Matthew 5:44 How do you pray?

Mathew 5:44 BSB But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

I found this description of prayer in Bible Hub under Topics and prayer. There were many to choose from and this one seemed the best to me.

Prayer

Is the offering of the emotions and desires of the soul to God, in the name and through the mediation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the communion of the heart with God through the aid of the Holy Spirit, and is to the Christian the very life of the soul. Without this filial spirit, no one can be a Christian, Job 21:15 Psalm 10:4.

How do you pray?

We pray before each meal, giving thanks, we pray for those we know who are sick and ask for healing. We pray for salvation of family and friends. We pray for our son. We pray for those who have sinned against us.

I also pray throughout the day when someone or something comes to mind. An example would be thanking Him for spring and the beautiful birds singing and the flowers blooming.

I pray when receiving a prayer request and I try to send the prayer to the recipient by email, text, telephone or in person. I have found it’s important to do it at the moment of the request. 

If someone asks you for prayer, do it right, then and there! Don’t wait, don’t hesitate!

If you are in need of prayer, there’s nothing worse than someone saying I will pray for you later. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in the moment.

How do you pray?

Blessings, David 

John 3:3,5 Are YOU born again?

John 3:3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.

When you accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you are marked by God as one of His adopted children. You become, “born again”.

I was born into a Catholic family, baptized after birth and I went to a catholic school but I never learned what these verses taught, which are the words of Jesus.

Instead I learned that I was saved by baptism alone. Unfortunately the Bible doesn’t teach or say you are saved with baptism as an infant.

But Jesus did say after you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior to be baptized as a public pronouncement of faith. Burying the old self and rising out of the water as a new person in Christ.

If you haven’t been born again, you cannot enter heaven. You cannot enter heaven by being a good person. You cannot be born again by baptism. 

You must make the conscious choice of accepting what Jesus did on the cross for you. 

Are you born again?

Blessings, David 

Sleep. Psalm 3:5 NLT

How do you sleep at night? Do you toss and turn with a million thoughts going through your head? Do you drift off quickly out of exhaustion from a full day? Is it a peaceful time for you or fret filled? 

I use to suffer from insomnia. My catch phrase at the time was"Sleep is highly overrated ". If you've ever experienced it, it can be very frustrating. Over a 6 year period I averaged 4 hours of interrupted sleep a night. And forget about an afternoon nap, you can't sleep then either. Finally, in year 7 my doctor prescribed a sleep aide for me. I took that for several years until other health problems warranted me discontinuing it. 

Now, I'm able to get a good nights sleep using melatonin. Most nights.

"God sustains us in our sleep, but we take it for granted. But think of it: you are asleep, unconscious, dead to the world – yet you breathe, your heart pumps, your organs operate. The same God who sustains us in our sleep will sustain us in our difficulties." David Guzik

Psalm 3:5 NLT

I lay down and slept,  yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me. 

Blessings, Cecilia

1 Timothy 5:13 Gossips and Busybodies!

1 Timothy 5:13 At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, speaking of things they should not mention.

Yesterday during nursery operations a person had stopped by and asked the Nursery Coordinator why they weren’t coming up on the roster to serve in the nursery. The Coordinator politely told the person they could serve at the other end of the church in the Kidz ministry.

A couple weeks ago this person was caught spreading false gossip. This added to the list of distractions this person participated in concerning the nursery. So the Coordinator removed the person from the volunteer roster. 

“but also gossips and busybodies, speaking of things they should not mention”.

Our sin has consequences, and even though we are to forgive as Jesus forgave us, it doesn’t mean we have to restore a relationship.

I also believe the nursery is under attack because it is effective for our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Please pray for this person!

Please pray for the nursery!

Blessings, David 

John 19:26-27 Here is your mother!

John 19: 26When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.

This occurred during the crucifixion when Jesus was dying. He was concerned for His mothers well being. 

Today we celebrate Mother’s Day. If your mother is still alive then honor her today. If she’s not, honor her memory. If she did evil towards you then try to forgive her like Jesus forgave you and allow the bitterness to leave your heart.

“Here is your mother.” Faults and all, no mothers perfect and neither are you. We cannot choose our mothers but we have a choice on how we treat them.

Ask yourself, what would Jesus do?

Blessings, David 

Selah. Psalm 3

About two months ago I had bronchitis. I went to the doctor and was given all the appropriate medications. The bronchitis never completely cleared up. Two weeks ago what I initially thought was allergies turned into a sinus infection. I couldn't get into my primary care doctor so I mistakenly tried to deal with it on my own. Five days later, when I was finally able to get an appointment, I was told if I didn't rest I would end up with pneumonia. I took the next three days and did nothing, just resting at home. 

David and I both believe it was too late. I think pneumonia had already settled into my lungs. I have a follow-up appointment on the 18th. 

Rest, stop, be quiet, be reflective, pause, hang out, contemplate, weigh or contemplate. Worship. 

Selah

Selah is a word used seventy-four times in the Hebrew Bible—seventy-one times in the Psalms and three times in Habakkuk. The meaning of the word is not known, though various interpretations are given below. It is probably either a liturgico-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like "stop and listen."    The  Amplified Bible translates  selah as "pause, and think of that." Alternatively,  selah may mean "forever",  "to hang," and by implication to measure (weigh), or to "pause and exalt the Lord"
Wikipedia 

We all need to selah. 

Blessings, Cecilia 

James 1:12-Psalm 18:2 Trials and a Crown!

James 1:12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Life on earth is full of trials, we all go through them. They can come in the form of spiritual, nature, man, or family. How resilient are you? Do you rely on God or yourself?

When we go through trials and rely on God as our rock we will come through it stronger. 

God uses trials to “mature” us spiritually. 

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Is He your God, rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, stronghold and horn of salvation?

Did you notice the promise in James 1:12?

“he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”

You will receive the crown of life!

Blessings, David