Pray for Everyone

Last night the following verses became my command for the evening.

“First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. Pray for kings and others in power, so we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God. This kind of prayer is good, and it pleases God our Savior. God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth, which is,

There is only one God, and Christ Jesus  is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us. God showed us this at the right time.

 This is why God chose me to be a preacher and an apostle of the good news. I am telling the truth. I am not lying. God sent me to teach the Gentiles about faith and truth.” I Timothy 2:1-7 CEV

I had a private prayer meeting. Others had been invited but I soon realized the room would be filled with just two attendees, myself and precious Holy Spirit. I sat and prayed in the quiet, wondering if I should just leave.

No. It was time to pray.

First of all, I prayed for our political leaders, the ones I agree with and the ones I don’t. I prayed for the Lord to reveal Himself in a mighty way to each of them – letting them know His love and His truth. And then I prayed that God would remove from office those who don’t honor Him and aren’t willing to lead according to His plan and purpose. The rest I will leave up to Him.

But then the words “pray for everyone” kept circulating in my heart.

We live in a small community where I am familiar with most of the names but not all of the faces, so I felt prompted to take a walk through the neighborhood in my mind’s eye. Stopping at each residence and praying for the occupants.

Some have physical needs, others have financial and emotional needs, and we all have a need for a deeper relationship with Jesus, who is our Lord and Savior.

According to the Apostle Paul this kind of prayer is good and “God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth”. Our heavenly Father isn’t a narcissist or an egotistical dictator. No, He gives each of us a free will to do as we please. However, He does know that when we follow Him and His plan for our lives, we will experience a true and abundant life.

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.” John 10:10 CEV

After I prayed for all of them, I prayed for you, my readers.

Never consider the time you spend praying or studying God’s word to be a waste. That is precious time that will enrich your life with strength and power.

“I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 24 The one who chose you can be trusted, and he will do this.” I Thessalonians 5:23-24 CEV

I encourage you to make time in your day to pray.

Grateful for Peace

Last night I was talking with a group of friends and I reminded them that the Lord is committed to our peace.

All through Scripture we are instructed to fear not – be not afraid. Fear is the enemy of faith and it is the robber of peace.

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.” II Timothy 1:7 NLV

In the beginning, man was created “fear free” but once they were deceived by the serpent they became “fear full”.

“Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the evening. The man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man. He said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And the man said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden. I was afraid because I was without clothes. So I hid myself.” Genesis 3:8-10 NLV

God dispelled that fear and reassuringly covered them with His love and protection.

 And the Lord God made clothes of skins for Adam and his wife, and dressed them.” Genesis 3:21 NLV

The blood that was shed for their sin came from an animal; the blood that covers ours comes from Christ. It’s that total forgiveness that brings us peace.

“Now that we have been made right with God by putting our trust in Him, we have peace with Him. It is because of what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us. By putting our trust in God, He has given us His loving-favor and has received us. We are happy for the hope we have of sharing the shining-greatness of God.” Romans 5:1-2 NLV

When fear bombards us, and it will, how do we combat it?

“Keep your minds thinking about things in heaven. Do not think about things on the earth. ” Colossians 3:2 NLV

 Be full of joy always because you belong to the Lord. Again I say, be full of joy! Let all people see how gentle you are. The Lord is coming again soon. Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NLV

If there was anyone in the Bible who knew what it was like to be assailed by fear it would be Paul. He had been stoned and left for dead, beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, threatened, lashed with 39 stripes and many other perils. (Read II Corinthians 11) In spite of it all, he is the one who penned those words above.

He knew that having a heart of gratitude for God’s goodness and love drives out fear and brings peace to any situation.

“Be full of joy all the time. 17 Never stop praying. 18 In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLV

Be grateful, be filled with God’s joy and peace!

Pray Always

This morning my heart is heavy. When I woke there was a news story of a rocket attack on Israel. By the story’s account it was an unprovoked attack. Immediately I began to do what God’s word has commanded us to do.

“Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls  and prosperity in your palaces.” Psalm 122:6-7 NLT

I hope all of you will stop now and pray for the leaders and the people of Israel. Pray for wisdom for their leaders and for the safety and protection of their citizens. Thank you.

One of the things I enjoyed most about our experience in Greece was the churches. We toured several of them – the grand, exquisite cathedrals and the small chapels. The doors were open and welcoming to anyone who wanted to stop and pray.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening,” Psalm 92:1-2 NLT

I kind of expected to see people stopping to pray in the larger cathedrals but what surprised me was that they also stopped at the little prayer rooms in the shopping district and at the Mariner’s Chapel at the harbor.

We saw chapels high on the hills, with no houses around. There was a chapel on an island that only had two other buildings, it had been built by the fisherman who lived there to honor God and be a place of prayer. There were chapels as we traveled along the roadway from one town to another, sometimes they were less than a quarter mile apart. Always a place to pray. To me, it was a living example of the command we have been given:

“Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

I think that we often get too busy to remember to pray. Oh, if it’s a time of crisis we stop to pray. But during the ordinary routine of life our focus on prayer can wane. I definitely pray when we are on the freeway and over meals. I pray in the morning for friends and family, for society and for our leaders.

But I want to be more mindful to pray. Thankful for the warmth of the sunshine and the cool breeze. Praying when I see someone less fortunate than I, asking the Lord to provide for their needs and to use me if that’s what He desires. Seeing someone with a sad and downcast countenance and praying for them to have a renewed joy.

Praying always.

As you’re reading this maybe the face of a friend has come to mind, maybe a situation at work or a family issue – now is a good time to stop and pray.

Jesus often spent the day healing and preaching, ministering to people who needed a touch from the Father and then He would spend His evenings in prayer.

 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.” Mark 6:46 NLT

My desire is to cultivate a more consistent and deeper prayer life. I hope that’s your desire as well. Let’s purpose to never stop praying!

My Light

Have you ever awakened and been disoriented? I have. I have been in a deep sleep and my dream has been very vivid and for a few seconds I’ve not realize where I was. This normally happens when we’ve been staying in a hotel or the home of family and friends. That’s why we always travel with a night light in our overnight bag.

This morning when I woke and I saw the soft glow of the night light I said, “thank you Lord for being my light and my salvation”.

“Lord, you are my Light and my Savior, so why should I be afraid of anyone? The Lord is where my life is safe, so I will be afraid of no one!” Psalm 27:1 ERV

In the natural, a light in the darkness keeps us from stumbling or stubbing our toes. Been there – done that.

The same holds true in spiritual things.

“I gain understanding from your instructions, so I hate anything that leads people the wrong way. 105 Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.” Psalm 119:104-105 ERV

God uses His word to light our path and keep us from going the wrong way. When we have the light of God’s word guiding our lives Jesus said that we can be used to light the path for others.

“You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. 15 People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15 ERV

The Apostle Paul said this:

“For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
 to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’ 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message…” Acts 13:47-48

“But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.” I Thessalonians 5:8-9 NLV

Our lives, in Christ, should illuminate the world around us. We should be beacons of hope, peace, love and forgiveness. The light we possess is not of ourselves, it’s His light within us.

“It was God Who said, ‘The light will shine in darkness.’ He is the One Who made His light shine in our hearts. This brings us the light of knowing God’s shining-greatness which is seen in Christ’s face. We have this light from God in our human bodies. This shows that the power is from God. It is not from ourselves.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 NLV

We all have so many opportunities each day to be a light. Let’s share the greatness of God and His Word to brighten the paths of those around us.

Well, Then…

O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good!!

End of sentence, end of paragraph, end of story! To keep our peace, we MUST keep our focus – God is good. So far this year the Lord has had me share on His amazing grace, His unconditional love, the power of His word and now, on His peace.

“Never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus. 19 Don’t stop the work of the Holy Spirit.” I Thessalonians 5:17-19 ERV

It took me a while to understand the verses written above. Growing up I would hear verses like this, and it would be followed with a comment like “we just never know what God’s going to do so we have to be thankful for whatever it comes our way”. No! Rape, murder, divorce, financial devastation, cancer – no, I don’t have to be thankful for those.

But, I do need to be thankful that no matter what comes I have Jesus in my life and greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I can be thankful because this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. I can and will be thankful because Jesus said, in this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” I John 5:4-5 NLT

Focus, Kristi, focus.

When my life is in Christ Jesus, it doesn’t matter what comes my way, I can give thanks knowing that I won’t be going through it alone. God, the Father, has sent the Holy Spirit to guide me through successfully.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:14-16 NLT

Yes!

Now this is what I can be thankful for. I can be at peace because my mind is stayed on the Father and on the truth that He is good. It is God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who empowers me each day, reminding me that I have been adopted and my Father has caused me to inherit His nature and His blessings.

Jesus is my example. He faced hard times – persecutions, riotous mobs, hunger, betrayal, a cross but He was victorious!

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 NLT

Well, then…since the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead now lives in us, we can be at peace and trust the Father in every circumstance. God is good!

Locked Out?

Each morning when I open my laptop this phrase appears on the screen, “Have you forgotten your password?”.

No.

I sign in and have access to all my information, unless like the other morning there has been a system update and some of my information has been relocated. But I digress. I’m sure many of you are like me and have written your passwords in a book and placed them in a secure place, just in case I do forget one of them. Better yet are the “secure” password vaults that remember them for you and at prompting populate the correct password for that sign-in.

I can remember a time when there were no passwords required. In fact, there were no computers. That seems like a very long time ago. But why all this talk about passwords this morning?

Well, in my prayer time I was thanking the Father that I can come into His presence freely – no password, no engraved invitation or secret access code.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100:4-5 NLT

It’s as simple as that – we enter His presence with thanksgiving! The love of God continues forever and He is faithful to each and every generation.

Sometimes we might feel unworthy and needy but He says come in, we have access!

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 NLT

There have been times when I felt I was far from the Lord and was struggling to find my way. His instruction filled my heart.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

There is never a time when the Father is too busy or unavailable to us. The Apostle Paul gave us this instruction.

“Never stop praying.” I Thessalonians 5:17 NLV

In Jesus’ final hours before He was tried, convicted and crucified He went to the garden to pray. He asked Peter and the others to join Him in prayer. He knew he was facing the most horrendous event of His life, so He prayed.

“Then he went back to his followers and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, ‘Could you men not stay awake with me for one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right, but your body is weak.’” Matthew 26:40-41 ERV

Ready access – open communication. The Father knows we are weak, in need of His help that’s why He tells us to come. His plan for us is good and He will not abandon or desert us.

“Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 ERV

When we have an open heart seeking the Father we will never be locked out of His presence!

Prayer Warriors

This is one of those rainy nights when I find myself up praying. Praying for those specific needs I know and praying by the Spirit for needs that are beyond my understanding.

First of all, I prayed for myself that I would know God’s will for my life in the day that will break in the next few hours. I prayed that I would be able to minister to you and to others I’ve not yet met.

“‘Be sure you watch. Pray all the time so that you may be able to keep from going through all these things that will happen and be able to stand before the Son of Man.’

37 Everyday Jesus taught in the house of God. At night He went to the Mount of Olives and stayed there. 38 Early in the morning all the people came to the house of God to hear Him.” Luke 21:36-38 NLV

We all face difficulties. None of us experience the troubles, defamation, and persecution that Jesus did. He is our example of a prayer warrior. Notice the verse above says he went to the Mount of Olives at night – everyone else went home but He went to the mountain top to pray. He lived what the Apostle Paul wrote.

“Never stop praying. 18 In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:17-18 NLV

The role of a prayer warrior isn’t glamorous. Every follower of Christ is commissioned to it, it’s our calling.

“You must pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads you to pray. Pray for the things that are needed. You must watch and keep on praying. Remember to pray for all Christians.” Ephesians 6:18 NLV

The Old Testament prophet Elijah was a man of prayer. He prayed and the dead were raised. He prayed and the Lord sent him to a widow woman and her son during time of drought and he saw their provisions miraculously sustained. He prayed and God held back the rain for 3 1/2 years. He prayed and God sent fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice, proving to the unbelievers that our God was the only true God. Then he prayed again and the rain returned.

These instances weren’t the work of a super saint, but they were the outpouring of God on behalf of a man, a man like us, who believed God and prayed.

“The prayer given in faith will heal the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Tell your sins to each other. And pray for each other so you may be healed. The prayer from the heart of a man right with God has much power17 Elijah was a man as we are. He prayed that it might not rain. It did not rain on the earth for three and one-half years. 18 Then he prayed again that it would rain. It rained much and the fields of the earth gave fruit.” James 5:15-18 NLV

Never think your prayers don’t mean much. When you are praying for others and for your own needs, much power is released.

Thank you to all who have accepted the calling of the prayer warrior!

In Everything Give Thanks

 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

Be thankful in all circumstances.

Our circumstances don’t have to be perfect for us to have an attitude of thankfulness. As Christians we aren’t promised a problem free life, but we are given the promises that make us victorious in every situation. That is what we are to be thankful for.

