Oct 10 Send an Encourager

Father, each one of us needs to be encouraged in our walk with You.  Each one of us faces specific challenges and difficulties.   We may not be able to find direction, understanding and encouragement on our own.

You sent Paul and them Timothy to be an example and an encouragement to the Thessalonians.  Please send a mentor like Paul and an encourager like Timothy into my life, and into the lives of my loved ones.

Father, You know each of us so intimately, You would know the exact people to send, who can relate to us and speak words of encouragement and comfort and instruction into our individual lives.  You know how each of us needs to be “urged to live lives worthy of You.” 

Not just anyone qualifies to speak into our lives.  Father, would You “clear the way” for Your specific mentor to come to each of us and speak Your truth.   And like Paul’s prayer, would You “make our love increase and overflow for each other…and strengthen our hearts so that we will be blameless and holy in Your presence…”

I need You and Your truth in my personal life, my loved ones’ lives, and in my country.  I need Your encouragement to stay on the right path.  Send Pauls and Timothys; or for women – Paulas and Tabithas.  Men and women who will help us live for You.  Send Your truth.  Amen

I Thessalonians 2:9-12; 3:2-3; 11-13

Oct 10 Send an Encourager

Father, each one of us needs to be encouraged in our walk with You.  Each one of us faces specific challenges and difficulties.   We may not be able to find direction, understanding and encouragement on our own.

You sent Paul to be an example and an encouragement to the Thessalonians.  Please send a mentor like Paul into my life, and into the lives of my loved ones .

Father, You know each of us so intimately, You would know the exact person to send, who can relate to us and speak words of encouragement and comfort and instruction into our individual lives.  You know how each of us needs to be “urged to live lives worthy of You.” 

Not just anyone qualifies to speak into our lives.  Father, would You “clear the way” for Your specific mentor to come to each of us and speak Your truth.   And like Paul’s prayer, would You “make our love increase and overflow for each other…and strengthen our hearts so that we will be blameless and holy in Your presence…”

I need You and Your truth in my personal life, my loved ones’ lives, and in my country.  I need Your encouragement to stay on the right path.  Send Pauls and Timothys, Paulas and Tabithas.  Men and women who will help us live for You.  Send Your truth.  Amen

I Thessalonians 2:9-12; 3:2-3; 11-13

Oct 10 Send an Encourager

Father, in Jeremiah’s time, even the priests and prophets were lying to their leaders and the people. 

They reported only what the people wanted to hear: that they would be safe; that there would be peace, and that these words came from “the Lord.” 

Father, would You send a true prophet, like Jeremiah, to the nations’ leaders of the world, and open their ears to Your truth.  Jeremiah was not popular because he told it like it was.  He relayed Your truth, not pacifying lies.  I fear many of our nations’ counselors are not being “Jeremiahs.” 

The media has become a “prophet” of the day.  Their reports are very skewed so that the people are controlled by political and social interests and schemes.  And yet the people are not completely innocent either.  For they have chosen one by one how to live their lives and who or what they will worship. 

You gave Jeremiah a very difficult task in a very difficult time, but You promised to rescue and save him.  You said, “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose.”   Father, show me Your good purpose.  Help me be strong in my faith like Jeremiah was.     

Lord, You sent Paul to be an encouragement to the Thessalonians.  Please send someone into my life, and into the lives of my loved ones, to be a mentor like Paul. 

Each one of us needs to be encouraged in our walk with You.  Each one of us faces specific challenges and difficulties.   We may not be able to find direction, understanding and encouragement on our own. 

But You, Father, know each of us so intimately, You would know the exact person to send, who can relate to us and speak words of encouragement and comfort and instruction into our individual lives.  You know how each of us needs to be “urged to live lives worthy of You.” 

Not just anyone qualifies to speak into our lives.  Father, would You “clear the way” for Your specific mentor to come to each of us and speak Your truth.   And like Paul’s prayer, would You “make our love increase and overflow for each other…and strengthen our hearts so that we will be blameless and holy in Your presence…”

Father, I need You and Your truth in my personal life and in my country.  I need Your encouragement to stay on the right path.  Send Jeremiahs and Pauls.  Send Your truth.  Amen

Jeremiah 14:11-16; I Thessalonians 2:9-12; 3:2-3; 11-13

Oct 10 Send an encourager

Father, in Jeremiah’s time, even the priests and prophets were lying to their leaders and the people.

They reported only what the people wanted to hear: that they would be safe; that there would be peace, and that these words came from “the Lord.”

Father, would You send a true prophet, like Jeremiah, to the nations’ leaders of the world, and open their ears to Your truth.  Jeremiah was not popular because he told it like it was.  He relayed Your truth, not pacifying lies.  I fear many of our nations’ counselors are not being “Jeremiahs.”

The media has become a “prophet” of the day.  Their reports are very skewed so that the people are controlled by political and social interests and schemes.  And yet the people are not completely innocent either.  For they have chosen one by one how to live their lives and who or what they will worship.

You gave Jeremiah a very difficult task in a very difficult time, but You promised to rescue and save him.  You said, “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose”.   Father, show me Your good purpose.  Help me be strong in my faith like Jeremiah was.

Lord, You sent Paul to be an encouragement to the Thessalonians.  Please send someone into my life, and into the lives of my loved ones, to be a mentor like Paul.

Each one of us needs to be encouraged in our walk with You.  Each one of us faces specific challenges and difficulties.   We may not be able to find direction, understanding and encouragement on our own.

But You, Father, know each of us so intimately, You would know the exact person to send, who can relate to us and speak words of encouragement and comfort and instruction into our individual lives.

You know how each of us needs to be “urged to live lives worthy of You”.

Not just anyone qualifies to speak into our lives.  Father, would You “clear the way” for Your specific mentor to come to each of us and speak Your truth.   And like Paul’s prayer, would You “make our love increase and overflow for each other…and strengthen our hearts so that we will be blameless and holy in Your presence…”

Father, I need You and Your truth in my personal life and in my country.  I need Your encouragement to stay on the right path.  Send Jeremiahs and Pauls.  Send Your truth.  Amen

Jeremiah 14:11-16; I Thessalonians 2:9-3:13

Mar 20 Trust even in the desert

“God, You are my God! Earnestly I seek You. [My soul] thirsts for You and my body longs for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

Father, on this earth, in this life, it does so often feel like trudging through a desert with no water in sight. I have lived in New Mexico on the edge of the desert. When we drove anywhere, we never left without five gallons of water and provisions to spend the night in case we broke down or had a flat.   Some of the places were so remote we could not count on help coming quickly.   After hearing stories of people perishing, we learned to adapt to the environment and its challenges.

It’s beginning to feel like our country has become a spiritual desert. Oases of living water, wells of wisdom, pools of purity, have been blown over and filled in with the sands of sin and the dust of depravity. Truly, even those who call themselves Christians have been seared by the heat of materialism and humanism and tolerance, to the point that they are almost unrecognizable as followers of Christ. A desert indeed.

But I have seen You at work – in my life – the lives of loved ones! I have seen You answer prayer! I have beheld Your power and glory! And because of this, I will sing praise to You as long as I live! I will lift up my hands to honor You! Trying to fall asleep, I will count my blessings.

You satisfy my soul as my stomach is satisfied with the richest of flavors! The deepest of chocolates!

You have been my help during times of stress, sorrow, helplessness, fear, anger, doubt, and frustration. And also You have rejoiced with me in times of incomparable joy, happiness, thankfulness, relief, delight, and quiet contentment.

You are like a mother hen that spreads her wings of protection over her chicks. Like Your child, I run under Your wings and cling to You!

Thank You! That when I seek You, I find You. That when I hunger and thirst for You, Your Word fills me up. That when I cling to You, I am safe and protected. I give You praise! Amen

Psalm 63:1-11

Oct 21 Have one…Be one

Father, You could have picked up Jeremiah and set him in a safe place far away from those who accused him and sought his life. You could have lifted him out of that cistern Yourself! He already had Your promise: “Do not be terrified…they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you.”   But You didn’t give the details of what that rescue would look like.

Father, I seek to be obedient to all You tell me to do. But sometimes, even acting honorably, I have been misunderstood. Lord, when I am accused wrongly, bring those who will act on my behalf. Like Ebed-Melek did for Jeremiah, let there be those who will support, defend, and help me.

Also, Father, use me. Let me act like Ebed-Melek, defending others who You have sent to do Your work. Spur me to action when I hear of wrongs. Show me how to help, being commanding and compassionate as he was. He didn’t just drop a rope, but interceded with authorities, got clothing for padding, and brought help to lift Jeremiah out of the mud-bottomed cistern.

Help me Lord to be trusting in trials; that You will send help. And give me courage to help those who need it.   Amen

Jeremiah 1:17,19; 37:1-38:13

Oct 10 Send an Encourager

Father, in Jeremiah’s time, even the priests and prophets were lying to their leaders and the people. They reported only what the people wanted to hear: that they would be safe; that there would be peace, and that these words came from ‘the Lord’. Father, would You send a true prophet, like Jeremiah, to the nations’ leaders of the world, and open their ears to Your truth. Jeremiah was not popular because he told it like it was. He relayed Your truth, not pacifying lies. I fear many of our nations’ counselors are not being ‘Jeremiahs’.

The media has become a ‘prophet’ of the day. And their reports are very skewed, so that the people are controlled by political and social interests and schemes. And yet the people are not completely innocent either. For they have chosen one by one how to live their lives and who or what they will worship.

You gave Jeremiah a very difficult task in a very difficult time, but You promised to rescue and save him. You said, “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose”.   Father, show me Your good purpose. Help me be strong in my faith like Jeremiah was.

Lord, You sent Paul to be an encouragement to the Thessalonians. Would You also send someone into my life, and into the lives of my loved ones, to be a mentor like Paul was.

Each one of us needs to be encouraged in our walk with You. Each one of us faces specific challenges and difficulties.   We may not be able to find direction, understanding and encouragement on our own. But You, Father, know each of us so intimately, You would know the exact person to send, who can relate to us and speak words of encouragement and comfort and instruction into our individual lives. You know how each of us needs to be “urged to live lives worthy of You”.

Not just anyone qualifies to speak into our lives. Father, would You “clear the way” for Your specific mentor to come to each of us and speak Your truth.   And like Paul’s prayer, would You “make our love increase and overflow for each other…and strengthen our hearts so that we will be blameless and holy in Your presence…”. Father, I need You and Your truth in my personal life and in my country. And Your encouragement to stay on the right path. Send Jeremiahs and Pauls. Send Your truth. Amen

Jeremiah 14:11-16; I Thessalonians 2:9-3:13