Tag Archives: prayer

A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort

at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships

so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger

at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,

so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears

to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,

so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and

to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness

to believe that you can make a difference in the world,

so that you can do what others claim cannot be done

to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

“Moore” Monday #11

WE ARE WISE TO REMIND ONE ANOTHER

NEVER TO FORGET WHO

WE ARE AND NEVER TO

FORGET WHO WE’RE NOT.

Father, Your Word says You will break down stubborn pride and make the sky above the proud like iron and the ground beneath him like bronze (Lev. 26:19). 

Lor, Your Word is drawing a vivid picture of the arrogant life.  Prayers lifted to heaven will seem to hit a ceiling of iron, and life beneath the feet will be hard.

Help me to be humble before You, Lord, because the life of the proud will eventually and undoubtedly become very hard.

My Savior and Redeemer, help me to take Your yoke upon Me and learn from You, for You are gentle and humble in heart, and I will find rest for my soul (Matthew 11:29).

From Beth Moore, Praying God’s Word Day by Day

Prayer and fasting

Today was awesome in the most amazing way!  I prayed for over 31 families today, some that I’m close to and some that I’ve never met.  I prayed specifically for their needs, each and every one of them.  I feel so honored that they all shared their requests with me, and that I could do something that is so simple for me, yet can be so profound.  To everyone that emailed me, please know that I covered you in prayer on at least two separate occasions today, and many of you just popped into my head as I was doing something else so I prayed for you again.  I have faith that God is going to bless you all with His favor.  He is in control.  I learned so much today.  Sometimes a person has to be at rock bottom before they finally reach out, or cry out to Jesus.  When I pray for strength and endurance for my dh, maybe what he really needs is to feel empty and hopeless, so he has nowhere to turn but God.  That might be hard to surrender to, but I’m game if it works.  Surrender…

In a way, that’s what I did today.  I surrendered myself and put all else before me and it felt so good.  Did I get hungry?  Yeah!  You know those days where you’re just so busy you don’t have time to eat?  You don’t even really notice it!  Well I’ve done that before, and this is so much different.  I knew today that I couldn’t eat because I was giving that up for the greater good, and I got hungry.  My stomach was growling, and I was thinking of food.  But the Word of God sustained me.  He filled me up! 

In the words of Andrew Murray, “Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal.  Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.” 

I need to do more of this, and I’m trying to listen and follow God’s leading, so I’m going to have to get back with you on what that actually means.  For now, I want to leave you with some very wise words from one of the women from the 1 Peter 3 group that I’m in.  We all participated in this fast today, and prayed for the salvation of each of our loved ones.  R wrote this.  “He will speak.  Expect it.  Don’t be surprised by the revelations or the confirmations.  Don’t be surprised by the power of your prayers or the desires to worship.  Do as the spirit of God leads and watch Him work through your surrendered hearts to bring about transformation.  He is doing a new thing.  Don’t be afraid of that new thing.  For some, your prayer life will change.  For others, you will understand worship in a new way.  And for others, you will be given the direction you’ve asked for.  This isn’t about giving up food, but about seeking His presence and His will above all else.  Enjoy your fellowship with Your creator.  Rest in His arms.  Give Him your cares and concerns.  Trust Him with what you’ve held onto.  The attack of the enemy will be strong.  But your God, He is bigger than the enemy’s attack!  Put on your full armor and wage war against the prince of darkness through worship.  Enter the holy of holies and dwell there.  Just hang out.  Drink up His presence and soak in His truth.  He Will Speak.”

Prayer and fasting

This morning has been awesome.  I’ve only missed my frosted mini wheats and Cranberries once, and then God filled me up with love and adoration!  I’ve had 7 people request prayers, with 27 specific prayer requests so far, and I’ve spent the morning covering these friends in prayer.  I know God has heard and will respond to those in need, and I feel so blessed already.  I’ve discovered a new Psalm that is so beautiful I want to share it, but now have my little one who needs mommy’s attention.  I’m off to snuggle and pray some more for my 1 Peter 3 group.  If I can pray for you, please leave me a comment and I will be happy to include you.  God is so amazing! 

Fasting

I’m in a 1 Peter 3 group that is taking today to fast and spend in focused prayer for our husbands and families.  I’m sending this out to open the floor up to your prayer requests, and I’ll add you to my list.  I would be happy to cover you in prayer, so just comment on this with your requests and I’ll pray.  I look forward to this time of worship and prayer, and can hardly wait to listen to what God has in store for us.  I’ll be blogging about it throughout the day, with verses regarding fasting, so check back for updates. 

“Moore” Monday #10

NOTHING ON EARTH COMPARES TO THE

STRENGTH GOD IS WILLING TO

INTERJECT INTO LIVES CAUGHT IN

THE ACT OF BELIEVING.

Father, so often I feel like the boy’s father who first exclaimed, “I do believe!” then in a flood of sincerity cried out, “Help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).  Please help me overcome my own unbelief, Lord, so I can start taking You at Your Word.

I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which You have called me, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your incomparably great power to us who believe! (Eph. 1:18-19). 

As You did for the jailer who received salvation through the witness of Paul and Silas, fill me with joy when I choose to believe You (Acts 16:34).

Beth Moore-Praying God’s Word Day by Day

 

“Moore” Monday #9 (on Tuesday)

MY GOD IS HUGE AND

MY GOD IS ABLE.  IF I DON’T GET

WHAT I ASK HIM FOR, I KNOW I’LL

GET SOMETHING BIGGER.

