Thank you Father for your love that is poured out upon me every moment. Forgive me for the times I fail you, but thank you for your mercy. Help me to keep a thirst and hunger for your word and a prayer life that keeps me in your presence and blessings. Stretch me until your will and purpose is done. Cleanse the depth of my soul, bind me in your love so that my life will spread your peace.

In Jesus' Name I Pray,
Amen

So often when we pray we wonder if God has heard us or we wonder why we never seem to get an answer. We are told in:

Isa 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

God hears us when we cry out to Him. He says He answers. Yet, we seem to not see the answers even though He says that He does answer. Years ago, the Holy Spirit told me to stop praying the leaves off of the tree. The leaves will come back in another season, so this makes only for a temporary fix to the problem. The problem usually goes much deeper. The best fix is to chop down the tree and pull up the roots so it can never grow again.

I was watching a man digging up a small bush and working very hard to get the roots out. It was not an easy task. Our roots are the same. Sometimes there are many that are so tangled with each other and other things. This takes time to unravel and remove these. God is doing this in each one of us. He is going to the root. He does just not want us free, He desires for us to be free indeed. He does not just want to remove the leaf from the tree; He wants to stop the leaf from coming back at a later time. This is where our faith must come in. We must stand by faith, knowing that He has heard our cry and is answering us. We just don’t always know the work that has to be done to get all of the root causes out of us so we may be free indeed. Be encouraged. When we cry out to Him, He does hear us and will answer us. He cannot lie. His Word is true.

You can see the big picture. You know me and where I'm to fit in life. Please help me see myself through your eyes...and understand my role on this earth. Help me stop and take a look at how others see me...my family, my friends, my co-workers, my neighbors. When someone mentions my name, I want it to be in a good way; in a way that glorifies you. I want to live the life you planned for me. Thank you for including me in your plans...and for loving me unconditionally. Bless You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Father, I thank you for the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which flows through me to others. I abide in Jesus, He abides in me and through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am salt and light in the earth - a witness to him everywhere I go - in my home, the workplace, and to the end of the earth. I purpose to practice the presence of Jesus, and make choices that will honor you, Father. Thank you for leading me in triumph in every situation I face today in Jesus' name.

2 Corinthians 2:14; Matthew 5:13-16; Acts 1:8

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. Acts 16:25-26;

Praising God is not a difficult task when things are going on well. When the bank account is fat and there are no outstanding bills to settle; when the body is healthy and there are no traces of pain or strain; when examinations are passed and promotions come regularly at work; when the children are doing well and no one has problem at all with drugs; when business ventures succeed and disappointments are far away; when all family members live in harmony and relationships are warm, it is a natural thing to rejoice and be glad. But what happens at the dark moments of our lives? - when all dreams are shattered and broken into pieces; when failure meets every step and venture; when relationship fails and our world is fallen apart; when friends forsake and loneliness takes over; when disappointments rain from every side and all hope is lost, you agree with me that praising God in such moment is beyond ordinary.