Bible

The Blessing of Listening to and Obeying God’s Word

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment

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

Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to thank and praise You for the blessing, encouragement, direction, and power of Your Word (the Bible). It is a blessing that I have unlimited access and am able to read and hear from You through Your Word about the truth of Your Word for believers and unbelievers. As a believer in Jesus Christ, You promise to go before me in whatever situations I face. Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” It is like walking in the dark woods with a light shining in front of me to show me the way and point out any dangers ahead. 

Since all Scripture comes directly from You, direct me to diligently study all of Your Word and apply what I learn in my daily life. James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Thank you for the work and power of Your Word in my life at the time of my salvation and that I have been born again. It is the Word of God being planted in me when I came to saving faith in Christ that gives me a new life now and for eternity. 

Your Word is always used for the positive, and the Holy Spirit will continue to use it to develop me spiritually until I enter Heaven’s gates. 1 Peter 1:23 “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” It is the ultimate blessing to read and listen to Your Word and act accordingly because all good things flow from You, and You have revealed Yourself through Your Word. Thank you for the instructions You provide in the Bible on how to live the Christian life. 

I ask for those around the world who do not have the privilege of having a Bible, that You work in miraculous ways to provide them access to a Bible in their native language so that they may know You. Amen.       

Prayer About the Two Greatest Changes When Becoming a Christian

/ timewithourcreator / 3 Comments

IMG_5307

Photo taken in Maine.

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

Gracious Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, thank you for the great blessing of salvation which gives me a home in heaven eternally. In John 3:15 Jesus said “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

It has been a huge blessing and complete change for me when You saved me and did for me what You promised Israel in the Old Testament in Ezekiel 36:27a. “I will put My Spirit within you.” The indwelling of the Spirit has allowed me to have the Holy Spirit as my helper, guide in all truth, and a source of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self control, wisdom, and power.

It is such a joy to see the effect that the power of Your Word has on my life. It has given me instruction on how to be saved and now, if I allow it, it will sanctify, instruct, and direct every phase of my life until I enter Heaven’s doors. Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Thank You that as a child of Yours, I can come to the place where all answers can be found. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need.” Direct me to continually incorporate Your Word in all situations and rely on it for all power.

I give thanks and praise for all Your attributes expressed in the Bible. I am specifically grateful for the following characteristics described by Your Names: the Lord my provider, the Lord my healer, the Lord my banner, the Lord my shepherd, the Lord my peace, the Lord my righteousness, and the Lord my sanctifier.

In Jesus’ Name, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for who You are and for what You do for me. Amen.

Prayer by Using the Sword of the Spirit

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment

thumbnail_IMG_6528Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

All wise and powerful Heavenly Father, I come in the Name of Jesus to thank You for the blessing of the Sword of the Spirt (Your Word, the Bible). Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

What an incredible, powerful gift You have given me to defend myself from the attacks of the evil one. Just like Jesus used the Scriptures to refute the devil’s lies and twisted truth in the wilderness, teach me to quote and obey Bible verses as an important tool in resisting his attacks. Jesus said in Mathew 4:4, “it is written, ‘man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'”

It is a wonderful blessing, and I praise You for it, that Your Word brings truth into my life. That I can trust it as a firm foundation on which to build my life. Every word in the Bible is inspired by You, and is trustworthy and profitable for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Thank you for all that You have shared about how Your Word is a protection against false teaching and a guide to how I should live. In light of all Your advice, direct me to store up Your Word in my mind and heart and hide Your truth in the depths of my soul. I come with a grateful heart for the wisdom in Your Scriptures. Amen.

Prayer for Strengthening a Believer’s Faith in Christ by Looking at God’s Historical Evidence in the Bible

/ timewithourcreator / 5 Comments

IMG_0367

Photo taken in Florida.

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

All powerful and wise Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name thankful for and remembering the extraordinary events recorded in Your Word (the Bible). Romans 15:4 “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” It is a great blessing to know that I can read Your Book (the Bible) and know that the God who created the whole world and everything in it, including me, is still the same God. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Thank you for the following examples:
1. In times when I need faith like Noah did building the Ark, direct me to read Genesis 6.

2. In the times when I need deliverance like Daniel did in the lions’ den, to read Daniel 6.

3. When I need encouragement to overcome difficult situations like Moses crossing the Red Sea, to read Exodus 14.

4. If I am having a problem with sin like David did with Bathsheba, to read Psalm 51.

As I read these stories and many others in the Bible, I thank You for Your consistent nature of love, goodness, patience, power, wisdom, mercy and grace. Psalm 145:3 “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.” It is awesome that You, the God who is involved in all these stories, is the same God who is living within me through the Holy Spirit simply because of my accepting the free gift of Your Son Jesus Christ as my Savior. Reading about all of Your past actions encourages me to live life now, and in the future, with confidence ​instead of fear.

Thank you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Power Of God’s Written Word

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment
IMG_0841
Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali
All-powerful Heavenly Father, I approach You in Jesus’ Name to thank you for giving me Your written Word and for the privilege to read and  understand how it works in shaping my life. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” Hebrews 4:12.
We are living in a society where we are constantly encouraged to look at and do things that tempt us to live impure lives.  I ask You to direct me to be sensitive to the answers You have laid out in Your Word and live according to them. Give me the desire for the wisdom in Psalm 119:11. “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.“
When I am tempted, show me how to practice the same Scripture defense Jesus did in Matthew 4 when He was tempted by Satan. Three times while in the wilderness, He came back at the Enemy with the power of God’s Word.
Jesus said the first time in verse 4, ‘”It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.‘” The second time in verse 7, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.‘” The third time in verse 10, “‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'”

I praise You that there is nothing in this world that can come against me that the power of Your Word can’t overcome.

I bring these thoughts in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Influence of God’s Word in My Life

/ timewithourcreator / 1 Comment

IMG_0842

Bible journaling by Sylvia S., photo by Ali.

 

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali, Bible Journaling: Sylvia S.

I come to You in Jesus’ Name, Heavenly Father, to thank You for the light that You give as I walk through dark areas of life. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” Psalm 119:105. “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” Psalm 19:8.

Father, empower me to comprehend the awesomeness of the fact that all Scripture is You speaking to me in written form. “All scripture is God-breathed” 2 Timothy 3:16.

Direct me to live my spiritual life in the same way as my physical life. Just as I can’t live without physical food each day, I need to have You give me a daily intake of Your Word and a time of quietness to hear from You. “Be still and know that I am your God” Psalm 46:10.

Show me how to mold my opinions and values around You and Your ways, not around the society that I live in. Thank you for putting in Your Word all the direction I need to be able to live a life of peace and joy. “Teach me your way O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.” Psalm 86:11.

Father, thank you for allowing me to bring these praises and requests in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture #11

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment

img_5498

Photo taken in Florida.

Photography by Ali

“‘Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh [thank you]. Is there anything too hard for Me? [No!]” Jeremiah 32:27

“A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.” Proverbs 27:12

“For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver, the LORD is our King; He will save us [thank you].” Isaiah 33:22

Scripture #10

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment

redgreenleaf

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

Scripture #9

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment

 

img_5340

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

Scripture #8

/ timewithourcreator / Leave a comment

img_8944

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