A Day in My Spiritual Life

I'm working on getting back on track with my prayer life. I needed tools, because it just wasn't happening on it's own. I began to gather some books from my library to help me with the journey.

Journals
The top and bottom books are my journals. The small purple one on top is My Marriage Journal where I keep prayers, memes, and quotes on marriage. There is some great stuff out there on the internet for this.
The bottom is a journal where I keep my favorite Bible verses.

Bible
The biggest is my Bible. I am currently doing an on-line Bible study and following a program to read the Bible in a year.

Devotions
The third book down is my Kindle where I have my devotional, "Jesus Calling," that I read daily.

Prayer
The second book down is a book on prayer called, "365 Pocket Prayers," that I have quoted in posts and that I am now reading to help me pray.

I'm glad I have these tools. They are helping me recover from my shakedown in faith, (see July posts), and helping me to pray again.

A prayer I use daily from "365 Pocket Prayers"
A prayer about Meditation

Lord,
Teach me the discipline of meditating on You and on Your Word. How can I be spiritually focused if I can't control my thoughts? And how can I ever hope to understand Your will for me if I don't listen to what You say? Help me to push my own thoughts and desires aside and allow Your Spirit to speak to me. Guide my heart and remind me of Your presence. May my thoughts always be fixed on You.
Amen.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You,
all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

Gratitude
1. Tools to help me grow
2. Glorious rain today
3. Your Word

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah

8 Ways to Pray When You Can't

After my shakedown in faith, (see July 7, & 26, posts), I still struggle with praying.  I'm good with short prayers, like asking for a safe trip to my destination and home again, or praying for a friend/stranger in need of prayers for something. Where I am still having trouble is with the in-depth and meditative prayers.

Here are a few things I am trying to help me get back on track.

1. Use a book of prayers.
I have two, "The Book of Common Prayer" and "365 Pocket Prayers." Both are full of prayers for all occasions and topics. Any you may have will work.

2. Read the Psalms. This needs no explanation.

3. Ask Jesus to pray for you.
I simply say, "Lord I can't pray today. Please pray for me."
I feel He does.

4. Read a verse or book in the Bible and offer it up as a prayer to God.

5. Sing your favorite hymn or pop Christian song. Do it loudly.

6. Read other Christian Blogs on prayer.
There are many out there with lots of inspiration.

7. Count your blessings.

8. Go to a place like Bible Gateway, (link on my right sidebar), and do a search on pray or prayer.

I hope these will help you if you struggle, at times, like I do.


1Thessalonians 5:16-17
Rejoice always, pray continually,

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Gratitude
3 gifts in prayer
1. Confession
2. Forgiveness
3. Joy

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah

Fruit of the Spirit - Love Part 3

Unconditional love.

Webster's defines unconditional as being "not limited in any way."

God's love is unconditional.
No limits.
Unlimited.
Eternal.

Is there anything that is able to separate a believer from the love of God?
No.
Not a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g. (Romans 8:37-39)

As children of God, we are to walk in the way of love. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

God = Love
Jesus = Love
Holy Spirit = Love

Unconditional love.
Eternal love.
God is good.

John 15:12
This is my command:
Love each other the same as I have loved you.

Prayer (from "365 Pocket Prayers")
O Lord Jesus,
If I get anything right in this life, help me get love right.
I want to love you and others with the unconditional love you model for me.
Too often I think of love as just a feeling. I know that is part of it, but according to Your Word, it's so much more than that. You show me that it is a commitment. (...) I am making a commitment to develop a relationship with you, the Creator of the universe. Thank you that you loved me first and daily pursue me with Your love.  Amen.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Gratitude (prompts from aholyexperience.com)
3 gifts in your Dad
1. Unconditional love
2. Great sense of humor
3. Safety

My cup runneth over.
Blessings,
Deborah

Love - Part 1 http://sharing1000epiphanieswhilewaiting.blogspot.com/2016/05/fruit-of-spirit-love.html

Love - Part 2 http://sharing1000epiphanieswhilewaiting.blogspot.com/2016/06/fruit-of-spirit-part-ii.html

Fruit of the Spirit - Patience

Patience is the first attribute of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4. I think that makes it pretty important. We all struggle with it from time to time; I'll admit I do. Awareness is the first step in changing any habit.

Again, God commands us to be patient with one another through out the Bible. We first learn that He himself is slow to anger (patient) in Exodus 34:6 and  Psalm 86:15.  Romans 9:22 tell us of His great patience.

Ephesians 4:1-2 instructs believers to be humble, gentle and patient to one another in love. Paul tells us we need to stay in "the unity of the Holy Spirit" to endeavor to keep these.

Finally, our patient God does not want any of us to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (Peter 3:9)

A Prayer for Patience
From "365 Pocket Prayers"
by Ronald A. Beers

Dear Jesus,

Forgive me. I have been more frustrated than usual. I long for you Holy Spirit to produce patience in me. I feel as if I'm losing my cool over everything. I want to be patient right away - buy how can I without the opportunity to practice patience? Your Word tells me that I need patient endurance to do your will. By enduring life's difficulties without becoming anxious or annoyed, I can be more patient. And as I grow in patience, my trust in You will also grow. Lord Jesus, you have answered my prayer for patience by bringing opportunities for Your Holy Spirit to perfect this area in my heart. When frustrating circumstances come my way, help me to react with calm dignity and quiet strength. Amen.

Psalm 86:15
But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger,
abounding in love and faithfulness.

Hebrews 10:36
Patient endurance is what you need now,
so that you will continue to do God's will.
Then you will receive all that He has promised.

Gratitude (prompts from aholyexperience.com)
A gift worn, white, whispered
1. My wedding ring
2. A skirt
3. I love you

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Fruit of the Spirit - Peace

Peace is a very important Bible concept; not just world peace, but inner peace. I truly believe that is where it has to begin, with our own inner peace. If we are peaceful inside we are better able to handle anything that comes at us on any given day. If we don't let others effect our peace, we have begun the journey. This takes training, discipline and time to cultivate, but it can be done. It is a goal I am working on, but I've a long way to go. Meditation and contemplative/centering prayer are helping me gain the inner peace I desire and, of course, spending time daily reading His word and through study.

The Bible says we are to "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it,' according to Psalm 34:14. A believer's heart should not be troubled because, not only did Jesus leave us His peace, He gave it to us. (John 14:27). We are to strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind and live in peace. (II Corinthians 13:11)

If we have faith, we have peace with God. (Romans 5:1)

A prayer from "365 Pocket Prayer," by Ronald A. Beers.

Dear Jesus,
So many things rob me of peace - conflict, uncertainty, busyness, worry, fear. How can I have peace amid so much turmoil? Lord, I want to have the quiet, unshakable peace that comes from placing my trust fully in you, the same peace that allowed you to go to the cross on my behalf. Help me to rest in the knowledge that my treasure is truly in heaven. Amen

Psalm 4:8
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
Make me dwell in safety.

James 3:18
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Gratitude (prompts from aholyexperience.come)
3 Gifts hard giving thanks for
1. Criticism
2. Comparisons
3. Illness

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah