Jesus said: “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”
One of the reasons Maggie’s prayer life struck me so deeply was that, despite her youth, she was so focused on the eternal. Remember what she did with this verse?
She told the Lord, “I know you want the gospel to go to the ends of the earth and I don’t want to minimize You.” Then, as she was leaving for a weekend retreat with her “Run with Christ” friends to a lake in Tennessee, she asked to be able to share the gospel with 5 people and to see 1 baptized. And more than that happened. Maggie’s faith soared.
This week, I’m eager to hear how you responded to the challenge to pray Ephesians 3:20 boldly and see how He answers – or/and share the question: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you of going to heaven?” These last two weeks, I have been with two of my daughters and their families — five children. I shared that question with Lily, who is twelve — here walking across the rocks in front of my house. It was such a sweet conversation. She said, “I know Jesus paid for my sin, so I should say 10, but I feel more like an 8 because I have so much growing to do.” I told her that I could probably answer the same way, though I’m 80! Where we both need to grow is in our faith that Jesus paid our debt in full, and it is finished. Anything we do is out of gratitude, not to help pay. She nodded, and I prayed for both of us to trust Him fully and not to trust ourselves.
I have friends, Carol and Greg Gangwish, who prayed the prayers in the opening of Ephesians or Colossians daily for their two daughters as they grew up. They are such godly women, marrying godly men, and leading their eight children into godliness as well. They, too, know the power of praying Scripture.
Upon reviewing the prayer journals of my late husband and my late friend Ann Dahl, I found them to be filled with praise, confession, and scriptural prayers. I know so often the requests in our church (though we are an elderly group) are primarily for our physical bodies, which are passing away. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with asking to be delivered from physical pain, but how wise is the one who prays for her heart and soul, and also prays earnestly and scripturally for the souls of others.
It is also so faith-building to pray specifically, as Maggie did, and see God Almighty bend down and answer our prayers.
There is also great wisdom in journaling, as Maggie does. In my friend Ann’s journals, which her husband is cataloging, reducing thousands of pages into one hundred pages, she begins:
Socrates- ” The unexamined life is not worth living.”
*Proverbs 5:6-“She does not ponder the path of life. Her ways are unstable; she does not know it.”
Sunday:
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week?
Monday: Praying Ephesians 3:20 boldly.
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see?
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday.
Tuesday: Insight from The Lord’s Prayer
4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise.
5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin.
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity.
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day.
8. What did you learn from this exercise?
Wednesday: Practicing the Lord’s Prayer
I’m going to make it personal for me today — then it is your turn.
Thank You for being our Father, for your holiness, and for covering my sin with Your righteousness. Help me walk in the light today as you are in the light. Guard my tongue.
May Your will be done in my life today, as it is in heaven. That would be wild for me to have a whole day without sin. May You be working in the hearts and souls of my children and grandchildren to live today as they will in heaven. Help me to care about those in my path today as You do.
Please be my Provider as You have been in my past. Help me eat in moderation and not in an idolatrous way.
Forgive me, Lord, for the sins of my thoughts and mouth. Please create in me a pure heart that sees others as You do. You have forgiven me so much — may I show the same grace.
Help me not forget I have an enemy and may I not fall into His lies and traps.
Help me remember You are the Kingdom and the glory — help me set my affections on things above. May my children and grandchildren do the same. Thank You for being so personal, glorious, and eternal.
9. Your turn.
Thursday: We Have Not Because We Ask Not
10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want.
11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20?
12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you.
13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not?
Friday: Action Assignment Report
14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 2:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven?
I am having some women from various churches to my home this morning to pray and talk about going into our one big assisted living facility with a 5 week Bible study where we’d sing, I’d teach a little, and then mix up these younger women with the older in small groups. The hardest thing may be finding a time where most if not all can come — but that’s always hurtful to leave some out. Here is my 3:20 prayer:
Father,
I know you care about us as our bodies wear out, and I pray You would give us hearts of compassion and love, enthusiasm, and Your plan for how to reach, grow, and minister to these women. Please show us the best time to meet. I pray they will have a desire to pass out invites to those they know, and that those people would pass out invites to those they know. I also ask for favor with the director, though she does not know you, but is allowing us to come. Be with the sitter this morning too and keep the children safe. A big dream I have is that one or two of the women might bring the children in to a different part of the facility while we meet to do crafts or something with those residents who are not able or interested in attending. Like Maggie said, I don’t want to minimize You! In Jesus name I pray.
I love this beautiful prayer, Dee. Trusting the Lord to do many miracles in this ministry to those in the Assisted Living Home. It would be wonderful to have the children interacting with the residents.
Sunday:
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week? The shower was lovely. We had 14 adults and four children in attendance. The Lord did give me time to sit in his presence and feel confident of the material to share. I read from Ephesians 5 and shared some excerpts from Tim Keller’s book, The Meaning of Marriage, which I believed would encourage everyone in the room. The bride thanked me specifically for the devotional, and her grandmother, who I believe is the only other Christian in her family. Her grandmother said she liked the changes she has seen in her granddaughter. She was baptized last summer after attending church with our son, which we had let her know was a requirement if they were going to be dating. It turned out she had wanted this. Overall, I am encouraged. I think it helped a lot for all the sisters of the bride on both sides to go out on Saturday. As a bachelorette outing, they went thrifting, to lunch and the beach in Holland, MI. They were able to establish connections and break down barriers. I’m continuing to pray now for more opportunities as the wedding approaches for conversations that could lead to spiritual growth. Thank you to all who prayed for me. I definitely felt confidence that can only come with time in prayer. As a side note, Dee, I had no idea you were 80! Praying many more years for you. My mothers (my step-mom and my bio-mom) are both 80. Interestingly, my bio-mom is in Wisconsin and missed the shower, and my step-mom is leaving for Wisconsin this morning for a week long trip to Milwaukee. She is taking the ferry across the lake from Muskegon. I do love the prayers your friends prayed for their children. Intentional prayers are important. I like the mention of what’s being prayed for and whether the request is eternal in nature. I have been convicted this past year to pray more eternal focused prayers and to use more scripture when praying. I find it so much more satisfying and I believe effective. I find myself going back to old ways and making my list which is quite earthly focused, but when I look for scripture to pray over top of these earthly requests, it changes the focus to eternal and gives me peace about them.
In my rush, I realize that I typed this to read as though baptism was a requirement for dating our son, when I meant church attendance. Oops! Baptism came later of her own desire.
Chris! Praising God for this wonderful answer to prayer! I have prayed for you each day and I know the other ladies have prayed too. I love the way you are praying and the eternal prayers. So good: I like the mention of what’s being prayed for and whether the request is eternal in nature. I have been convicted this past year to pray more eternal focused prayers and to use more scripture when praying. I find it so much more satisfying and I believe effective. I find myself going back to old ways and making my list which is quite earthly focused, but when I look for scripture to pray over top of these earthly requests, it changes the focus to eternal and gives me peace about them.
Chris, I love this “I have been convicted this past year to pray more eternal focused prayers and to use more scripture when praying. I find it so much more satisfying and I believe effective. I find myself going back to old ways and making my list which is quite earthly focused, but when I look for scripture to pray over top of these earthly requests, it changes the focus to eternal and gives me peace about them. and have had the same conviction about praying more eternal-focused prayers.
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week?
I was blessed to spend time with a dear friend of my daughter, who has become a friend of mine. We had a lovely brunch at her mother’s home. Her father died a few months ago, so she and her kids are moving in to her mother’s lovely and spacious home in the country. I had never met her mother, but we had an instant good connection. Thanking the Lord for being very present. It has been a devastating year for all of them, yet I see God’s hand on their lives. They are spiritual, not believers, yet Anna-Lisa sees God’s hand in all the tragedy they have experienced in the past few months. Anna-Lisa’s ex- husband passed away two weeks ago. Praying Ephesians 3:20 for this precious family. I know this sounds like an upside down blessing, but God is moving in their hearts.
I love that the Lord gave you opportunity to help others facing loss. He knows how to use us. I love your upside down prayer for them and that you can see him working in their hearts.
More rest for my body and mind this past week. We came home from the beach and spent the week regrouping and catching up on a few Dr appts and other activities. Pretty soon life will “ramp up” and be crazy for the next 10 months.
Specifically, the friend I have been back in touch with (along with our other friend) is having a “conversion” of sorts, in her faith. She is realizing she needs to connect more with God and our other friend and I are part of the plan! It is so sweet to see her changing her life in front of our eyes! She asked me what “worship” was to me. She said she had a dream or a thought during praying, and God said she needed to worship, to just worship Him. I feel privileged to be able to watch her growth! She burst into tears when she told me it was sweet. I told her my ideas about noticing the beauty of the Earth every moment I can, and singing worship songs. Please join me in praying that my friend Julie continues to connect with God in all she does. Thank You Lord.
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see?
The first thing that sticks out to me is the “…glory of God…”
Next is the “…mighty power within us…”
Finally, “…accomplish infinitely more…”
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday.
I suppose I could ask several people the “Heaven meter” question and see what responses I get. Not really sure here because that seems like the obvious, easiest way to complete this question. I usually like to be more creative and find another way.
Let me make sure I understand the assignment….we aren’t praying for something in our lives to develop a certain way, rather praying to be part of the Great Commission. Is that right? For example, could I pray for a family member to soften their heart through something I say or do to help them. Or is this more about watching the Spirit move through a person and bring them more to Jesus? I’m kind of confused, I guess.
Laura — I probably confused you — you have a choice of praying Ephesians 2:30 specifically — and I’ve encouraged you to ask for something more eternal — it might be for an open door to share the gospel, or it might be to see a real softening of a heart — or an opportunity to use your dance to glorify Him.
The other choice is to share the gospel using the 1-to-10 method — but you certainly could share the gospel your own Spirit-led way — that was just meant to be a help for those who have no idea how to begin.
You may want to do both — for they do work hand in glove.
Oh, Laura! I love seeing what is happening with your friends! Thank you Lord. I pray that the Lord will guide you and give you direction and His perfect words!
Okay, thanks for your help here Dee. Here goes…
I am asking God, with expectation, that our daughter’s heart be softened, and she will remember her growing up with God. That she will specifically remember that she is a child of God and that He loves her as His daughter. With this knowledge I would ask, boldly, that she recommits her life to Him and throws away her own present, sinful ways. I know this may be a rejection of her current living situation and even of the painful court proceedings which we endure. I’m not sure what that will look like with respect to myself and how I am to behave to help this happen. I am searching my heart for a way to broach the subject with her. We are headed back to the beach for a few days so I might have the chance to talk to her if she agrees to come. I know God can do anything, even when it seems impossible to me. Thank You Lord, in advance, for all You do for me and my family. Amen.
Monday: Praying Ephesians 3:20 boldly.
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see? When praying for spiritual strength, we look to God who is able to more than we ask or imagine AND it is done according to the power at work in US. I find I need to remind myself of this. Why do I tend to think it is up to me? That is when I begin to fear, but when I trust in God’s power, I have peace.
