Prayers

Easter Thanksgiving and Praise

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Photo taken in Virginia.

Author: Elton Streyle, Photography and Editing: Ali

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your Son to die on the cross for me and my sin, and for raising Him from the grave to prove He has victory even over death.

Thank you that by making the events of Easter personal and accepting the truth about Jesus, I am assured of a home in Heaven when I die.

“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 am thankful for the positive change that Jesus has brought into my life. I am no longer controlled by the destructiveness of sin, but can live within the realm of God’s Righteousness. In Christ, I enjoy the peace of God that passes all understanding.

“and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7

Teach me by Your Word how to grow in my understanding of Your Majesty and Sovereignty. Thank you that with You nothing is accidental and no experience in life is wasted. Even though I don’t know what the future holds, I know and belong to the One who holds the future.

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” John 14:2-4

“To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

so loved He the world that He gave His Son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin and opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord.”

-Song: ‘To God be the Glory’, by Fanny May Crosby

In Jesus’ Name, I give you thanksgiving and praise. Amen.

Contentment in the Lord

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Photo taken in Colorado.

 

Written by Elton Streyle, photography and editing by Ali

Heavenly Father, thank you for being my Shepherd and for all that it entails in my relationship with You. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” Psalm 23:1.

Forgive me for the times when I struggle with being content and find myself in the desire of wanting more. You have promised to give me all that I need for a life of godliness and praise and worship to You. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13.  Enable me to be content with You alone and not be tempted to look for contentment in the worthless things of this world that many times only money can buy.

Lord, give me a good understanding of the teaching in Your Word that happiness is not based on my circumstances in life, but rather that real contentment and joy comes from knowing Jesus more and more.  Like the Apostle Paul, show me how to be accepting of my status in life. “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” Philippians 4:11. Shift my focus from the things of this world to Jesus, Your ultimate Gift, realizing that all true contentment comes from Him. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19.

I bring these thoughts in Jesus’ Name.

God’s Wonderful Deliverance for a Believer

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Photo taken in Colorado.

Written by Elton Streyle, photography and editing by Ali

Loving Father, thank you for the encouragement You give in Psalm 34. It is comforting that in the difficult times in life, You do not get tired of me coming to you with any and all of my problems. “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.” Psalm 34:6-9

In fact, You ask me to bring everything to You so that You will be glorified. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” Psalm 50:15. It is a great privilege as a believer to know that You are more powerful than anyone or anything in the world that will try to hurt or destroy me. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Father, develop in me a clear conviction that I can’t live a spiritually reckless life and expect to continue receiving Your many blessings. However, I do thank You that when someone goes down the wrong road, You are always waiting for them to come back so that You can continue to bless them. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1  John 1:9.

On a daily basis, teach me how to grow in my personal relationship with You through Your Word, prayer, music, and Christian fellowship. Like David in Psalm 34:17, I call out to You to be continually counted among the righteous so that I can experience the power in Psalm 34:7, “the angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”

I bring these requests in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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.

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.

 

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.

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.

 

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.

 

New Year’s Prayer for 2017

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Photo taken in Colorado.

“For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth.” Psalm 71:5

Gracious Heavenly Father, at the close of another year, I want to thank You for the joys that You have given me during the last year and for the difficulties You have used in my life to allow me to grow in my relationship with You.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Almighty Father, at the beginning of a new year, I thank You for Your assurance that You will make me victorious in areas where I was defeated, strong where I was weak, successful over sin, and hopeful in any situations of fear. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Wise, infinite Father, in the coming year I ask that You will direct me to be surrendered to You so that I will not have to be embarrassed about my life’s record when it is revealed in eternity. Give me more consciousness of fulfilling the directions in Your Word about how to live a Christ-centered life.

In everything that I will be involved with during this next year, keep reminding me of the admonishment in Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Thank you that I can move into this new year knowing that You hold the future and that You will always be with me.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

 

 

Christmas Eve Prayer and Meditation

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Photo taken in Colorado.

 Prayer

Lord, we come to You with thanksgiving, remembering the great love You gave to us in the form of the birth of Your Son, Jesus. How unimaginably perfect You are in all Your ways. “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” (Mathew 1:23).

Thank you for giving Your only Son to die for our sins and thank you that if we accept Him into our heart and life, You give us eternal life with You in heaven.

Direct us not to be distracted from the true meaning of Christmas or be enticed by the calling of the world to make Christmas all about ourselves. This Christmas, encourage us to have everything we do point back to You and Your Glory. We bring these thoughts in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Christmas Story Meditation

Visualize the Christmas story by slowly and quietly meditating on this Christmas Carol:

Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright, Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,  Holy Infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night, Darkness flies,  all is light; Shepherds hear the angels sing, “Alleluia hail the King! Christ the Savior is born.”

Silent night, holy night, Guiding Star, lend thy light; see the eastern wise men bring Gifts and homage to our King! Christ the Savior is born.

Thank you Lord, for all that this holy night represents.