Tag Archive | prayer

Worship Leads To . . .

Oct12

Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Psalms 96:2 NASB

“Proclaim good tidings”, good news, “of His salvation”. How good are we at doing that? Do we proclaim the gospel “from day to day”?

If we are honest many of us have never even shared the gospel. We trust the church to do that so we invite people to church.

Could there be a missing link as to why we don’t share?

“Sing to the Lord, bless His name”.

🌹How is your prayer life? Where is your main focus directed throughout your day? Is worship of God a priority in your life? Do you have a personal, intimate, real relationship with Almighty God?

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
Psalms 100:4 NASB

If you do you will experience Him and be filled up with His Holy Spirit. Under the Holy Spirit’s guidance you can’t help but proclaim Jesus Christ.

🌹How is your relationship with God. He calls us to proclaim His gospel.

And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Luke 10:2; Matthew 9:37-38 NASB

You might want to read Psalm 71 while contemplating the connection of the worship of God leading to proclaiming salvation to the lost.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Have You Ever Had One of Those Days?

Oct9

Have you ever had one of those days when everything went perfectly? A day of abundant living? A day when your heart is overflowing with joy?

Well let me tell you that I was blessed tremendously today. Rewind . . .

A few days earlier.  . .

I was feeling down, stagnant in my relationship with God. Things were going well. God was moving through me in a number of lives and I was blessed to watch Him and participate in His work.

Well this morning I awoke at 2:30am and laid there a couple minutes then started to pray. I don’t know when I fell back to sleep but when the alarm went off at 5am I just wanted to hit the snooze button. But, I didn’t.

This morning’s time with God was extra special. I can’t tell you why except that God was at work in me. My usual exalting of His Holy name. My confession of sin. Praying for family,  friends, Pastor, church and anyone God places on my heart. But I noticed that I remembered to pray for a couple people who needed prayer specifically for today. Sometimes I beat myself up because I forget. But not today!!!! My heart was so filled with joy that it was overflowing into praise and thankfulness after prayer that I could hardly contain myself.

As I headed out the door to go to my daughter’s a couple hours later my heart was still overflowing with joy and thankfulness. On my drive there, about 20 minutes, the Lord blesses me with minimal traffic and mostly green lights. Smooth sailing. The scenery was beyond beautiful as I thanked and praised God for the colorful changes in the trees on my drive and the blue skies. When on the freeway,  I turned on praise music and just sang uninhibited to my awesome, loving God who filled my heart with joy overflowing, thankfulness for His revealing His abounding love for me and for opening my eyes to see the beautiful day He was giving me.

The next six hours were spent with my daughter and three granddaughters enjoying their company filled with giggles, stories, snuggles, kisses, playing, exploring and a lot of fun. Speaking of God, singing songs about Jesus.

Then met up with Papa and explored Bass Pro looking at fish and animals. Pretty much exhausted we had dinner with all including Daddy and an uncle.

On the way home thinking over my day and thanking God for giving me such an awesome day and singing praises in worship again, I realize I am truly a very blessed wife, mother, mother-in-law, Gigi and child of God.

Thank You, God for being the beginning, middle and end of my perfect day.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Disciple

Sep14

And they spent a long time with the disciples. Acts 14:28 NASB

From the moment we are born we begin to learn. Learn to eat, walk, talk, etc.

Disciple: A student, learner.

Within 2 years of a child’s life, he learns all the basics that over time are fine tuned. Christians are the same way. For years we have prayed, hoped, and got excited about people coming to know the Lord Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Many have come to that decision and yet our churches are dwindling in numbers. Why?

Could it be that we have left these Christian babies to fend for themselves? We introduce them to the Savior and then expect them to survive in a hostile world with satan who seeks to devour them. They need instruction. They need to be mentored by a mature Christian who can show them the ropes.

Discipling someone is taking the time (long time) to mentor them in how to seek the Lord, teaching them the spiritual disciplines, encouraging them in their walk, listening, answering their questions, being their friend. It costs to disciple. It cost Jesus His life so that we may be discipled by the Holy Spirit. He discipled 12 who could carry on.

🌹Can we disciple one? Is there someone in your life you could disciple? Would you pray for someone that you could disciple? The answer may not come right away, but God has someone for you to disciple or He would not have commanded us to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Life as Usual

Sep9

Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
Daniel 6:10 NASB

Do we allow situations in life dictate our walk with God?

Daniel spent time with the Lord three specific times a day – bowing in humble thanks. A decree came down that any man who bowed down to anyone besides the king himself would be thrown in the lion’s den. Daniel’s choice was God over anyone else and any situation. His priority was God.

🌹How about you? Is God above all others and every situation in your life? Is He your priority? Are you God-centered? Is your life “as usual” no matter what is going on around you?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

You Are Responsible

Sep1

When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.
Ezekiel 3:18‭-‬19 NASB

Most up us know that God has sent us to share the gospel message to the unsaved, those walking in blindness and their wickedness. The message of salvation is our responsibility as the children of God. His disciples. His ambassadors. It is a responsibility God takes seriously. Do you?

But I’m not so sure that we take seriously the guidance of the family of God.

Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.”
Ezekiel 3:20-‬21 NASB

God created His church that we may encourage one another in the faith but to also draw a wayward soul back to repentance. We cannot stand silent while our brother or sister walk away from the Lord. Our hearts should break at the waywardness of another child of God. There are consequences for us if we do not counsel the wayward one.

The good news is that we do not have to do it alone.

But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 3:27 NASB

To accomplish God’s will you must be walking in a personal relationship with Him so that you can clearly hear His guidance.
(That means knowing His Word (the Bible), praying, being part of the community of God (fellowship).