“A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!” Acts 16:22-26 NLT

There was no apparent reason for Paul and Silas to be singing and praising God at midnight but sing they did.

“They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.” Acts 16:31-34 NLT

Some days it’s easy to sing because all seems right with the world, but other days come with unexpected distractions and joy-robbing obstacles. That’s where singing comes in – singing lifts the heart, it can make the heart skip and brings a lightness to our step.

Paul and Silas had been beaten and were chained in the prison but at midnight they chose to sing. I don’t believe they were singing the blues either, “nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen”…No, I’m sure it was something like “I’ll fly away, o glory, I’ll fly away. When I die hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away.”

“In” the worst of circumstances we can praise God “for” His faithfulness. Praise Him that He is a loving Father, and He has promised to never abandon us. Praise Him “for” being our source of strength, peace and joy.

Praise brings our focus to who God is and what His word says. Paul and Silas were focused on Jesus their Savior, and it led to the salvation of their jailer and his family.

“Come to worship him with thankful hearts and songs of praise. 3 The Lord is the greatest God, king over all other gods.” Psalm 95:2-3 CEV

Sing songs of praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Savior of your soul!

I Have It All

I love this image. I don’t remember the first time I saw it but I do know it made an indelible impression. It could have been on the wall of Sunday School classroom, or maybe it was in my children’s Bible. It could have been hanging in one of the rooms in my grandma’s home but it has always stayed with me.

Time and again the Bible refers to the Lord as our Shepherd. Jesus even said that he was the good shepherd who gives his life for his sheep.

As a child it was so reassuring to know that Jesus was always there! In my teens and early 20’s I would sometimes wonder about His presence and even wander off to do things on my own, without His leading or assistance. But I don’t wonder anymore, I know, I am absolutely convinced there has never been a time when Jesus hasn’t been with me.

In Christ, I have it all!

“We are your people, the sheep of your flock. We will praise you forever. We will praise you forever and ever!” Psalm 79:13 ERV

A good shepherd provides food, rest, protection. He is constantly with his sheep and protects them from intruders and cares for them if they do get hurt. Our shepherd does the same – His death provides for our salvation; it makes us sound.

“And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).” I Thessalonians 5:23 AMPC

The word sound means strong, able, with no defect. The walls of a house are sound. The conformation of an animal is sound. The supports of a bridge are sound.

I think it’s interesting that this isthe same word used for our relationship with Christ.

King David said it best: “The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need.” Psalm 23:1 ERV

In Him I have it all – protection, provision, contentment, comfort, abundance.

“Then we, your people, will always thank you. We are like sheep with you as our shepherd,
and all generations will hear us praise you.” Psalm 79:13 CEV

We should never be silent. We should talk of the Lord’s goodness to those of your own generation and to those older and younger. Our younger generation needs to know the reality of God’s goodness.

The image of the Good Shepherd created a life-long impression for me. I want my children, grandchildren and great grands to know the goodness of the Shepherd. In Him, we have it all and I will sing His praises.

Made Whole

Last night we had dinner with friends in the campground. I was speaking with a gentleman that had lost his family home and all its belongings earlier this Spring in the fires that consumed a large portion of New Mexico.

Ranchers and farmers not only lost their homes but their livelihoods. He told me that there is an effort under way to help all those who suffered loss so they would be “made whole”.

Made whole. Those two words resonated within me. Made whole carries a meaning of lacking imperfection.

Made whole . It’s a phrase used time and again when Jesus healed people. Look at these few examples:

“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” Matthew 9:22 KJV

“And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” Matthew 14:36 KJV

“And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” Mark 10:52 KJV

“The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.” John 5:15 KJV

Be made whole!

In most of these cases the Biblical account goes on to say that Jesus also told them their sins had been forgiven. They weren’t just made whole physically but also spiritually. The Father is concerned with our “complete” person, spirit, soul and body.

“May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” I Thessalonians 5:23 MSG

When the Father touches our lives He doesn’t leave us broken – He makes us whole, He makes us new.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” II Corinthians 5:17 NLT

The life we once lived, operating under our own power and intellect has been removed and we have become a new person. Sins forgiven and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 NLT

 The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit.” I Corinthians 2:14-16 MSG

One phrase in one conversation filled my heart and my mind. God the Father has made us whole. We have His nature and are created in His image!