A season of prayer: Day 37

A Prayer for my sisters

Immortal God
Invincible God
Immortal God
How great you are

Everybody testifies you are good
You are good Jehovah
You are good
Everybody testifies you are good
You are good Jehovah
You are good

Alpha, Omega
You are worthy of our praises today
You are worthy of our praises today

Come and see o
Come and see
Come and see o
Come and see
Come and see what the Lord has done
Miracles are happening in my life

Father, na u biko. The One who created the heavens and the earth and everything in between. The I AM THAT I AM GOD. The One who upholds all things by the word of His power. The One whose love endures forever. I thank, bless and magnify your name for you are so good. The One who daily loadeth me with benefits, you renew my youth like the eagles, you have made me glad. You have blessed me and kept me. I give you praise.

Daddy, today I thank you my sisters. Thank you for the craziness associated in growing up with 4 sisters. It's been a 'heaven' of a ride so far. Thank you for my homegirls, same parents, same household but yet so different. We've had our share of fights, tears, laughs, celebrations e.t.c. but through it all the bond has remained there. I thank you because it shall continue to grow stronger. Father O lord as we grow older and begin to 'extend' as we already have started, keep us close more importantly close to you for there is peace when we are all led by the Holy Spirit for then it is easier for us to do the right thing and grow in peace. As roles begin to change and we begin to acquire brothers, nieces and nephews give us the grace and strength to love each other in Jesus name.

Help us to continue to be there for one another, praying for one another, encouraging one another, supporting one another, admonishing one another, building our strengths, working on our weaknesses. Truly being cheerleaders for one another on our journey of life. This I pray in Jesus name. I pray for my sisters and myself that we continue to grow in the way of the Lord. Thank you for our parents who took us to church and tried their best to model what walking in the faith means, they were and are not perfect but I believe they did their best and I am thankful. May we never depart from the path of righteousness in Jesus name.

Thank you for CM, Daddy I thank you for your goodness in her life, thank you for blessing her with the dual responsibility of being wife and mummy. Thank you for making her the first born and not me because I know the benefits I acquired from having someone to lead the way for example always having answers in the textbook when it came time to use them! Continue to strengthen her and her family. Keep and guide her in Jesus name. Thank you for Nna yi, as she enters the next phase of her life, give her wisdom, give her favour. Bless the works of her hands, make her business successful, uncover more talents in Jesus name. Thank you for the fashionista, our strong similarities make us clash from time to time but I thank you for her life. As she prepares for the last phase of her degree, I ask for good success, heal her from the pain of the past and give her wisdom for the future. Open doors she never thought possible in Jesus name. And for my baby, the one whose level of maturity is simply astounding, I thank you. I see her blossoming into a woman of God and I thank you. Keep her strong in a society where there is so much pressure to conform. Always enable her realise that she has been destined for greater things so she can so NO to the smaller ones. Give her the strength to see bullies for what they really are, people struggling with their own sense of worth. Help her to grow in you in Jesus name.

Father, thank you so much for my sisters who are my friends as well. Help us to be a light in a world surrounded by darkness in Jesus name. Thank you for my other sisters who I have met along the way, they deserve a special prayer as well I think! Help us to grow in love and promote peace and unity and not strife in Jesus name.

Always sisters
Always friends
Let's stay real close
To the end
Forgiving each other, letting love cover
Always sisters
Always friends
Cece Winans

How good and pleasant it is when brothers (sisters) live together in unity!It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard,down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing,even life forevermore. Psalm 133

A season of prayer: Day 36

A prayer praising Him in pidgin English

Jesus na u biko
You do well
I thank you o
You don make my life better
I go dey serve you forever o
You be Baba

Jesus na you be Oga
Jesus na you be Oga
All other gods
Na so so yeye
Every other god
Na so so yeye

Almighty Fada, you no say na you go help me for dis one as I no sabi pidgin proper, na NoLimit come make me put myself inside wahala anyway nothin spoil and I go try my best. Baba God, no one dey like you, you be the Almighty Jehovah, Alpha and Omega, u dey for the beginning, when the end come you go still dey there dey stand kampe, dey hold your side. Baba, I just wanna bless your name.

Baba I thank you well well because when e be like say condition wan make crayfish bend, you just show and make me stand straight. Even when the enemy come show him face for my domot, you come give me strength to declare NOTHING DO ME O, Satan comot for road because all power belongs to Jesus. Even when levels just dey shake left and right you make me stand kampe for ground. In short, I just full ground. Na u talk say NO SHAKING so I no go shake o!

Baba when pepper no rest, you come show as Jehovah Jireh, when my peace wan disappear, you come show as Jehovah Shalom. Baba, na wetin? I no be your best pikin, you know every now? But your Word don talk am finish that I dey beloved and na by grace I go continue to waka.