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday. Hmm. I’m looking for guidance in homeschool planning this week. While the grandkids and my youngest are at VBS Tuesday-Thursday, I expect to get some planning done for our school year. It’s a big task and probably will take more time than I have this week, but I hope to get a good start. I really like the Ephesians 1:18 prayer and want to make that the focus of our school year. I pray that the Lord will guide me in content and activities that will enlighten the eyes of our hearts (all the moms & kids) that we may know what is the hope to which he has called us and what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. I’m also including part of verse 19, that we may know the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might. May we see these things in what we learn about creation through our math, reading, writing and other subjects. Help us keep our focus on you, Lord. I believe we can draw our faith into what we learn and deepen our trust in you when we are intentional and careful to plan our days. In Jesus name, I pray.
And of course, I am praying for the VBS volunteers and their impact on the hearts of the children attending. May you be glorified and your people be magnified.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. It means so much.
Chris
August 6, 2025
We have 6 families total, ages 8-babies, 15 total children. 10 are preschool-2nd grade. I have a 17 year old who is still figuring out her path to graduate and working with a tutor. I am personally teaching my 7 year old day to day, but all the families meet on Fridays during the school year to collaborate on some things and do field trips. I have been homeschooling since 1996, when my oldest daughter turned 4 years old. I have used various curriculums over the years and thought I would sit down yesterday and review what I have used in the past for the 2nd grade and lay out our year with field trips and co-op plans, but the Lord has lead me in a completely new direction. Wouldn’t you know, I am researching something I have never used before, but am very excited about. I believe it will be something exciting for me and for our whole group. It is a Christ centered program and works intuitively in a family dynamic, where other curriculums tend to bring the idea of the traditional school into the home. This one makes the home the learning environment. I am loving the philosophy but I have much to learn, so its looking like early mornings for me and much leaning on the Lord to “plan as we go.” It is funny, because in all my years of homeschooling, I have never imagined myself in this place of leading a group and mentoring other moms. I have a friend from church who is coming on Wednesday to ask questions about her planning for the year. It’s just wild to me to be in this place. Prayers for wisdom, because I want what I say to be led by the Lord and pleasing to Him. It is such a big responsibility.
I know those years of homeschooling will bear so much fruit.
DawnMS
August 7, 2025
Wow, Chris that’s quite an age range from your oldest to your youngest!
I homeschooled my 4 sons from 1995 to 2011. My youngest never went to public school, I started when the older boys were in 5th, 3rd, and 1st grade. We ended up sending the oldest son to a private high school as he and I were butting heads all of the time and it was making life miserable for everyone. I worked full time as well so I counted on my husband to do most of the co-op and field trips (the fun stuff).
When I started college classes in 2012, I aced the entrance exams and I said well I’ve been teaching all high school subjects for the last 8 years. I hope I retained some knowledge!
I hope the new direction that you’re being lead in will be fun and enriching for both of you!
Laura - dancer
August 9, 2025
I pray that you are guided by the Spirit here. I love homeschooling. I have b only done it for a couple of years when my kids were very young. I want to homeschool the grands but I’m not sure how it will work out.
Ernema T. Boettner
August 5, 2025
Chris, homeschooling! Wow! I love it! ad I do admire homeschooling moms-I have a few of them. And love your prayers-specific and Scripture-based.
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see? ”Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works with in us” God is able. He will do things beyond what we ask . God will answer our prayers in ways we cannot even think of or often comprehend. When we come before Him in humility and sincerity, He will answers our prayers so that He will be glorified. He has given us gifts and He can give us His words in His time that will glorify Him. May we ask on His Name and may He be glorified in the answer to our prayer. May others see Him in all we do and say.
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday.
Dear Father in Heaven, Lord over all the heavens and the earth, I Praise You and glorify Your Name above all Names. Your power is great and Your ways are beyond my understanding, yet I know that Your will is good. I pray that I will speak Your Word in tender kindness to those I interact with this week, I specifically pray for Anna-Lisa’s family, that I will get to know them and that they will have Your light in their lives. It is hard when they have had negative experiences with Judaism. You know this precious and loving family. They have had much pain in a short time. I pray for healing, love and peace in their hearts. Help me to show your love in gentle ways and help me to build a wonderful relationship with each of them. May You be glorified in all I do and say. May I never minimize Your power and Your grace. In the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray.
I also pray for a miracle in my family. I pray that you will turn the one with an angry and self focused heart to You. I cannot do anything but pray, for I have been cut out of this life. I cannot even envision an answer to this prayer, but I trust this child to You, for You are the creator and You alone know what can cause and what can cure one heart that is so troubled. Only You dear Jesus can change this heart in Your way and Your time. Help me to never minimize You, Your power and Your grace. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, I pray.
Patti, praying the Lord gives you wisdom for your friends needs and gives you a miracle cure for your child’s heart. May healing begin in both areas of need.
Patti, I love that you are asking God-size prayers! It is a very worthy example of being other person-oriented. I am learning from you as I do from the others here.
Monday: Praying Ephesians 3:20 boldly. 2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see? – “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…” What I see is that the direction of who is being talked to seems to have changed with the word ‘now’. I also see that God will work in us as much as we’ve put in. How much of God’s word we have embedded in our hearts is the measure that God will work for us. 3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday. – Lord, I know you can do all things and I’m asking to see healing in my friends who have cancer raging in their bodies. I ask for doors to open quickly and treatment plans to be set in place and quickly work. I ask for minds that are failing to be young and wise and for minds that are confused to be made new with understanding. Help me to always seek you first and in a bold way so you can work through me in a mighty way.
4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise. You are my Father, You are Holy in all ways like no other, Your Name is Holy, Your kingdom is all encompassing, Your will is perfect in heaven and on earth, Your are all power and You are glory
5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin. Forgive our sins and give us the humility to forgive those who sin against us. Lead me away from temptation to sin. Deliver me from evil.
