Trust God

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. 

I was up early this morning working on a chapter of my book and this is one of the scriptures God gave me.  At a time like this I find it to be great comfort and encouragement that He has my life in His hands and that He's just as concerned about what I'm concerned about.  Thank you Jesus, for covering me, for strengthening me, and for loving me. 

I want to remind you all the there is no better place to be than in the Will of God.  You can be sure that He has mapped out ever contingency, ever turn, and every road for you.  He wants us to believe in Him and know that He has the best plan. Don't waste your days worrying and questioning God about your life.  Just trust Him to lead and guide you to greener and more fruitful pastures.  Remember the wilderness experience with the children of Israel?  Joshua 5:6 and Numbers 32:13 tells us they moved about in the wilderness for 40 years  because of their murmuring and complaining, and their unbelief which caused God's anger. Don't be like them! Trust that God will lead you, and trust Him to prosper you, and trust Him to strengthen you and to be with you always. 

I encourage you today in this,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. 
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

God Bless U

Tonight's Prayer

The Lord is my Sheppard
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in still  waters
He restores my soul.
He leads me in the path of righteousness
for His name sake.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I shall fear no evil.
For You are with me
Your rod and Your staff,  they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever,
Amen.

*23 Psalms was on my heart tonight. It is a timely prayer, no matter the situation or circumstance. Pray it in heart felt sincerity and experience what God has set aside especially for you.

God Bless U

It's Okay...

God if You say it then it is so.  Say what? Say anything.  This is how I feel and hope you feel too. My heart like many of us, overflows with cares and circumstances.  So much so that my mind doesn't get to process one single thought. No, one thought leads to another thought, to another thought, which leads to an overwhelming feeling and heartache.  Not necessarily because something is gravely bad, but just that it's a lot to bear.

I know better than to think I can sort out everything myself.  I'm not that great. But God!  God can tell me if everything is okay. He can tell me that my husband is doing fine, that my son is just experiencing growing pains, that this is just a sensitive day for my oldest daughter, that it's okay to feel worn out by my youngest two children, that my family will survive this hard time that has befallen us, and that my granddad is flourishing.  Yes, He makes all of that and then some okay.

It's not okay because God has promised this great miracle or that I know some inside secret.  That's not at all the case, but what I know is this.  With God anything is possible. As long as God is with me everything is okay.  So, with all that is on my heart and mind, I lay it at the altar with one simple note... Whatever You decide on each of my situations - if You say it, then it is so.

I truly believe that. It's what makes unbearable things, bearable.  Please remember God is there.  Let Him guide you through.  If you do, I guarantee you'll come out alright.

May God Bless U & Keep U

Are You Living an Acceptable Life?

Are you living an acceptable life? I ask this question because I was reading Romans the 12th chapter and started to think about me. I asked myself; do you fit the bill?  Romans 12:1-2 says:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  ~NKJV

I said to myself, are you performing your reasonable service?  After thinking for just a moment, I realized there is room for improvement.  I want to be sure I am acceptable unto God.  The life we live today can be so contrary to what God wants for us.  It is so easy for the cares of this world to overtake us and weigh us down that we no longer consider what God has to say about our daily performance.  The Apostle Paul never lost sight that everyday belonged to God, and as he wrote to the Roman people and encouraged them to see themselves the way God did and still does.

A bit further in chapter 12, Paul gives what I like to call "life bites".  Little pieces of words to live by that can help you live a better life.  In verse 9 he admonishes us to live in love, and in verse 17 he says not to repay evil for evil.  Those two things alone can help many of us in a multitude of situations.  But will we take his advice?  No matter what your answer to that question, the truth is...you should!  Why, because it is acceptable to God.  These life bites are what brings us closer to Him. 

We are accountable for the way we live and the choices we make.  If you have decided to live for Jesus, or want to make that decision today, read the book of Romans and be sure that your life reflects your belief.  Most times the only view of God people get is when they look upon the life of a believer.

May God Bless U and Keep U

Run on...

I have been battling with myself about continuing this blog. Like all things that God has entrusted to us, it's important that we keep His vision and not our own.  I want so badly not to mess up the things of God. I want people to be encouraged and I want everybody to come to this blog and receive the information they are searching for.

After taking some time off I feel not only compelled to continue, but encouraged to run on with the vision God gave me.  

I pray my own strength and ask that you continually make mention of me in your prayers that I stay and WORK in my calling.

God Bless U & Keep U in All Things

I Love The Lord...

I just want to give a testimony today, and it is:  I love the Lord! I am so very thankful for what God has done in my life and I just want Him to know how much I appreciate it.

So many times we don't stop to tell God thank you and that we love Him. Yes, He does know all things, but part of the christian way is confession.  Not just your sins, but your feelings, hopes, dreams, and emotions.  Positive confessions are essential to the health of your spirit.  The psalm says "I love the Lord, He heard  my cry".  That scripture was a confession, a testimony about God and the way the writer feels about Him.  I hope to make those same declarations and give God the glory too.

So, I encourage you to make your positive confessions to God. Give your testimonies, share with Him how you feel and give Him the glory!

God Bless U

Two is Better than One!

Last night for bible study Minister Maxie spoke about two being better than one. I found it so thought provoking and encouraging. When you make the choice to serve God with all your heart, the road can seem long and hard. We experience feelings of loneliness and pressure and find ourselves unsure. But those feelings are meant to draw us closer to God.

It brings you to a place where you depend on Him for the most simple things, like friendship, companionship, love, happiness, and all those things that we look for in the wrong places and  in the wrong people.

God sends people in our lives to encourage us and to help us along the way.  In the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 4:9-12 reads:

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ~

Thank God that He will send another to bear you up in your time of need or moments of weakness. The Word also tells us to "forsake not ourselves the assembling..." Hebrews 10:25
We are meant to be there for one another,  praying and interceeding for each other, we are meant to uphold each other, and encourage each other. That's why so many scriptures in the bible speak to us ministering one to another and spreading the Gospel together.

Lets be found in the right place with the right people. We can make our trials and tribulations a bit easier if there is a friendly face to encourage us to hold on to promises of the Lord.

I just want to encourage you to get together with your brother or sister in Christ, exalt Him, pray together, worship together, and study together. It is for your strength and encouragement in the faith, that you can grow and be a help to someone else.

~Tell Him thank you! :)

Welcome...

I would like to welcome you to All Things by Prayer!  I look forward to sharing the Word of God with you, helping to bring you into the full knowledge of Christ, and all out lifting up the Name of Jesus! 

I believe the Word of God is a Word of simplicity meant to help and not hinder our lives. The key to a healthy life is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  As I share with you the Gospel of Christ I want to ensure you that your spiritual life will not only flourish but grow.  I believe God inspired me to name this blog All Things by Prayer because prayer is the foundation of a great relationship with God.  It's how we intimately communicate with Him and one of the ways He communicates with us. 

I will share my experiences, family, revelations, and thoughts with you.  I pray you will do the same.  I believe there is something for everyone here. The believer, the nonbeliever, one that is searching, the saint, the sanctified, the sinner, those that are in leadership, and the lay persons. 

God has a Word for all of us, and most times it's not by what comes out of our mouths, but by experiences and being examples to others.   Join me as I work out my own soul salvation with fear and trembling, as I praise God, as I lift up my hands in worship, and as I myself grow in the Lord.

I have put my hand to the plow.  I won't let go and I"m not looking back!
 (see Luke 9:62)



~God Bless You