Baba for this prayer, I don use my whole pidgin vocabulary, I no say some people go almost faint wen dey read am abeg strengthen them o, na Believer reloaded abi how you see am! The main thing wen I wan say be that I love you and go continue to love you ti ti lai lai!

Amen and Amen!

For those who don't understand what I just wrote, just take it in good faith that it is actually a prayer. Send me an email if you want a translation!

A season of prayer: Day 35

A Prayer when I'm waiting

We wait
We're not in a hurry
O we need You Lord
We wait
All our cares and worries
We lay aside for You
O how we long to see Your face
O how we long for Your embrace

We wait
We're not afraid to tarry
We yearn for You Lord
We wait
For Your mighty wind to carry us
Into Your presence Lord
And as we fill this house with praise
May Your holy fire fill this place
We Wait by Don Moen

Eternal Rock of Ages, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Alpha and Omega, Author and Finisher. The I AM...I bless your name. Daddy, I give you praise, you alone are worthy to receive glory, honour and power for there in no one like you. You decree a thing and you make it come to pass. I am in awe of your goodness, I am in awe of your faithfulness. I confirm what the psalmist wrote that indeed great is your faithfulness, morning by morning, new mercies I have seen. All I have needed you keep on providing. Jehovah Shalom, thank you for teaching me to walk in your peace that passes all understanding. I choose not to be frazzled in Jesus name. Thank you for breath, thank you for the sun, thank you for my 2 eyes + 2 lenses that make me see men as men and not men as tree walking!!! Daddy, I love you.

Today O Lord as always, I come before your throne of grace asking for the strength and grace to enable me wait on you. Job said he would wait until his change came. David encouraged us to wait on you for you are a God who answers. Indeed your word says that you are not slack concerning your promise as some would count it and that your promises towards us are not yes and no but YES and in you AMEN. So Daddy, why do I find it so difficult, why am I always looking for alternatives and back up plans, why can't I just sit pretty at the bus-stop when I know the miracle that has my name on it will be arriving shortly. Father, forgive me for the times I have jumped on the Ishmael service because I thought that you had forgotten me.

How can you forget me? You said even though my mother can forget me and I know she can't that you would not forget me for my name is inscribed in the palm of your hand. My waiting is not because you are trying to gather enough power to make it happen (Hang on Believer, let me answer Ms. 30+ prayer request first so that I can give you my full attention!) because your word says that you are both willing and able to do of your good pleasure. It's for me, so that patience can have her perfect work in me that I may be complete and perfect lacking nothing.

Sometimes I ask why me, why do I have to wait? Wait to get into Uni, wait to be in a relationship, wait to....you know what the last wait is but Father Lord although I don't fully understand why, I've never ever regretted waiting for indeed you have made all things beautiful in their time. You have restored my years back, like Sarah I have laughed as I held on to my Isaac. So Lord, I will wait, I might grumble sometimes, forgive me, hopefully this reduces as I grow in maturity with you but I will wait on you. I will wait actively, I won't have what Ms. Hammond calls one-tree-itis focusing on the one object I'm waiting on forgetting that in Eden there is a whole garden that I can choose to eat from. I will focus on being a blessing in the lives of others. I will celebrate with people as they walk into their Canaan land. I choose to wait and be happy, no use frowning and getting wrinkles! I will trust you that you will make all things beautiful in YOUR time. You didn't forget Abraham, Sarah, Rebekah, Isaac, Ruth, Jacob, Joeseph, David, Moses, Joshua, the children of Israel, Jesus, the disciples e.t.c in short you didn't forget anyone who walked with you so you will surely not forget me.

I may cry sometimes but at the end of the day give me the grace and strength to dig my feet in and say "I know in whom I have believed and when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold". Amen and Amen.

If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes. Job 14:14

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage,And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD Psalm 27:14

He has made everything beautiful in its time Ecclesiastes 3:11a

A season of prayer: Day 34

25 prayer requests (issues) I have..

Well, Simeon tagged me to do this a while ago..(Je suis desolee simeon)so I thought to myself...if there are issues we have that are big enough to worry about they should be important enough to pray about them so I don't know if i'll remember 25 but I'll do my best..

Heavenly Father, repairer of destiny, the Potter who never lets go until his work becomes a Masterpiece, EloHim the One who creates from nothing, people make but you create! Halleluyah. I lift my voice and join the elders in declaring you are worthy and indeed there is none like you. From age to age, you remain the Unchanging Changer. I'm blowing a billion kisses in your direction. Eternal Lover of my soul, you love me so deep and make my heart content. Thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit as you continue to hover and brood over my life until the perfect design of the Father comes to pass in my life in Jesus name.

