Month: December 2013

Day 14 of 30 Days of Prayer

Good Lord, it is the last day of 2013. Only a few hours left in this old year before the new one comes rushing in and I begin to make resolutions that I haven’t even resolved in the old year. Where have the past twelve months gone? Please, God, in the 2014 help me to look at me first before talking about how others should change. Help me to not be so hard on myself for not shedding those extra pounds, forgetting to organize my closet, overspending my budget, eating that pack of cookies, or bag of chips when no one was looking, and for speeding through that red light. Help me to help others, remove the focus from myself and know it’s not all about me. Help me to make the change in this New Year. Amen.

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

During 30 days of Prayer, I’m expecting God to show up and show me knew things about myself—the good, the bad, and the ugly. And today this article , “30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself” was an affirmation and conviction of things I have stopped doing and things I should stop doing. Okay, I’ll share a few: I don’t hang out with the wrong people, run from my problems, or put myself on the back burner. However, I should stop doing things repeatedly without a break, and stop focusing on what I don’t want to happen. Although I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions, Number 29 should be my main goal. So, I pass on “30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself”. If you feel compelled, share your shoulds and should nots.

Day 11 of 30 Days of Prayer

Dear God,

Without you I cannot breathe, think, or love. Thank you for guiding, teaching, training, strengthening me and for carrying me on those days that the world seems to be on my shoulders and life doesn’t seem to matter. Thank you for making me laugh, stuffing my days with joy, smothering me with kindness, reminding me that you have not forgotten me. Amen.

 

If you don’t know God as beautiful and satisfying, you don’t know him.

Day 10 of 30 Days of Prayer

Dear God,

Just as Jabez pleaded, we plead that you do good things for us, expand our territory—the tools and courage we need to do your will, your way. And provide your personal protection — keep us from harm so we might not endure pain — while we maintain our territory! Please Lord, remember us and strengthen us. Amen.

(1 Chronicles 4:10, Judges 16:28)

Day 9 of 30 Days of Prayer

Dear God,
Give us the vision to see Your love in the world despite of human failure. 
Give us the faith to trust Your goodness regardless of our ignorance and weakness. 
Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts.
And show us what we, individually and collectively, can do to have peace in our home, at work, in the community, in our church, in our nation, and throughout the world.  Amen.

Day 7 of 30 Days of Prayer

Dear God,

On this Christmas Eve, may the joys and mystery of your love abound for all who are anxious, depressed, or ill. Get close to them who find this season a source of pain or grief. Embrace with your tender care all who wander alone or have no place to lay their head, so they may experience the hope of Christ. Strengthen family ties of love and commitment, so they may delight in the joy of the Savior. Open hearts to your presence, that we may be transformed by the new birth. Amen.

Day 6 of 30 Days of Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We give you praise for the routine of Christmas –
that the day comes the same as any other day.
We give you praise for light of your presence in the ordinary birth of the child.
We give you praise that modestly you are in the center of human affairs, involved in the struggle of life, and sharing human experience.
We give you praise that out of compassion you take our part, and open to us a new way of life. We pray that this day we shall be able to see its true glory.

(Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship. 1971)