Tag: prayer

Sunday Praise and a Prayer

Posted on by Dorci

Dear Heavenly Father, there is nothing so important in this life than to praise you for all you are, all you’ve done, and all you will do. Our praise begins and ends with you for your love, your forgiveness, and your faithfulness and goodness toward us. There is nothing we could ever do to deserve it, but the sacrifice of your Son paved the way for us to receive it, and the indwelling of your Holy Spirit generously portions it to us.

We are in awe that you would do this for us.

Father, you are the Great Gardener, and we thank you for tilling the soil of our hearts that we could receive the Word of Truth and believe in Christ, for the softening of our hearts when we allow the world and our own sin to harden them, and that you might continually plant new seeds of truth, watering them, growing them, producing in us fruits of righteousness, peace, and joy, and bringing our faith to maturity as only You can.

Help us to be diligent to continually abide in the Vine so you’re free to do in and through us all you have planned that we might bring forth a harvest that glorifies You. 

In Jesus’ Name we pray, amen. 

 

 

 

Lesson From a Rescue #3 – A.S.K.

Posted on by Dorci

I’ve been eating eggs for breakfast for years, and since shortly after we rescued our dog six years ago, he’s virtually insisted I share my eggs with him every morning.

The routine is nearly always the same: he waits for me to get out of bed, dutifully watches as I get out the ingredients, utensils, plate…maybe paces a bit as I cook it up (depending on whether or not he’s deferred eating his own breakfast until he’s had some of mine), walks with me over to my seat, sits as close as he can get, and begins to remind me, repeatedly, that he’s there.

He stares deep into my soul, and if that’s not enough, he accentuates it with some serious begging, or he’ll whimper as pathetically as he knows how. And every once in a while, when he’s especially desperate and I’m not paying close enough attention, he’ll resort to a chest bump to the leg.  

Every day, week after week, month after month, year after year, he thinks he has to remind me all over again. That somehow I’ve forgotten him. Like I could.

All the while I’m reminding him, again, that I know he’s there, just like yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that. I cut off his little pieces and save them until I’m finished, or at least almost. I can’t forget. There’s no way he’d let me. Yes, he’s a dog, but he’s part of my family. He’s my furry little child, and I love him.

“Yes, I know, I remember, you’ll get your eggs when it’s time.”

And so many times during this exchange I think of us.

We have needs and there may be times we’re not sure if God’s going to provide. Has He forgotten me? Does He see me? How is He going to get me out of this situation?

But Jesus tells us our Father knows what we need before we ask Him. (Matt. 6:8)

Yes, we ask for our daily bread (or eggs) and all our needs, but we don’t need to wonder if our Father’s heard us or has forgotten us.

We’re His children and we’re always on His mind and in His heart.  

Still, Rocky reminds me of a command Jesus gives us:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if your son asks for bread (or your dog asks for eggs), will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil (hurtful), know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
Matthew 7:7-11


Rocky’s got it down. He asks, he seeks, and when needed, he knocks his chest right up against my leg. And in the right time, he gets what he’s asked for.

We are invited by Christ Himself to go to our Heavenly Father and A.S.K. – ask, seek, and knock, but not from a place of doubt, not afraid He’s forgotten us, or worse, believing He doesn’t care about us.

We can and must go to Him firmly seated in the foundation of our abiding faith in Him who sent His Son to die for us, who loves us with an everlasting love, and who called us by knocking on the door of our own heart to bring us into relationship with Himself. 

 

“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.“
1 John 3:21-23

 

With His Love,

 


Related blogs: 

Lesson From a Rescue

Lesson From a Rescue – #2

 

Sunday Praise and a Prayer – Grace, Grace, God’s Grace

Posted on by Dorci

 

Dear Precious Heavenly Father, we come to you today in praise of your glorious name. You are more wondrous and greater than we can ever fully grasp, and still, you live in our souls.