🌹God gives us the courage, strength, words of counsel to speak truth to others, lost as well as the saved.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Obedience Required

Aug28

Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I make the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations which they have committed.
Ezekiel 33:29 NASB

Ezekiel, under the direction of God, spoke to the Israel nation warning them to obey God’s command and turn back to Him.

What is a Pastor? A man called of God to speak His word. Both Prophet and Pastor are called to speak God’s word.

Our responsibility is to listen and obey. We are blessed at this period of time to have God’s written word and the Holy Spirit to be able to discern the truth coming from the mouth of a Pastor. Is it truth? If you are reading your Bible and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will be able to accurately discern the truth.

What is your habit of church attendance? Is your Bible open? Are you relying upon the Holy Spirit to discern the words? Are you listening and ready to obey?

Or are you just attending for the sake of attending?

“But as for you, son of man, your fellow citizens who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, ‘Come now and hear what the message is which comes forth from the Lord.’ They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain.
Ezekiel 33:30‭-‬31 NASB

🌹”They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them”
Obedience requires action.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Joy

Aug27

You, O Lord, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation. Lamentations 5:19 NASB

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows.
Psalms 45:6‭-‬7 NASB

Are you anointed with the oil of joy?

There is much joy to be found in knowing God is eternally seated on His throne. Our God who rules in righteousness and justice and love.

On awakening this morning and checking on the hurricane hitting the Louisiana and Texas coast, I read “this could have been so much worse”. Were you praying for the people in the path of this storm? God answered prayer. It may not have been the way we wanted but it was better than expected. Did you thank Him for His mercy in this situation?

As numbers seem to be rising in Covid cases, are you turning to, relying on the One who sits upon the eternal throne? God has this. Are you abiding in His strong tower? Is He your refuge?

But You, O Lord, abide forever, And Your name to all generations.
Psalms 102:12 NASB

God is your only hope in a world seeking their own way, truth and life. Jesus is the only way, truth and life and no one comes to the throne of the Father but by Him. Can you rejoice in that? Can you enter into the Holy of holies and bow before the throne? If not it is time to bow down in surrender to God and His will. That is where real joy is found even when everything around you is falling down.

“But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.
Psalms 102:27 NASB

Hallelujah!

🌹The joy of the Lord is our strength.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Do Not Fear

Aug26

Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the Lord. We lift up our heart and hands Toward God in heaven; We have transgressed and rebelled, You have not pardoned.
Lamentations 3:40‭-‬42 NASB

“We lift up our heart and hands toward God in heaven;”. Do we? With repentant hearts or with raging fists?

Nothing happens without the approval and working of the Lord God. He did not make all of creation, including people, and then not involve Himself in His creation. As you look around what do you see? Are we looking for pardon yet living our lives as if our Creator has no say or part in where we go, what we do? If so, we need to “examine and probe our ways”. When we do we will find that we need to return to the Lord.

God is patient not wanting anyone to perish but He is also holy and just and will not allow us to continue in disobedience to Him.

Now is the time to seek the Lord with repentant hearts, turning to Him, crying out to God who can redeem you and give you peace even when the rebellious world around you is falling apart.

You have heard my voice, “Do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief, From my cry for help.” You drew near when I called on You; You said, “Do not fear!” O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause; You have redeemed my life.
Lamentations 3:56‭-‬58 NASB

🌹Are you experiencing peace, content in the Lord or are you walking with and looking like the world around you?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The LORD Spoke

Jul28

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.
2 Chronicles 33:10 NASB

These are some of the saddest words. “The Lord spoke but no one paid attention”.

THE LORD SPOKE BUT NO ONE PAID ATTENTION!

Do you hear the Lord speaking today? Your Creator speaks. He speaks by means of His Holy Spirit through the word (Bible), prayer (conversation with the Lord) and events happening around. Look around you. What do you see? Has God’s church, His people, turned their backs to Him? Sought their own way?

“Have you not done this to yourself By your forsaking the Lord your God When He led you in the way? Jeremiah 2:17 NASB

God’s church needs to return to Him. His way. His will be done. Bow down before our God in repentance and seek Him. God demands our full allegiance. He desires our complete surrender to His will, purpose and way. He desires to bless His people.

When he (Manasseh) prayed to Him (God), He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.
2 Chronicles 33:13 NASB

🌹Do you truly know the Lord God? If not, today is the day of surrender to Him.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Grandchildren

Jul13

I make a point to rise early every morning to have coffee with my Lord. I start with telling Him how much I love Him and why I love Him. I thank Him for so many things, each day different in my thankfulness.

I share with Him my sin and brokenness, my failures, and that always ends in thankfulness for Jesus’ death and resurrection. Also thanking Him for clothing me in His righteousness.

I then begin to pray for others. I try real hard to pray with a spiritual perspective – God to be glorified, lives to be transformed, salvation to be granted, invitation to salvation be seen – in all situations. I pray for God’s work in the life of His church and the leaders He has appointed.

It ends with asking God to use me “this day” and for understanding of His word as I partake of His sweet words. This goes well with my second cup of coffee.

About now you might be asking what does this have to do with grandchildren (in case you forgot, the Title is Grandchildren).

Well, if you recall, I rise early to be with the Lord because I am kinda partial to my time with Him and I don’t like interruptions. My 5 year old granddaughter is staying with us and she woke up right after I retrieved my second cup of coffee and read Psalm 128.

I have been known to grumble under my breath when things don’t go my way. Today I decided to take another approach. As she climbed up onto my lap we sat as I read to her. What a precious moment and opportunity to look at God’s perspective and allow Him to speak through me to my granddaughter.

God had other plans this morning. Thus the reason a little later than usual and with a testimony instead of a devotion.

‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 🌹