Tag Archive | prayer

If You Diligently Obey

Mar4

Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. Deuteronomy 28:1

Did you ever notice how closely our obedience is connected to our blessings? We aren’t obedient to receive blessings — we can’t work our way to blessings or heaven — but through our obedience God blesses us. Just like our kids — we desire to bless them but if they are disobedient it would be detrimental to bless them. We require and expect our children to be obedient. God expects the same from His children (us).

This verse says, “God will set you high above all the nations”. I couldn’t help but be reminiscent thinking about great nations of the past who prospered when they were walking in the obedience of God. One such nation was the United States known to be established on Biblical principles. It was a nation that posted the Ten Commandments in it’s court houses, that had prayer in schools to the One and only God. It was a nation that was set above all the nations of the earth. God blessed this nation.

Just as Israel was blessed and prospered throughout history they were also disciplined for disobedience. It saddens my heart that this country draws further and further away from God. Fortunately God loves us enough to discipline us but unfortunately we are not responding. Our nation needs to turn back to obedience to God. As His people we must unite through the Holy Spirit and bathe our country in prayer and be an example as we are obedient to the Lord God Almighty.

Hear the cry, O Lord, of your remnant. Amen.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, — Deuteronomy 28: 13

Second Chances

Feb21

That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children,  That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, — Psalm 78:6-7

When I look back over my child rearing years I see many regrets and failures. If I could change or have do overs I would say the name”Jesus” more often. I would tell the plan of salvation until they understood. I would point out the attributes of a living God. My lips would testify more often of His greatness, goodness, provision, compassion, mercy and grace. My children would hear the Word of God more often than Sunday mornings. They would see me praying more often and family prayer would be more than just before eating or sleeping. They would know that Jesus was a very real part of the family Who would go with them out into the world when they started their own journey.

If only . . .

God is a God of second chances. Maybe becoming a grandmother is my second chance. I just found out I am to be a grandmother for the first time. I am so excited about this new creation being formed and woven in it’s mother’s womb. I give thanks to my Lord for my grandchild who is fearfully and wonderfully made. This baby’s frame is not hidden from Him and all it’s days are already ordained and written in His book.

God has given me a second chance to make a monumental difference in a child’s life. Thank you Almighty God. To you I will look for strength and seek Your face continually.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. — Psalm 139:13-16

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. — Psalm 105:4

May Be Well With Us

Feb13

But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ Jeremiah 7:23

 Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the Lord our God.” Jeremiah 42:6

God commands us to obey His voice. How do we hear His voice? Through His Word, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and God’s people. When we study His Word, alongside prayer, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the godly counsel and accountability of His people — He is our God and we are His people. When we listen and obey we walk in His way and when we walk in His way it is well with our soul.

Listening is a choice. When we listen intently to the Lord, it is well with us,  whether our lives are pleasant or unpleasant. Obedience to the Lord our God brings well being in all circumstances. Our focus must be intent upon Him and seeking His ways. Whether pleasant or unpleasant we have peace of mind that things are going God’s way and we can trust that He is in control. It is well with my soul.

Walking with Jesus I am made righteous in the sight of God and I will be fruitful in my endeavors, works, resulting in eating the fruit of my actions. It is well with me.

God desires us to have a heart that fears Him and keeps all His commandments always — that it may be well with us. Do you desire to live a life of well being? God desires that for us all. Have a heart that fears Him and keep His commandments.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, For they will eat the fruit of their actions. — Isaiah 3:10

Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever! — Deuteronomy 5:29

The Best Friend Ever

Jan31

You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. — John 15:14-15

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. — Psalm 55:22

Jesus has called me friend. Wow!!! As my friend, He reveals all things that He has heard from the Father. What wisdom and insight is at my disposal simply because I am His friend. He is loving and caring and wants me to know all about Him and how to live an abundant life. He is a friend who wants the best for me and will do what is best for me. Can anyone find a friend who wants your best all the time? With a friend like that I desire to know Him more. I seek to know Him deeper. 

He listens and carries my burdens while giving me counsel to help in those burdens. He will not allow me to be shaken – His righteous one – another WoW! He considers me righteous because He is righteous and as my friend transposes His righteousness to me. Because of this I do what He commands, making me His friend.

Jesus is the best friend you could ever have. Seek Him through the Bible and by prayer (just talking to Him). Practice obeying His commands and you will never be shaken.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Abundant Overflowing Love

Jan26

and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. — Romans 5:5

This week the devotionals have been focused on loving God with ALL. . . I don’t know if anyone noticed the common denominator in the ability to love with all, but it is God Himself who enables us to love. I happened upon this verse and was blessed that God dropped this in my lap. It says it as I could not possibly have said it. “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us”.

Poured out. This gave me the impression of an abundant, overflowing love. Two different translations I looked up said, “the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love. (The Voice) and “we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (The Message)

Oh the things God can accomplish through His people because of the great love He instills in us. We need to simply accept this love then give it right back to our Lord. Love is a wonderful motivator. Through God’s love and His marvelous word we can take His love and instruction and change the world. Without Him we are nothing, but with Him we are conquerors.

Seek Him by searching His word and communicating with Him in prayer continuously. Your life will never be the same. He has marvelous plans for you.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Love the Lord – Part 2

Jan22

and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart — Mark 12:30

“with all your heart”

How? By a new heart given by God. (Ezekiel 36:26) My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart (Psalm 73:26). The Lord will circumcise your heart to love the Lord (Deuteronomy 30:6:). It is all about Him, isn’t it? God is love and He is the One who enables my heart to love Him. Mind boggling.

What can we do? Pray asking the Lord to create in me a clean heart, O God (Psalm 51:10) and search me, O God, and know my heart (Psalm 139:23). We need to set our heart to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 12:14). We need His word — please receive instruction from His mouth and establish His words in your heart (Job 22:22).

I do my best to follow Your commands. You are the One who gives me the desire (willing heart, understanding) (Psalm 119:32).

We need a relationship with Jesus Christ so we can love the Lord our God with all our heart.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Ezekiel 36:26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Deuteronomy 30:6 Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

2 Chronicles 12:14  He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek theLord.

Job 22:22 Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart.

Psalm 119:32 I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart.

Taste And See

Jan15

O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! – Psalm 34:8

King David wrote this with exclamation. I believe he was truly blessed because he had tasted God’s deliverance. Are you experiencing a need for refuge (protection, shelter), a place of peace and rest? Take a taste and see for yourself that the Lord is good. Prayer and Bible reading will bring a blessing beyond all you can imagine. There is no greater blessing than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Taste and see.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon