tells us in Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
I find the above bible verse comforting. God, the Creator, will teach me what I need to know to accomplish my plans. Really? Me? God cares enough about me to do that? Absolutely, and He cares that much for you, also. He might place people in my life that will be able to help me. Perhaps a book or article will be brought to my attention. The ways He will help you and me are limitless.
My challenge for you for 2020 is to pray.
I want to challenge you to join me this year. Commit yourself to daily pray over your 2020 goals. Adopt a system using a prayer jar or journal. Record your specific prayer requests in a prayer journal or place them in a prayer jar. As your prayers are answered and results seen, make notes by the request.
Besides praying for yourself, add 20 people to your list. Ask God to place those people on your heart for prayer. Place these names after your list or in your jar. Each day lift one or all of these people up to our Heavenly Father. Maybe you are praying for health, healing, salvation, or financial issues. Perhaps you don’t even know why Abba brought this person to your mind. Just intercede for them in prayer.
Get a Prayer Partner
A prayer partner is someone that will be there for you to take your requests, thanks, and praises to God. My prayer partner lives many, many miles away but is ready within a few minutes of a text to pray. There is a deeper level of prayer coming before Jehovah with another Christian. She keeps me accountable, too. If you do not currently have a prayer partner, I would encourage you to try it. Ask at church or in your circle of friends. Better yet, ask God to send you one.
Let me know if you accepted my challenge and how you are doing. I’d love to hear if you are using a prayer journal or prayer jar. As always, if you have a prayer request for me, leave it below and I will most assuredly pray. Thanks for spending some time with me today.
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess 