Tag Archives: prayer

Who Do You Need To Be Walking Alongside?

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Yesterday, I went to give my sweet friend a Sunday hug. I do it every Sunday morning we are both there. It was different this time! Her son had passed away and she needed me, more than I needed the assurance of her loving touch. She shared something I will never forget. During the final hours of her child’s life, she sat with him, alone. Certainly not willing to give back the gift she had been given 51 years before, but definitely willing to love and support him as she had done throughout the years of his life. She knew she did not want to be alone and she also knew she wasn’t because God, whom she had known and served all of her life, was with her. During the waiting hours, God sent another of her sons and his wife to walk alongside. God knew her need and provided exactly what He knew was necessary to give her the strength she needed for that moment in time and in the days ahead.

Don’t you love this about God? He knows every single thing we need and He provides it when we need it. David talks about this in the 23rd Psalm.

He gives us everything we need because all of it is His. More than He gives but He wants to give. He sees the need before we know there is one.

Oh yes, God will and does provide however, He wants us to be listening for His voice in ways we can walk alongside others. Sometimes, when I’m thinking of something else He puts a name in my mind. The first time I send up a prayer. If it happens again I give them a call or text and let them know I prayed and ask if they need anything. He gives many opportunities. We need only listen to His still, small (sometimes shouting) voice.

Abba, Father, how thankful I am that You are always walking alongside us. Help me to know when I need to be doing the same for one of my sisters or brothers. Open my heart and cause me to hear Your voice. Give me the strength and courage to follow through. Let Jesus be seen in me!

Go To Church!

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What is your primary focus during worship? Are you thinking about God, or yourself, or all the other things that tumble around our minds?

Some of my most precious Sunday memories are meaty discussions in Sunday School, singing in the choir, playing the piano during worship, and having lunch with friends afterward.

The early Christians devoted themselves to the concepts and practices of these verses. That means they planned, scheduled, and looked forward to going to church and fellowshipping with other Believers afterward.  Friends not only had lunch with one another, but they also broke bread. The word used here for breaking bread can be translated as “Eucharist”. That word tells us they followed Jesus’ command in Luke 22:19. They took communion. They didn’t have restaurants and fast food like we do, they went to one another’s homes. I imagine this was like a carry-in dinner every day. How do I know it was every day. Because the scripture says, And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved. 

They were joyful. Joyfulness is a deep-rooted, inspired happiness.  It comes from deep inner contentment and satisfaction. Only God and knowing God can produce real joy. When we receive the Holy Spirit all the fruit of God is produced in us. Ephesians 5:22-23 gives us the list. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  

They also had humble attitudes. It’s really important that we understand what humility and being humble really means. The Oxford English Dictionary says it is having a low estimate of one’s importance, worthiness, or merits. OK. Then Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary adds – not assertive, ranking low in a hierarchy, and insignificant. That is not at all what Luke was talking about. That’s definitely a worldly view of the humble person but, the Biblical view is quite different. In the Word, humbleness is about putting others first. Not just people but God, too. They absolutely loved to worship God.

Since many think worship only occurs one day a week and for many that means Sunday I want to ask how often you worship and if worship is a joyful time for you?

Ray and I used to travel to the Smokey Mountains every year during Spring Break. For many years we were often traveling on Easter Week. Since we choose not to drive the whole distance in one day we usually stop in Richmond, Kentucky on Saturday night and attend church on Sunday morning. Yes, worship is that important to us. We want to be with other Christians on Sunday. So for us, and for many of you, worship is as necessary as getting fresh milk and bread each week.

God’s plan also was to use the Sabbath to turn our hearts and minds toward Him. In other words, He wants us to set aside one day of the week as a special time of rest,worship, and reflection on His Word. After all, if we ignore God on that day when else are we likely to turn to Him? We get busy and preoccupied with daily living — and end up leaving God out of the picture. God’s plan is clear: “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Deuteronomy 5:12).

We are not to neglect fellowshipping with the Body of Christ. That’s the church, my friends. Does that mean you won’t go to heaven if you don’t go to church? No, but it does mean that we’ll miss the blessings of obedience to His Word and serving alongside other Believers.