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity. Protect my heart and mind from the desires that would cause me to sin; deliver me from all evil thoughts and acts. Lead us away from temptation.
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day Give us this day our daily bread, forgive me daily for my sins,
8. What did you learn from this exercise? God is good, He desires our worship and obedience. He provides all we need. His will is perfect, even when we cannot see it. God knows our temptations and weaknesses and He desires that we ask Him for our needs and help when we are tempted to sin. He desires our love, obedience and respect. We reside in His kingdom and we are to live to glorify Him and His Name. It is about Him being at the center of our lives, not us.
Sunday:
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week?
—We had dinner with old friends, dear friends that we had not seen in a number of months. My friend Sara had just finished reading “Imagine Heaven” by John Burke. She was excited about what she had read because it had brought her a great measure of peace about death, dying and had encouraged her in the glorious hope of Heaven. I put a copy on my Kindle and have now finished reading it myself. I will be curious to know if any of you have heard of it or read it. The author examined hundreds of stories from people who had near death experiences and considered similarities from each of their experiences in light of what the Bible teaches about Heaven. Basically he was wanting to see if there were patterns that lined up with scriptural accounts of Heaven. All in all it gives an amazing picture of what Heaven is like and the glorious hope we have in God and our Savior Jesus. And causes you to want to live in the light of His love in a much greater measure. I was blessed by reading it.
Monday: Praying Ephesians 3:20 boldly.
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see?
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Ephesians 3:20 NLT
—The NLT version first gives glory or praise to God. It is always good to stop first and give glory to God.
Next it says He is able. He has complete ability to accomplish anything because of his mighty power. I think of the scripture from 2nd Corinthians 10:4 KJV
“(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”. That phrase “but mighty through God” speaks to a power beyond anything we can know apart from God. But the interesting thing is that his mighty power is at work in us. I have to admit I don’t “feel” very powerful. Actually I feel pretty weak in myself but the verse goes on to say that power, His power, can accomplish way beyond anything I can imagine.
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday.
—I am asking God to provide a buyer for our son’s home. They have purchased a home in Lincoln where they moved and need to sell the old one. The market here in small town America is different than in larger places. The house has some needs that make it harder to sell. I am asking God to glorify Himself in the sale because Ephesians 3:20 says He is able to do accomplish more than we ask or think. The request and the need is practical but everything in our lives has spiritual connotations. We address the practical but our faith has to remain in Him to accomplish it. I trust there is a witness for God in all of the dealings surrounding the sale.
I do have that book, Bev. I have not read the entire book, but I have enjoyed it. I have heard a few interview with John Burke. Sean McDowell had him on his YouTube show and it was excellent. I enjoyed the interview and it was very good. I will pray for your son’s home sale. May it be a blessing to the buyer and to your son.
Lord, I lift up the home of Bev’s son and ask that you open the eyes of the new homer for them to see this listing and not be afraid of what might need to be done. You can make all things new and we pray for your peace to be felt as this new homeowner walks through the home. You did it for me way back when and I believe and trust you will do it again for Bev’s son. Bless the work that he is doing for your kingdom and make this ‘old’ home a blessing to the new homeowner. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!
Bev, praying for your son’s home to sell, and it would be a blessing for them and for the buyer. We have been there, had a few offers, and when the God-sent buyers finally came, they were what we were hoping for, specific to our prayers.
Bev, I just read the introduction to the book. It is fascinating and I believe people do see glimpses of heaven in these near death experiences. I do wonder what our sweet Lucy saw and what she is doing there now. I loved the look on my dad’s face as he was leaving this earth. It’s funny how kids think. My son has seen so many die in his short life and thinks heaven will be boring because we will just lay there asleep. I try to help him understand we get new bodies, but he has a hard time trying to understand this.
Tuesday: Insight from The Lord’s Prayer 4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise. – Our Father, who are in heaven – Lord you are above all things; Hallowed be thy name – Your name, Lord, is worthy to be lifted up; Thy kingdom come, thy will be done – Your kingdom and your will, will reign on high 5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin. – Forgive us our trespasses – Lord, please forgive me of my sins; Lead us not into temptation – Lord only you can help me stay on the path that leads to you; Deliver us from evil – The enemy may attack, but you will be by my side and deliver me out of it in some way. 6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity. – Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven – Lord, I know I will be with you in eternity; Forgive us from our trespasses – Lord, cleanse my soul from sin; Deliver us from evil – Help me see the evils of this world and help me stay clear of them. 7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day. – Give us this day, our daily bread – You will provide all of my needs each and every day 8. What did you learn from this exercise? – When I pulled up the prayer on my phone to see each verse without scrolling up and down, I found a little bit more. I found the following broken down key parts and thought these were so good…It has our ‘Address to God’ (establishes a personal relationship with God as our Father); ‘Hallowing God’s name’ (expresses reverence and respect for God); ‘God’s Kingdom’ (expresses a desire for God’s will to be enacted on earth as it is in heaven); ‘Daily needs’ (is a request for provision and sustenance); ‘Forgiveness’ (highlights the importance of forgiveness both receiving and giving it); ‘Protection’ (is a plea for protection from temptation and evil forces). This exercise has made me more aware of how deep this prayer goes and that in order for me to be protected and in the presence of God, I need to be saying and meaning this prayer every day.
Oh, Julie! I love the broken down key parts you added. Thank you so much. It is such a deep and meaningful prayer…and yes! I, too, need to say it with meaning every day.
Sunday:
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week?
I started the monthly Scripture writing for August, which I do with a Facebook group I belong to. This month is on “Peace”. Oh, how I so needed it! Writing the scripture brought an awareness of my idols and where I looked for peace. I felt like I was being washed clean inside as I prayed my tears (thank you, Tim Keller), and prayed for a renewed heart and mind.
1. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see?
Now to him who is able to IMMEASURABLY more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is work within us…
The words, able ( sufficient power, skill, or resources), immeasurably (cannot be measured), more than ( it is always by His math), his power that is at work within us ( I have been changed and only God can do that in me, and He can do more in my life)
2. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday.
I just shared this verse with a friend as I pray for her husband to find a job. He just lost his job last week; no warning, just an email that they were laying off people because of a lack of revenue. Just like that. They have two young kids, and she is a stay-at-home mom and used to be a nurse. Lord, you can open up a job opportunity for the husband of my friend. And you will use this time to draw him closer to you, more than ever before, as my friend has requested.
For my heart to stay on you even when the going gets tough. I am already seeing you change my heart in some relationships I have been struggling with. This peace and a love for people can only come from you. I have unconsciously resigned myself to a long struggle, but I know that you can do more than I could ask or imagine. Thank you for this promise, and I can totally avail myself of it.
I thought of Joni E. Tada’s song: I am willing Lord, I am willing Lord, To be just exactly what You want me to be. Help me to be willing, Lord.
Bing, Your comment “I have unconsciously resigned myself to a long struggle, but I know that you can do more than I could ask or imagine.” resonated with me. I too have resigned myself to some relationship struggles but God has made me question the validity of doing that. I have questioned whether I choose to allow my thinking to settle into resignation when rescue is what I need and He is able to set my spirit free. It’s hard in this flesh and I haven’t arrived but I have a strong sense of hope about it. Bing I have no idea if this helps in some of your relationship issues but a story from my son Tyce. Before he moved from our community he had a relationship that he made one last attempt to reconcile with the help of another objective pastor as the mediator. When the session was finished the wife of the couple chose to stay in her bitterness and refused to reconcile. Tyce felt her husband wanted to but she is a very strong personality. On Tyce’s part he told me “Mom I had to let it all go and put it behind me and leave it with God so I could move on.” But his point was he felt he had done all he could and should do to forgive and now he should not carry the weight of it any longer or hold anything against them. It made him sad on their part because they carry the burden of their unforgiveness with them but when he is tempted to concern himself with it he just brings it back to God and leaves it there. He also said “Mom. You have to let it go too.” He knew I would struggle in my heart because of the mamma bear syndrome and because we live in a small town and I occasionally cross paths with them. We saw them at a restaurant just the other night and I pretty much just feel sad for them now.
Bev, thank you for your sensitivity to my posting and your exhortation. I am glad you did so because it is a confirmation of what God has been teaching me lately. Your words have inspired hope in my heart; in fact, the last 2 days have been evidence of God’s Ephesians 3:20 way. Thank you very much! ” I too have resigned myself to some relationship struggles but God has made me question the validity of doing that. I have questioned whether I choose to allow my thinking to settle into resignation when rescue is what I need and He is able to set my spirit free. It’s hard in this flesh and I haven’t arrived but I have a strong sense of hope about it.”
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. What do you see? No matter how farfetched you think that your hopes are that you can accomplish for the kingdom, God says that He can do more than what you can even imagine. 3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, Since I’ve pretty much been a recluse lately, only having in person contact with my family, I guess my request would be to have one meaningful encounter with someone outside of my family.
Awe, Dawn. How are you doing? I’d love to come visit you, if you are close by. Wouldn’t that be something if we live near each other? Are you possibly in the Grand Rapids area ?
It’s too bad that we don’t live closer, Chris. I live about 50 miles from Detroit.
I’m still in pain though not as severe. My surgery is scheduled for the 14th. 11 weeks after I injured myself.
You guys should meet up in Lansing when Dawn is better! Wish I could come too 😉
Patti Lynch
August 6, 2025
Dawn, I so understand how difficult it can be to be isolated. I pray that the Lord will bring a friend your way. It would be so lovely if you and Chris lived near one another!
4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin.
forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day.
Give us this day our daily bread
8. What did you learn from this exercise?
There are many more words about confessing sin and protection from sin. The verses before this prayer in Matthew say, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him..” and the verses after talk about forgiveness-this is why we pray this prayer. Not to get things we need, but to be forgiven and to forgive others. And he knows that is exactly what I need to work on the most. This is the thing that keeps me and all of us prisoner to our sin, for we are not forgiven unless we can first forgive others.
9. Your turn.- Dee, I like that you prayed for your children and grandchildren to do the same. I see this in scripture. We need to be praying for our children/grandchildren.
Our Father in heaven, you have set the stars in place and told the sea how far to go, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Oh, how this world is struggling to see how you do things in heaven. Lord help me to be a light to shine your love on others. Give us this day our daily bread, as I know we have nothing without your will giving it to us. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors -oh, Lord, you know how hard this is and that some things we cannot possibly forgive in our own strength. Lord, as Corrie was able to lift her hand and forgive the soldier she was under in the camps, give me your strength to forgive those who have hurt me and my family in unimaginable ways. Show me Lord, your heart for them-I cannot do this in my own strength for I have none. Free me from this burden by the blood of Jesus. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Lord, we face temptation every day. May we be wise and turn from it-show me Lord the way out. Help me to always turn to you in prayer when I am tempted to sin in my thoughts or actions. Turn my mind to praise of you instead. I pray this for my children and grandchildren as well. Amen.
