Showing posts with label prayer journal. Show all posts

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Life's Difficulties and Challenges: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Life's Difficulties and Challenges: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 / The Message (MSG)
3-5 All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Thought to Pray and Ponder: More of You, Less of Me

Psalm 91: A Psalm for Life's Challenges and for Perspective

Read it here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps+91&version=MSG

Good Morning, Lord, Prayer

Good Morning, Lord, Prayer

Psalm 16:8-9 / New King James Version (NKJV)
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.

Lord, help me to set You before myself always and without hesitation. For, it's all about You and is not about me. My life is Yours. I hope to put You as the center of my thoughts in every moment, every minute, for the rest of my life on this earth. I want to put You first and foremost. Teach me to live in this way.

(Image credit: Microsoft Images Online 2008-2014.)

Verse of the Day to Ponder and Pray: Matthew 12:34-37

Verse of the Day to Ponder and Pray: Matthew 12:34-37

Matthew 12:34-37 / The Message (MSG)

34-37 “You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.”

(Image credit: Microsoft Images Online 2008-2014.)

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Good Morning, Lord, Prayer and Galatians 5:16-18

Good Morning, Lord, Prayer and Galatians 5:16-18

Lord, here are three different versions of this passage I want to pray and meditate (ponder, contemplate, chew on, think on, grapple with) today, all day long, throughout the day:

Galatians 5:16-18 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

-- HCSB: Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Galatians 5:16-18 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

16 So I tell you: ·Live [Walk] ·by following [guided by; in the power of; L by] the Spirit. Then you will not do what your ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh] ·wants [desires; craves]. 17 Our ·sinful self [sinful nature; T flesh] ·wants [desires] what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit ·wants [desires] what is against our ·sinful self [sinful nature;T flesh]. [L For] The two are ·against [opposed to; or hostile toward] each other, so you cannot do just what you ·please [want]. 18 But if the Spirit is leading you, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:16 / The Message (MSG)

16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?
-- MSG: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Lord, help me to remember that my life is Yours, not mine. Everything I am and do is because of You and is for the purpose of bringing You pleasure and glory. It's not about me. It's all about You.

(Photo/Image Credit: Stacy Duplease 2009-2014.)

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Good Morning, Prayer

Good morning, Lord. I come before You and thank You for yesterday and last night. I also thank You for the opportunity of this new day. Lord, help me to make it Your day, not mine. I want to draw forever closer to You. I want more of You, less of me in my life. Help me to live this way today. Teach me how to do so.

Lord, keep my mind from wandering. Help me to stay focused on You. I realize I need to train my mind to do so. Please teach me how.

You are my everything.

Help me to ponder the things of You and Your Word, not the senselessness of this crazy, sinful, self-centered, material focused world. Help me not fall into that trap.

You are God. No one is more important in my life. Help my day today reflect this truth.

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease. Backyard. 2013-2014)

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Thought to Ponder

We will never have more time. So, the question is, what are we going to do with our time with God today?

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2011-2014. Taken along the Colonial Parkway.)

Morning Prayer 14 January 2014

Morning Prayer 14 January 2014

Good morning, Lord.

Thank You for the opportunity of this day. It gives me the chance to live another day of loving You, worshiping You, living the purpose You have for my life, and to bring You glory.

This is the day You have made, Lord. You created it, and have allowed me to wake up this morning for a purpose. Lord, help me to live that purpose and bring You glory. Help me to know the purpose and to live it today, tomorrow, this week, this month, this quarter, this year, over the next decade, and for the rest of my life.

This is Your day, not mine. Help me to remember this and grasp it.

I love You, Father and Daddy.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2011-2014.)

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Day 1 of 40: Introduction: A New Beginning

01 January 2014, Wednesday

MY HEART AND TREASURE PRAYER JOURNAL:

A DEVOTIONAL BIBLE STUDY

I am a prayer journalkeeper and have been for over thirty years and ever since I was a little girl. It's something I do every single day and have for years and I prayer journal throughout the day and evening. Therefore, it's something that's very important to me.

Every year, and throughout the year, I try to find a better way to prayer journal since it is so important to me and my life. Needless to say, I keep an eye out for new resources and suggestions that might lead me to a better way to prayer journal. I also try to do it in several different ways and keep up things fresh throughout the year. It's always a good thing to keep prayer journaling fresh, for each journal entry is a way to connect with God, and I want to grow as close to God as possible.

