PRAYING GOD'S WILL FOR MY SPOUSE

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

When things are not going my way, I wish that I could say, I recite this verse.  I wish that I could say my first response is to sing, "whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say; it is well..", but the reality is--that's not true.  My initial reaction is resistance.  I wonder 'why me', 'why this', 'why now'.  I have not yet attained the maturity level required to offer the prayer of "Thy will",  because frankly, I don't want to submit my will to God's will.

The word WILL in context means "of what God wishes to be done by us".  It is His determination for us, His thoughts towards us.  Now imagine that in your prayers.  God's determination (versus our determination) in everything we commit to prayer...especially our spouse!  Mmm hmm...It's hard to pray the retaliation prayer, when you start off with God's will as the qualifier for the prayer.  Don't act like you don't know about the retaliation pray. 😊

Lord, I want Your will to be manifested in my spouse's life.  I pray that every desire and wish You have for my spouse be manifested in their life.  When my spouse is unsure of their purpose; I pray and agree with Your wishes for their life.  I agree that my spouse will delight in You.  I agree that my spouse will commit their way to You; trust in You and You shall bring all things to pass according to Your will.  I agree that you will bring forth righteousness in their life.  Thank you for the manifestation of love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.  I agree with health, prosperity, wisdom and wealth for my spouse because I want Your will for them.  If my spouse is operating in Your will, my spouse will be blessed, I will be blessed, our family will be blessed.  It is so.  Amen!

February 24

February 24 - We can't be everywhere. But God can. We can't see everything. But God can. We can't know everything. But God can. No matter what age our children are, releasing them into God's hands is a sign of our faith and trust in Him and is the first step toward making a difference in their lives. Prayer for our children begins there. (Power of a Praying Parent daily)

Thank you Father for being omnipresent (everywhere at the same time), for being omniscient (having complete and unlimited knowledge), for being our Overseer and the One in control. Thank you for giving us the peace in knowing that even though we don't know all, can't see all or be everywhere...You can! Thank you for showing us that at the point of release, where our prayer begins; You have already got our children...there is no gap in their protection. They are always covered (even when they're going through), your covering is filtering what they're receiving and it's part of the process to grow them in You. Thank you for allowing us to be part of the process. What we can't do...God can!!! Amen!

February 11

February 11 - A child is a gift to us from God and He cares even more about our child than we do.

Cast...all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
(Power of a Praying Parent daily)

The very next verse in 1 Peter 5, says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour".

Make no mistake, the adversary is ALWAYS on his job, going to and fro trying to devour our children BUT once we do what we can as far as giving them the foundation of scripture, making sure they know who the savior is and living our lives according to God's word...the rest is up to God!

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God in him will I trust. He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." This is the security we have in our Heavenly Father. Amen!

#peace

September 16

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.  (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV)

We didn't have to deal with half of the things our children face.  I've heard some people say that they don't know if they could survive some of the darts being thrown at our children.  The enemy plots and schemes using insecurity and instability against them.  HIV/AIDS, homicides, absent parents, drug abuse, perverted lust and runaway social media have tried to take them out,  But thanks be to God who has caused them to triumph IN SPITE OF!!! Witnessing the city wide Youth and Young Adult revival this year, fittingly themed "City On Our Knees"; I watched some of the 'youngins' setting an example for the believers and for that I am encouraged that the scripture in 1 Timothy has taken root.

Thank you Lord for not letting Your word return void!  There is a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that is declaring the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His wonderful light.  We pray that You continue to keep our children in the safety of Your arms as they strive to live according to Your will and be examples in this world.  In Jesus name, Amen!

September 10 - TAKE IT AWAY!!!

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (John 15:2, NIV)  The Greek for he prunes also means he cleans.

Jesus speaks of two categories of branches: fruitless and fruitful. The branches that cease to bear fruit are those who no longer have the life in them that comes from enduring faith in and love for Christ. These "branches" the Father cuts off, i.e., he separates them from vital union with Christ. The branches that bear fruit are those who have life in them because of their enduring faith in and love for Christ. These "branches" the Father prunes so that they will become more fruitful. That is, He removes from their lives anything that diverts or hinders the vital life-flow of Christ into them. The fruit is the quality of Christian character that brings glory to God through life and witness. (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes)

Heavenly Father, help us to appreciate the pruning and purging that You do for our good. We thank You for removing anything that diverts or hinders the flow of Christ in our lives and our children's lives. I'm reminded of the words to that song we used to sing in youth choir so long ago..."if You find anything, that's not like you; I ask You Lord, You know what to do...wash me Lord; cleanse me through and through, take it away from me Lord, take it away from me! In Jesus name, Amen!

 http://youtu.be/J8apcF4uJ9o

August 5 - Give thanks and use it before you lose it!

Last week the youth and young adults of several churches in the city collaborated in a city-wide revival.  The "City On Our Knees" revival, consisting of New Salem, Rehoboth Temple, First Church of God, Rhema Christian Center and Trinity Baptist Church, truly blessed me. 

In one of the sermons the preacher asked; "if you woke up today with only what you thanked God for yesterday...what would you have?"  WOE!!!  I was immediately convicted and mortified at everything I would have lost.  The obvious material things crossed my mind but what really got me was that I had not taken the time to thank God for my life, for my spouse, for my children, health and strength.  All gifts...all things that I have taken for granted.

The bible says, " I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. ⁵ Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. ⁶ This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. ⁷ Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ"  (1 Corinthians 1:4-7, NLT).  As believers, we need to give thanks not only for the gifts God has given to us, but also for the gifts deposited in our church.  Everything we need to stand against the enemy, his plots and schemes; God has provided.  As my pastor says, everything we need "is in the house".  The concept of a city-wide, multi-church revival with "every spiritual gift you need" is amazing, encouraging and empowering...now if only we'd stir up the gifts!
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; ⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues (1Corinthians 12:8-10).  The church, and those endowed with spiritual gifts, has to be leery of losing what we don't use!

Lord, forgive me for taking all the gifts You've give me for granted.  I thank You for my life!  I thank You for my husband, I thank You for my children, I thank You for my mother, sisters and brothers.  I thank You for my health and strength, for my pastor and church family, for a home, food and clothes.  I thank You for opportunities to share Your word.  I thank You for using me to bless other and help them find their voice.  I thank You for every spiritual gift in my church for the building of Your kingdom and blessing of Your people.  I pray that those possessing spiritual gifts will begin to operate in their gift and use their gift for Your glory.  In Jesus name, Amen! 

April 17 - The Fight is Fixed!

Remember, your battle is not with your son or daughter.  "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of he darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).  Your battle is with the enemy.  The good news is that Jesus has given you authority "over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19).  Don't be afraid to take advantage of that.  (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)

Our children will grow and develop physically as we nurture and care for them.  The will develop their own emotional state as they experience life and all the ups and downs associated with maturing.  The only area that we can 'shape' is their spiritual life!  As Christians, we "are engaged in a spiritual conflict with evil.  This spiritual conflict is described as a warfare of faith that continues until we enter the life to come".   In the battle with the enemy; it is crucial that we have a strategy and take advantage of our advantage!  Jesus secured our victory through his death on the cross AND He "disarmed the evil powers and authorities". 

Our advantage is our authority!  Power is the ability to do or act, while authority is the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control,  command or determine.  Truth be told, satan has power but he doesn't have authority...at least he shouldn't have authority in the life of Christians.  When Jesus said "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you"...He meant it!!!

Lord, for our children's sake, help us to recognize and utilize the authority given to us!  Not that we get puffed up in self, but that we may pulverize satan and his schemes.  We pray that any principality, perversion, power, or force attempting to operate in our children's lives be revealed, so that we may pull it down.  Though we wrestle in war; the battle is won...VICTORY IN JESUS IS OURS.  Amen!