I got a text Monday from the aunt of my son’s fiancé, who helped me with the shower. She thanked me for the devotions at the shower and liked the reminder of Titus 3 and said she hoped that some hearts were changed. In addition, her dad, who brought her mom to the shower, said that his grandfather had owned our farm many years ago. What a small world! So the great great grandfather of our future DIL, used to own our farm. I’m off to the genealogical society in town this afternoon to look up some records of our farm. How crazy to have this connection with her family. Maybe the Lord has some work in this for her parents to open their hearts to us and Him.
Chris, this gives me good chills! Wow! It reminds us of how involved God is in the details of our lives. ‘the great great grandfather of our future DIL, used to own our farm. I’m off to the genealogical society in town this afternoon to look up some records of our farm. How crazy to have this connection with her family. Maybe the Lord has some work in this for her parents to open their hearts to us and Him.”
Tuesday: Insight into the Lord’s prayer
1. 4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name For thine is the kingdom and power and the glory. Amen!
2. 5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen!
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Amen!
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day. Give us this day our daily bread, Amen!
8. What did you learn from this exercise?
I think of the acrostic, ACTS for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
I think of amen as “so be it” and claim it.
9. Your turn.
Dear Lord, my Father, Creator, most Holy God, the Alpha and Omega. I Praise You and Glorify Your Name. I love You Lord. Dearest Jesus, Help me to love You above all else in this life. I pray that You will guide my way, my thoughts and words each day. I pray that I can represent You well to others, so they will desire to know You.
I pray that You will guide my words and actions to draw my children and grandchildren closer to You. May they all come to know You in a deep and personal way, so that we all will be part of your Heavenly family. Thank you for providing for me before I know what I need.
Forgive me for my sins and my sins of omission. Lord, if I have hurt anyone, I pray for healing for that soul. Help me to fully forgive anyone who has hurt me, and do not let me hang on to wrongs that have been done in the past. Let me also be discerning about cheap grace and false forgiveness.
Lord, I pray that you will keep me strong when temptation comes my way. Give me wisdom to see what is evil, even when it is disguised. Father, help me to find ways to serve and to honor you in all I do. I pray that I will show love, kindness be compassion to all I meet. Help me to think less about myself and more about others. You are the Creator of everything, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. How I want to live a life, so that I may Praise You in heaven for eternity.
So glad for that. I know it is so hard to move from a place of so many friends.
Sharon Leach
August 6, 2025
I have missed being unable to participate these past two weeks but have so enjoyed reading what everyone has written…I continue to learn so much from y’all!!
We have been busy with both of our grandsons during this summer break…having them all day 2-3 days a week is exhausting but very enjoyable. God has answered prayer in being able to start the day with them by being in His word and prayer. I did ask them the 1-10 heaven question and their responses were 5-6. It gave me the opportunity to ask more questions and share that it’s believing that Jesus died for our sins and not our goodness that saves us. I know the 11 year old understands but the 6 year old is trying to. I just ask God to open their precious eyes of understanding❤️
Please know that y’all have been in my prayers and Lord willing I’ll be able to participate next week😊
Sharon, I have missed you here but totally understand the busy with grands concept! So sweet that they said 5-6 to the heaven meter. Aren’t children a blessing?
—Hallowed be Your name.
—Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin.
—And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
—And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity.
—Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day.
—Give us this day our daily bread
8. What did you learn from this exercise?
—I am reminded of how to pray in a way the covers all the basic needs for everyday life and for eternity. The Lord’s model for prayer begins and ends with calling me to focus on God and to acknowledge him as my Father which gives him first place in my life. Knowing Him as a Father brings great security to me in his love for me as his child. When I recognize the Holiness of his Person and his Name I show him the great awe and respect of Who he is above all others. The recognition of his kingdom, power and glory is also a reminder of Who He is in all of life and eternity. He even has eternity covered. 💕😊
In calling on Him for his will to be done on earth as in Heaven is to submit to his will and and says I am willing to align myself with His purposes and give up my own. In my flesh I want my own way but his ways are Heavenly ways not earthly ways. And far better. Physically and spiritually I can trust Him in all things at all times. We serve a wonderful God!
Dear Lord, You are Supreme! Thank You for Your Sacrifice! Thank You for saving my place in Heaven! You are Holy and I am blessed to have You as my Lord. You are in heaven now and I am here, on Earth. Help me remember that You will come back here and will take me with You. Please Lord come soon.
Lord, You left me here to spread Your Word, so others may also join in being with You and saved. Bless my words to them, as I encounter those who may not fully comprehend what You offer them. Especially help me to be patient and kind to my family members, as some of them are far away from You and some believe they are close but are truly not at this point in time.
Lord, You know what I need everyday. Help me to know the same and not be gluttonous, selfish, or unwise. Please forgive me for the stupid things I do every day. Ugh. How human am I! Let me remember that others are also as I am and need forgiveness as well.
Please Lord, guide the way for me, as I do not know the path because I am just human and do not know the correct way at times. I need You.
You are amazing God! Thank You for always being with me, no matter what. Your way is the only way.
Laura, I just love your genuine way of speaking to the Lord. Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
Thursday: We Have Not Because We Ask Not
10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want. You do not ask or ask wrongly, for selfish reasons.
11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20? I had to look back and wow did I ask a lot: More connections with DIL family, they see the love of Christ in our family, Spirit to make me bold & give me wha they need to hear, my daughters’ hearts broken for the needs of her family, for the Lord to show us he can do all things and change lives through Christ.
12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you. He definitely answered most of my prayer. We now have this farm connection with her family, her aunt and grandma appreciated the devotion, which shows me they saw Christ. The Spirit did give me what I needed to say, the words they needed to hear. I did see my oldest daughter chatting with my DIL after the shower about a bible study book she had received as a gift and was excited about, and I know they want to share Christ whenever they can. I’m excited to see hearts change, if they are willing. I’m looking forward to this wedding.