Daddy, your word says that we should be anxious for nothing but in every thing with praise and thanksgiving we should make our requests known unto you, you also say if we humble ourselves and pray (for in prayer I realise I am nothing and you are EVERYTHING) you will hear from heaven and answer our requests. Today I lift up these issues before your throne of grace, let them become testimonies in Jesus name.

*I tend to worry a lot, anxiety is my pet peeve. I worry about the future, about getting to an appointment on time, not forgetting important stuff when I'm travelling, the fried rice looking like fried rice and not something else! By the grace of God I am getting better. It is true that at least 70% of the things we worry about never happen. A big antidote for worry is prayer.

*My relationship with my extended family. Well, here I can write a book...the summarised version is that I do not relate with my relatives! I know the Holy Spirit has been nudging my heart to let go of some things from the past but it has been difficult. Please pray for me, I want to be in the perfect will of God not in what is comfortable for me. I have learnt that as much as it is possible for me by the grace of God to relate, love and accept my future husbands siblings and family if not for them in themselves but for the greater good of the cousins, neices, nephews e.t.c.

*Academics, I am coming to the last phase of my programme and the truth is I get confused sometimes,the way just doesn't seem so clear so Father please I need your wisdom, guidance and light.

*Minding my own business (Ouch!)i've come to realise that in a lot of relationships unless I am invited to give counsel or advice I should mind my own business. Even if I don't totally agree with something I should pray first and speak later, a lot of times I do it in reverse and get the pay that comes with that work! Help me Jesus.

*Career, well continued with academics above, I'm trusting God for a good job but when everyone asks me what I want to do I can't really say I'm so sure, today it's research, tomorrow it's teaching, the next neither so I really need God's direction as to what to do. Lord, help me to put purpose and not net pay in mind and create an opening for me in an organisation of your choice and mold me into what you want me to be there in Jesus name.

*Making comparisons. Ever so often, I feel this pressure to conform to what society and not Chineke (God) expect from me. Believer, so so and so are working in so so and so and earning so, so and so and driving so, so and so and married to so, so and so and have so, so and so children living in so, so and so. Then, I have my one minute (usually more!) Believer's rant with God where I remind Him if He's still got the right postcode to send my blessings to! I need to always remember that the word says that those who compare themselves with themselves are not wise and that there is a time and season for everything and God makes all things beautiful in His time.

*Loving people the God kind of way. I once prayed and asked God to teach me to love as He does...I have learnt to be careful what I asked for in future!! To love as God loves requires a heart which while beating and made of flesh and blood is strong like iron to withstand the arrows of life. God loves us even when we don't love Him back and He keeps loving us whether we acknowledge the love or not. God's love is not passive but actively doing things for us. I try but I get tired after a few unreturned calls, emails and having a relationship with people's voicemail! I need to learn to remember that all I do should be with the strength that God provides and also a very effective way of loving people is on my knees sending my prayer where my face may not very well be welcome at that point in time!

*Getting to a place of total trust. I've always thought of myself as being quite trustworthy, your secrets are safe here but I rarely give others the same benefit. For relationships to grow, there must be trust and I need God's grace in this area.

*It doesn't have to be my way. In almost everything I do, I have a system, a method, a protocol, maybe it comes from spending most of my time in a laboratory and that's fine as it works for me but I'm realising that other people have their own systems and methods and as long as the end result is ok, I needn't worry and I'll try not to roll my eyes too much when a certain person (just in case she reads this!!) steps into the kitchen!

*Letting go! I rehearse yesterday a lot! It takes me time to recover from mistakes. I strive for perfection, in of itself I don't think it's a bad thing but I'm humans and I make mistakes like the rest of mankind but I need to learn how to forget those things which are behind and strive towards what is coming ahead. How to leave yesterday just where it is and give myself the gift of the present, today, a brand new slate.

*Unhealthy habits, for a while I've slid off the exercise regimen and have been eating things I know I'm not supposed to. This body is God's temple and while I know habits like smoking and excessive drinking are known by all to be harmful, I haven't paid much attention to the food I actually consume, cholesterol and sugar can be as deadly as nicotine and alcohol so Lord please help me and give me strength. All things are lawful for me but not all things are beneficial.

*I'm also scared of heights and animals. I like animals from afar..it's so funny. I prayed for almost six months just to be able to stay for a week with my BIG SIS who has a dog. I kept praying, speaking in tongues e.t.c, don't let me get started on cats!! The Bible says Fear not! for I am with you although I rarely ever remember when an animal is in the vicinity! As for heights, if you want to see Believer in a new light follow me on my annual summer trip to either Chessington/Thorpe Park..well you have been warned!