You alone are the Lord.  you made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.  You give life to everyghing, and the multitudes of heaven worship You (Neh. 9:6). 

The earth is Yours, O Lord, and everything in it— the world and all who live in it (Ps. 24:1).  For You are a great God, the great King above all gods.  In Your hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to You.  The sea is Yours, for You made it, and Your hands formed the dry land (Ps. 95:3-5).  In Your hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10). 

Another excerpt from Beth Moore- Praying God’s Word Day by Day

One of the many things I’ve learned from my daily bible readings so far is how dependent on God the people of the Old Testament were.  If they didn’t know what to do, they asked God, and then followed his direction!  How simple to do, but how little we do it.  I like the part where it says “if I don’t get what I ask Him for, I know I’ll get something bigger.”  I KNOW…  Ask and believe, then you will receive.  Thank You God!  You are so full of wisdom and love, thanks for sharing it with us. 

A tearful goodbye/celebration

I don’t know what else to call it, besides the best funeral I’ve ever been to.  It sounds crazy to say that, but that’s how I feel.  I was dreading this funeral so badly, but was blessed by attending it in so many ways.  My dad’s cousin Jimmy died on Saturday.  He was only 52 and it was totally unexpected.  Married with three beautiful boys, the oldest is a teen.  It’s so hard to think about sometimes, but I urge you to take the time to talk with someone about what you would like to happen when you’re gone.  Jimmy and his wife did that, and I want to do it too.  There were 3 songs sung by two women, and then we sang two hymns.  These were songs that he had wanted.  The pastor opened up the floor for people to talk, and I was amazed by the outpouring of love to the family.  Everyone spoke of how much he loved his family, and how much he loved the Lord.  He touched so many lives, and didn’t even realize it I’m sure.  That’s just the kind of person he was.  He cared.  People from his church, and people from his workplace all loved him, and were blessed by the Holy Spirit within him.  One woman was talking about how he always lifted them up if they were struggling at work, and then she broke out singing Wind beneath My Wings!  It was beautiful!  Another person spoke highly of Jim, and didn’t know his wife, but said he knew her potato salad, and to fed ex it to them every now and then if she had to.  That made her laugh!  There were tears and there was laughter, and I guess the difference that I felt in this funeral was this.  We were a room filled with more believers in Jesus Christ than not.  We know that his earthly presence will be missed, but that he is truly home with God right now.  We may not understand it, but God has a plan for Jim, and it includes him at His side.  The pastor then preached, because he said that’s what Jim wanted him to do.  He preached about salvation, and that doesn’t mean just doing good things.  We have to confess, repent, and ask for fogiveness of our sins, and He will forgive.  We need to ask Jesus into our hearts and lives, and commit to follow Him.  And it’s too late when we’re in the coffin.  I had some family members sitting right there with me that needed to hear that, but I’m not sure they did.  I don’t understand it, but I don’t need to.  I just need to continue to pray for them.  (Off on a tangent again!)  Anyway, even in his death, Jim was witnessing to others.  He  planned that all out, and he knew who needed to hear it!  One person that stood up said we might ask why?  We should turn that around and we get YHW.  That stands for Your Holy Will!  Isn’t that great?  WHY= Your Holy Will 

I could go on and on, that’s how amazing it was!  I’ll stop, but I ask for prayers for his family.  I know they have a great church family that will lift them up, but you can never have too many prayers! 

I have one more funeral to attend this week.  A friend who passed away on Sunday, unexpectedly at the age of 36.  He too has a wife and 2 kids, the oldest is 12.  I just ask that these families be lifted in prayer, and that God would wrap His loving arms around them and provide comfort to them, that only He knows how. 

“Moore” Monday #8

PATIENCE TO WAIT DOES NOT COME FROM SUFFERING

LONG FOR WHAT WE LACK

BUT FROM SITTING LONG IN WHAT WE HAVE.

The Lord will do great things for me, and I will be filled with joy.  I will sow in tears, then I will reap with songs of joy.  If I go out weeping, Lord, carrying seed to sow, I will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with me (Ps. 126:3, 5-6).

Please help me be willing to sow the seed of Your Word and to water it with my tears, believing You in the midst of my pain.  If I do, You will be faithful to fill me with joy again.  You will faithfully bring a harvest forth from my life.  My suffering will not be in vain. 

You, the God of all grace, who called me to Your eternal glory in Christ, will restore me and make me strong, firm, and steadfast after I have suffered a little while (1 Peter 5:10). 

From Beth Moore’s Praying God’s Word Day by Day.

“Moore” Monday #7

Yes, I know it’s Tuesday, but my Monday was kind of hectic. 

HE WHO IS UNCONVINCED OF GOD’S

FORGIVING LOVE IS UNCONVINCED THAT

HE IS MORE THAN A CONQUEROR. 

Father God, You made my Savior’s life a guilt offering for me (Isa. 53:10).  His death was enough to handle my guilt. 

Lord Jesus, help me to accept and internalize the fact that if God is for me, who can be against me?  (Rom. 8:31).  It is You, God, who justifies (Rom. 8:33).  Who is he that condemns?  Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at Your right hand.  O God, and is also interceding for me (Rom. 8:34).

In all these things I am more than a conqueror through You who love me, Sovereign Lord (Rom. 8:37).

Beth Moore, Praying God’s Word Day by Day