13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not? I usually turn the thing over to God and pray, if it is your will. There are times we don’t know according to scripture, like if someone is ill and we wish for healing.
Wednesday: Practicing the Lord’s Prayer
9. Your turn.
—Oh God You are my Heavenly Father and I am privileged to be your child. You are holy and completely righteous and your Name is above all names. There is none beside You and no one like You. You alone are worthy and I worship You.
It is my desire that your will is accomplished here in my life in this earthly flesh and that I choose to surrender to your ways and not my own. Your will is perfect and directed by heavenly motives which serve to purify my fleshly desires.
I trust You to provide for the needs I have today. Not just for my physical good but for my spiritual needs as well. I need spiritual food today and everyday to survive and flourish as I seek to live within Your will.
I thank you for the Cross which has provided for the forgiveness of my sin. My sins are many but your mercy is more. As I live my life in the reality of your grace and mercy please impress on my heart the need to forgive others. I have no right to hold the sins of others against them because You do not hold mine against me. Soften my heart to love as I have been loved.
Please be the Guide of my life away from all sin and I look to you for protection and deliverance from the evil of this fallen broken world.
Oh what wonderful hope is mine because Your kingdom has come and Your power has been demonstrated and Your glory has been revealed all because of Jesus and the Cross. I am in complete awe that for all eternity we will have the privilege of praising You for Who You are and will live forever in the light of Your love.
4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise. Hallowed be thy name. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever 5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin. Forgive us our trespasses. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever 7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day. Give us this day our daily bread. 8. What did you learn from this exercise? This is a prayer that focuses on my relationship with God, as my provider, protector and eternal Father.
Wednesday: Practicing the Lord’s Prayer
9. Your turn.
Thank you, God, for being my Father. You deserve all the glory, and may I praise your holy name daily.
May your kingdom permeate this world, and your light overcome the darkness that is looming over the earth. May your will be done in my life and may I not get in the way of your good purposes, not only in my life but in the lives of others. May your will be done in the lives of people I love, my husband, my daughter, our church, and those I rub shoulders with every day.
Thank you for your abundant daily provision. May I be mindful of those who are less fortunate. Help Richard and the ministerial alliance of pastors and churches be true ministers of the gospel by way of our food pantry in this community. Let us see past our need for physical food and point our hearts and others to the manna from Heaven.
Forgive me, Lord, for sinful thoughts, actions, and words. Help me to forgive others and love them sincerely.
The enemy, Lord, is prowling like a lion. Thank you for always providing a way of escape from his clutches through your Word and the power of the Spirit in us.
For truly, there is no kingdom other than yours, eternal and glorious. Help me to focus on the eternal, steadying my heart’s compass to the true north, Jesus. And may you use me for your kingdom purposes while I am still here on earth. “Be a friend to the sister or brother who has hurt you. Don’t give up on people.
Additional comment:
In the last few weeks, God has been watering the soil of my heart to focus on the magnificent value of God’s Word and how to appropriate it. Also, ever since Ephesians 3:20 came to the forefront, along with the example of Maggie, not a day goes by that my prayers have not been challenged to apply this prayer on behalf of the circumstances I find myself involved in. People and their impossible situations have come up (perhaps I have just been more keenly aware of them, and it seems to have upped my antennae to ask God to do the impossible and to pray this BIG prayer. It is exciting!
Thursday: We Have Not Because We Ask Not
10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want.
We are not asking God.
We are asking with wrong motives-for our pleasure.
11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20?
Dee, I keep adding things to my Ephesians 3:20 prayer! I am not sure what to write here from the 5 that are on my list. Even the rains that kept popping up amid heat advisories in our county, God brought rain here, and I can think of at least three times now that it has happened. I can only cry tears of thanksgiving for such a personal way that God has been answering my prayers.
12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you.
Love for somebody who has hurt me. One day, I just woke up with an overwhelming sense of peace, and when I thought of that person, my heart went out to them. I reached out to this person since then, and God has taken out the strain of relating to them. This has to come from God alone.
13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not?
Wait on God. That is what I am doing along with my husband. We shared verses today; he, Ecclesiastes 3, and I, Ephesians 3:20
So excited for you. Seeing answers to prayer can be so motivating and I love that you are not giving up on people. I think we all tend to do this due to being limited by our human thinking. We need to remember anything is possible with God.
Friday: Action Assignment Report
14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 2:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven? My prayer has led me to some exciting ideas for our homeschool program that I think will breathe life into it and help us all to glorify God in the process. It will mean much more work for me but this is motivating and exciting and I can see the Lord’s hand in it. It has also given me confidence as we face challenges of many special needs in our group. I am planning to ask the 1 to 10 question to some of the kids today. I think that should be fun after they have all just been to VBS. It was a great success by the way. They all loved it and learned so much.
I just went back and read some comments from earlier in the week. Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers. And Dawn, what a bummer! It would have been fun to meet up. If I’m ever headed your direction by chance, I will look you up for sure.
Thursday: We Have Not Because We Ask Not
10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want.
—We don’t ask God for it and we have wrong motives. Lack of faith and selfishness keep us from receiving God’s answers to our prayers.
11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20?
—My request is for God to provide a buyer for Tyce’s former home and to glorify Himself in the process.
12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you.
—My relationship with my oldest daughter was somewhat strained and I asked God to heal some old wounds between us. He has brought us together recently in meaningful ways. I see we both sought the Lord and the result of our own personal relationships with Him has resulted in drawing us closer together.
13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not?