I woke up this morning to one of the best blog posts, or daily devotionals, I have ever received. It got me thinking and it inspired me. The blog post, or daily devotional, was by Stephanie Clayton and here is the source:

http://stephanieclayton.org/2014/01/01/treasure-journal/

So, that's where I got the idea to do this for my new prayer journal I am starting this year.

Would you care to join me?

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A Prayer Journaling Resource

Every now and then I am completely swept away by a blog post or devotional. This is the one that did it for me today. On New Year's Day. What a wonderful perspective for prayer journaling. Please read this. I cannot recommend it enough. This is one of those "must always keep" blog posts.

What a treasure indeed.

Talk about life-transforming. What a way to shape our year.

Wow. Wonder of wonders.

http://stephanieclayton.org/2014/01/01/treasure-journal/

(Image Credit: Microsoft Online 2011-2013.)

Monday, December 30, 2013

Good Morning, Lord: A Prayer

Good Morning, Lord: A Prayer

Good morning, Lord.

How sweet it is to wake up knowing You are in my life and are working in my life, around my life, and through my life. You are always with me and forever present. You never leave me and certainly never forsake me (1 Kings 6:13; 1 Kings 8:57; Isaiah 42:16; Hebrews 13:5).

I also start this day knowing I have two choices:

1 Make today all about me or partially about me.

2 Make this day all about You.

I woke today because You wanted me to do so. That means You have a purpose for me this day. Am I going to live it? This is my choice.

Lord, guide me. Help me every second, minute, and hour, to make today all about You and not about me.

For, today is Your day. There is no better day.

Psalm 118:24 * Expanded Bible (EXB)

24 This is the day that the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad ·today [in it]!

PRAYER JOURNALING AND CONTEMPLATION

How can I make today more about You, Lord?

How can I make each day ALL about You, Lord?
What is Your purpose (or purposes) for me today? This week? This month? This quarter? This year? This decade?

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease: The sunrise. 2011.)

Monday, November 25, 2013

7 Ephesians 5:15-21: Part 3

Ephesians 5:15-21 * The Message (MSG)

11-16 Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,

Climb out of your coffins;

Christ will show you the light!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

17 Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

18-20 Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.

21 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.[1]

PRAYER JOURNALING

1 Make sure to prayer journal your thoughts, what jumped out at you, what questions you have, what you said to God, what God said to you, and how you can apply it to your life.

2 List at least ten things for which you are thankful right now.

6 Ephesians 5:15-21: Part 2

Ephesians 5:15-21 * Expanded Bible (EXB)

15 So be very careful how you live [walk]. Do not·live [walk] like those who are not wise[foolish], but ·live wisely [like those who are wise]. 16 Take advantage of every opportunity[or Make the most of your time; …redeeming the time/season], because these are evil times [ the days are evil]. 17 So do not be·foolish [ignorant] but·learn what the Lord wants you to do [or understand the Lord’s will]. 18 Do not be drunk with wine, which ·will ruin you[is debauchery/reckless living], but be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak [ …speaking] to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord. 20 Always give [ …always giving] thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Yield [Submit; Be subject;  …yielding/submitting;  grammatically linked to the previous sentence, and so part of being filled with the Spirit] to each other out of reverence [respect; fear; awe] for Christ.[1]

PRAYER JOURNALING

Make sure to prayer journal your thoughts, what jumped out at you, what questions you have, what you said to God, what God said to you, and how you can apply it to your life.

EPHESIANS 5:20

Ephesians 5:20 * GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

20 Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[2]

Ephesians 5:20 * New King James Version (NKJV)

20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[3]

Now, look at the versions of Ephesians 5:20 listed in Day or Chapters 5-6. What is the main idea from each of the translations or versions? Prayer journal your response before you read another word from today’s study or devotional.

ALWAYS GIVE THANKS

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:20 to ALWAYS give thanks. Always GIVE thanks. And, always give THANKS.

Can you tell the difference between the three things I just wrote, where I emphasized different words? Prayer journal your answer and write the differences in the meaning of each emphasized sentence of: ALWAYS GIVE THANKS.

So, we are to always give thanks.

How often is that? Prayer journal your answer.

We are to always give thanks. That means always and without stopping. It means we are to give God our thanks all day and night long, each and every day for the rest of our lives.

Prayer journal your thoughts.

READING THE BIBLE AND DOING BIBLE STUDY

Do you want to get the most out of the Bible? Do you want to grow a deeper faith each day? Do you long to hear a word from God?

If you said yes to any of those things, then let me share something with you. If you want any of those things, then you need to be in the Word of God. Period. End of story.

The Bible is His Word. It is the Lord talking to you and teaching you. It is His way of showing you the way to go. It’s instilling truth in your life.

Do you ever feel like your faith is low or running on empty? Do you ever feel like you could, and probably should, get more from your spiritual life and faith? The answer is simple. Get in His Word.

A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS is only one tool in your closet. Make sure as you use this devotional Bible study to look up all the verses and to do so in at least three versions of the Bible. Make sure to have your own private Bible study time and also do a Bible study with a group at least once per week. And, make sure to read your Bible each and every day all year long. If you read four chapters a day, you will read the Bible all the way through in a year, if you so desire. Or, do two chapters per day and read the Bible all the way through in two years, so you can take your time and absorb the Bible thoroughly and completely.

Implement everything in the previous paragraph, and your faith and your life will grow in leaps and bounds.

Do this for the rest of your life, each and every day, and see what God does with your life. It will be truly amazing.

ASKING A GREAT DEAL: TAKING A LOT OF TIME AND COMMITMENT

Just in case you are noticing something about A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS, and that is there is a great deal I am asking you to do, you’re right.

PRAYER JOURNALING

1 What did you learn today?

2 What did God say to you?

3 What did you say to God?

4 Before today, how often did you give God thanks? Was it always?

5 Write a summary of what you learned today.

6 List at least three more things you are grateful for.

What do you thank God for today?

List as many as you can in your prayer journal throughout the day and night. Be thorough. Spend as much time as you can--and even some you can't.

5 Ephesians 5:15-21: Part 1

PRAYER JOURNALING: A PRAYER OF THANKS

Write out a prayer of thanks to God before we even start the devotional today. Take some time to turn to Him and turn your heart and mind to always giving Him thanks today, this day.

List three things at least as to why you are thankful for this new day.

ALL THE BIBLE VERSES LISTED

We will try to look at several, if not all, verses about thanksgiving in the Bible. Needless to say, I am going to type out several verses for you to read, and will give several verses for you to look up, where I will say, for example, “(See Luke 9:23).”

Look all of them up in your own Bible as well. Make sure that I am not steering you wrong. For all you know, I could change a couple of words around, or worse, listed the wrong reference. Do not trust what I say. Instead, read your own Bible and see it for yourself.

WHEN IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE OR DOESN’T REALLY GRAB YOU: If you read the translation or version I have listed, and it does not grab you, then try to read the same verse or verses from your favorite version of the Bible. Does that help you get more out of the verse? If so, great. If not, check out another version of the Bible.

WHEN YOU WANT TO GET THE MOST OUT OF A VERSE: Look up as many translations or versions of the verse or passage as time will allow. I recommend for each time you look up a verse or verses, look up at least three version, but preferably more. Why? The more versions you look at, the more you will get out of it and the greater and more in-depth grasp you will have of the text.

Personally, I try to look up at least five versions, but will also look up more when I really want to study something.

So, make sure to look up at least three versions of the Bible of everything I list or type out. Then, you will get the most out of this you can.

Also, as you read each and every verse in this A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS, make sure to prayer journal your thoughts, what jumped out at you, what questions you have, what you said to God, what God said to you, and how you can apply it to your life. Why? Again, the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it—pure and simple.

EXPANDED TEXT

I think you will start to see a pattern in my writing and in this devotional. If it’s a really good passage of Scripture, jammed-pack with golden nuggets, I am going to list more than just the verse that talks about thanks. After all, the more we look at the context of the verse about thanks, the more we will understand what thanks is, how to give it, what it means, etc.

Today is another example of me expanding to show more than just the verse of thanks (see Ephesians 5:20). Write out Ephesians 5:20 in your prayer journal at this point. I recommend writing at least three versions of the verse in your prayer journal. Then, pick one to memorize.