Why are fewer people committed to going to church? I know you all know this, but we live in an ‘all-about-me’ society.  Personal preferences are outweighing obedience to God’s Word. Theology has become Me-ology. Many worship services are more like a Broadway Show than a sincere focus on God.  Comments like I don’t like the music… To many old hymns… Guitars and drums don’t make it… I don’t like the pastor’s preaching… It’s too long…  I’m not comfortable… It makes me wonder if a sanctuary of recliners would bring more people in?  No matter the issue – when things like this come between whether or not we’re going to church on Sunday we’ve definitely become “all about me” worshippers.

So what can we do about it? First of all, don’t just say it’s all about God – make it all about God.

Make worship a priority. Write it in your planner. No excuses. Commit to it!

Pray. Before attending, whether that is the night before or the morning of, pray that you will put God first. Ask Him to speak to you. Pray for others who will be attending. Just pray.  Upon entering the church, perhaps while walking through the church parking lot, pray for those who are worshipping with you, pray for the unbelievers who will be attending. Pray that all distractions are removed so it can be totally about God. Pray that God will give your pastor the words you need to hear and that your heart and mind will be open to hearing them.

Go to church Sunday! If you have never attended a church, find one. If you’re saying I can’t go to church or I’m not a Believer or I don’t even know if they’d want me. Oh, yes, we want you! Join us!

Sunday Psalms 5

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Psalm 5

Hear my words, LORD. My King and my GOD. I lift my prayers to You. Sometimes my words are just sounds, yet You still hear my prayers every morning.

You do not allow wicked people to live near You. You hate all who are evil, who think they are better than You. You destroy liars and murderers.

I bow down before You. I worship and adore You. You have chosen me and made the way stright before me. My enemies are lost and cannot find their way. They speak lies and death is in their words. Judge them, LORD. Let their own words convict them of their sin and rebellion against You.

All who live in Your protection will rejoice & sing. You are praised by all who love You. Put Your shield of favor over Your chosen, O LORD!

Sunday Psalms are the Psalms in my own words.  You can click on the Psalm number at the top to read it from the NIV Bible.

Pray Always and Often!

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What was the last prayer God answered for you? Do you remember? Are you listening for His voice during and after your prayers?

He hears us when we pray. He knows His plan for us but He wants us to talk with Him about it and listen for/to His answer. (1 John 5:14) He listens carefully when we call. (Jeremiah 29:12)

We are to pray fervently and often. Set aside a specific place and time to spend in prayer. (Matthew 6:6) Put it on your calendar. Tell anyone who is near not to bother you. Take Your Bible and pray back what you are reading. Intercede for all who need praises or problems taken to God.

Our words are very important to God. If we don’t know what to say or how to say it, He still hears us. Paul, in Romans 8:26, tells us the Spirit will help us. He, the Spirit in us, takes our prayers to the Throne with ‘wordless groans’. Jesus told the disciples to be careful and thoughtful with their words. Not to just babble on and on but to focus on what they are saying and asking. (Matthew 6:7-8) Then He gave them an example of how to pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name,
 Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
 Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:9-13

Friends, keep praying. It matters now, perhaps more than ever. Take every thought, plan, idea, problem, desire… to God. He wants to hear you. He wants you to hear Him!

Abba, Father, hear our prayer! You know all we need before we even ask. Guide, direct, provide, and protect us now and in the days ahead.

Click on the picture to hear Babbie Mason sing about prayer.

Never Alone

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We live in a world of more than 8 billion people (7.87 billion in 2021). With that many people, why is it so common to feel alone at times?

God creates loneliness in us so we will seek Him. When we do this He gives us wisdom and understanding. (Proverbs 4:5) When we are troubled, stressed, and just plain tired He gives us strength. (1 Chronicles 16:11)

Merriam-Webster defines this feeling as being without company/cut off from others. In Hebrew, it can also mean solitude and desert.

Yet, this (God) was something Jesus sought often. In nine different passages of the Gospels, He goes to a solitary place to seek God. (I’m sure there were more!) Why? Because He needed to set apart alone time, to be away from other people and distractions, to seek His Father’s will. (Luke 9:18)

We are rewarded when we diligently seek God. (Hebrews 11:6) When we spend set apart time with Him what we ask we will receive, what we seek we will find, when we knock He will open the door. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Abba, Father, help us recognize that our feelings of aloneness are invitations from You to talk. Open our hearts to Your welcoming voice. Comfort us and give us the peace that comes from being in Your Presence.