I'll Pray For You -- Romans 15:30

 "I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me." Romans 15:30

Have you ever run into a friend at the grocery store, and in passing, they ask you to pray for a situation? Your response is almost always something like "Of course!" or "I'll keep you in my prayers." But, in reality, how often do you remember that friend's request until much later (or sometimes it completely slips your mind)? 

I know I am guilty of saying I will pray and then rushing off to finish whatever errand I was on and either forgetting to pray or remembering to pray the next day or a few days past. I always felt horrible and prayed for forgiveness for forgetting my friend's need. 

After running into the husband of an acquaintance (named Mary) at Wal-Mart and having him ask me to pray for Mary's health and then going on about my day, I only remembered to pray for her two days later. After stopping what I was doing and lifting her in prayer, I felt nudged by the Lord to pick up the phone and give Mary a call. The phone went straight to voicemail. I kept getting a nudge to keep trying to contact her, so I called a mutual friend. My friend said Mary was in the hospital, but she did not know why Mary was hospitalized.

I am not so sanctimonious to think that if I had stopped and prayed for Mary right after her husband asked me to, Mary would not have been hospitalized. But I did learn a huge lesson that day. The Lord wants us to be bold in our faith and not hide our light. 

The next time someone asked me to pray for them or a situation, I was having
lunch at one of my favorite diners. I looked at the friends I was dining with and said, "Let's pray right now for Pam." Pam happened to be walking by when she saw me and stopped to chat, mentioning she was going through a difficult situation.

Some of the people sitting at tables around us also stopped and bowed their heads as I offered a prayer for Pam and her family. I don't think Pam quite knew what to say, but she called me later and thanked me for taking the time to pray for her. She said it made her feel like she mattered, and she felt such peace when I was praying for her. 

I now make it a point to stop what I am doing to pray for those who ask. Whether standing in aisle 10 at Wal-Mart or sitting at a table full of friends at a diner, I will bow my head and raise my hands in prayer. I may get some strange looks from non-believers, but I don't want to pay lip service and just say, "I'll pray for you." 

I have a prayer list that I regularly update. It is filled with prayer requests from friends and colleagues. Readers of this blog have also emailed asking for prayers. If you are feeling overwhelmed, lonely, sick, or in need of peace, drop me a line at prayersandpromisesministry@gmail.com. I will gladly pray for you!

Soar On Wings Like Eagles -- Isaiah 40:31

 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

This is one of my mom's absolute favorite scriptures and I have to say it is one that I recite on days when it is difficult to get out of bed. There are several mornings when my body hurts so much that even the slightest movement sends shockwaves of pain radiating throughout. But, I have little lives (my dogs) depending on me to swing my legs out from the covers and push myself up and start moving. 

Living with rheumatoid arthritis is a daily roller coaster and not just my body is weary, but my soul as well. Being my mother's primary caregiver and a single mom on top of it all does put a strain on my mind, body, heart, and soul. Each morning, rain or shine, severe pain or mild aches, I pull myself up and praise the Lord for another day. 

Spending time in prayer, especially when your soul is weary, is one of the most important parts of your Christian walk. Sitting quietly and inviting the Lord for a chat will invigorate your heart and give you peace. During the difficult days, take ten minutes to retreat to a quiet place and lay your burdens at the foot of the cross. Ask the Lord to place His hand upon you and give you peace, encouragement, and discernment. He will never leave you and He will lift you up and help you soar. 

I did just that this afternoon. After a busy day of errands and doctor appointments, I was feeling drained and just wanted to curl up under the covers and forget about everything. There is dinner to cook, laundry to put away, dogs to feed and work to proofread/edit before I can call it a day. 

Therefore, I knew I needed to approach my Lord and Savior for a pep talk and an energy spike. After just ten minutes of sitting in the sunshine (it is a beautiful 69 degrees today!), I could feel the Lord wrapping an arm around me and lifting me up. The laundry is done, dinner is in the oven, the dogs are happily munching their dinner, and I have two more articles to edit for the night. 

God is so good!! What has He done in your life lately? Leave a comment, we would love to hear from you! If you have a prayer request, you can leave a comment or email me at prayersandpromisesministry@gmail.com. 

For I Know the Plans...Jeremiah 29:11

 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

For me, this is one of the most amazing scriptures. The Lord declares He has a specific plan for you. How amazing is that?! We may occasionally deviate from the path, turn our backs on the Lord, or even go kicking and screaming in a different direction. But our God is patiently waiting to guide our steps back onto the path He has set us on.

I admit I am one of those who has tumbled off the path and right into the weeds or rolled down the hill and landed head-first into the creek. I have even listened to the Lord and flat-out told Him no. Yes, I admit to telling my Lord and Savior I wasn't going to do something He wanted me to do. Eventually, I stopped hiding from Him and accepted the task He laid at my feet but there were times I was not happy about it.

