Imagine God Answering Your Prayer

“NOW unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory… Ephesians 3:20-21

This is one of my favorite scriptures, ‘above all that we ask or think’. That burden you’ve been praying about, to borrow a phrase from a friend, “How Can You Imagine God Answering Your Prayer?” What is the most extreme your mind can think? What would the answer look like in “a perfect world”?

One scripture says ‘His thoughts are not our thoughts ‘ to me that means that whatever I could imagine is so much less than what God has in mind.

There is no other such piling up of words in Paul’s writings as these, “exceeding abundantly above all,” and each work is packed with infinite love and power to “do” for His praying saints. There is one limitation, “according to the power that worketh in us.” He will do just as much for us as we let Him do in us. The power that saved us, washed us with His own blood, filled us with might by His Spirit, kept us in manifold temptations, will work for us, meeting every emergency,every crisis, every circumstance, and every adversary.—The Alliance

“Unto Him be the glory…”

Published in: on May 26, 2017 at 3:54 am  Leave a Comment  
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My Prayer Today

I’ve heard/read about people writing out their prayers.
“How interesting.” I would think.
I’ve listed prayer requests.
I’ve made gratitude lists.
Many times I have written down the Word of God.

A written prayer is a first for me.
It is not deep or poetic,
but heart felt.

Dear God,

For this day, I thank Thee,
for the goodmess that you have prepared for me
and for the rough places we must go through.

May I be thanful for all of my day.
Grant the grace and the oil of your Spirit
to smoooth and ease the rough places.’

May your banner of love over me be seen
your compassion, your kindness, your peace.

There will be many times
I’ll cry out to you this day –
please attend to my cry
There will be times I should be asking
for your help and yet,
I’ll be so caught up in the circumstances;
I’ll try to handle it all on my own.
Please, know I still need your help.

Your people are hurting, today
in their minds,
in their hearts,
in their bodies
please minister to these needs.
Comfort the grieving ones,
the tired, the weary, the struggling
and the ones who are still learning to walk by faith.
May we not forget that with you
‘ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE’.

 

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For my family –
my husband, my mom, my children near,
my grandshildren, wherever they are.
Those on my list – close to my heart.
Help them to make right choices before you.
Help them to desire to put you first in their hearts.
Help that seed of faith, so small at times,
to never be extinquished.

For my daily duties today
I ask for strength and
to do them as for you
even though they are the same things
done over and over
May I take comfort in the sameness
in the constantness
in your continual supply.

Help me look at the many things you provide
with a thankful heart
for as I think will be the way that I am this day.

My meditation scripture today.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise,
think on these things.

In Jesus’name
Amen

Published in: on November 17, 2016 at 4:48 am  Leave a Comment  
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November 19, Today’s thought – Faith

nove 15 bathtimeLet the bathing begin!

Good Morning

For every child of God overcomes the world; and the victorious principle which has overcome the world is our faith. 1 John 5:4 Weymouth

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4 KJV

At every turn in the road one can find something
that will rob him of his victory and peace of mind,
if he permits it.
Satan is a long way from having retired from
the business of deluding and ruining God’s children if he can.
At every milestone it is well to look carefully
to the thermometer of one’s experience to see whether
the temperature is well up

Sometimes a person can,
if he will,
actually snatch Victor from the very jaws of defeat,
if he will resolutely put his faith up
at just the right moment.

Faith can change any situation.
No matter how dark it is,
no matter what the trouble may be,
a quick lifting of the heart to God
in a moment of real, actual faith in Him,
will alter the situation in a moment.

God is still on His throne,
and He can turn defeat into victory
in a second of time,
if we really trust Him.

“God is mighty! He is able to deliver;
Faith can victor be in every trying hour;
Fear and care and sin and sorrow be defeated
By our faith in God’s almighty, conquering power.