Ephesians 5:15-21 * New American Standard Bible (NASB)

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.^{^[1]}

PRAYER JOURNALING

1 Make sure to prayer journal your thoughts, what jumped out at you, what questions you have, what you said to God, what God said to you, and how you can apply it to your life. Also, is there a verse or verses you want to memorize or at least look at each day? Pick at least one.

2 What did you learn from verses 15 and 16?

3 How can you be careful how you walk, my friend?

4 How can you make the most of your time?

5 How can you avoid evil during your day? The answer is found in verses 15-16. Prayer journal the answer.

6 What did you learn from verse 17?

7 How do you avoid foolishness? (The answer lies in verses 15-17.)

8 How do you understand what the will of God is? (The answer lies in verses 15-17.)

9 What have you said to God up to this point?

10 What has God said to you up to this point?

11 List at least five things in which you are grateful for.

12 How can you apply these verses to your life today, tomorrow, and in the future?

The FIRST Thanksgiving

What you know about history might be wrong. (I say with a smile on my face and offer you a wink.) I know most of what I knew about American History was wrong until I moved to Virginia a while ago. So, I wanted to share this new factoid with you.

The First Thanksgiving did not happen where or when you might think. (I know I didn't know this until somewhat recently.) It happened in Virginia, believe it or not, at the Berkeley Plantation in what is now Charles City, Virginia in the year 1619.

It was based on the tradition to give thanks to God and was about prayer. So, yes, it was a religious and spiritual tradition. Take a look at each these links to learn the true history about the First Thanksgiving in the United States of America (particularly link 3):

1 http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/index.html

2 http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/4-centuries.html#fourcenturiestop

3 http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/the-new-world.html

(Side-Note: I also have found out since I moved here that I am a distant relative of the Harrisons.)

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

4 Keep a Thanksgiving List

Make sure to prayer journal about at least three things you are thankful for each day.
I keep a list of 25 things I am thankful each day, where I add a couple items to my list all day and night long—so I am always giving thanks to God.
Start your list today, but try your hand with listing 25. From here on out, write as many as you can per day, with a minimum of at least three, but preferably more.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

3 1 Chronicles 16:8-9: Part 2

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 * Expanded Bible (EXB)

8 Give thanks to the Lord and pray to him [L call upon his name].

Tell [Make known among; Proclaim to] the nations [world; peoples] what he has done [his deeds/accomplishments].

9 Sing to him; sing praises [make music] to him.

Tell about all his ·miracles [wonders; wonderful acts/works].[1]

I have the feeling you might wonder how much time we are going to spend on the passage of 1 Chronicles 16:8-9, but there is a reason we are spending so much time on the verses. Actually, there are a couple of reasons:

1 We should never rush through the Word of God. We should take our time with it and spend as much time in it as possible. The more we time we spend on it, the more we ponder it and think on it, the more we apply it to the lives, the better.

2 It is an important passage about giving thanks and tells us why and how to give thanks.

So, let’s spend another day on this passage—today.

Moreover, there is a reason why we are looking at several translations of the same biblical passage. It’s because the more versions or translations of the verses we read, the more broader and in-depth understanding we will glean, just like the more time we spend on it will bring more understanding and comprehension as well.

I think if we were to take one verse from the Bible and study it alone all day and night long for the rest of our lives, we would discover we learn something new about the verse each day. After all, the Bible is living and active:

Hebrews 4:12 * New American Standard Bible (NASB)

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.[2]

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

1 Spend some time and give God thanks and pray to Him in your prayer journal, as it says in verse 8.

2 Write your thoughts about 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 from the version written out in Day 3, just before this section and afterward. What did you learn?

3 What have you said to God?

4 What has God said to you?

5 What can you apply to your life? How? Plan to do so immediately and make sure to prayer journal your plan about how to apply 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 to your life.

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 * New Century Version (NCV)

8 Give thanks to the Lord and pray to him.

Tell the nations what he has done.

9 Sing to him; sing praises to him.

Tell about all his miracles.[3]

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS: TELL WHAT GOD HAS DONE

1 What has God done in your life—today, yesterday, in the last week, in the last month, in the last three months, in the last six months, in the last year? In the last two years? Five years? Ten? More? Be thorough. List as many things as you can. This will take hours to days to weeks or months to get it all down on the page. Spend some time here.