Tag Archive | prayer

TRUST, Simply Trust

May25

but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in the word of truth, in the power of God;
2 Corinthians 6:4‭, ‬7a NASB

Sometimes life is hard. There are times when discerning the Spirit is near to impossible. The weight of the world is pressing down on our life and we wonder, where is God? It is in these times when we just need to  trust. TRUST. . .
Trust that God is faithful.
Trust that if we are His —
He will never leave us nor forsake us.
He loves us.
He has a plan.
God is always at work in us sanctifying our soul.

Do you trust God?

🌹And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Psalms 9:10 NASB

Pray these verses:

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

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 NASB

Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3 NASB

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Psalms 37:5 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Decisions

May19

Warning: this is a long one.

Testimony:
I know you have been there, where you are faced with a circumstance you don’t know how to handle. In your carnal (fleshly) mind you think of a quick, rash decision. But . . . God.

Recently I was faced with a circumstance that made me angry. It brought me to tears. I cried out to the Lord for help. The next few events happened without my really being aware until I looked back over my day and saw the trail of guidance my Lord left for me.

I received a phone call asking for assistance if I could. I did. This godly, prayer warrior woman, without her even knowing, revealed that I needed to persevere. I needed to continue to pray, pray, pray. I needed to trust the Lord.

Before and after this encounter I had received a few texts from another friend regarding scripture references from a Bible Study she attended. It is here where God moved in a miraculous way and I can admit I am so glad that I am human and in the hands of my Lord.

I was given Psalm 53:7-12
This is not what I looked up and read, but this is:

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:7‭-‬12 NASB

Not Psalm but Isaiah. My Lord Jesus faced life oppressed and afflicted and didn’t open His mouth. He had a mission to fulfill no matter the cost. Who am I to expect a perfect life when the perfect One suffered?

Oops, or was it really? It wasn’t Psalm 53, but 52:7-12 and again I was looking in Isaiah.

How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, They shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes When the Lord restores Zion. Break forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God. Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the Lord. But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives; For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 52:7‭-‬12 NASB

God has made a way! He reigns! He will comfort! I am redeemed! Salvation is mine! Victory is coming!!

Again, another change. God at work. Psalm 51:10-12 but I read, again, Isaiah.

Was it not You who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over? So the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass, That you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?
Isaiah 51:10‭-‬13 NASB

Praise God, I have something to look forward to, hope. My God is mightier than any circumstance so I will persevere until His return or He takes me home.

God’s word is so amazing and I would not want to neglect the Psalms that were sent to me. God is an amazing, wonderful, loving, caring God who is always a prayer away.

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.
Psalms 51:10‭-‬12 NASB

🌹“Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire.” But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones. Psalms 52:7‭-‬9 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Eagerly Await

Apr25

In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
Psalms 5:3 NASB

🌹When you pray, do you watch and wait in expectation of God’s answer?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

God Knows You

Apr14

You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?
Psalms 56:8 NASB

You examine in detail my ways, my life.
You see every tear and hear every prayer.
Yes, You have me written in Your book of remembrance.
I will revere You Lord and hold dear Your name for I am truly loved. Thank You Lord for loving me. Amen.

You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
Psalms 139:3 NASB

“Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.
2 Kings 20:5 NASB

Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name.
Malachi 3:16 NASB

🌹. . . rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
Luke 10:20b NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Holy Week – Wednesday

Apr5

Silence. . . . . . .

Not much is written regarding the Wednesday of Holy Week. It has been mentioned that this was the preparation day for the Passover which is Thursday, the day before the week of Unleavened Bread.

‘These are the appointed times of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover. Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
Leviticus 23:4‭-‬6 NASB

Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare for Passover:

And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.” And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
Luke 22:8‭-‬13 NASB

Where do you suppose Jesus was during the preparation?

Could Jesus have been with the Father in preparation for His death?

As I’m reading and meditating on Holy Week, I am noticing Jesus emphasizing the things the disciples are going to need. Faith and discernment were two things I noticed Jesus sharing.

Could Jesus have been away praying for His disciples?