Have faith in God, the sun will shine,
Though dark the clouds may be today
His heart has planned your path and mine,
Have faith in God, have faith alway.”

from Steams in the Desert, Vol 1, Cowman

Hold Up the Shield of Faith. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on November 19, 2013 at 12:07 pm  Comments (2)  
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May 8, Today’s thought — The Way Back

May 6 garden velma 017Dutch Iris at Grandma Crain’s

Good Afternoon

Have faith in God. Mark 11:22

In the catacombs, we are told, explorers take a thread with them through all the dark passages and tortuous windings, and by this thread find their way back again to the light. There is such a thread running through all the dark corridors with we tread, and if we simply, practically trust in God we shall steer past every peril and land in the world of light. This is the counsel to remember in all the perplexities of our actual life.

There is an answer to every questioning “Why” It is this: Have Faith in God.

Have faith that He knows all, sympathizes with all, can rectify, what is amiss in all! Have faith in the outworking of His beneficent purpose: that the ruin will become a magnificent pile; the desert will blossom into a garden. Have faith in God. Keep close to Him–His side, His will–and He will teach us the true thing, the right way. Have faith that God knows and that we shall know by and by, why things are as they are.

Follow the thread of faith . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on May 8, 2013 at 4:13 pm  Leave a Comment  
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July 12, Today’s thought — Let Go

I love the water circles in this picture…
the cat is pretty special, too.

Good Morning

Lord, increase our faith. Luke 17:5

Faith is not clinging–it is letting go.

Somewhere we have read a story that goes like this:

“A traveler upon a lonely road was set upon by bandits who robbed him of all he dad. they then led him into the depths of the forest. There is the darkness they tied a rope to the limb of a great tree, and bade him catch hold of the end of it. Swinging him out into the blackness of surrounding space, they told him he was hanging over the brink of a giddy precipice. The moment he let go he would be dashed to pieces on the ricks below. And then they left him. His soul was filled with horror at the awful doom impending. He clutched despairingly the end of the swaying rope. But each dreadful moment only make his fate more sure. His strength steadily failed. At last he could hold on no longer. The end had come. His clenched fingers relaxed their convulsive grip. He fell—six inches, to the solid earth at his feet! It was only a ruse of the robbers to gain time in escaping. And when he let go it was not to death, but to the safety which had been waiting him through all his time of terror.”

Clutching will not save anyone from his hopelessness.
It is only Satan’s trick to keep you from being afforded
security and peace in the solid promises of God.
And all the while you are swinging over
the supposed precipice of fear and mistrust.
Let Go!
It is God’s plan that you fall–not to defeat,
but into His arms, the solid Rock.
As soon as you recognize your sheer helplessness
and your failing strength,
you let go;
and falling upon Him,
your fear goes,
your mistrust goes,
and the blessed assurance come forever.
For He–not your clinging but–
“He shall save his people from their sins.”
from ‘Streams in the Desert 2’

Trust God for your day. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on July 12, 2012 at 1:23 pm  Leave a Comment  
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May 31 — Today’s thought –He knew not

Zinnias are starting to bloom!

Good Morning

Hebrews 11:1, 8 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Whither he went, he knew not; it was enough for him to know that he went with God. He leant not so much upon the promises as upon the Promiser. He looked not on the difficulties of his lot, but on the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, who deigned to appoint his course, and would certainly vindicate Himself.
O glorious Faith!
This is thy work, these are thy possibilities; contentment to sail with sealed orders, because of the unwavering confidence in the wisdom of the Lord High Admiral; willinghood to rise up,leave all, and follow Christ , because of the glad assurance that earth’s best cannot bear comparison with Heaven’s least. –F.B. M.

Hebrews 11:8-10 [Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go. [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise. For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. Amplified Bible

Trust God for your day. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on May 31, 2012 at 8:23 am  Leave a Comment  

Five Minute Friday — Trust

 

On Fridays we just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.

