Tag Archive | prayer

Lord, Show Us

Oct14

Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” — Exodus 33:18

Have you ever asked? Have you ever seen the glory of God manifested in your life?

I have seen glimpses of His glory and look forward to seeing my Lord in His full glory one day. Can you say that?

Oh God, show us your glory, I pray!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

A Quick 40 Days

Oct13

Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for  this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” — Exodus 32:1

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go  down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” — Exodus 32:7-8

40 days and the people of Israel were ready to give up. God looked at 40 days as quick. We need to be in the presence of the Lord daily for we so easily and quickly turn away. Gird yourself with the Word and enter into fellowship with the Lord because we need His reassurance daily.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Worship (3778)

Sep20

 

Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

— Psalm 95:6

Will you join me?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Broken And Contrite Heart

Sep10

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

— Psalm 51:1-17

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

— Psalm 34:18

Continually seeking Him,

         Sharon

Isaac and Rebekah’s Prayers

Sep9

Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why then am I this way?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. — Genesis 25:21-22

Two phrases here stood out to me this morning, “Isaac prayed on behalf of his wife” and “She went to inquire of the Lord”.

In this self-centered, self-focused world it is refreshing to read how a husband prayed for the desire of his wife, according to God’s will (that man should procreate).

And I find it so true to life that sometimes when we get what we desire it isn’t always pleasant or as we expected. As is the case with Rebekah. But don’t miss this. Where did she go in her distress? To inquire of the Lord.

Today we are so quick to pray for ourselves and our desires, for things of this world instead of for the ways or purpose of God. When was the last time you prayed sincerely for your significant other (spouse, fiance, boy or girl friend)? Or your parent, sibling, mother-in-law? Do we even know their spiritual desires or needs?

When was the last time you went to God first with your distress, worries, problems? Or is your significant other, best friend, co-worker, therapist, etc. the first one you run to?

We have an all knowing, all loving God who would love to hear from us on a daily basis. Even a minute by minute basis sharing our burdens, desires, requests for His will in our lives as well as in the lives of others.

Who do you know that needs your prayers today?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Eyes Wide Open

Sep8

Abraham’s wife and her maid, the mother of Abraham’s son Ishmael, did not always get along (to say the least). Sarah finally said, enough is enough, and went to Abraham to have her and Ishmael sent away. In great distress, but in obedience to God, Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away.

So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.

When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” And she sat opposite him, and  lifted up her voice and wept. God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God  opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink. — Genesis 21:14-19

Have you been there? I’m sure you have because life is not always kind. You are at the end of your rope, as Hagar is, and so you just distance yourself from the ones you love and focus on the situation before you. Have we forgotten the promises of God as Hagar did?

Moreover, the angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” The angel of the Lord said to her further,

“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the Lord has given heed to your affliction.

“He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will live to the east of all his brothers.” — Genesis 16:10-12

God made His presence know and when she was reminded her eyes were open to God’s provision.

Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink.

Our focus needs to be on God so we can see His provision. His way. His purpose. Seek Him through His Word where His promises will encourage us, strengthen us and lead us for our good and His glory. And when our focus shifts, we must seek Him in prayer to return our hearts to Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Intercessory Prayer

Sep7

I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” — Genesis 18:21 (bible gateway.com)

Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?   Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.” And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes. Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” He spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his place. — Genesis 18:23-33 (biblegateway.com)

Intercessory prayer is pleading before the Lord on behalf of others. Are you standing before the throne of God on behalf of others? So many to be prayed for. All of us need to be praying. Are you willing? Who prayed and is still paying for you?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Ashamed?

Jul17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. — Romans 1:16

Is God trying to alert us? I received a devotional this morning from a blog I follow and this is the verse referenced. I open “biblegateway.com” this morning and what is the verse of the day? You’re right, Romans 1:16. If I’m not mistaken I think I saw it on Facebook yesterday.

There are a lot of changes going on in the United States, and worldwide, that is challenging those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who died for the sin of all mankind, and was raised on the third day, as stated in the Holy Scriptures. That is the gospel in a nutshell.

Do you believe? Are you ashamed? I believe a time of great testing is coming. Are you ready?

“Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” — Luke 21:34-36

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Calling All Intercessors

Jul6

Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.” And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes. Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” He spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the  Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his place. — Genesis 18:23-33

Are you pleading before the Lord on behalf of our United States of America? The USA needs intercessors. Will you be one?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Independence Day

Jul4

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. — Psalm 33:12

As the United States of America celebrates it’s birthday today I look to the history of this great nation. A nation that was built on the fundamental truths of the Word of God. A nation that at one time believed in the standard set by the Ten Commandments. A nation that believed in prayer so much, to the One true God of our nation, that prayer was practiced in our schools, judicial institutions, and our homes. A nation that was respected for it’s truthfulness, hospitality, and humanitarianism. I remember a time when the National anthem was played that every hat was removed and every hand was placed over ones heart in respect and honor of our nation. I remember being on a military base at 5 pm and hearing taps being played over the whole post via loud speaker — every car would stop, the soldier in the car would get out of the vehicle and either salute, if in uniform, or place their hand over their heart if not, — face toward the flag until taps was finished playing.

My heart is saddened as I look at our nation now where the standard by which we should set our laws is “anything goes”. There is no standard so no wonder there is such confusion as to what is right and what is wrong. Prayer was taken out of our schools, so no wonder the children of today do not know the saving grace of a Mighty God who strengthens, protects, and exalts a nation. And the pledge of allegiance? There is little love, respect, allegiance, sacrifice or thankfulness to our nation or to those who served to make this nation great.

I don’t know about you but I see a deterioration of this great nation and hope that we wake up to the need for God in our nation before we wake up to a brand new nation that will not be called the United States of America.

So this day, as you celebrate, take a few moments to reflect on what this day is really celebrating. A nation that has been blessed because we have been one nation under God!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon