Detox

Daddy

I woke up this morning singing 'I have seen the Lord's goodness, His mercy and compassion. I have seen the Lord's goodness, hallelujah, praise the Lord!'

I claim the words of this song to be my reality in Jesus name. Indeed You have been good to me and my family in the past. I know You will continue to do the same in my future. Dear God, I thought what I needed was a job, fit into that dress, and all the x things on my imaginary 'I will be happy when this happens' list and yet what this week has taught me is that when you choose to 'detox' be warned because all sorts of stuff is just going to start coming out of you....literally! The sugar shaking, the crankiness, the headaches on the physical side and now on the emotional end I am just realising how much resentment has been in my heart towards a, b and c.

Yesterday, I allowed a seed of mistrust lie in my heart and I know its because of the things I have refused to deal with from the past. Daddy, help me not to allow that seed germinate. Great thing about this process is not just the giving up of things you don't want in your system but taking in things that you do want. The fruit of the Spirit is love and Your word says we should love one another, deeply and sincerely to fulfil the call of Christ on our lives. Dear God, please be my guide and shield. This heart was not created to hold on to resentment and anger but to give love. My life was created to be a reflection of You. Help me Daddy to always say what needs to be said but to speak all truth in love.

Help me weed out bitterness and envy from my life. Tired of my 'woe is me' song lately. Please help me. My heart cries out to You. I believe in the transforming power of your love. You took Simon the flake and make him Peter the rock. At the cross we can drop our sin clad lives and receive righteousness, peace and joy. I want my life to be a true reflection of You. Lord it isn't about accumulating silver and gold but living and fulfilling purpose.

God thank You for being 'honesty' in our relationship. For showing me things about myself that You do not like. Not to condemn me but that I might be saved. Thank you for this season in my life, for the grace for this season. Thank You for strength in this season, thank you for joy in this season. Do what You alone can and may your awesome name always be glorified. May I always find rest in You. Now and always.

In Jesus name. So be it.

Much love

ZoeB

Open and Honest

Dear Lord thank You. I'm so glad and blessed that I was in church yesterday. Pastor's message really spoke to my heart. Lately, it seems that all I can see around me is disorder, just as it was in creation. I call to mind the walls of Judah that had been destroyed and the sinking feeling Nehemiah must have had as he purveyed the walls. But You are not intimidated by the size of the problems and challenges I face. You did not stagger at the chaos present in the Beginning and I know You are definitely not overwhelmed now.

I know Your Word tells me to be anxious for nothing but prayerful about everything and that those who know their God are strong and do exploits. But I am weak, I feel like I have been buffeted by trials and tribulations on every side. It seems the battles just line up back to back. I have been weary because I have not waited on You. I haven't hidden in You as my refuge, haven't kept You as my refuge and shield. I did faint in the day of adversity, indicative that my strength was small.

All, including myself have sinned and fallen short of your glory. Your glory is how You intended for us to live. I know I have Lord but again I ask for your mercy. I want to be intimate with you again. Fall in love with you again, walk the line with You again. Today I just want to be honest about where I am and what I feel. You know and see all things anyway. I'm hurt, I'm tired and I'm angry. I'm hurt about the things that have happened* . Daddy I know that I shouldn't keep all this hurt and pain inside of me, its toxic and affecting me in so many ways yet I don't know what to do. A voice says 'Talk to me about it, tell me where it hurts.' It hurts deep inside, so deep that I don't know if I really want to reach inside and get to it because I don't know what else I'm going to find in there. Daddy, I believe that You have the power to transform lives, to turn things around and bring about a good change.

I commit them into Your hands, they need You more than ever. They need You to be their strength, shield and exceedingly great reward. They need You to show them the way back home. I just realised my truth. That even if it was proved without reasonable doubt that You didn't exist, I would still believe in You (what sort of scientist am I then...lol!) Lord this is a right hot mess that only You can fix. Please help us and please help me. I know weeping endures for the night but Lord please let the morning not tarry for it comes with my joy.

Thank you for always listening.

*I want to be as open in my prayers as I can but some issues involve other people and so I will not always give details. The point of this is not so much about the actions but the feelings. I hope you understand. Also the prayers in this series do not reflect where I am right now, by His grace I am in a very different place : )

Much love

ZoeB

Thanksgiving..

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

Psalm 150:6

Dear Lord thank You for allowing me see this day. For Your goodness and faithfulness, for keeping me alive. There is so much on the inside that I would really love to let go of but dear Lord as always I ask for your grace to stay on this journey to the end. It is a new day, I can hear the birds singing and I know I should be thankful.

Your Word says 'let everything that has breath praise the Lord.' Truth is at this moment, I don't feel like I have anything praiseworthy about but that is not actually truth, because despite everything, I know I can still say 'Thank you I am alive.' The Word doesn't say 'Let everything that has breath and FEELS LIKE, praise the Lord.' So I will praise You with every fibre of my being. I will praise You and give You thanks. For all you do and all you will continue to do.

Lord please keep me in this attitude today. One of thanksgiving, one that doesn't dwell on what has gone wrong or what is going wrong but one that dwells on your truth. I am comforted by Your word. In the beginning, the earth was without form and void, darkness on the face of the deep and yet despite the chaos you  said 'Let there be light' and there was light. I'm grateful that You have the power and can shine light in the darkest of circumstances.

Pray I hold on to this word through my day.

Remain blessed

ZoeB

Prayers in the Valley...

Wow! How much I have missed blogging. How has everyone been? This post is dedicated to my baby sister @doshix for your constant support, encouragement and kicks (in a good way) to return. And return I have.

It always surprises me when people ask me why I like to pray. Truth is its that its more that I just have to pray not that I like to...lol! Truth is that there have been periods when I have found it difficult to pray, when I haven't felt like and when I haven't wanted to either. Truth is prayer is a lot more than what we think it is and sometimes a lot less too.

I write most of my prayers. If you've followed this blog for any period of time I'm sure you'll know that already.  Prayers in the Valley are prayers I have written over a period of time. They aren't polished, they don't reveal deep truths, the only thing I can say about them is that they are sincere. Prayer is talking to God, nothing more and nothing less and I am on a journey towards a place I call 'Authentic Christianity.' Christianity doesn't say this is the end to all your problems or that there always be laughter, what Christianity says is that 'no matter what happens, you don't have to face it alone.' Its easier to offer prayers of praise and thanksgiving for the goodness of God in our lives but a balanced Christianity knows that the Cross and grave precede the resurrection.

My prayer is that they bless each and everyone reading this, encourage them that no matter how personal the struggle, you are not alone. I have really missed being here, not just writing and reading comments but being part of my blog family.

I am looking forward to 2012. Everything it has to offer, mountains and valleys, sunshine and rain.

Happy New Year.

Remain blessed and highly favoured

ZoeB

iPray Fridays: I never expected

"I never expected to see your face and God has allowed me to see your children"

Genesis 48:11

'For surely there is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off' 

Proverbs 23:18

/ek-spek-tey-shuhn/ : a thing looked forward to, a prospect of future good or profit


Jacob was shown his son's robe with blood on it. He was told his son must be dead. It was true that it was his son's robe, the blood on it was as real as blood goes. No CSI in those days to test if the blood was human or not...but yet despite his 'good' evidence, his son was not dead. He never expected to see his son's face again...and yet God allowed him not only to see his son but his son's sons. 


Surely, there is an end and our expectation shall not be cut off in Jesus name. We all have expectations. We expect a salary from the boss at the end of the month, we expect service from the utility company when our bills are paid, most single people expect to get married, couples trying for a baby expect to get pregnant, pregnant couples expect to have a baby within a period of time. Its something that hasn't happened yet but we look forward to it happening. 


Jacob expected to see Joseph grow from a boy to a man and yet all he got was a blood stained robe, evidence to him that his expectation had been cut off and short. What is the evidence that you have before you today? The evidence that tells you that your expectation will be or has been cut short? Bring it before the altar in prayer today. Let those dreams live again, God always has a purpose and a plan. Joseph may be 'lost' in a strange man's land for 13 long years but your expectation shall not be cut short in Jesus name. Don't give up, stay praying! This just encouraged me.


Let's pray together! Click Comments!


ZoeB

iPray Fridays: Works of my hands

May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us yes, establish the work of our hands.

 Psalm 90:17

I'm so excited about an iPray Friday today...it feels like its been a very, very long time. I was going to pray about jobs because this is an area where I and a few friends need a testimony but I decided to look at it in a different way...looking at the bigger picture. The works of my hands. There aren't specific prayer points about jobs in the Bible but we know that God delights in us making profit. I still believe that children of God were created for more than just a job. We must all work and we all have been blessed by God with unique talents, skills and abilities that we may make profit from and use to the glory of God. I just don't want any job to keep body and soul together..I want to be a blessing in any organisation I find myself in and also be blessed by them. In this season I'm also praying for God to open my eyes to those abilities that I possess that I can use for His glory and that I can also turn into cash.


We take too many things for granted, our writing skills, our culinary skills, our organisational and communication skills. Dear Lord, open our eyes that we may see, may your favour rest upon us, establish the works of our hands..


So today, pray in your own words about the works of your hands, what do you want God to do for you and through you while you are here? Click comments and join us in prayer!


Let's pray together..

iPray Fridays: iTestify

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say this— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty,and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.....

Psalms 107: 1-15

....They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Revelations 12:11

Hello people,

Thank God its another iPray Friday and we are here to see it. Chineke Imela. Ose Baba, Nagode Yesu. Today's iPray is about testifying to the Lords goodness in our lives. Sometimes we think we need a 'big' testimony before we share it. Just like any relationship, learning to appreciate what we think are the 'little' things make room for even bigger things to happen. We too often take our breath for granted. I testify today that I am alive, I am still in the battle, I have not finished the race but I am still running. Its a marathon and not a sprint..I have stumbled but not out. The setback is for my step up and I am not taking no for an answer.

So today is Testimony Friday..has the Lord been good to you? This week, this month, this year...to the members of your family? You don't need to close a multi million pound deal to testify....testify of His faithfulness to you. Look forward to hearing from you. Click comments!

Let's pray together.

iPray Fridays: Jehovah Rapha

He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

Exodus 15:26

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

Malachi 4:2

/heal·ing/ [hee-ling]:  growing sound; getting well; mending. (Dictionary.com)

I love the sound of that..growing sound, getting well, mending. This is God's desire for us that we be made well. I'm sure each and every one of us knows someone who could do with God's healing touch today. Today we make a decision to stand in the gap for them. If you don't you can pray for me (my bank account needs healing...lol!). When Jesus came to earth, He was moved with compassion..I can't recount how many times He said 'Rise up and walk' or 'Be healed' or 'Be opened'. Today we carry the power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead within us so we too cry out and say 'Rise up and walk', 'Be healed' and 'Be opened'.
 
Today I want us to go deeper, for some of us we need healing on the inside..there is nothing physical about our ailment but we still need that touch from God. He is willing and able..there is nothing He cannot do. No, I don't know why sometimes we pray and it seems like there is no answer. Only God knows that...I will still pray anyway. I remember asking my mum why Elisha died from an illness and yet his dry bones raised a man from the dead. Only God knows that...I will still pray anyway.
 
iPray...will you?
 
Remain blessed and highly favoured. Our God still answers prayer.
 
N.B Feel free to use the comments to write down your prayers, anonymously if you prefer in case you want to mention cases by name. God sees your heart and He knows who and what you are praying about. Remember to thank Him in advance and share your testimonies too.
 
Another important point that just came to me...there is a difference between health and healing. To the man by the pool, Jesus said after his healing '...Go and sin no more'...for some of us its 'Go and exercise more' or 'Go and change your diet' or 'Go and rest a little'...we are spirits that live in bodies. Our spirits are eternal, our bodies are not. Ask God for the grace to take the very best care of your body that you can. It is well.

iPray Friday: Simply believe..

Thank God for another iPray Friday. One of the most beautiful things for me about blogging is the community family that I have now become a member of. I have aunties, uncles, brothers and sisters. Now when I say 'friend' my family asks me 'real friend' or 'computer friend'..lol! Today I'm excited not just because its iPray Friday but because our very own Professor (LDP) is a guest blogger and will be leading prayer. I haven't known him very long but I'm grateful that men like him still exist on this earth! I'm sure you've read his blog (if you haven't, where have you been???). Aburo, ese gan, I have been blessed by reading and I'll be so grateful if you would consider passing this way quite often. Be blessed as you pray.. 

"Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me" - Acts 27:25

I have come to discover that the lives of men are shaped by what they believe. In other words, you and I are what we believe. Miracles have happened in the lives of some people simply because they just would not give up on what they believe. Likewise, some have died when they perhaps should not have, simply because they had believed that it’s time to ‘go’. Just as our thoughts governs what our lives would look like, so does what we believe, shape our eventual destination. If so, I think it is very important to be conscious of what we think about because our thoughts shapes our beliefs and like the words of my Dad, “what you believe is what you will eventually become.”

Paul amidst a great storm, stood up and said "...I believe God..." I remember listening to one of the survivors of a recent terrorist attack - he said; “immediately the first bomb sounded, everyone started to make calls: Husbands calling wives, children calling parents, parents calling their children, friends calling friends, partners calling associates all because of the great storm” - thank God for technology. How wonderful would it be if someone stood up and said "Ladies and gentlemen, be of good cheer, I believe what was told me that, “with long life He will satisfy me and show me His salvation"

Someone said, the heart of the matter is a matter of the heart. The heart of existence lies in being conscious of the significance of what my heart put its seal on. It’s high time we stopped believing the economic forecasts on CNN, CNBC or BBC. We should start believing the 'Kingdomnomic forecasts' we hear on the church pulpit every Sunday because Heaven and Earth shall pass away but only God's word will endure forever. Listen to me, the God we serve is not a God of the news, He is a God of the new. He does new things everyday! So, start shaping your life wisely; on the word of God and not on forecasts from experts. Start believing words like these...

"For my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" - Phill 4:19

"The blessings of the LORD, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it" - Prov 10:22

"God has blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" - Eph 1:3

"I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" -

Ps 16v8

"I shall be the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath" - Deut 28:13

"when men are saying there is a casting down, then I shall say there is a lifting up..." Job 22:29

"A thousand shall fall by my left, ten thousand by my right hand, they shall not come near me" -

Ps 91v7

...And many more (wish time and space would permit).

I would like to thank ZoeBeliever for this wonderful opportunity to be a blessing to people’s lives - something I always look forward to. May God continue to shower upon you grace to fulfil His purpose in destiny in Jesus’ name. You are a blessing :)

SHALOM!

iPray Fridays: Reclaiming the Priesthood

But you are a chosen people, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the HIGH CALLING of PRIESTLY WORK, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

1st Peter 2: 9-10 (NIV, The Message)

Awimayehun, you are the One who never goes back on your word. Father I give you praise and magnify your name for you are worthy of all praise. Another Friday is here, the first in the second half of this year and I am alive and well, finding myself before the throne of grace to obtain mercy in the time of need. I am so special. Daddy, thank you for everything, for rain and sunshine, for summer and winter. For good food and good friends, thank you for direction, thank you for closed doors for if all doors had been opened we wouldn't have known which one was the right one.

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to WORK and REBUILT the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.

Nehemiah 3:1

Father you spoke through your son, telling us to rise up and take up our calling, our royal priesthood. Hmm, I'd always thought priesthood  was reserved for clergy folk, those with pulpits, those with sheep but Lord you have shown us through your word that in this new Covenant we have via the blood of your son, we are all priests and you have given us a mission in your house to the Body and outside to the world. Lord, forgive me for abandoning my calling to pursue my own interests like the Levites in the time of Nehemiah or those in the time of Haggai who thought it not important to build the house of the Lord. Father, forgive me for I know I have been so distracted from Kingdom work as I tried to put my life 'back in order' but You created me, You chose me, You called me to be a priest, You know the purpose for my life. My prayer is just like Paul's to be crucified with you, that I no longer live but Christ lives in me.

Daddy, the priests were different from the congregation of the Israelites because they had been ordained by you for a special task. They lived by a different set of rules for they were to distinguish between the holy and the common. Father, these days I know that I easily fall sway to trying to 'blend' in with my surroundings instead of recognising my priest hood as one that is set apart. Forgive me for not making pleasing you my highest priority. Lord, the priests stood in the gap between You and Israel, to make atonement for their sins. Priesthood is not about being recognised but about service. Instill a servant's heart in me O Lord in the mighty name of Jesus.

Father today I ask for the grace to honour and respect my priesthood. To realise that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit and being a priest is not a part time job, that being a priest is something I am and not something I do. I am a priest, 24 hours of the day, 366 days of the year.Father, for the priests, You were their inheritance. I pray as Paul prayed 'to know the hope to which You have called me, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints and Your incomparably great power at work in us who believe.' The calling of the priesthood is one of awesome responsibility because it is for life but Lord I know your grace is more than sufficient. You have set me a mission and I shall fulfill it in the mighty name of Jesus. I separate myself from the distractions of this world and ask for renewed focus daily to fix my eyes on that high calling of God in Christ.

I am reclaiming my priesthood, I allow You to change my wardrobe, to take off the filthy garments of the old nature as you did for Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3) and receive new garments, the garments of purity. I receive a new turban, that of holiness to the Lord. Father, help me to walk in in your ways and keep your requirements because in these last days, we can no longer afford to have business as usual. It is time for your children to reclaim their priesthood, rebuild the altars and present a pleasing sacrifice, the sacrifice of our wills.

Thank you Father, thank you Lord. I pray for those who have not yet come into a relationship with you. Priests are born, in the Old Covenant via Levi, in the New through the blood of your Son. I pray that they come to the knowledge of your Way, that the seed of the Word of God sown by many witnesses will find a receptive place in their hearts and bear much fruit in the mighty name of Jesus. Thank you my God and my King in Jesus name.

I am a Priest of the Most High God, anointed and consecrated for service.

iPray Fridays: More grace

Hmm, I'm excited. Today I have a guest blogger leading prayer. She's a new blogger but I've known her since the day she was born 'x' years ago. Lol! She's none other than VirtuousKelly, please show her some blogville love on her blog! I'm excited because I know Ms. Kelly is passionate about prayer...I'm excited when I see young people passionate about God and committed to developing their prayer lives. Thanks darling for doing this. I pray that as your name signifies, you will always have a reason to praise and thank God for the wonderful things He has done and will continue to do to and through you in Jesus name. Amen.

If you would like to send in a prayer (or request) on any topic to be shared on iPray Fridays, please send me an email, amarasviewonstuff@yahoo.com. This is a time to rebuild our altar of prayer. Praying without ceasing. Our mission is that we are so excited about prayer that Thank God it's Friday becomes Thank God it's iPray Friday...Amen.

Prayer Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 12: 9-10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I thank you Jesus for such an opportunity to dwell in your presence. I thank you Lord for such an opportunity to share your word through various mediums of communication. I thank you Lord for giving Zoe Believer insight on coming to you every Friday publicly to table our requests to you according to your word in Philippians 4:6. I thank you Lord because you are awesome and will show yourself strong and mighty in our lives always.

Father we thank you for the gift of life because many times we take it for granted and forget that you are the giver of it all. From the sun that shines in the morning, for the air that we breathe, for the rain that falls on the earth, for the stars that beautify the skies and for the moon that gives us peaceful light. Father we thank you for all these things.

We thank you Lord because irrespective of what happens around us, be it tribulations or hardships or the troubles of this world, you have always shown us that your grace is sufficient for us. Even at times when we are weak in spirit you have sent us the Holy Spirit to be a comforter to comfort us in all situations. For this we are forever grateful. Where will we be had it not been for your grace and your mercy? Many of us would have been cast down, broken and battered but You, Ancient of Days, found us worthy by dying on the cross on our behalf in order to give us this grace that is all sufficient. That is why we call you Almighty El Shaddai: The All Sufficient God.

You have left us scriptures of encouragement to help us through every storm we face: In times when we feel we are beset by stagnation you have given us Proverbs 4:18:

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

When we feel there is dryness, You have given us Isaiah 43:19:

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert

and streams in the wasteland.

In times when we are beset my burdens and need a word You have given us Jeremiah 33:3:

 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

Father we thank you. Because we can go on and on taking scriptures from your word which shows us that your grace is ever sufficient. That in our weaknesses your power is made evident. Your awesomeness is shown through all generation. So to this we thank you because in every situation we find ourselves in we will rejoice and be glad because we have a God who is working on our behalf and making everything work together for our good. Give us the grace and ability to keep pressing on, to keep looking forward and up to the author and finisher of our faith even if we are thrown into the wilderness. Bring us out of it all as better and stronger people in the faith.

Our Miracle worker, our mountain remover, our ever present help in times of trouble, our deliverer, our way maker, our invincible God, our God who fetches water with a basket to disgrace the bucket, our magnificent warrior, lily of the valley and rose of Sharon: We thank you because you are doing things for us which ears have not heard and eyes have not seen. We thank you because your grace is sufficient and that in our weaknesses your power is resting in us and makes us strong and victorious.

To this we give you all the glory, honour and praise. Thank you because you are more than able. To this we have prayed in Jesus name.

iPray Friday: Days of the Spirit

It is my desire to encourage us to walk towards developing intimacy with the Father. Intimacy comes about as a result of spending time with someone, one on one, in spite of our busy schedules and commitments, letting the person know that hey life is busy but You mean everything to me. iPray Fridays is about making time to develop our prayer lives. Prayer is communicating with the Father, talking to Him and hearing from Him. iPray Friday is like having a date night every week. I pray that an army of warriors is raised that will truly change their world, not with swords or arms but on their knees. Today's prayer is based on a message I listened to in Glory House on Wednesday....these are indeed days of the Spirit!

"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."  Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly

Joel 2: 12-13, 15

Dear Father, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We approach your throne by the blood of Jesus which speaks of mercy and grace. We thank You for the awesome privilege of being considered as your sons and daughters for we know it is not by our own works lest we should boast but by your grace which is always sufficient for us in the time of need. Indeed this prayer was to declare your word of the outpouring of the Spirit but we cannot ignore the instructions that you have given us. Daddy, today I ask your forgiveness for jumping the gun, for not following your principles, for going my own way and expecting to show up on that path of disobedience I have carved for myself.
Today I declare that I will return to you with all my heart, I need your grace. I return to you in fasting, letting go of those things I think my flesh cannot do without, I return to you with mourning, true repentance for disobedience evidenced by a genuine desire and willingness to return to you to direct my paths. I distance myself from outward displays of repentance and I submit myself to the work you are doing on the inside of me, where no one notices but you know everything. Daddy, I return to you for you are gracious and compassionate.

Father, I consecrate myself once again to rise up to the challenge you have set for me. You cannot give me more than I can bear, I give you praise and magnify you for you are worthy.

The LORD will reply to them: "I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. SURELY THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS..the trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches, "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm, my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. THEN YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM IN ISRAEL, THAT I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD AND THAT THERE IS NO OTHER, never again will my people be shamed"

Joel 2: 18-27

Daddy, we are asking for days of the Spirit. Your word shows enough evidence that the days of the Spirit come with transformation of our circumstances and situation. I love you my Father for being a good Father, source of wisdom. You have told us what to do and now you have shown us what You will also do in return. I thank you because in my month of good change, you are doing great things. Father from today I begin to walk in a new season. This is my Happy New Year, before I walked in the days of the flesh where I could only believe and thus receive what my physical senses could achieve but now I step into the days of the Spirit, evidenced by wonders. Miracles that can only be explained by the statement 'It has to be God.' Daddy, that was your word to me this year that it would be an 'It just has to be God year.' I run with that prophecy in this new season in Jesus name. Thank you for crowning my God directed efforts with success. The days of toiling are over! Thank you for the showers, thank you for restoration of what has been lost, I am indeed glad and I rejoice. Thank you Lord for turning things around for my good and for my favour in Jesus name.

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth...And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls

Joel 2:28-32 

Thank you Lord, thank you for the opportunity to pray from your word. Lord, you said after these things you would pour out your Spirit on 'all flesh.' Thank you Lord because this includes me, today I desire a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit that I may remain in tune with your plans and desires in this season. For the Spirit of God knows the mind of God and reveals it to believers. Daddy, let these days of the Spirit that I am walking into be evidenced by prophecy; declaring your word concerning situations which is truth and rejecting the facts that the world has given us. I will arise and shine, regardless of the economic climate. My sisters and brothers will be blessed with the fruit of the womb, regardless of physical limitations. Every work that my hand finds to do, I will do with excellence because I am working by the Spirit and no longer leaning on my own understanding. Halleluyah. Father, I am dreaming like Joseph of the things to come, of your purpose and desires for me. I am seeing visions, visions of God, visions concerning my purpose on this planet, my home, my children, my business, my career. Father, I thank you because I have chosen to be part of the army that you will use to work your wonders in the last days. Thank you Holy Spirit. Father, I'm ready, to take on the garment of a servant.For you said you will pour out your Spirit on those with a servant's heart. Father, I'm calling unto you. There are so many things to be done, don't even know where to start! Thank you Lord, for a new calendar. Every day now is a day of the Spirit. Amen and Amen.

Daddy, I pray for your church, the ecclesia, those who have been called out to tune into these days of the Spirit. You said everyone who calls unto you shall be saved and there would be deliverance in your house. Daddy, today I am calling unto you. I decree and declare that in these days of the Spirit that the yokes will be broken, every physical and mental bondage broken. Issues that we have been bringing before you as we return to you, wait on you, fast and pray we will begin to testify of our deliverance in the mighty name of Jesus. Thank you for these days of the Spirit.

iPray Friday: Except by prayer and fasting

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer (and fasting) "

Mark 9:29 (NIV)

WHEN you fast...

Matthew 6:16a

Thank you Heavenly Father for a new day and a new opportunity to share from your Word. You speak, I type. I bless and magnify your name in the mighty name of Jesus.

I love being a believer! If I'm being honest, sometimes more than others but as a whole I wouldn't exchange being one for anything else. This is because I am in a dynamic relationship with my Father and my King. This year I am making a concious decision to draw even closer to God, to know His ways, to seek His paths and after making a specific prayer request, I felt the Lord tell me 'except by prayer and fasting'. It's funny, we pray and ask God for Daniel's wisdom and understanding, Esther's courage, Elijah's fervency in prayer plus the ability to be used as a conduit for miracles, to be able to understand the deep mysteries of the Holy Scriptures like Paul and yet we rarely take the time to study their lives, making observations of the decisions they made, their response to the trials they faced and then 'go and do likewise'.

For the believer, fasting is not an option! In fact, for the 21st century believer, fasting is an essential. We are at war, both within and without. The natural man is daily warring against the spirit, the world is warring against believers and sadly enough believers against believers (Father, forgive me for I know this ought not to be so!). We are in dire need of the anointing which empowers us to go forth and fulfil the Comission given to us by the Father, my dears we need to go back to the principal things.

Why should we fast? We should fast because Jesus said so, because truly there are some things can only be dislodged when you wield the double edged sword of fasting and prayer together. Fasting lets both Heaven and Hell know that you mean business. That it's no longer business as usual, no more Sunday, Sunday tonic. There's something that you feel right in the recesses of your spirit and you're not budging until it comes to manifestation. Jesus said 'when you fast' not 'if you choose to fast' or 'if it's convenient for you to fast' or 'if per chance you may want to fast' but 'when you fast'.

Why should we fast? We should fast because all the Biblical characters we love and admire did so too. Moses fasted for 40 days and when he returned, people could not even bear to look at his face for the glory that emanated from him. Even Jesus fasted for 40 days before he opened any blind eye or healed any lame person. Perchance, it was during Esther's 3 day fast that she received the revelation about how to deal with Haman! There are too many examples to give but I pray over the course of sharing on The 10 day challenge we may be able to share more.

Fasting is not about manipulating God, its not about making you seem 'superspiritual', in short Jesus said when you fast, put some MAC on (guys, I just spoke in tongues there!!). Fasting is about dulling your natural senses and sharpening your spiritual ones. Fasting is more than giving up of food, its about 'replacement therapy', replacing a desire for earthly and human wants and needs with the Father's. In the words of Jentzen Franklin, it's the private discipline that brings about public reward.

I'm getting excited, are you??

To be continued, watch this space!!

"Fasting with a pure heart and motives, I have discovered, brings personal revival and adds power to our prayers. Personal revival occurs because fasting is an act of humility. Fasting gives opportunity for deeper humility as we recognize our sins, repent, receive God's forgiveness, and experience His cleansing of our soul and spirit. Fasting also demonstrates our love for God and our full confidence in His faithfulness."--

Bill Bright

The 10 Day Challenge: Ten times better!

Father, I thank you for your word because through it, we learn how we may experience ZOE, the abundant life. I love reading about Joseph and Daniel, reason being that they 'ministered' without necessarily having a 'ministry'. So many times, some of us think that we can only minister from a church building or even so that ministry ends when we're through with our 'reasonable service' with fellow believers. These two great men encourage me in knowing that my lifestyle is the biggest sermon I can preach and that I can minister from anywhere. Joseph didn't go to church for over a decade yet he ministered as a slave and in jail. Daniel wasn't a priest and he ministered in palaces and even from a lions den! Halleluyah! God can use you where you are today, you don't have to be international or incorporated, just willing.

But Daniel RESOLVED not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself in this way

Daniel 1:8

I love Daniel because he's another shining example of being useful in the place of affliction. Daniel and friends had been taken into exile in Babylon, separated from family, tasked with learning a new language, tasked with learning new literature, this they acquiesced to but what they absolutely refused was to learn new customs and traditions that were CONTRARY to the will of God! Reminds me of Jesus words about "being in and not of this world." Yes, we are in the world, but we have all been given an assignment to go out and preach the gospel. You can't preach to the unsaved in tongues, we must speak a language they understand but we must not adopt their customs. I really needed this because I know I really have to resist the urge to 'blend' into my surroundings. Adapting to your environment does not entail adopting their way of life. Selah!

As I began to seek the face of God for answers and direction, concerning some challenges I'd been facing I was always led back to Daniel Chapter 1. I would read it and mentally assent however my main prayer focus was on v. 17,

'To these four young men, God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds'

But before 17, comes 11, 12, 13...I'm sure you get my drift and it is in those passages that  Daniel and co. issue a 10 day challenge (Thanks Pastor Jamal Bryant!) . See v.12 

Please test your servants for TEN DAYS: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink..Then compare....So he agreed and tested them for 10 days

I'd conveniently gloss over this Scripture but I believed the Spirit was leading me to do this. To give up my natural 'kings delicacies' for 10 days and replace it with His 'Kingdom delicacies' for 10 days. Hmm, would I say it was and still is hard because I'm still going through it. No, I'm not only eating vegetables and water but I have chosen to give up some things to focus on deepening my relationship with the Master. Is it easy? No! Do I have all the answers? Not yet! Have I fallen? Yes! Has it been rewarding? Triple yes. I thank God for my accountability partner (God bless you darling) because she has done a great job, keeping me on track spiritually and physically.

I want to issue this same challenge to you. Where are you now? Where do you want to be? What are you willing to give up to get there? In your relationship with God, what can you offer up as a sacrifice saying 'God, you know I would like to have this but I give it up to instead focus on my relationship with you?' Because truth is, it's not so much the giving up but the replacement (Holy Spirit I really need help with this). Its not so much not eating the kings meat but having vegetables and water instead. Its not so much turning off your favourite show but spending that extra hour in the Word, meditation and prayer.

The devil will come, he'll tell you that you don't need to do this, that you can't do this, if you fall he'll sing rubbish in your ears. If you expect him, you can prepare for him. Tell him this..

And at the end of the TEN DAYS, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food....the king talked with them and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah: so they entered the kings service....... he found them TEN TIMES BETTER

v.18-20

Talk to God more, depend on Him always, get someone to keep you accountable. I know this post is for someone else apart from me and that's why I wrote it. God has so many plans He wants to fulfill on earth but He needs willing vessels to do it. You don't need a title to be used by God. Are you ready for ten times better? The challenge has been issued, are you up for it?

Remain blessed and highly favoured

ZoeB

For Us who Believe

Happy Easter everyone! I've so missed blogging and I am grateful to be back. For me, sharing on this page is more than writing, its like fulfilling the purpose God created me for. Thank you Jesus. Someone sent a text message to me over the Easter break reminding me that as a believer, that just as the enemy never backs down on his attack I too should never back down on the attack as well. The Bible says if we faint in the day of adversity, it means our strength is small so rather than waiting for no adversity or asking that the cup be taken away we should always be praying for more strength.

Going through the Bible, especially the Pauline epistles (no, I'm still using the same Bible, just the books written by Paul) I realise how big a theme prayer is, there was hardly a letter Paul wrote where he did not include prayers for the saints. As believers, we need prayer, dare I say, more so than unbelievers. This is because our spirit man has been awakened, we have become born again and our spirits are in constant war with our flesh. As I go along, I pray to add more prayer points to this list but I have asked God for the grace to pray over these points regularly because they are so pertinent to the success of my Christian walk. These have been obtained from Paul's letters to the Ephesians and Colossians and full text can be found in the 1st chapters of both books.

For Us who believe

• Father enable me to be filled with the knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
• Father teach me to walk worthy of you, fully pleasing you
• Father help me to be fruitful in every GOOD WORK and increase in the knowledge of you
• Father enable me to be strengthened with all might according to your glorious power
• Father help me to learn to be patient and longsuffering with JOY
• Father enable me to give thanks unto you who has counted me worthy to partake in the inheritance of the saint
• Father I ask for the spirit of wisdom and revelation that enables me know you better
• Father enlighten the eyes of my heart in order that I may know the hope to which you have called me
• Father enable me to avail of the incomparable great power available to us who believe
• Father I ask that you strengthen me with power through your Spirit in my inner man that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith
• Father I pray and ask that I may be rooted and established in love
• Father I especially ask for your help and grace to DAILY put off the old self with its desires and be made NEW in the attitude of my mind, to put on a NEW SELF which has been created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
• Father help me to get rid of ALL bitterness, anger, rage, brawling, slander and malice
• Father enable me to be like you, to be kind and compassionate, forgiving my brothers and sisters as you have forgiven me

Keep praying, these days the enemy is not resting. We should not be resting either. What I have learnt in the past few weeks is that not all battles should be fought alone. God has always brought our way people who can stand in the gap and intercede for us when we get so tired. No battle is fought with a single soldier. I think I had allowed pride to prevent me from reaching out but I'm learning, I'm growing and I know I'm winning.

Please keep my family in your prayers. My uncle passed away on Thursday morning aged 41. He had been sick but we all believed he was getting better and responding to treatment so its been quite a shock. The prayer is that we all are aware of God's peace and love. The morning he died my mother says she had a dream where she saw him looking so happy and well. She said he looked strong just as he had before he got sick. For some reason when she woke up she knew he was dead. I believe she saw him as he is now because I believe he has gone to a place of no more tears, no more crying, no more sickness and no more pain. Uncle C, we miss you. I believe you are resting in the bosom of the Lord.

Remain blessed and highly favoured.

And we still pray

Hi all,

I'm so sorry it's been so silent here. Thanks Mimi, Solomonsydelle and Patrina for checking up on me. I think iPray was for me, to build strength for what was coming next! There cannot be a testimony without a test but I thank God because in recent times I am learning about what He means when He says He is a FAITHFUL God. So, I'm kinda back.

I cried out to God for HELP; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.........Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will REMEMBER the deeds of the Lord; yes I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will MEDITATE on ALL your WORKS and consider all your mighty deeds....You are the God who PERFORMS MIRACLES; you display your POWER among the people.

Selected verses from Psalm 77

I can so relate to the words of this psalmist, he may as well have been writing from the journal of my heart. After a recent event, I threw my hands up to God and asked Him if after a season of prayer, that was my own breakthrough! This is me with my finite vision asking Infinity if He knows what He's doing. I love God because He gives us room to ask questions, not to doubt His power but to reaffirm our faith. He said that the same power that was available to raise Lazarus from the dead was also available to heal him when he was sick but He is a God of purpose and He always knows what He is doing. I just need to learn to trust that.

In recent times, I have struggled with doubt, wondering how God can take me from A to B. Thinking about the gap between where I am and where I 'supposedly' am supposed to be. Looking at unticked prayer requests and those requests that have been transferred from one prayer season to the other, remembering pressing needs that need 'urgent' attention. I tend to do that, to look at the storm and the waves, forgetting that Jesus is in the boat. God asked me to recall His mighty deeds of old.

No matter what happens, I am one that can say God has been good to me, God has been GREAT to me. He has blessed me, sometimes I don't even know how I'm able to deal with things that come my way but I know that it has nothing to do with me just my Heavenly Father, opening doors of favour and pouring abundant showers of blessing on me. God, I know you have been good to me! As I recall the faithfulness of the Lord, I am encouraged daily. God is calling me to a higher place, like my Pastor says, we should be 'supernaturally natural'. He means that as children of God, we are different. We should be different, we have access to unlimited power, we are the ones who should speak to the storm, we are the one who can move mountains into the sea, we are the ones who the power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in. Halleluyah!

David said 'you are kings, but you act like mere men'. Lord, forgive me and help me. Open the eyes of my heart that I may see you. So, I must keep praying, like Elijah, I was overwhelmed by Jezebel and ran but now I have heard my God in the still small voice saying, ' I am here with you, I will never leave you or forsake you, obey my instructions and watch and see what I shall do in your life'. I just want to encourage anyone reading, please don't give up, no matter what it is. Don't give up on God, don't give up on His promises, don't give up on life, don't give up on your God given dream. At this point the walls of Jericho may look impenetrable, but keep obeying the Lord, keep your praise on.

The storms of life are INEVITABLE (I need to remember this!!!) meaning they are sure to happen, we need not be afraid for as I have come to learn, they come to reveal what we are building for what it is. The man who hears His commandments and OBEYS them is building with the storm in mind for after it all, He remains standing. Some buildings have recently been demolished in my life and I've asked God's help in rebuilding from the foundation, so that the next storm finds me well prepared because what I am building with God will stand the test of time.

Be encouraged, God has not forgotten about you. Keep praying, keep praising. It is well

To the One who is always Present
To the One who always understands
To the One who always provides
To the One who always shows mercy
To the One who is always faithful
To the One who always protects
I give praise, honour and adoration
Thank you for being The One

iPray: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving and Praise

Praise the LORD.Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power;praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. Psalm 150

Praising you
with every breath that I breathe
with every song that I sing
with every fibre of my being
with everything that is me
This is my prayer Lord

Thanking you
for who you are
for all that you do
for being OmniPotent
for your mercy and grace
I'm grateful Lord

Honouring you
because you are God
because you are above all
because there is none like you
because you deserve it
This is my prayer Lord

Adoring you
in the beauty of your holiness
in the splendour of your majesty
in the light of your glory
in the magnificence of your strength
It's an awesome privilege

Dear Daddy,

It's us again, saying a very big THANK YOU. Thank you Lord for 28 days where we were able to come before your throne of grace and pray. Thank you Lord for the gifts of prayer and intercession that we do not serve a god made of wood and stone but a LIVING God who reigns, rules and is interested in the affairs of His people. Thank you because you are a God who is both willing and able to do of His good pleasure. Thank you for being a source of every good and perfect gift.

Thank you for my brothers and sisters who were a part of this journey, who made it possible to happen, Father thank you because I know you have answered their prayers. Father, as they have prayed and interceded for others I thank you because you are meeting them at the point of their need.

Thank you for everything, Lord I ask for one more thing. I ask that in coming days, we remember that our God answers prayer, no matter what events come our way that we never forget the prayers we have made and we live in a sense of expectation. Thank you for the words you have spoken to us for they are spirit and they are life. We have breathe so we sing praises to you.

Please join me in giving thanks to the Lord today and ask God for the grace to live a thankful life.

I want to say a very BIG thank you to all the bloggers who joined me, guys this would not have happened without you. Thanks for responding to the call, thanks for everything. Your prayers sure have reached heaven and I know the answers are coming. We pray and He answers.

So thank you,

Cherub
ChiChi
Favoured Girl
Jaycee
Life of a stranger
Mimi
Patrina
Reverence
Rita
Simeone
WriteFreak
Tiera
Tisha

Also, thank you to everyone who joined us in prayer. God bless you. iPray doesn't end here, it's a lifestyle we all need to adopt. Pray, pray and pray even more.

So iPray, do you?

iPray: Confessions

Positive Confession II offered by Simeon

Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:9-10

Confessions are important for every believer. And as simple as it is for us to open our mouths and spew the words we need to know that the words need to come from within our spirit. When the mouth speaks from the contents of our hearts we cause change to start in the spirit realm. The Lord is your strength in Jesus' name.

In the name of Jesus, I declare that God is my Father and I have a right to fellowship with Him intimately. Fellowship with my maker is the distinguishing mark of my life. His Word strengthens and leads me to prosperity. I abide, rest in and trust the promises outlined in God's Word, and He manifests His goodness in my life. I am connected to my Father's power and I can do all things through the Anointed One and His Anointing that strengthens me.

Heavenly Father, I thank you that I have been granted a spirit of wisdom and revelation, and I have insight into your ways of doing things. I yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit for every decision I must make. My spiritual eyes are flooded with light. I know what to do in every situation I face; I am never lost when it comes to making the right decisions. Thank You that I am filled with the knowledge of Your will for my life and I make wise choices. I recognize your position before making any decisions, and I am willing to stop if You tell me to stop or go when You tell me to go. Because I acknowledge You, You direct my footsteps, and I remain in the perfect will of God for my life. Your Word is my final authority, and every choice I make lines up with it. I will not disregard the peace of God in helping me to make decisions. I align my life with your Word, and therefore, I will remain connected to Your best for my life.

Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest over my profession, and what I profess is the Word of God concerning favor over my life (Hebrews 3:1). The Lord helps me to guard the door of my mouth and trains me not to speak against His favor at work in my life (Psalm 141:3, AMP).I will not allow any corrupt communication to proceed out of my mouth. Instead, I will speak only that which is good, full of grace and edifying to others (Ephesians 4:29).As the righteousness of God, I declare that I am favorable in God's sight (AMP; Psalm 5:12; Proverbs 14:9).Like Joseph, I prosper wherever I go and in every situation I am in because the Lord is always with me, and preferential treatment is my portion. I am blessed and highly favored (Luke 1:28).I associate with those who are blessed and highly favored so that I may increase in every area of my life. I operate in integrity; as a result, I obtain favor from God (Proverbs 11:27; 12:2).I actively seek and live by God's wisdom; therefore, I am highly favored and esteemed in the sight of God and men (Proverbs 3:1-4; 8:33-35).I declare that God's favor promotes and causes me to increase daily (Esther 2:17; Psalm 75:6-7).The Lord takes pleasure in my total life prosperity (Psalm 35:27).Because I am God's "favorite," I prosper in every area of my life-spiritually, physically, financially, socially and mentally (3 John 2). Because the favor of God shields me, no sickness or disease has a right to live in my body (Deuteronomy 7:15; Psalm 5:12).Wealth and riches are in my house because I am empowered with His anointing and favor to draw wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18; Psalm 112:3).

Father, we thank You in advance for all You have done on our behalves. Like You, we have declared what will be and am committed to calling those things that be not as though they are. Right now we rejoice, and we are exceedingly glad that you have granted all we requested, while we yet speak. We will continuously speak faith-filled words, and allow every word and thought to confirm what we believe we have received, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Simeon

http://simeoneomobaba.blogspot.com

iPray: Day 26

A Prayer for Academics offered by Reverence

Dear heavenly father,

I Thank and praise you for the gift of education and academics. It’s a privilege and blessing to be able to learn and increase knowledge. We do not take that for granted.

I lift up those who are currently in an institution of learning. Grant us the strength and grace to carry on when things get tough, give us the wisdom to study smart and effectively. Bless us with motivation to be diligent in our academics. We confess that we cannot do this on our own and need Your help. Father, make us shining examples to our peers, let our light so shine that there will be no mistaking the fact that Your hand is upon us.

Father, I also lift up people who are facing financial hardship in school. Lord we know that education is not cheap but You are the source that never dries up. We pray that you meet every financial need according to Your riches in glory. We decree that scholarships and bonuses and tuition rebates will be our portion in the name of Jesus.

I especially come to you for those who are having a hard time right now and are considering giving up on their educational dreams. Your word says that you have not given us the spirit of fear, so Father we cast out every spirit of fear and anxiety, I speak boldness and peace into the lives of every one of us. We shall not be quitters, we will accomplish the dreams that you have placed in our hearts in the name of Jesus.

Finally Lord, even as you grant us all these desires, give us a spirit of humility and meekness and help us to always remember that every blessing comes from You and You alone. In Jesus Name amen!

Reverence
http://gllady.blogspot.com/

iPray: Day 25

A Prayer for Relationships offered by Favoured Girl


Prayer for Relationships

Thank You Father for we have the privilege of prayer. Thank You because we can come boldly to Your throne, and bring our requests to You without fear. Thank You because we can come directly to You, we don’t have to perform any special ceremonies. Thank You because we are confident that You hear us and You answer our prayers.

Our Heavenly Father, we thank You because you are the source of all we have and all we are. We praise You, dear loving Father because You are a God of Love. And You have poured Your love into our hearts by Your Holy Spirit. We thank You because You are our example of perfect love. We look up to You because You are a God of harmony, peace and love.

We praise you for the relationships that we can enjoy with each other. We thank you for marriages, courtships, friendships, sisterhood, brotherhood and all the various bonds that tie us together as Your children. We are grateful because You have given us family and friends and we are all a part of a whole. We praise you, in Jesus name.

'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'

Father, I thank you for the miracle of marriage. Indeed, it is a wonder, a gift, a privilege and a truly amazing part of your plan for us on earth. It is a miracle for two strangers to meet and feel a connection to each other that culminates in love and a goal of a lifetime spent together. Thank you because You are the architect of this idea and it is Your desire that our relationships and marriages prosper. It is Your desire that our marriages mirror the relationship that Christ has with His bride, the church.

Father, I pray for every married person. I pray that You will help us in showing Your love to our spouses. I pray that You will be the rock and the foundation in our homes. I pray that Your presence in our homes will be a guide for both husbands and wives. I ask that Your spirit will teach us to be humble in serving one another, loving one another and looking out for each other’s best interests. Teach us, Lord, to practice Your kind of love. Love that is patient and kind. Love that does not envy, does not boast and not proud. Help us to have the kind of love that is not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, that keeps no record of wrongs. Teach us to express the love that does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Empower us to show love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Help us to be wholly committed to one another, leaving no cracks for the enemy to come in. Help us to truly discover the joys of togetherness, and to enjoy every moment we live with our spouses. Help us to be strong in the face of challenges, to stick together through thick and thin. Help us to build solid homes and leave long-lasting legacies of faithfulness to our marriage vows. Let our homes and our marriages be havens of peace, in Jesus name.

I pray for those who are struggling, who are disillusioned, who are disappointed with their current experience of marriage. I pray for peace, Your peace to come into their hearts and into their situations. Lord, You know where it hurts. I pray for healing for the hearts of men and women who are hurting and wounded. I pray for reconciliation and restoration of joy, peace and love to into homes. I pray for a renewal of the love that seems to be lost, in Jesus name. I pray for homes that have been torn apart by infidelity, abuse and other issues. I pray for Your grace and Your peace to come into such situation and turn things around for the parties involved, in Jesus name.

Father, I lift up those who are not yet married, but are seeking their partners. Help us to be wise in our relationships and who we choose to share our lives with. I pray for the grace to be patient, and wait for Your perfect choice. Help us to keep close to You so that we know what Your perfect will for us is. For we know that You our heavenly Father, knows how to give good gifts to Your children. I pray that you bless those of us who are waiting, with the man/woman You have chosen for them. I pray that You will bring to us, the bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. I pray for you to help us to keep ourselves pure while we wait. Help us to guard our hearts and our minds, so that we do not allow external pressures to push us into making wrong choices. Let us always keep in mind, that it is better to remain in Your will, than rush into things that we may later regret. Give us ears that are sensitive to Your Spirit so we would know if we step out of Your will for our lives. Let us always, align our desires with what Your word says. And let us have reasons to rejoice soon, when we receive Your best for us. Let us have testimonies of Your goodness in our lives, when we obey You.

I pray for those who are not married, but currently involved in wrong relationships. I pray that You will open their eyes to see that You are not a God of second-best. You desire what is best for Your children. Give my sisters and brothers caught up in wrong relationships the grace and the strength to leave. To choose Your will over their flesh. Give them the grace to love themselves enough to stop lowering their standards. It is not easy, Lord, that’s why we need Your grace to overcome all kinds of temptations. Help us in our weaknesses, Lord, in Jesus name.

Thank You Father, because I know You always hear the prayers of Your children. As we offer up these prayers to You Lord, I’m grateful for the answers. May we see more and more relationships manifesting Your true love.

In Jesus Name, I pray.

Amen.


Bible references: Matthew 19 v 5, 1 Corinthians 13 v 4 – 7


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