365 Days of Praise
About Pleasing God
Do you ever think about pleasing God? Did you know that it’s possible to please God? Hebrews 11:5-6 states that Enoch was “pleasing to God” and that God is a REWARDER of THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.” I can’t think of a more admirable thing that could be said of a person than that they please God. I long to please God and I know certainly you must, too. How can we please God? We can believe Him. We can take to Him that which is overwhelming us, causing us to fear, or doubt. We can ask Him to fill and equip us to handle whatever He permits in our life. We can know that, by faith, we’ll experience His glorious equipping and power to walk through our day. We can serve His purposes. Today, we can please God in the little and big things; knowing that He is a REWARDER of THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.
Lord God, REWARDER OF THOSE WHO SEEK YOU, we seek You. We come to You in faith. We want to please You. Help us walk by Your Spirit throughout the day.
“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him,” Hebrews 11:5-6.
Is This Hard for You to Get Your Mind Around
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS for the MONTANA P.R.A.Y. with PASSION CONFERENCE. GOD RICHLY ANSWERED YOUR PRAYERS!
I know, I know, I know. We sing about Jesus’s resurrection. But is it ever hard for you to get your mind around the fact He was raised from the dead? Do you ever stop and ponder if you believe what you do because you were always told that or if it is your own conviction? When Jesus said, “‘I am the RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies’” (John 11:25), He was talking to a woman who was saying with her mouth she believed but who wasn’t expecting Jesus to raise her deceased brother. Jesus is patient with us just like He was with Martha. If you’re struggling to believe and you have questions, that means you’re seeking to understand, which is good. Jesus will help you find Him. Keep seeking. He’s a prayer away.
Lord, You are the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. We profess our faith with thanksgiving.
Does Your Battery Need Charging
Do you think God expects you to be superman or super woman? Here’s some good news. God doesn’t expect us to keep going and going and going without rest. God doesn’t expect us to be like an energizer bunny. He knows that we will become depleted and that we need restoration. Psalm 23:3 says, “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Sure, Red bull drinks and other caffeinated drinks may give a temporary kick or a burst of energy. But, it’s the daily refreshment in God’s presence that provides ongoing restoration to our souls. When your battery is running low, find your Bible. You’ll experience the restoration for which you long in God’s presence.
Lord, we praise You, the RESTORER of our soul!
“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake,” Psalm 23:3.
Soul Rest
NEWS! Montana P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conference DAY 2. Thank you for your prayers for an outpouring of God’s Spirit and travel safety as I return home.
“I’m tired! I’m tired of work. I’m tired of the tension in my life. I’m tired of struggling. I’m tired of taking care of….” How would you finish that sentence? God understands. The Bible says God rested on the seventh day after He completed the creation. One of His Ten Commandments is to keep the Sabbath Day as a day of rest; as He rested on the seventh day. Jesus’s work in obtaining our salvation on the cross results in our NOT WORKING for salvation. God has provided a future day of eternal SABBATH REST. Hebrews 4:9-10. Until then, what do we do if our soul is anything but at rest? We respond to Jesus’s invitation in Matthew 11:28-29. We learn how to walk in step with Him. Soul rest. Ahh – it’s nice. And it is ours for the taking.
Lord, thank You for the eternal Sabbath Rest we have in You. Thank You that even though our days may be filled with family, work, and ministry commitments, we can experience SOUL REST by walking in step with You. You are our RESTING PLACE.
“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.”
Soak Your Soul In This
Walk Out of the Dark and In the Light
Have you ever been in a “dark place”? Perhaps you are now. Everywhere you look, it’s dark, and what’s worse – you don’t see a way out. If you have been there or you are now, can you imagine what it would be like to be there forever, and to know that you’d never escape? God and Satan are powerful. They each have domains, or kingdoms. God’s domain is heaven and light. Satan’s domain is hell and darkness. First John 1:19 explains “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” But, the good news of Colossians 1:13 is that Christ RESCUED us from the domain of darkness. Rather than walk in the darkness of worldly discouragement, look up to the glorious light of Christ. Ask Him to infuse you with His light; to give you His eyes to see the hope you have in Him. You have the God of eternity on your side. Thank Him. Praise Him. Walk out of the evil one’s lies and in the Light of your hope in Christ.