Wow..I'm sure there's more and I'm sure I didn't really do the tag the way I was supposed to but I feel lighter already. Thanks Uncle Simeon! Remember there's nothing too big or too small to talk to God about, He knows all about it anyway. Keep praying and praising. Keep running and reigning. 2009 continues to remain our year of possibilities in Jesus name.

Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (makes tremendous power available..Amplified)James 5:16

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Phillipians 4:7

A season of prayer; Day 33

A Prayer for Lent

Dear God, the One from whom all blessing flow. You are the Father of Light and in you there is no darkness, rather darkness becomes overwhelmed in your presence. Good and gracious God, the One who forgives my iniquities and remembers them no more, I bless and honour your name. A new day, a new opportunity to show yourself strong and mighty, you are my Rock, my shield, my exceedingly great reward. Do as you will do and let your name be glorified through my existence in Jesus name.

Daddy,I bless you for today marks the beginning of Lent. A period where people for 40 days and 40 nights practice self denial and discipline. Thank you I am alive to witness lent in 2009, thank you for the grace to participate in Lent this year. Dear God, I pray for myself and any others who will participate for strength. Already, I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms just thinking about cake and bread. I never knew the love was this strong o! Lol! In tesco, they were just calling me...and today being the first day! Help me to be strong, remind me O Lord that Lent is not just about giving up stuff but giving up for, giving up some TV programmes for having more time to spend in your word and prayer, giving up some things that I like for remembering others in their time of need.

In this season O Lord, help me not to walk in the flesh but to fulfill the desires of the Spirit, let this be a season of pure thoughts and speech. Help me to see things as they truly are, guide me in the steps that I take. Like silver that goes through the fire, purify me O Lord in this season, let all those things that do not give you glory rise to the top like dross and be skimmed out of my life.

Father, I do not pray to fall but I may, I ask for the grace to stand up, shake off the dust and keep walking. A righteous man may fall seven times but your Word has promised that you will always deliver me. Thank You Father for in this season we shall see you in a new way. Reveal more of you, help us to grow in you. Thank you Father, thank you Lord in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I Isaiah 58:6-9

A season of prayer; Day 32

A Prayer of gratitude

To the One and Only Wise God. The One who reigns on High and is the all seeing one. Oluwadee praises him as the Unchanging Changer, 30+ says He is tha Land Owner indeed it is true for His word says that the cattle on a thousand hills belong to Him. David called Him His Sherperd the One who never allowed him to be in want. He has been and currently is so many things to me. Truly, words cannot describe His goodness in my life. Lord, never let me get tired of singing praises to your name.

This month I thank you for journey mercies, thank you for the opportunities and the open doors you have given me. So many things I take for granted but as I look around me I see that I am truly priviledged, I don't have all I want but the only thing I need I already have and that is a viable, wonderful, beatiful, deep relationship with Christ for in Him I have all I need. You have allowed me to seat with you in the heavenly places in Christ far above all principalities and powers. I can do all things through you who gives me the strength and ability. You have given me gifts that have brought me before kings. You have made things that seem to be difficult to others to come natural to me and I know this is only the beginning for as I walk with you, you reveal more of the mystery that is Ms. Zoe Believer.

Father, thank you for your patience with me, for someone who can't act to save her life I know I can be very dramatic but you wait for me to scream, shout and kick like a little child and then when i'm tired your arms are still open. Daddy, thank you. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for your word, in it I find comfort, in it I find guidance, in it I find wisdom and strength. Through it I am encouraged and am given the grace to encourage others. I thank you Lord.

You are the One who tells me to stand still when the waters are all around, you are the one who makes a way in the wilderness, the One who sets a table for me in the presence of my enemies, people who don't like me have no choice but to bless me. Like Ruth, you have shown me favour in a foreign land. Your blessings towards me have indeed been numerous, thank you for journey mercies home. Thank you for I need not worry for you who has been faithful to begin good things will be faithful to complete it in Jesus name.

Daddy, thank you in spite of the issues that I face for I know through them you are working patience in me and I know patience must have her complete work in me that I may be perfect not lacking anything. Thank you God.

Thank you for everything, accept this as a little token of praise.

Come and join me
sing halleluyah
Jehovah Jireh
has done me well

Come and see o
Come and see
Come and see what the Lord has done
Miracles are happening in my life

Everybody testifies
you are good
You are good Jehovah
You are good
Everybody testifies
you are good
Jehovah
you are good

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the lord: I will sing to the Lord for He is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him. Exodus 15:1-2

Praise be to the Lord, to God our saviour, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; Psalm 68:19-20