A Willing Vessel Prayer

My prayer for today!

Lord,

Lately, I’ve been grieving my sinful nature.  I really don’t like how ugly my heart can be at times.  I hate and despise this wickedness I see inside of me.  I just want to be free from the sins that so easily entangle me, so I can better run the race You have marked out for me.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  ~Hebrews 12:1

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God Knows My Name

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so far is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11-12)

I have had a wonderful opportunity to step up as a teacher over a 4th grade class room at my church.  I have to say that I have the greatest group of 4th graders you will ever meet.  Their hearts are tender, their ready to learn, they are kind, and they love Jesus.  I have enjoyed being their teacher so much!   Just two weeks ago, God showed me something very valuable during my time with them.  In fact, it had only been my third time teaching the class.  The first two times I taught, I had everyone go around and introduce themselves.  I was really trying hard to make sure I remembered each name, as different children showed up both times.

Well, this last time that I taught… the kids saw it was me and said “Your not going to make us go around and say our names again, are you?”  I said no, I think I got it down now.  So they proceeded to cover their name tags and quiz me.  Each one calling out, “Do you know my name?”  Fortunately, the Holy Spirit brought each name back to my memory.  Oh how each child lit up as I told them what their name was.  It was as if they were saying, “She knows me, I’m someone special, she knows my name.”  It was a beautiful moment to be a part of.

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Grace Dispenser

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

I long to be a dispenser of grace.  I want to live in such a way that I dispense grace to all those I come in contact with.  I want to show mercy to those who are hurting.  I want to love the unlovable.  Give kindness to those who aren’t so kind.  I want to have a teachable spirit.  I want to show patience to those who can be difficult to love at times.  I want to be a Grace Dispenser.

Lord, please remind me that you have dispensed Your grace on my life in tremendous portion.  I pray that I will take what has so freely been given to me and give it to others.  I pray that I will not be affected by the moods of others, the test of times, the struggles, the battles, the moments of anxiety in life, and the storms that rage. 

Lord, may I be steadfast in Your love and stand firm on Your Truth.  May I become a dispenser of grace!  I pray that I will not be swayed by this world’s opinions, by it’s desires, and it’s love to be recognized.  May I live my life to advance Your purpose and seek You every day that I live.  Please don’t let me walk out even a single day without You in the forefront of my mind.  May my heart fully go after You and may my mind seek to bring You praise!  All this and more I pray.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.(Psalm 145:3)

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Enjoying this Season

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance, Read more

A Call to Love

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. (James 2:8-9)

I admit that I have broken God’s Law a time or two or maybe I should say at least a million times.  I know that my thoughts don’t always line up with God’s Word and I’m learning to take each thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).  I know there are times I’ve shown favor to some and not others.  I know that I’ve said things, done things, and lived things that aren’t pleasing to the Lord.  As I daily walk with the Lord, I come to understand my sinfulness all the better.  I have definitely broken God’s Law to “Love others as myself.”

How are you doing with this?  Do you love others like God has called you to love them?

“A new command I give you:  Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

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