Tag: prayer

encouragement, inspiration

Search Me, O God

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Search Me, O God

By Tammy Nicole Glover

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 KJV

Lord, search me. Such a simple prayer that has led to a lifetime of powerful implications. When I asked, I had no idea what would be found nor what to expect. I didn’t expect to see such a mess and I certainly didn’t expect such a painful and difficult process. I don’t know why, perhaps a combination of denial and foolishness. I also didn’t expect the process to begin so quickly. From the moment I got up from knees, the inspection began, and it hasn’t stopped.

Everyday there is something new found that needs to be cleaned, removed or refined. The light from God’s eyes searching my heart pierce deep. Searing through a lifetime of scar tissue. Deep roots of bitterness, anger, and fear are set ablaze. God’s all-consuming fire has begun a decontamination process that I could have never envisioned or taken on without Him. Not only is the Lord constantly searching and deep cleaning me, but He’s also healing and restoring me. Giving me correction and wisdom to keep me ever growing and maturing.

Yet through it all, I give Him praise. Not only has He shown me great mercy in answering my simple prayer, but great love in that He doesn’t desire that I perish, but I come to repentance, that I grow and mature. He has not forsaken the work of His own hands. He is perfecting it.

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Psalm 138:8 KJV

Take a listen below.

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Questions That Can’t Be Asked: A Prayer By Tammy Nicole Glover

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Heavenly Father,

I thank You for Your mercy and patience with me. As I sit beside my sister’s hospital bed, watching her fight for her life, I have questions but I can’t ask them. I know that You are able, faithful and good. You are a miracle worker and a way maker but I still have questions that I can’t ask. I know Your Word. I know the elements of faith but in this situation I have questions that I can’t ask.

If You, My Almighty God, would indulge me and allow me to ask, I would of course ask why. My sister gets up at 4:30 a.m. everyday to spend time praising You, praying for others and studying Your Word. I’m ashamed to say but sometimes I get annoyed by how loud she gets when she’s praising You. If this can happen to her, what am I in for? I would ask when is your miracle going to kick in. I would ask, why is it that even though I know how to pray confidently in Your Word, in this situation, sitting beside this hospital bed, my words stumble out or don’t come out at all. I got serious questions, Lord, but I can’t ask them.

I’m supposed to write this blog to encourage others who have questions that they don’t dare ask. I feel like I’m failing in this assignment. Lord, Your people, Your sons and daughters, Your beloved ones have questions that we can’t ask. All we know is that we look to You, the Most High, the Lord Almighty, for strength, comfort and wisdom. We seek Your voice, waiting to hear, “peace, be still,” in our storms.

Thank you, Lord, for hearing and answering our prayers.

“I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.” Psalm 120:1 NIV

 

 

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Time Stealer

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I take my prayer time very seriously. In that time, I’m restored. My tank is refilled with love and encouragement. I receive wisdom and clarity. Not to mention, all of the people I help by praying on their behalf.

Lately, I find that my precious prayer time is being stolen. The culprit: worry. Instead of focusing on a Mighty God, I find myself focusing on mounting problem. Instead of thanking God for His blessings, I’m trying to find solutions to every real and perceived crisis that keeps popping up. When I realize what’s happening, I cast my cares on to the Lord but foolishly I pick them right back up and play with them in my mind. Before I know it, I’ve spent 30 minutes worrying instead of praying. I end up exhausted and feeling stressed and hopeless.

What does it take to get through my thick skull that God has me covered? He already has my problems figured out. There is nothing too big for Him. It’s time to reclaim what has been stolen. It’s time to give God praise for the victory.

“Can any one of you by worry add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:27 NIV

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Secret Weapon

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An excellent weapon against worry is prayer, especially praying for others. It’s hard to worry about your problems when you focus on the needs of others. Praying is an act of love and love casts out fear. It also opens the door to blessings in our lives. When our focus shifts to the needs of others we are also reminded of our current blessings. We create a thankful heart that is open to receiving more blessings. We are also sowing seeds for others to pray for us when we are in need of prayer.

You don’t need to wait until someone asks you for prayer, just look around and you’ll see that there are always plenty of opportunities to pray for someone. So, if worry is weighing you down today, take out your secret weapon and pray for someone.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

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LEGACY OF PRAYER by Tammy Nicole Glover

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“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:16 NIV

In the middle of the night, when I was hurting and inconsolable. When I was sick. When I made stupid mistakes. When I thought I knew what I was doing. When I was lost and scared. When I was lonely. When I was where I shouldn’t have been with people I shouldn’t have been with. What would have happened if I didn’t have someone praying for me? Would I still be alive or as blessed as I am now. If I didn’t have praying parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins, would I be a bigger mess? Could I have written this blog if I didn’t have praying friends, coworkers, managers or even strangers?

It is such a blessing to have people praying for you when you don’t have the strength or the sense to pray for yourself. When you feel that urge to pray for someone, don’t ignore it. Your prayer could mean the difference between life or death. It could mean the difference between an eternity in heaven or an eternity in hell. You may even be reaping the rewards of someone praying for you as you read this.

You may not be able to give someone support financially. You may not know the right words to comfort someone. You may not know how to love someone who has hurt you but you can always pray for them. It costs only a few minutes of your time and you don’t even have to tell them. Prayer is a true act of love. Pass down your legacy of prayer to someone today.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV