“Prayer is a choice. For us to pray to give thanks, or to voice our questions and doubts shows that we are choosing to leave an opening in our spirits. Without this opening, there is no vessel, no place into which God can breathe.” ~Joanna Laufer
“Promises, though they be for a time seemingly delayed, cannot be finally frustrated…. the heart of God is not turned though His face be hid; and prayers are not flung back, though they be not instantly answered.” ~Timothy Cruso
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God,” (Mark 11:22, Holy Bible, King James Version). I called my car repair shop a few minutes after closing time. The recording advised me to call back during normal business hours. How disappointing! I called God in prayer and He answered. What comfort God brings! His business hours are timeless.
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Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the many times You’ve heard my prayers. In frightening times and in the stillness of the night, you are always there. Amen.
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Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
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“By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them…. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection” (Hebrews 11: 33 and 35). There is a popular notion about prayer which assumes that the thing asked for ought to be the object of faith. But the Bible tells us the only absolutes we can trust and be assured of are the character of God, His love, His will that we be conformed to His Son’s likeness and His sovereign control of the universe. If the thing we ask for is not given or it doesn’t happen, our faith may waver and even dissolve. But if faith latches on to the reality of God’s sovereignty; if it believes in the darkest storm that all things work together for good to them that love God, then faith itself becomes our victory regardless of the outcome!
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Prayer: Lord, help me to put my trust completely in You – to keep my shield of faith lifted high even when Your answer is no, or not yet or wait.
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Devotion by Anne Richardson
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“We must alter our lives in order to alter our hearts, for it is impossible to live one way and pray another”. -William Law
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“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Proverbs 8:17).
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Everybody knows that the early bird gets the worm. Department stores have utilized this theory with their “early bird specials.” They put specific items on sale from 6 a.m. in the morning until noon. Only those who make it to the store within that time frame can purchase the advertised item for the sale price. Sleepyheads will miss out on all the bargains.
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Although God is not a department store that operates only during certain hours, He does have his own “early bird” special. His Word promises that those who seek Him early, shall find Him. Early is not necessarily a specific time, but the act of seeking God first at the beginning of your day, whatever time your day begins. If you seek Him, you will find Him. And that is quite a bargain!
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Prayer: Lord, help me to seek first the Kingdom of God every day and in all that I do. I want You to have first priority in my life. I don’t want to miss out on anything special that You may want to do for me or through me during the course of my day. Thank you for helping me to seek you early, that I may find You! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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Devotion by Beth Dillon
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“I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.” —John Wesley
“Most men pray for power, the strength to do things. Few people pray for love, the quality to be someone.” -Robert Foster
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Joshua 9:14 from the Holy Bible, King James Version, “Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord.” The men of Israel unknowingly did business with deceitful men. Had they asked God’s opinion first, He would have warned them. But they didn’t ask and they suffered for it.
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I wonder how much easier life would be if we all learned to ask God’s opinion first.
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Think about it. God is everywhere. He sees everything. He knows everything. He loves us. He created us. He wants what’s best for us. Doesn’t it make sense to ask God what He thinks about a matter before choosing to do it?
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The men of Israel learned their lesson. The next time they needed to make a decision they asked God’s opinion, and they prevailed!
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Prayer: God, teach me to ask your opinion before making important decisions. Amen.
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Devotion by Debbie Simler-Goff