Author: timewithourcreator

Praying for God’s Knowledge and Power for Children and Grandchildren

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Photo taken in Virginia.

Written by Elton Streyle, photography and editing by Ali

Father, I offer to You thanksgiving and praise that You sent Your only begotten Son into the world so that my children and grandchildren and I might live through Him. Thank you for rescuing our souls from eternal death and keeping us from constantly failing.

“Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” Psalm 116:5-8

I bring my children and grandchildren to You and ask that You would give each of them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the understanding of You and Your Word.

Direct them to be strong enough to refuse to fall into the ways of the foolish. I ask that You give my children and grandchildren the ability to discern between good and evil, holy and unholy and right and wrong.

Give them revelation that fills their mind and heart with a vision for their life that opens their eyes to what your purpose and calling is for them. Encourage them to be guided by that revelation so “…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,” Ephesians 1:17.

I ask and pray these things to You, my God, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture #10

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Photo taken in Tennessee.

Photography by Ali

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ [thank you].” 1 Corinthians 15:57

“For He shall give His angels charge over you [thank you], to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone [thank you].” Psalm 91:11-12

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses [thank you]. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered [thank you].” Romans 8:26

Developing Faith in God

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Photo taken in Colorado.

Written by Elton Streyle, photography and editing by Ali

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the faith to believe and accept what Your Word says about my salvation: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

I ask that You will give me the same kind of faith in Your Word that I had for my initial salvation to enable me to live the Christian life. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

Father, show me how to build my faith in You by reading and understanding Your Word. Direct me also to put my faith and trust in the promises throughout Your Scriptures so that I can live my Christian life by faith and not by sight. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

Empower me to search the Scriptures to see what they say with regard to any and all situations in my life. May I obtain a complete faith to rest in and act on your promises. Direct me to change my life to be more godly and serve You under Your protective and mighty hand: “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16

Thank you, Father, that through faith in You, I can turn from anything that I have mistakenly trusted in and put my faith in You and You alone.

I bring these requests to You in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Combining Song, Prayer, and Scripture

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Written by Elton Streyle, photography and editing by Ali

This prayer variation combines Scripture with the words of Christian music. After you read a few verses of Scripture, stop and sing or think about the words of a song with the same theme as the verses you read. You can also do the reverse of this by listening to a song, then stopping and thinking of a verse of Scripture that the song brings to your mind.

This way of praying helps you to remember and apply the message of both the Scripture and the song.

Here are some examples:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Song: Trust and Obey

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way,

to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”

_____

Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.”

Song: Open The Eyes Of My Heart, Lord

“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,

open the eyes of my heart,

I want to see You,

I want to see You,

to see You high and lifted up,

shining in the light of Your Glory,

pour out Your power and love

as we sing Holy, Holy, Holy.”

_____

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

Song: Change My Heart, O God

“Change my heart O God, make it ever true,

Change my heart O God,  may I be like You,

You are the potter I am the clay,

mold me and make me this is what I pray.”

_____

Ephesians 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”

Song: Spirit Of The Living God

“Spirit of the Living God,

fall fresh on me,

melt me, mold me, fill me, use me,

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.”

Renewing the Mind

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Photo taken in Colora

Written by Elton Streyle, photography and editing by AliHeavenly Father, thank you for the instructions in Your Word as to how I can be spiritually-minded rather than carnally-minded and as to how my mind can be renewed and transformed as I present myself to You as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

Let the power of Your Word grasp me so that I can see everything with a clear mind and from a Biblical perspective. Romans 8:5 says, “for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”

Show me how not to be clouded with the cultural viewpoints of the society that I live in.

Since what I put into my mind determines what comes out in words and actions, direct me to be very sensitive to the kind of materials that I read in books and magazines and what I watch on television or in movies. Program my mind to be in agreement with Paul’s admonishment in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.“ 

Father, today, tomorrow and from here on out, I give my mind to You to be renewed, restored and directed by the Holy Spirit living within me.

I bring this prayer to You in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Guide for Expanding and Personalizing the Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:9-18

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Photo taken in Nebraska.

This method of prayer uses the Lord’s Prayer as a guide for many topics to include in prayer. You can expand these guidelines by adding additional items that come to your mind as you pray.

Our Father:

I come in Jesus’ Name to thank and praise You for being everywhere present, all-knowing, all-powerful and unchanging. You provide salvation, and freedom from fear of the past, present, and future. You give companionship, provide for my needs, healing and protection from Satan, the evil one.

who art in Heaven:

A place of perfect rest and peace. Thank you that everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will have an eternal home there with You.  John 3:15 “That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.“

hallowed be Thy Name:

Lord, I lift Your Name on high. I praise You for Your awesomeness, revealed through Your creation. Thank you that all who are born again believers can come to You in Jesus’ Name to receive power, strength, and wisdom. Psalm 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.”

Thy kingdom come:

Dominate my thoughts and reign over every part of my life. May all my and other believers’ actions be inspired by Your Spirit. Colossian 1:17 “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven:

I recognize that and thank You that everything is controlled by You. Therefore, I yield myself to You and ask You to fill and control me with Your Spirit. I trust in You with all my heart lean not on my own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.“

give us this day our daily bread:

Thank you that I can trust in You to take care of all my physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional needs. Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

forgive us our sins:

Show me anything that is wrong in my life and any hindrances in my relationship with You. Thank you for dying for my sin on the cross. Direct me to confess all sin to you. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

as we forgive those who have sinned against us:

Direct me to anyone I need to forgive. Remove all bitterness, jealousy, malice, etc. that I might have against another person. Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

Keep me from the things that Satan would like to use to cause me to do wrong. Cover me with the armor of God: the helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, the girdle of truth, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever:

I acknowledge that You rule over everything, have all power, all wisdom and are everywhere present. In Jesus’ precious Name, I thank You for the many points of instruction for life in this prayer example, Amen.

**You can find the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:8-13

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus, the Light of the World

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Photo taken in Kansas.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

Heavenly Father, I want to praise and thank You today for the message in John’s gospel of how Jesus is the Light that does away with darkness which is brought about by sin and how we who believe in Jesus as the Light have been moved from darkness to light and from death to life.

Through the Holy Spirit I have the Light dwelling within me, which gives me all the treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge. “In Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3

Lead my loved ones and I to walk as children of the Light. Give us the strength to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness wherever we are. I ask that You show us anything in  our lives the may be obstructing the Light of Christ from shining brightly in us.

Jesus said, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46

If there are any hindrances to the Light shining, give us the courage to confess them and make any corrections needed.

Thank you for the privilege You give us of having the Light within us, enabling us to walk in it and allowing us to be able to reflect its brightness to those around us.

I ask and pray these things to You, my God, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Scripture #9

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Photo taken in Colorado.

“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you [thank you].” 1 Peter 5:7

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved [thank you].” Psalm 55:22

God’s Power

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Photo taken in Colorado.

“‘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

“…Jesus… looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”‘ Mark 10:27

Heavenly Father, based on these two verses, I praise You for being all-powerful, all-knowing, ever present and unchanging. I thank You for loving me so much and for wanting a close personal relationship with me.

Help me to be steadfast in the faith and to be on high alert to resist the work of Satan as he tries everything possible to hinder and destroy us, Your children. (1 Peter 5:7-8)

I come to You in the Name of Jesus, casting all of my burdens and cares upon you.

 

Scripture #8

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Photo taken in Virginia.

“Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” Psalm 86:11

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest [thank you].” Matthew 11:28

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day [thank you].” 2 Corinthians 4:16