Currently, I am at a crossroads, questioning where things are going, and doing my best to
calm my life enough to sit quietly in the presence of the Lord and listen to what He is telling me. In today's hectic world where people are connected 24/7, it is sometimes difficult to hear the Lord's soft whisper. 

Take 10 or 15 minutes out of your day, close the laptop, turn off the phone, and tune into the Lord. Ask Him to give you peace, focus on the softness of His voice as He renews your spirit. Find a space where you can sit quietly, focus on your breathing, and ask the Lord to come for a visit. 

In the winter, I sit in my living room first thing in the morning with my cup of coffee and my Bible. I leave my phone and computer in a different room and invite the Lord to come sit with me as I tell Him my fears and my hopes, and ask Him for direction. I then sit quietly, taking deep, calming breaths and listening for His words. In the summer months, I head outside to my covered patio for my alone time with the Lord. No matter where I am, He comes for a visit and when the busyness of the day begins, I feel His touch and know He is still there, guiding my steps.

Rubbing My Nose In It -- 1 John 1:9

 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

When I was in my darkest hour I desperately searched for a hand to grab and someone or
something to hold onto. This was right after my daughter was born and depression had clouded
my reasoning. In a desperate attempt to crawl out of that fog, I began reading my Bible. I was
unable to feel Him near me while I read His word and I was so lost. I remember falling asleep
with my Bible open on my lap. When I woke up, I looked down at the open pages. The passage
from 1 John 1:9 leaped off the page at me and I felt as if I had been knocked over the head!

I was suffering from postpartum depression but my depression went deeper than that. I had
sinned against God and had never truly cried out to Him my sin, my shame. He was there,
waiting for me to call to Him and confess what I had done. Even though He knew what I had
done, He still waited patiently for me to tell Him. 

My own conscience and guilt were preventing me from opening up to my heavenly Father and allowing His grace to cover me and heal me. I remember thinking to myself, “What an idiot! I have been so stubborn!” I know when to admit I was wrong and seek a way to fix it. It was right there in front of me, 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just...” I finally brought myself to have a true heart-to-heart with Him.

“...and [He] will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” After having my
heart-to-heart, I could feel within my soul this peace and it was as if the sun started shining
outward from my soul. There was a radiance that I felt and I knew that He had taken my sin and
my depression away, made me feel whole and strong again.

Is it time for you to have a heart-to-heart with the Lord?

First Thing First -- Matthew 6:33

 “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33

How many times have you worried that telling someone the truth or being completely honest
with someone would just hurt their feelings too much so you have to tip-toe around the truth to
soften it for them. Being nice rather than being honest has become the norm in society but the
Lord teaches us that we should take a first-things-first approach. “Seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness.” By first going to the Lord and becoming more Christ-like we are seeking His
kingdom and His promises. Jesus during His time upon the Earth did not soften his words when
someone was seeking the truth. He delivered the hard truth even when those did not want to
hear it. How refreshing that would be to ask a question and know that you are going to get the
absolute truth, no sugar-coating, no half-truths, but the completely unbiased truth. Of course, our
feelings would be hurt from time to time but true friendships are built on truth and when it is
spoken in love we can learn and grow from it.

When we align ourselves with the Lord and seek Him in all we do He promises to take care of
us, walk beside us and never forsake us. That is an amazing promise and for us, being of
Earthly flesh, it is a little far-fetched to believe. Someone to always speak the truth to us and
never leave our side no matter what we have done or how far we pull away is an idyllic myth
and so foreign to what we know.

Growing up I had a sister who was a complete narcissist, everything had to revolve around her, 
and when it did not anyone in her path paid dearly for her unhappiness. She never sought the
truth; she desperately wanted you to sugar-coat the truth so it made her look good. When she
would ask me if she was a good sister, I would have to say that she was or she would get
vicious. I bear a slight scar on my face from telling her that she was a selfish person. She is still
the same way today – four children and fifty pounds later. Watching her children when they were
younger I saw the unhappiness they felt at having to compete with their mother’s ego for
attention and affection. Her love was always conditional and still is to this day. 

Now that I am an adult and able to see her clearly, I understand that she always put herself above anyone else; her husband, her children, and even the Lord. In her quest for self-love and self-satisfaction, she became a very jealous and unhappy person. Having her as a role model growing up – every little sister looks up to their big sister – I had the hardest time believing that Jesus sacrificed His life for my sins. There had to be some kind of ulterior motive, and there was, but it was a motive that
benefited me not Him. God loved His people so deeply that He sacrificed His son to a horrific
death so that we could draw closer to God. What a love that must be! Once I figured out that the Lord wanted me to seek Him and His word before all else, I understood the unhappiness that my sister felt. She put herself before the Lord – her wants and needs were her first priority, not her relationship with her Lord.

I have in the past several years since my daughter’s birth taken my wants and needs out of the
equation and focused on my relationship with my Lord first and my relationship with my
daughter second, all else in my life comes after and I know that He is here with me as He
promises in Matthew 6:33. By focusing on Him, He is there to pick me up and carry me if need
be. He promised to be there and provide for me but He did warn of trials and tribulations in this
life. My true reward will come after my journey has ended in this life.

