pray

Pray for God’s Will to Be Done

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Verse of the Day:  Matthew 6:10       

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.    

If you’re not sure how to pray or what to pray for, start by praying for God’s will to be done in your life. Praying for God’s will to be done is an act of faith because we know and believe that God’s will is good and perfect and therefore, we trust in His plans and His will for us. Pray that your own will, heart and actions would conform to God’s will by making Him the center of your life. Don’t be intimidated by long, loud or eloquent prayers.  Prayer doesn’t have to be formal or full of big, fancy words it just has to be from your heart. Have a sincere conversation with God and pray knowing and believing that He hears you. 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Devote Yourselves to Prayer

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Verse of the Day:  Colossians 4:2     

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  

One way to build your relationship with God is to spend time with Him in prayer. It’s the most personal way to experience God but often we forget, are too busy, lack spiritual discipline or are just too lazy to pray, but prayer is too important to neglect. Prayer doesn’t have to be formal. I encourage you to pray throughout your day but I also encourage you to dedicate a specific time each day to talk with the Lord and to listen to what He has to say. Come to Him with praise and thanksgiving, confess your sins and bring your requests to Him. Pray about anything and everything for nothing is too big or too small for God.  Praise Him for all that He is and thank Him for his love and mercy and for the gift of salvation. Lord, I am so grateful that I can come to You in prayer knowing that You hear every word and every unspoken word. In good times and bad times, You are always there for me. I just want to take this moment to say thank You for everything you have done for me. Amen

Pray for Believers and Unbelievers

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Verse of the Day:  Ephesians 3:16-18          

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

Just like the Apostle Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus, we need to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ so that they may be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit. We also need to pray for our family, friends, even our enemies and the world in general so that they would come to know Jesus Christ our Savior and invite Him into their heart and experience His infinite love first hand. Pray that they would come to truly know the Lord, His grace, glory and how much He really does love them.

Lord, I’m so thankful for Your love and mercy. Your love is better than life itself. I pray that You would dwell in the hearts of my family and loved ones so that they would be able to experience Your love for themselves. You are so glorious, Lord, and I invite You into my life and into my heart. Amen

Avoid Negativity

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Verse of the Day:  1 Peter 3:10         

For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.

What comes out of your mouths shows the kind of person you are. In a world where you can be anything you want to be choose to be kind, encouraging, sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble. Keep from speaking foul, obscene or unwholesome words. Don’t lie or say hurtful things to anyone and stop yourself from gossiping. Instead, speak blessings and encouragement so that you too will be blessed and encouraged. Avoid all negativity by speaking positivity over your life so that you would enjoy your days. Start your day with prayer and connect with God to receive encouragement, peace and strength to face the day ahead.

Dear Lord, Thank you for your loving kindness, thank you for giving me peace and a changed heart. Help me to be kind, encouraging, sympathetic, loving and compassionate to everyone around me so that I may honor you with my actions and words.  Amen

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

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Verse of the Day:   Matthew 5:43-44 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.           

Today, we honor the memory of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. He was not only an activist who fought against racism and for social and political change but he was also a pastor and a man of God whose ideas and beliefs on love, equality and unity among all people were rooted in the Bible. I encourage you to read King’s most famous speech, “I Have a Dream” and to learn more about this Nobel Peace Prize winner and how God used him to lead a movement.

Lord, I ask you for courage to stand up for what is right and just. Help me to love my neighbor as Christ loves us. Bring peace and healing to both the oppressed and the oppressors. Help us to always walk in your ways, Lord, as we totally surrender to Your will. Amen

Dream Big! 

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Verse of the Day:  Matthew 9:29       

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”

If you want God to do something big in your life this year you need to have big faith and big expectations. You have to pray with expectation and you have to expect to succeed. You aren’t putting faith in your own abilities but in the power of Jesus Christ. That doesn’t mean you will get everything you want but if you let fear keep you from trying in the first place you will definitely fail. Trust in God’s perfect will for you, work hard, step out in faith and let God be in control.

Seek the Lord

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Verse of the Day:   Jeremiah 29:13   

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.           

A new year is the perfect time to start over. It’s a time of new beginnings, second, third, even ninety-ninth chances. It’s okay to start over, we serve a God of new beginnings. None of us are perfect but as long as you don’t completely give up, God will work with what you have right where you are. When you seek the Lord with a sincere heart you will find Him. God hears your prayers and knows your heart. God promises that if you humble yourself, pray, seek His face and turn from your sinful ways He will hear you. Make God a priority in the coming year by making time to read His Word and spending time with Him in prayer. God loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you but it’s up to you to seek Him.

Good Gifts from Your Heavenly Father

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Matthew 7:11

Verse of the Day:   Matthew 7:11      

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (NLT)      

Doesn’t it make you feel happy when you give your children the gifts they’ve asked for? Just think about how much more your heavenly Father wants to give you good gifts from the riches of His glory. God loves you and it makes Him happy to bless you with the desires of your heart when you delight yourself in Him. God already knows what you want, what you need and what is fit for you before you ask, but He still wants you to come to Him in faith and ask. God hears your prayers and if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer according to His will.

10 Days of Thanksgiving – Day 10: Happy Thanksgiving!

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1 Chronicles 29:13

Verse of the Day:  1 Chronicles 29:13          

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.           

I want to wish you all a happy and blessed Thanksgiving! Over the past few days I’ve shared with you just a few of the things I’m thankful for but there are so many that I would never be able to express them all. I’m also thankful for you, the readers of The Consecrated Woman. It’s a blessing to be able to share God’s Word with you. Thank you for your continued support. I pray that you are encouraged and inspired daily. Please keep me and my family in your prayers. As we give thanks to our Lord today let’s remember that God is good all the time and we should be thankful every day of the year. May God bless you and your loved ones today and always. Happy Thanksgiving!

10 Days of Thanksgiving – Day 2: Thankful for Wonderful Memories

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Philippians 1:3

Verse of the Day:  Philippians 1:3     

I thank my God every time I remember you. 

Paul wrote this in a letter after he left Philippi where he had gone through some very difficult times, yet he chose not to focus on the things that had caused him pain. The holidays can be a difficult time for people who have lost loved ones but as Christians we have the hope that we will see them again someday. We should try to be like the Apostle Paul and stay focused on the positive things in our lives and appreciate the great memories we have. Thank God for giving you the strength to get through difficult times and for the great memories of the wonderful people God placed in your life. Don’t forget to pray for the people who have helped you along life’s journey while you celebrate each day.