 

I’m joining with Lisa at: http://thegypsymama.com/2012/02/five-minute-friday-trust/

Start:

TRUST   —   reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence. 2. confident expectation of something; hope.

I prayed: Psalms 139:23-24 ” Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ”

I trusted that all would be right.

I searched and made a list.

I trusted all would be improved.

I prayed.

I read His Word.

I am still trusting  —  being helped  —  receiving guidance.

I am encouraged that what is shown can be committed to His Care and still trust in His Help.

Then………..Exposure………..Shock

What is this?!     Is this what I am?

I look up the word.

I read the definition.

The Thesaurus is plain to describe me.

The antonyms are opposite and what I am not an antonym.

Now  — where is my trust?

My prayer has been answered.

God searched and found.

My trial is:

What do I do?

Where do I go?

How do I start?

I read and pr ay  —  Now ” lead me in the way everlasting. ”

“TRUST ” is whispered.

And I remind my undone self.

I have trusted.

I trusted.

I trust.

I am trusting.

I shall be trusting.

Stop.

As I read this over ‘ I ‘ is prominent. That surely is part of the problem, but the fruit of that I is so ugly and hurtful. I despair and in my despair I am struggling to continue to trust.

Published in: on February 10, 2012 at 11:23 am  Comments (3)  

Five Minute Friday — It’s Real!

Because it’s Friday!

Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays.

We write because we want to, not because we have to. We write for fun, for joy, for discovery.

Today’s prompt  —  Real

start with questions:

Is what I imagine about my life real?

Am I looking in the window at a play scene?

Do I think what is in my head is real life?

What is real?

What is make believe?

How can I tell the difference?

Which one do I really want to choose?

Is one better than the other?

Do I really want to know?

Foolish, Foolish questions.

I check my guidebook  —

and I find

Thomas had questions and doubts, too.

Our Christ gently told him  — touch what is real and believe……..

Christ tells me  —  believe in me and ye shall have real life…….
(paraphrasing mine )

No more questions.

John 3:15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

To read more Five Minute Fridays, click here.

Published in: on February 3, 2012 at 11:30 am  Comments (1)  

Mothering, Yesterday and Today

I’ve been ask to bring a lesson to the Young Married class, so I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking of mothers and parenting. How I was as a young mother so confident that I knew what I was doing and yet so selfish! How I saw so many things as black and white, because that is where I felt secure. Looking back, I’d like to think I’d change a lot of things, but I really wouldn’t be able to because then I would not have been who I was, and  I could only work with what I knew and what I thought was expected of me.

Mothers today have so many choices that I don’t think I had. With those choices comes insecurity, too. Am I making the right decision? Am I doing enough? Can I fulfill my expectations and dreams for my family?

I wrote a comment on this blog.
http://www.incourage.me/2011/10/tiger-mothers-or-the-making-of-velveteen-mothers.html

I wanted to write it here, it is my prayer for today’s mothers.

Dear Mothers, my heart is full for mothers
Mothers so hard on themselves,
Mothers so tender,
Mothers so clearly wanting with their whole hearts to do it all and to do it all right
Mothers who look back and see clearly — it is called hind sight
Mothers who look forward through a glass darkly — it is called faith
Mothers who must take one day at a time trusting God to fill the gap between what I am doing and what I want to be doing — we are just not capable by ourselves.
Some days, yes, tigers, coming quickly “to their temples” shaking the doors, getting their attention, making it, oh, so plain the need of the moment.
Some days, we are that velvet comforter, wrapping, holding, nurturing, healing, still not in our own strength but in God’s comfort by which we are selves are comforted.
Remember to everything “there is a season” and all seasons are covered by grace and all seasons are to be filled with thanks.

I’m still growing in grace, still learning,still thankful for God’s plan for mothers.

I just Love this picture!

(pictures found by googling ‘mothering pictures- thanks )

Published in: on October 25, 2011 at 11:44 am  Comments (1)