You reside in our hearts, and inhabit our praises. You sit with us and weep when we weep; you’re near to us when our hearts are broken. There is no where we could ever go where you wouldn’t go to bring us back.

Thank you for the grace you give that allows us to believe in your Son, to receive forgiveness through Him, and to live a brand new life – His life, His love, His joy.

You’ve taken us from darkness to light, and continually pour out your grace on us. In place of aimlessness, you’ve given us a maturing faith; in place of fruitlessness, you’ve given us spiritual gifts; in place of brokenness, you heal our hearts; in place of an empty life, you’ve given us an abundant life in you.

Father, may we never take your grace for granted. May we live this life for you to the fullest, obeying you at every turn, remembering the great scope of your love. May we remember how far you went to redeem us so we could know you and walk with you, and some day live in your very presence, the place your grace is preparing for us now.

With all our hearts, we thank you, Precious Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

2023 National Day of Prayer

Posted on by Dorci

 

Hello Friends. Well, today is our National Day of Prayer. It seems each year we need it a little more than the last. This year’s theme is Pray Fervently in Righteousness and Avail Much, taken from James 5:16b – “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

When we ourselves are walking uprightly in the Holy Spirit, not grieving Him, but being sensitive and obedient to His leading, and actively praying according to His will, our prayers will be powerful and we will see the Lord work mightily to move mountains.

You can find all the information on this year’s Day of Prayer, its history, events, livestream, and more, here.

Our Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today, exalting and praising the mighty name of Jesus the Christ, the only name under heaven by which we can be saved. LORD, we pray for ourselves first. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 23-24)

I repent of my sins and ask you to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I lay down those sinful deeds and thoughts and take up your righteousness, and with it your peace and joy. May my life be salt and light to those around me that you would be glorified in all I say and do. Fill me with your love and compassion for the lost and all those you put in my life.

We lift up our nation to you, LORD, its churches’ leaders, government leaders, schools’ leaders, and leaders at home. We pray for the pouring out of your Holy Spirit to open the eyes and hearts of those who’ve been blinded, to convict of sin and bring about a revival for the salvation for many, and revival among those who have known you but have been drawn into the world and become complacent.

We pray for your mercy, that you would bind the enemy and his lies and deception. We pray for the healing of those who would answer your call, believing on the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.

May we humble ourselves and turn back to you as a nation, looking to you in all we do. May you heal us that we would again be a light to the world of your goodness and faithfulness when a people put their trust in you and in your Holy Word.

Thank you for hearing our prayers, and we thank you in advance for what you’re going to do.

We pray it all in the name of our Lord Jesus, our Savior, amen.

Sunday Praise and a Prayer of Gratefulness

Posted on by Dorci

Our dear, precious Heavenly Father, we praise your holy name, the name above all other names. We are overwhelmed at your goodness and provision. Thank you for seeing us and our needs long before we have them and for providing in ways we could never think or imagine.

We praise you and thank you for the move of your Holy Spirit on various groups around the world. May salvation, repentance, and the joy of your Spirit continue to spread as far and wide as your will determines, and may no one stop it.

Where space or facilities or food, whatever is needed, may you please provide. 

May revival come to all our hearts by the power of your Holy Spirit.

We pray, too, for those impacted by the many disasters around the world. May you comfort the grieving, may you provide whatever is needed, and may you give strength and courage to the workers. Above all, LORD, we pray for the drawing of your Holy Spirit for salvation. 

There is no one like you, LORD, and we praise you and thank you for all you are and all you do. May our hearts be ready to honor and glorify you with our lives at all times in all circumstances. 

We echo the words of our brother Paul:

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

We pray it all in the mighty name of Jesus, amen!


I pray you carry the joy of the Lord with you throughout the week. As you abide in Him, may His Spirit fill you and rest on you to give wisdom, direction, and produce in you every fruit He provides. May His love lead you in all you do and say. 

In Him,
Dorci