Refreshments, Anyone?

 “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Jeremiah 31:25

I had a good friend tell me one time that she had no clue how I did all the things I did and not be overwhelmed. I sat back and thought about what she had said. To me, this life – all my activities and chores; even my past excursions – have made me who I am today. I have been doing these things for so long, having daily routines that cover a myriad of activities so that I do not feel overwhelmed or weary. I liken myself to the farmer who rises every morning at 4:00 a.m. to tend his farm. Although I admit to not ever rising at 4:00 a.m. I do have a set time for doing things and all that I do, I enjoy and am at peace.

One of my other good friends told me she thought I was amazing because of all I do. I do not 

feel amazing, in fact, I feel wonderfully ordinary. When I was younger I was always told that it
was my responsibility to become someone extraordinary and forge a path for others to follow.
Where this path might lead I had no idea. Most of those expectations melted away when I
became pregnant just like an ordinary young woman acting out. As I matured, I found a wonderful new hobby – people-watching. There is nothing more entertaining to me than to sit in the local mall's food court and watch people rush here and there through the corridor of shops. You learn a lot about people that way. But now I have wandered off topic.

Back to refresh the weary and satisfy the faint; what an amazing promise! Even though
my daily life is routine to me, there are still times when I become so tired – when my daughter
turns into a stubborn mule and we butt heads all day long; or when a puppy is feeling under the
weather and I am up and down with her for several nights straight. Being weary can drag on my
immune system and after a time I start to feel the effects. I am getting much better at going to
the cross as soon as the first signs of weariness set in. I used to tell myself I could handle it, I
did not need to bother the Lord with every little thing. As I have grown in my faith and become
more comfortable in my place with Christ I have discovered that He encourages us to come to
Him with all trials and worries no matter how trivial.

Psalm 55:22 says just that, “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never
let the righteous be shaken.” (NIV) When weariness starts to take over, everyone in my
household knows. No matter what I am doing, if I start to feel weighted down I will put my praise
and worship music on and start singing and dancing. My students are starting to realize I am not ignoring them when I pop an earbud in and go into my own zone for about five minutes. My player has a mix of music on it but my favorite playlist is my praise and worship music. It revives my soul and gives me the energy to keep going. Through His word and music that praises Him, I am renewed. His promise is fulfilled every time I ask for Him to help me and take care of me.

Fear Will Not Win!

 Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his first inaugural speech, “The only thing to fear is fear itself.” It seems that FDR is referring to the effects of fear on a person, not the actual fear that is felt. So how do you alleviate fear? Many turn to the Bible for comfort when fear creeps into their lives.

“Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod
and your staff comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4). This is probably one of the most well-known Scriptures quoted from the Bible. Its words provide such comfort and peacefulness to those who hear them. The fear that has built within your heart seems to just dissipate.

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13) This Scripture evokes an image of a father lovingly extending his hand to a frightened child and lends his strength and comfort to that child. One of the most comforting things is to have someone sit beside you and just hold your hand. This comforting gesture gives you a feeling of safety, that you are not alone and that you just need to reach out and your heavenly Father will grab hold and walk you through your fears.

“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” (Exodus 13:14-15). Even though Moses lived centuries ago, in a land so far removed from modern-day life, his words still ring out and hold the same conviction as they did all those years ago. The Lord will always wrap his arms around you and keep you safe from your adversaries. He will remove the fear from your heart and guide you towards a peacefulness that calms your spirit and gives you renewed hope and strength.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Stand firm, even when you are feeling defeated and the fear has seeped into your entire being. The Lord is there beside you through your trials and He will continue to lift you up and ease the fears that are entrenched in your heart. He knows every secret crevice of your heart and He knows the fear that is residing there, he will never leave you even though he knows your deepest terrors and secrets.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) The Lord gave us the power within ourselves to stand up to the fears that invade our beings. He has empowered us and given us the tools to not cower in the corner but to step forth and defeat those who are trying to intimidate us and make us cower in a corner and from the bullies of this world, whether these bullies be human or circumstance.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?...Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.” (Psalm 27:1, 3) This is another very well-known Scripture that calms the fears of people and makes the fears recede to the background and empowers you to stand against the fear that is gnawing at your heart and soul. With the Lord standing beside you, there is no one or nothing that can embed fear into you. He will keep his arms around you and protect you from any fear that tries to invade your calmness.

Many more Scriptures address fear and how to help alleviate it before it becomes all-consuming, paralyzing fear. With the Lord standing guard over you and swatting all the enemies away before they can fully embed within your soul and cause you an uneasiness that alters the way you live your life. The enemy will try to force his way into your heart and cause you to doubt the love that the Lord has for you, but remember the promises that the Lord has given throughout the Bible to always stand with you. “The only thing to fear is fear itself”, fear is only a feeling that can be dispelled by grabbing hold of the Lord’s hand and keeping your eyes firmly focused upon the cross.