🌹Jesus knew where to go in His despair. He has shown us where to go also. Jesus is our Advocate. He knew what lay ahead for His disciples then and for His disciples now. Jesus knows what lies before us and He preps us by the blessing of His word and prayer. Thank You, Jesus.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Holy Week – Tuesday

Apr4

The withered fig tree:

As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.
Mark 11:20‭-‬22 NASB

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Matthew 21:21‭-‬22 NASB

Confrontation with the religious elite:

They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me.”
Answering Jesus, they *said, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Mark 11:27‭-‬30‭, ‬33 NASB

Jesus follows up with several parables in Mark 12

Judas . . . . The Plot

The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.
Luke 22:2‭-‬6 NASB

Back to Jesus . . .

As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
Mark 13:1‭-‬5 NASB
Jesus continues in Mark 13:6-37

🌹Jesus spent three years building a relationship with His disciples, especially with those closest to Him. Do you wonder how Jesus felt in leaving them? As yet I don’t think the reality of Jesus dying was even on the disciples radar. But Jesus knew what was coming for each one of them. I can’t help but believe Jesus was heartbroken over what was about to happen to His disciples’ world – their confusion, desperation, doubt, brokenness and hopelessness over what was about to take place. Not only was Jesus carrying His own burden and anguish but also the same for His disciples. And soon Jesus was to carry the burden of sin for all mankind.

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving Your creation so much that You feel our pain, our anguish, and understand. I pray we would keep our eye on the Lamb, staying focused, and remembering and trusting Your teachings, Your word. Amen.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Hiatus

Jan25

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28‭-‬30 NASB

I am going to take the advice of my Lord and go to Him. I am weary, burdened, loaded down, yes, heavy-laden. I will take the yoke of my God upon myself and learn from Him so I may find rest for my soul and continue to be a servant for the good of God’s Kingdom. He promises that He will satisfy the weary ones and refresh, fill, everyone who languishes. I am seeking God’s righteousness and I know He will satisfy my soul. Just as Jesus would go seek time with the Father, I will be taking some time to learn, seek, and rest in the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:25/Matthew 5:6 NASB

God bless your ministry, your souls, your time and I hope to be returning soon refreshed, renewed, restored.
God bless you. 

🌹Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Wrestling with God

Jan24

Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had.
Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; (Israel means He strives with God or God strives) for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, (which means “the face of God) for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.”
Genesis 32:22‭-‬30 NASB

Have you ever wrestled with God?

You may not think you have but every believer has wrestled with God. We all experienced the struggle to admit we are sinners before a perfect, Holy God. We wrestled with and still wrestle with the control of our lives. We struggle with the idea of complete surrender to an all-trustworthy God. We wrestle with the commands of God to be obedient to His word, His will.
Let us be like Jacob and continue to wrestle, persistently in prayer, until the blessing comes.

Wrestle: to contend, as in a struggle for mastery; grapple

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 🌹

Jesus Prayed

Jan19

Jesus prayed in the evening:
After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
Matthew 14:23/Mark 6:46 NASB

Jesus prayed in the early morning:
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.
Mark 1:35 NASB

Jesus prayed before choosing the 12 Disciples:
It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:12 NASB

Jesus prayed at His baptism:
Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,
Luke 3:21 NASB

Jesus prayed at the Transfiguration:
Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
Luke 9:28 NASB

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsamane:
They *came to a place named Gethsemane; and He *said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.”
Mark 14:32 NASB

Jesus prayed on the cross:
 “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do”
Luke 23:34
“My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34
“Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit”
Luke 23:46

Jesus taught prayer:
It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”
Luke 11:1 NASB

And Jesus has instructed us to pray:
Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 14:38 NASB

pray without ceasing;
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB

🌹But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
Luke 5:16 NASB

Jesus, the Son of God, often slipped away to pray. How much more do we need to slip away to pray?

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Seek by Prayer

Jan13

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 NASB

O Lord, You hear the desire of the humble; You strengthen their heart, You incline Your ear. So may our hearts give attention to You, Lord God, to seek You by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. God, You have told us to call to you and You will answer, and tell us great and mighty things which we do not know!! You have told us, through Your holy word, to call upon You in the day of trouble; You will rescue us, and we will honor You, Lord God! Thank You, God, for listening. Thank You for hearing our prayers. Thank You for bringing us from darkness into Your marvelous Light! We humbly bow before You and worship Your holy name. . . Amen.
Psalms 10:17/Daniel 9:3/Jeremiah 33:3/Psalms 50:15 NASB

🌹Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 37:4 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon