Tag: praying
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Why I Love Praying ‘All is Yours’
I don’t remember how or when it started, but at some point, I frequently began praying, “all is yours.” Many of my prayers are punctuated with this simple recollection. It’s a refrain that sticks with me because it so helpfully redirects my perspective. Remembering that all is the Lord’s helps me to… Acknowledge Acknowledging that…
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Who Do We Ask for Help?
Sometimes, when I feel particularly overwhelmed by problems of my own and others, I find myself wishing there was more I could do than pray. Prayer just doesn’t feel like enough. But when I recognize who it is that I am asking for help when I pray, I see how much better His help is…
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Believing the Best of God
Have you ever told someone a story, only to have them remind you they were there? Sometimes, while we’re talking, we forget to whom we are speaking: of course we remember their identity at a basic level, but we might also assume something of them inaccurately . . . like their presence or absence on…
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God’s Creative Answers to Prayer
A sweet friend of mine recently commented that God’s creativity is amazing- not just in nature but in the ways He does things, the ways He answers prayer. This is a picture of that. Over the years, I’ve prayed for a mentor. For deep friendships. For opportunities to encourage others in Christ. For my compulsion…
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A Testimony to God’s Faithfulness and Thank You to YOU
Do you know the old hymn “Up from Grave He Arose?” It’s one of my favorites, and when I am bursting with excitement and praise, I pump my arms and sing it loudly off-key. There has been much occasion for this silly display recently, even in the midst of the pandemic. A Call to Pray…
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Don’t Quit Praying When It’s “Over”
We pray before we eat. Before our days begin. Before we go to sleep. Often, we pray before big events and decisions. We pray as loved ones face difficulties. But we don’t have to stop there. We can keep praying after. God doesn’t say “cease praying” after the test results suggest the worst or the…
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Prayer Isn’t Always About Words
The Bible doesn’t give us one succinct definition of prayer. We read in various passages about people praying on their knees or standing up. Others pray out loud, some sing, and still others are silent. There are instances in which prayer petitions God, makes requests of God, or praises God. Numerous verses declare that God…
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Is This the Change You’re Looking For?
Having just traveled a few states to work in the summer heat, it was admirable how upbeat the youth were. Their mission trip involved hard work laboring to repair homes and make helpful upgrades. They spent a lot of time in one house rebuilding part of a damaged wall. Everything from measuring to cutting to…
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Marital Spats and God’s Plan (Giveaway)
**Giveaway details at the end of the post!** The day our premarital counseling workbook began addressing arguments, my husband and I were relieved. We have always been really good at arguing. It’s one of our unexpected spiritual gifts (ha!) We even told the pastor counseling us. He was surprised. Apparently, most couples get married believing…
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Facing the Big “What If”
I recently had the privilege of sharing a brief devotion with a bunch of teenage girls. Weeks in advance, when I asked the Lord what He might have me say, His answer was clear: “tell them they can pour it all out to me, they can always come to me.” The Lord never gives you…