The last few weeks we have been working hard together to do some physical changes to our church building. As I watch people work together my heart is blessed and encouraged. Working side by side tearing down walls, fitting together ceiling boards piece by piece, destroying the stage, cutting boards to fit perfectly, ripping out carpet, cleaning up messes and the list goes on. Someone gets hurt and someone else stops to pray for them. It is an amazing oneness! The Lord reminded me of the importance of family and togetherness in our church family. We were created to encourage and serve each other. As I meditated on all I am thankful for my heart started thinking of verses on the oneness and strength that working, praying and believing together has. The Word talks so much about the power of prayer with others. I know I’ve said this many times but together we can accomplish anything and everything in Him. He designed us to desire to pray and believe together. His plan for us was not to stand alone. He didn’t. When Jesus was on earth He knew His Father and the Holy Spirit were always there with Him. I realize we always have our Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost too but He gave us direction in His Word to help, encourage, comfort and pray together. You are all so appreciated and loved and we thank you for all the times you are encouraging and praying for others in the church family because you love them and care. We are a strong family and we are so thankful for you!! May these prayers and verses bless you this week and may you have someone very special that can be your prayer partner so that you can encourage one another.
Sunday: Father, I thank You for all the opportunities I have to pray together with other believers. It is powerful and reassuring to agree with others and know what we are praying for is accomplished. “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19 When I have an issue or problem I can go to a friend in You. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 When I have something on my heart that I need to share I can go to those I trust and believe I am healed. “Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.” James 5:16 One of the hardest things to do many times is to be transparent and share my burdens with others. I am realizing that there is a difference in sharing for the purpose of praying together in agreement to see my life changed and sharing to grumble and get attention. Sharing my situations and pains honestly for someone to pray about isn’t speaking negative. If I dwell on a problem and don’t believe for an answer I know I am speaking “death” into my life. However, to share a situation because I want someone to believe for “life” with me is sometimes the only way I can get the situation into the light. Lord I know that it is not a shame to have problems. It is a sad situation to have a problem and not share it because I am afraid of judgment, condemnation, embarrassment or pride. Thank You for providing a way for me to have someone special to share with. Today I praise and worship You and thank You for giving me others to pray and believe with. Amen
Monday: Lord, in the Book of Acts You tell me the importance of prayer and praying together. The believers were devoted to prayer and praying with one another. “All of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer...” Acts 1:14 “And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of the bread together [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers.” Acts 2:42
I know even the small prayers I may say with others on the phone or online are powerful and lives are changed through them. My heart’s desire is to not neglect those times of praying with someone else but look for opportunities to pray with others. “Rejoice with those that rejoice - sharing others joy- and weep with those that weep -sharing others grief. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, snobbish, high-minded, exclusive but readily adjust yourself to people, things and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.” Romans 12:15-16 I rejoice in You always and thank You again for giving me others to stand firm with and believe with. Thank You for being there with me always and guiding my every step. Amen
Tuesday: “Rejoice with those that rejoic L Tuesday: Father, I know there are so many ways to help and encourage one another. Some important ways are to have peace with one another. Be affectionate to one another. Be like-minded toward one another. Receive one another. Care for one another. Serve one another. Bear with one another. Be kind and forgive one another. Comfort and edify one another. Have compassion for one another. Love one another. Minister your gifts to one another. “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like minded, having the same love, being in one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 “Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16 I definitely want to be an encouragement to others around me and help them through hard times and rejoice in all You are. I praise You always and forever. Amen
Wednesday: Lord, I know that there is never a time to not encourage someone else but I know there has been a time or two that I found myself being negative towards others. I realize that only hurts me and my relationships. You tell me in Your Word to not lie about one another. Don’t oppress one another. Don’t grumble against one another. Don’t wrong one another. Don’t judge one another. Don’t go to law against one another. I am to focus on Your love and pray for others and then I won’t find myself, lying, grumbling about or judging others. Everyone has been hurt by something that someone has done to them. Coming along side one another in prayer and believing brings comfort. Thank You that You are the Healer of my hurts and that I can share what I have with others instead of hurting them through my words and attitude. I bow before You with a heart over flowing with love and compassion. “The words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport [to some, but to others are like deadly wounds]; they go down into the innermost parts of the body [or of the victim’s nature].” Proverbs 26:20 I ask that I can continue to renew my mind to Your truths and choose to walk in love to all those around me. “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.” I love You and trust You and thank You for this awesome bunch of people that I can minister together with. Amen.
Thursday: Dear heavenly Father, as everyone works together and loves one another and believes in prayer together - I believe there will be growth and maturity in the Body and church family. How important it is to: “Not forsaking or neglecting to assembly together as believers, as is the habit of some people, but admonishing, warning, urging, and encouraging one another and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 When days are tough or hard I know that is even more important for me to gather with others. This is how I can build relationships with others. ”Love one another, which is the bond of perfection.” Colossians 3:14 I am perfected in You when I come along side of others with love and pray for them. “..Admonish, urge, encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin..” May I know those I can help and encourage. I pray others lives will be sweeter because I’ve had an opportunity to share You. Amen
Friday: “For I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for the right thing. For my mouth shall utter truth, wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous and there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.” Proverbs 8:6-8 “Pleasant words are as honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.” Proverbs 16:25 Papa, Your Word tells me that my words can be words of healing. These truths are to influence my speech. The desire of my heart is to speak words that heal. I care that those around me are healed by my words of Your love as well as those hurting in this world. “There is gold and a multitude of pearls, but the lips of knowledge are a vase of preciousness [the most precious of all].” Proverbs 20:15 Again, Papa, I thank You that You give me the words to say and I never have to do this on my own. I know that I’m not able to speak life without You. Amen.
Saturday: Gracious, Lord, Your Word says that “the thoughts of the steadily diligent tend only to plenteousness but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want.” Proverbs 21:5 My desire is to be steadily diligent to what You have called me to do individually and as part of the church body. I don’t want to get impatient in any way and end up in lack. “There are precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise….He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself from trouble.” Proverbs 21:20,23 I am so thankful for Your Word that gives me direction. I thank You for Your Wisdom and knowing that Your Wisdom is a precious treasure. I pray that the words I speak to others will be words of Your Wisdom and love. I love You, Lord, Amen