Lord Jesus, You have RESCUED us from the domain of darkness. Infuse us with Your light so we walk as children of Light. We love You and praise You!
“He RESCUED US from the DOMAIN of DARKNESS, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
When Bolts of Regret Strike You to the Core
Are the storms in your life overwhelming you…perhaps literally? Whether the storms are literal or metaphorical, fear can flood our emotions. Lightening bolts of regret can strike us to the core. Worry can flood our mind. But God doesn’t want us to stay overwhelmed, drowning in fear, worry, and regret. That’s why He has given us His Spirit; His very presence to be with us. Just as shelters offer a place for flood victims to go, God calls us to come to Him for REFUGE. The Hebrew word, “REFUGE,” means shelter from danger or falsehood. The more closely we stay under God’s arms of truth, the more protected we are from the enemies’ lies. Psalm 46:1 reminds us that God is our REFUGE, a very present help in trouble. Go to Him. Shelter under the truth of His love for you.
Lord, You provide yourself as a REFUGE to shelter us from Satan’s lies and worldly deceptions. You’re a shelter in the midst of life’s storms. Remind us to not stand in the rain of discouragement, but rather shelter under You.
When You’re Drained
Do you feel drained or spiritually empty? You know you’re saved, but you’re tired and discouraged. What do we do when we want to serve the Lord and energetically live for Him but we’re weary and feel like there’s nothing left in us to give? God answers our question. In Jeremiah 31:25, He says, “I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” The LORD is our REFRESHER. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 5:3-6. Are we poor in spirit? Are we mourning? Are we hungry and thirsty for righteousness? If so, we can go to the ever flowing river of Life in the LORD. We can drink deeply of His Word and Spirit. We can be refreshed and our energy renewed to do what He entrusts into our hands.
Heavenly Father, our daily lives often leave us feeling drained. Fill us with Your presence. Renew and refresh us so we are energized to serve You and others.
Get on the Right Side of God
Have you noticed that people in our nation are at odds with one another? Maybe it’s the name calling and accusations. Maybe it’s because certain factions look on others as enemies. Did you know that Romans 5:10 says that at one time we were enemies of God? Not a good position to be in! How did we get on the right side of God so we’re not God’s enemy? The verse explains, “we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” It took Jesus’s death to reconcile us to God. The verse continues, “we shall be saved by His life.” No one wants to be on the wrong side of an issue. No one wants to be on the wrong side of God. We have Jesus to thank for reconciling us to our Heavenly Father.
Jesus, thank You for giving Your life so that we could be RECONCILED to God! We rejoice in and praise You!
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10
What’s Coming Up Behind You
Have you ever been driving and keeping your eyes on the road before you when suddenly a car came up too fast behind you? If so, you probably know the startled feeling and hope that the driver slow down rather than rear end you. Often, we speak of the Lord leading us, but Isaiah 52:12 also speaks of Him as watching out for our backs. “… the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your REAR GUARD.” In this verse, God is referred to as a rear guard to the Israelites when they escaped Egyptian bondage. God is also our rear guard. He watches over us, leads us, and not until heaven will we know how many times He’s protected us from encroaching danger and evil. Just as it was important for Moses and the Israelites to pay attention to and follow God’s instructions, it’s important for us to pay attention and follow His instructions. How do His warnings and instructions come to us? In the Bible and the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
Lord, thank You for being our REAR GUARD and for all the ways You watch over us and protect us. How comforting to know You’ve got our back.
It’s easy to forget how God “prompts” us. However, if we record His promptings and verses applicable to our life, we can reread and follow them. Recently, I was able to get a great deal on Prayers of My Heart prayer journal and want to pass HALF OFF savings to you – $7.50 instead of $14.99. It’s a perfect Christmas gift for teachers, friends, family, and your Bible study group so get one for yourself and those on your Christmas list WHILE AVAILABLE at this price.