Month: November 2018

Living Under the Sovereignty of God

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Photo taken in Utah.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, I thank you for taking an interest in everything about me. In Psalm 139:1-3, Your Word says, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.”

Thank you for the encouragement and peace that I can find even while living in this troubled world by recognizing some of Your many attributes:

You have no limitations

“Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” Jeremiah 32:17.

You are unchanging at all times

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” Hebrews 13:8.

You promise to always be with me

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall hold me, and your right hand shall hold me” Psalm 139: 7-10.

Direct me not to be living in anxiety and fear. Instead, may I wholly trust in Your sovereignty over my life, and know that You are in control and nothing can defeat Your purpose or derail Your plan for me.

Show me how to rest in the truth of Proverbs 19:21. “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” (NIV)

I bring this prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Wisdom Given by God

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Photo taken in Virginia.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Lord Almighty, giver of all true wisdom and understanding, praise be to You that I can come to You in prayer today through the Name of Jesus. Thank you for the promise in Proverbs 2:6-8 ​that during these difficult, complicated, and uncertain times we are living in, “the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.”

Direct me to comprehend that my judgments are nothing compared to Your infinite wisdom. Your foresight and wisdom are perfect in every way. Thank you for the peace and comfort it gives me if I rest on Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you…” (NIV).

Since the Scriptures make it very clear that any attempt that I make at gaining wisdom on my own is futile, I ask for forgiveness for the many times I try my own wisdom first. Show me how to daily practice James 1:5-6. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.​”

Since You are the sole source of truth and through You comes all understanding, I ask ​that, like Solomon, that You will give me “…wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore” 1 Kings 4:29.

Thank you for allowing me to bring this prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer 2018

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Crystal

Cranberries and water droplets.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

I come to You today, Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, to give You thanks for this coming national day of thanksgiving. Show me how to have this day be more than just a day of holiday cheer and festivities. Direct me to have this day serve as a reminder of Your faithfulness and just how much I should be thankful to You. Lamentations 3:22-23 “Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

No matter what place I find myself in today, encourage me to give thanks to ​You. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything, give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This year, teach me to give thanks not only for the things You have given, but also for the things You have withheld. Blessings can come not only from abundance, but also from the lack of it. Your plan is always perfect even if I don’t think so sometimes. Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'” (NIV).

Most of all, I want to thank You for the precious, amazing gift of salvation through the birth, death, and resurrection of Your Son. I can never thank You enough for the gift of life found in You through Jesus. I ask that You show me how to extend this season of thankfulness far beyond just the holiday, but into all of life, as is expressed in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.”

Thank You that I can bring these thoughts in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Miniature Prayers #13

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Photo taken in Florida.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

These very short, Scripture-based prayers can be used throughout the day to help take you to your next more extended prayer time and assist you in being able to keep in an attitude of prayer. These prayers can also be useful in emergency situations because of the power that comes through praying God’s Word.

How to use these prayers: print them or save them on your phone and use them as reminders to talk to your Heavenly Father throughout the day.

Bring these short prayers in Jesus’ Name.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

_______________

Worshiping With Fellow Believers

Lord, I ask in Jesus’ Name that You guide me to see the value of having Psalm 122:1 be a high priority for me. “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”‘

Prayer for God’s Chosen People

Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to ask You to remind me often to do Psalms 122:6. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they prosper who love you.”

Permanence Of God’s Love

Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to thank you for the promise in Romans 8:39 that nothing “…shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In Time Of Trouble

Lord, I come to you in Jesus’ Name to show gratitude for what You express in Psalms 124:8 about difficult times. “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

God’s Desire For Man

Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ Name to thank You for the desire You show in 2 Peter 3:9b. You are “longsuffering [toward us], not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (KJV).

Resting in the Lord

Comforting Heavenly Father, I thank You in Jesus’ Name that I can claim Psalm 4:8. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

 

Prayer for 2018 Election

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Photo taken in Nebraska.

All-powerful and wise Heavenly Father, we come in Jesus’ Name as we approach the upcoming election, being reminded of 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” I realize that this verse in the Old Testament was referring to Israel, but many of the truths in it are applicable to America today.

As Your children, remind us daily that it is our responsibility to cry out to You and seek Your face, both individually and as a nation. We need to constantly seek forgiveness from our wicked ways. This could be the most important election in the history of our country in order for us to keep the freedoms we enjoy. You tell us in James 1:5, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

In light of this verse, we ask that You will give us an understanding in this coming election that there is no perfect candidate running and that there never has been and never will be. The only perfect ​ruler is Jesus and He is in Heaven. Direct us to look at the positions of each candidate and make wise decisions as we vote. Show us how to base our decisions not on the superficial, but on the biblical principles you lay out in your Word.

Thank you for allowing us to have a free nation so that we can have a part in selecting our leaders and approving some of the laws of our land. We ask that You pour out Your mercy and grace on our country so that we can continue to be blessed as “America the Beautiful.” No matter what the result ends up being, remind us that You are still on the throne. Let us not forget the truth found in Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (NIV).​ We bring this request in Jesus’ Name, Amen.