A Prayer to Live Free from Discouragement..Kristine Brown

 A Prayer to Live Free from Discouragement

By Kristine Brown

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2 ESV)

Have you ever felt so discouraged that you didn’t think God was listening? Maybe you prayed and prayed, but God seemed to grow more distant instead of closer. You longed in desperation to hear from him, but the silence only fed the discouragement inside. Discouragement is a tactic the enemy uses to weaken our will, and over time, we can begin to believe its lies. The longer we allow discouragement to have a place in our thoughts, the more vulnerable we become to the enemy’s scheme to keep us down.

When we lose hope, we lose sight of our purpose. We may even question whether God has a purpose for us at all. That’s why it is so important for us to recognize discouragement for what it is so we can gain clarity as we pray to live free. God’s Word provides the encouragement and truth we need to guard our minds and hearts when we sense discouragement settling in. It will also bring clarity through the muddle caused by discouraging thoughts. When we sense ourselves beginning to question whether God cares about what we’re going through, we know it’s time to counteract the lies with Scripture.

Psalm 121:1-2 says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

In the midst of our worst trials, we cry out to God for help. He is the only One powerful enough to rescue us from the turmoil we experience. But sometimes, we don’t hear the answer we want, and in the waiting, we may feel like God is ignoring our plea. Feelings of loneliness and isolation soon follow. And even when friends or family try to lift us up, their efforts go unnoticed. We may even get so wrapped in discouragement that we refuse to see a way out.

Discouragement is a dangerous foe, but we have power through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to loosen its hold on us. We can speak truth to our weary hearts, seeking Jesus as we trust him to respond. God Almighty loves us and has called us to a great purpose. Today’s psalm reminds us God is with us every step of the way. Let’s lift our eyes toward him and acknowledge that he is our source of help in times of discouragement.

Let’s pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Lately, I’ve felt discouraged. I want to face each day with courage, joy, and hope, but I’m struggling to find them. I feel like you don’t hear my prayers, even though Scripture tells me you are always with me. I cry out to you for help, Lord. Help me live free from discouragement and find hope once again.

When I feel buried under the weight of my troubles, I start to question whether you care about what I’m facing. I feel alone in my trials, but I know that’s a lie from the enemy. Forgive me for my doubt. I am never alone because you are here with me, and you hear my cries. Scripture tells me of this promise, “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” I pray I can let this truth settle into my spirit so there is no more room for discouragement.

As I seek you more and wait with expectancy in your presence, I believe I will gain clarity through the truth of your Word. You are a faithful God, and you have good plans for me. Thank you for showing me this truth through the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the hope I have in your precious Son, Jesus Christ. In his name, I pray, Amen.

 

What Sorts of Folks Got Crucified?..Senior Living Ministries

 What Sorts of Folks Got Crucified?

 Senior Living Ministries

[Jesus said]: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
--John 5:24

Early in Julius Caesar's political career, the people of Rome hated him so badly that he thought it best to leave his country. He sailed for the Aegean island of Rhodes, but on the way pirates attacked his ship and Caesar was captured.

The pirates demanded a ransom of 12,000 gold pieces, and Caesar's staff was sent to make the arrangements for payment. For almost 40 days, the pirates held Caesar captive.

He would jokingly tell them that he would someday capture and crucify them. The amused kidnappers dismissed his threats. But when the ransom was paid and Caesar was released, the first thing he did was gather his army together to pursue the pirates.

The pirates indeed were captured and crucified!

This was the Romans' attitude toward crucifixion. This cruel death was reserved only for the worst criminals. It was meant to show extreme contempt for the condemned. And the pain and humiliation experienced by someone crucified by the Romans was unmatched by any other.

They condemned and humiliated the person and name of Jesus thousands of years ago just as many people do today. And even though He died a lowly death, we as believers can rejoice in knowing that "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" (Romans 4:25).

Jesus died for the sins of all--including those who beat Him and nailed Him to the cross. You may know of someone today who doesn't know Jesus. Will you be the one to tell them about the forgiveness He gives? Will you be the one who points them toward eternal life through Jesus?

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to bring someone into your life this Easter who you can share the story of His death, burial, and resurrection, and the price He paid for their sins.

A Morning Prayer to Count Your Blessings..Alicia Searl

 A Morning Prayer to Count Your Blessings

By Alicia Searl

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8

If I were to be honest with you, I am not a morning person. In fact, I stay up way too late, which totally affects my morning routine. I startle out of bed, usually rushing around getting kiddos ready for school, packing lunches, and then jumping into the car only to zoom off to this school or that school. Yep, I am the mom with three kiddos and three campuses, making my mornings a bit hectic.

I know I need to prep the night before and go to bed earlier, but the evenings are the only time I get to be fully present with my hubby. Not to mention an actual quiet moment to sit and just relax. So, it’s time worth savoring. Yet, I guess it’s also worth mentioning that having two teens has made evenings more difficult as those “peaceful” and relaxing moments have gotten pushed back later and later. Meaning that my bedtime gets pushed back…later and later. Hence the reason for the hectic mornings, and evenings.

Yet, somehow, after the hustle and bustle of my usual morning routine, and after I drop off that last kiddo at school, it’s as if God always has a way of quieting my heart. Sometimes I will have praise and worship music on, or it will be so quiet in my car that it is a welcome reprieve and practically prompts me to get still and notice … that no matter how crazy this season of life is, there is always room to count the many blessings God has so graciously provided.

So, here is my question to you…Do you have space in your morning to count your blessings? Oh friend, it’s so easy to get caught up in our daily lives and busy schedules that the morning flies by without even a notion or head nod to our Almighty God. Sadly, I can relate. I may jump out of bed and say a quick “Morning, God!” but He rarely gets my full attention and heart.

That said, I invite you to join me in taking a pause in your morning, even if it is after all the kiddos are in school (or you have to hide in your closet), so you can truly honor God for all His goodness and faithfulness. Because the truth of the matter is that when we give thanks to God in the morning, it sets the tone for our day and gives way for us to praise Him throughout it.

Let’s pray:

Gracious Father, I thank you for another day. You are such a good and merciful God who meets me wherever I am in this journey of life and brings forth so much richness and goodness that I want to give You my full heart of gratitude. I want to thank You for each and every aspect of my life. I want to thank You for everything!

O God, there are countless reasons to be thankful to You today. I start with Your unwavering love and unfailing grace. I thank You for Your precious Son, Jesus, and what His life means for me and my salvation. Thank You, Jesus, for Your gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells inside of me, as it brings forth so much comfort and a way to seek truth when the world is loud. Thank You for leading and guiding me and extending forgiveness when I fail to recognize You and Your amazing love.

My heart explodes with thankfulness for the precious relationships You have placed in my life. I thank You for my spouse and children. I am thankful for my family and friends. You have been so kind and gracious in providing fellowship and a community of believers to grow with spiritually. 

I am thankful for Your provision and protection and the peace that it brings. You continually show Your compassion and love for me and my family. You offer hope and healing through Your presence and Word. Thank You for granting me a safe place to reside and seek refuge.

Lord, I am overwhelmed by Your generosity and the way You are moving in my life; may I see it all as joy. You are such a good Father, and as I count my many blessings, I hope to live a life that honors You. Thank You – for everything in my life! Amen.