PRAYER: Communication with God

The most frequently prayed prayer on earth is the "Lord's Prayer" (also known as the Model Prayer), which Jesus taught His disciples, during His time of ministry.  

We don't know how to pray as we should, but the Lord's Prayer teaches us how to pray according to God's perfect will.

If you don't know how to pray, here is a prayer I wrote using my favorite Scriptures below that you can use to help you open your heart and communicate with God our Creator:

Our Father who art in heaven, thank You for Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Let it (peace) rest, rule and abide in my home night and day. I choose to fix my mind on You, instead of the cares of this life, because I trust You (Isaiah 26:34_NLT). 

I demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of You, and I take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5_NIV). You have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7), so I will not give up, cave in our quit. I will fight the good fight of faith against fear, doubt and unbelief, because it is impossible to please You Lord without faith (Hebrews 11:6). 

Thank You Father for giving me daily bread and everything that's suitable for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:30). I forgive those who have transgressed against me and confess every thing I have thought, said or done that was a transgression against Your infallible Word. I also choose to forgive myself, so that I can move forward, instead of wallowing in regret. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, for cleansing me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9); and for remembering my iniquities no more. You have removed my sins as far as the east as from the west (Hebrews 10:17; Psalm 103:12).

Because, You will give Your angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways (Psalms 91:11), I also want to thank You for keeping my family, loved ones, friends and neighbors from hurt, harm and danger. "Before we call, You will answer, while we are still speaking, You will hear our every cry (Isaiah 65.24)." Great is Your faithfulness to me and every living being. You give us new mercies to see every morning (Lamentation 3:

I petition You in the Name of Your Son Jesus and give You all the praise that is due You. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen, so be it! 

I encourage you to pray this prayer as often as you desire, for you will be praying according to God's Word. 

  

TROUBLE...

One song writer wrote that "Trouble don't last always," and this is true, but good times also come to an end.

As much as we would like for some things in our lives to stay the same, unfortunately they do not.

I read a quote that said: "Trouble comes to past and doesn't last forever. It has an expiration date." I don't know about you, but I think it is quite encouraging to know that trouble is temporary and will eventually come to an end. That is something to think about the next time you find yourself in trouble or dealing with a problematic situation.
 
While, some people like to share their personal opinion, I don't share mine too much, because everyone has one and opinions lack the substance needed to become the standard for one's life. I consider opinions to be like feelings, which are transient, so I prefer to stand on the words of God, my Heavenly Father and Creator of the universe.

The Scriptures tells us the following:

"Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34:19_AMP). 

Nothing in life stays the same forever. Trials do come to an end and good times {as much as we would like for them to continue} don't last forever. The life we live on this earth has seasons, which will cause us to either thank and praise God for His love, grace and mercy; or to draw nearer to him in prayer for wisdom, comfort and direction during the less favorable times (Proverbs 3:5-6).

God never promised us a Rose Garden without thorns. But, His Word says He will give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3).

No matter what life brings your way, remember that God will never leave you alone or without support (Hebrews 13:5_AMP). That's a promise on which you can believe and depend for life!

I pray that you will experience the love, peace and comfort of God everyday of your life as you seek to know Him in a personal way, in Jesus' Name. So be it!

CHURCH Acrostically Defined...

Hello, it has been quite awhile since, I posted a blog, but life happens and our priorities can change. Although I was busy with things that were unavoidable, I do recall times when I could have avoided procrastination and sat down at the computer and written something inspirational, but I did not put my thoughts into action.

Procrastination is defined as:

1. the action of delaying or postponing something:

   "your first tip is to avoid procrastination"

    

   I have always considered procrastination to be a thief; because we lose something very valuable that cannot ever be recovered and that is TIME! Because, time flies and never comes back, we must wait on the second hand to come around to take advantage of a new hour.

    

   One thing I was doing while not blogging was going to church. As a matter of fact, after moving a few months ago, I decided on finding a church in my area to prevent a long commute in the area I had lived previously. I drive an older Chevy truck, which has a big engine and takes a lot of gas. So the plan was to save gas and stay in the area of my residence and I am thankful to say that I was successful

    

   What does church mean to you? I know that each of you wherever you live in the world will have a different answer, which is based on family background and upbringing, as well as personal experience.  

   
   

   CHURCH is defined as:
   

   1. a building used for public Christian worship:

      "they came to church with me"

      synonyms: place of worship · house of God · house of worship ·

      
      

    While I was unpacking some personal items, I ran across some things I had written years ago and found the following acrostic poem that defines CHURCH for me. If you already attend church, you will appreciate this poem more than a person, who does not go to church yet.

    

   

    

   Congregants meeting on the first day of the week with two or more gathered in the Name of Jesus; who is in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:25)

   
   

    

   Hear all you people what the Spirit is saying to the church. For, it is by hearing and hearing by the Word of God that faith comes to us (Romans 10:17)

    

   Unto the Lord, lift up your souls to WORSHIP HIM in Spirit and in Truth. This is what the Father seeks (John 4:23-24).

    

   Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. God made you righteous through the precious blood of Jesus that was shed at Calvary (Proverbs 14:34).

    

   Christ is the solid rock on which mankind must stand, because all other ground is sinking sand. He was rejected by men, but approved by God (Mark 12:10).

    

   Holy You are Lord and holy Your Word says we are to be. Without holiness [godly sanctification] Your face no man will see (Hebrews 2:11; 12:14). 

    

   I trust you were blessed and will made note of the Scripture references provided. Feel free to share your comments.
   
   Until the next blog, my prayer is that God would keep you in His loving care and grant His peace, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.