On Our Hearts: Back To The Basics

Do you ever have days where you feel like the Lord is leading you but you don't know where? Or when life is so overwhelming you just don't know where to start praying? Sometimes we just need to get back to the basics. Lay it all down and let your Father pick it up. He knows what you need. He can work in us despite how we feel, what we do and where we're going.

"... for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

This, then, is how you should 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.
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 6:8-13

Amen

On Our Hearts: Feeling Lukewarm

It's the middle of the week and once again we find ourselves back in the routine. The alarm goes off, kids up, fed, dressed, and off to school or the babysitter. Without thinking we go right into work mode. We're battling the pile of laundry and the breakfast dishes (and maybe last night's dinner dishes too). Some of us jump in the car to the office to juggle clients, push paperwork, or to make that sale. It's hard not to feel as though we're stuck in a rut. Same thing day in and day out. Is this how you feel about your relationship with God? Are you stuck in the same routine? Has your relationship with Jesus become just another bullet point on you day planner? Or worse, has He fallen off the itinerary all together? God desires an intimate relationship with you. Don't let menotony dictate how you are going to relate to God.

Heavenly Father,

Forgive us for becoming lukewarm in our faith. Forgive us for letting the busyness of life take over our time with You. Lord give us the time and energy that we need to pursue a more intimate relationship with You. Help us to wake each day yearning to talk with You first. And let us lay our heads each night in comfort that You are there to help us rest. Lord we ask that we be an example to our family through our faith. Let our children know that You are what is most important in our life and may they follow in our steps. May we feel a closeness with You that we have never experienced before. Bless our quiet time with You, Lord. Renew our passion. Ignite a spark in us when we're feeling complacent. Let us feed on Your Word so that we may nourish our bodies with the truth.

Amen

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5

On Our Hearts: Literally Pray

Has a friend ever come to you and shared something and you say, I'll be praying for you? Do you actually do it? What about when someone sneezes and you say, God bless you. Do you bless them - really? How many times do we flippantly toss around the words pray or bless? Are you actually praying for those when you say you are? Do you talk about blessing your enemies but secretly wish they'd fall on their face? What about when something good happens and you say, praise God. Do you right then actually praise Him? In this throw away society, it's easy to think that our words are disposable too but the Bible tells us that our words are eternal and powerful. Oh sure, it's nice that our hearts are in the right place but what is good is aim if we never reach the target? Next time that friend asks for prayer pray for them right that instant, hold her hand and lift her up to God. The next time someone cuts you off in the carpool line ask God to bless them right then, outloud even so little ears will hear. And the next time a prayer is answered praise God, literally. Raise your hands and thank the Father for His unending love and blessing for His children. God is listening, He is waiting for all those prayers you promised you'd pray.

Father, thank you so much for giving us direct unhindered access to You. Help us to remember that whenever and wherever through prayer we can talk with You and You'll listen. Let us do a better job of being a vessel for others who may come to us. Give us confidence to pray with others, let us be an example of faith for them. Lord, we desire to do good and we mean well, but we need Your help in following through. We don't want to just offer lip-service, we want to be women of action. Prayerful, spiritual, and faithful women who come to You with our needs, the needs of our spouse, the needs of our friends, co-workers, and even our enemies. Lord, assure us as we step out of our comfort zone. Give us wisdom to see a need and courage to reach out and help someone through prayer. Lord we thank You for Your patience with us as we chart new territory in our prayer walk.

Amen

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them." Matthew 18: 19, 20