—I am finding the importance of waiting on God. I try not to act on my own impulses when there isn’t clarity from Him. Also I want to have biblical affirmation from Him. I find it always good to ask What does His Word say in relationship to whether something is within his will. Often God uses scripture to impress on my heart affirmation of his will but there are any prohibitions in the Bible regarding something then it is not His will.
Friday: Action Assignment Report
14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 2:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven?
—I don’t have anything to report yet but I am confident that God is at work and I am convinced it is good to wait on the Lord.
Bev, I, too, am waiting on the Lord. I try not to act on my own impulses when there isn’t clarity from Him. Also I want to have biblical affirmation from Him. I find it always good to ask What does His Word say in relationship to whether something is within his will. Often God uses scripture to impress on my heart affirmation of his will but there are any prohibitions in the Bible regarding something then it is not His will.
Wednesday: Practicing the Lord’s Prayer I’m going to make it personal for me today — then it is your turn. 9. Your turn. – You are my Father in heaven, and you sit and reign above all things. Your name is worthy to be praised. Your Kingdom is coming back, and it will be your will that is done here on earth, and it will copy what is being done already in heaven. Provide my needs for each day Lord, though they may be different from day to day, give me what is needed to face each day. I ask that you forgive me, as daily I’m a sinner who tries to do what glorifies you, but your forgiveness and guidance is needed each day that I have on earth. Help me to not see my temptations as fun and easy but steer me away from all things that are not from you. Help my discernment grow to see the schemes of the enemy so I can be free from his grasp. Your kingdom and your power and your glory will win in the end and the new world will be a true blessing to us all. Amen!
Thursday: We Have Not Because We Ask Not 10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want. – For one we don’t ask God and the 2nd is when we do ask, we ask for things with the wrong motives. It’s not heartfelt needs or wants, but foolish, selfish mind wants. 11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20? – I asked God to provide healing to my friends with cancer and for minds of friends and grandson to be as they were meant to be. 12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you. – God has provided the words to flow out of my mouth as I write devotionals to daily scriptures and to have the ‘courage’ needed to verbally speak these devotionals out on video form. I just kept feeling the nudge to write them out and started doing that and recently it was mentioned by two different people that I should be putting them on video for a devotional app I follow. I could not do either without Him. He is providing what I need each time I write or speak one out. 13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not? – I try and wait and ask Him to provide confirmation in some way, so I know that I’m in His will. If it’s in His will I usually get confirmation in either word or written form from someone I trust. If it’s no, I usually get a ‘sickening’ kind of feeling, like oh man, what did I just do, and if I’ve stepped out too fast, he has taken care of it in a way that I was not affected.
Friday: Action Assignment Report 14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 2:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven? – God is providing one of our friends with a new treatment plan that will be started to attack the new area. Our other friend has a doctor’s appointment today that will give him some new answers so he can make the necessary decisions on his treatment plan. I’m trusting God that both of our friends will be healed and have a life here on earth longer than what doctors said from the start. They are both strong Christian men and have their faith and trust in God for what He has planned for them.
10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want.
We don’t even ask and we have the wrong motives for asking.
11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20?
Foe my daughter to soften her heart and remember she is of God. He loves her and wants her to be with Him.
12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you.
I was struggling with having close (in proximity) friends, and He made a way for my former friends and I to connect.
13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not?
Hmmmm….good question. If it isn’t of God then it probably isn’t in His will. For example, losing 10 – 20 pounds would be great, but if I’m not willing to remember to be in self-control (as He asks us to be) then it probably won’t happen. Concentrating on Him, not food is most important.
14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 2:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven?
Well, our daughter never came to visit us, so I was unable to talk with her about faith and hope of eternity. She most likely won’t be amenable because her husband has hijacked her brain with the Israel/Palestinian conflict and she is believing propaganda. There is no clear reporting, at this point, to understand exactly what is going on there. For one, Hamas is a terrorist organization. That’s who is leading the Palestinians. We know how that turns out. I did listen to some of an interview with Bill Hemmer on Fox with Netanyahu and regular Palestinian citizens who say no one is being murdered in line for supplies. Who knows 🤷🏻♀️? I will continue to pray for her soul.
I thought about asking my son but chickened out. I was extremely tired and didn’t have it in me to have the conversation.
I will say that many friends and I are doing a daily devotional and this latest one is on waiting patiently for the Lord to move! I thought that was interesting, and timely!
The right time will come. The devo sounds great. I was completely distracted yesterday with harvesting from my garden, but will look for opportunity today with the kids on the question about heaven.
Laura, I, too, love what you said about “waiting patiently for God to move!” It is hard. I find this comparison of the meaning of time helpful. https://thisvsthat.io/chronos-vs-kairos
Chronos and Kairos are two concepts that represent different aspects of time. Chronos refers to chronological time, the linear progression of seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years. It is measured and quantifiable, representing the passage of time in a systematic and predictable manner. On the other hand, Kairos represents a qualitative, opportune moment in time. It is not bound by the constraints of a clock or calendar, but rather focuses on the significance and quality of a particular moment. While Chronos is concerned with the quantity of time, Kairos is concerned with the quality of time and the opportunities it presents.
I want predictability (chronos) and God works more, the kairos way, if I rightly interpreted the above.
Friday: Action Assignment Report
14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 3:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven?
I have mentioned my feelings of resignation to what I thought would always be a struggle in my heart towards others, especially to a few Christian brothers and sisters. Although I go back and forth on this, I find my soul and mind being nudged back to the truth of God’s word and not to depend on my feelings. I feel God asking me to go deeper with him, and He is helping me articulate what my true heart motive is for my prayers.
In some sense, He is doing more than I could have asked or imagined in this regard. Courage seems to be the overarching Ephesians 3:20 theme of my prayers. Courage to love and not be afraid to get hurt, courage not to give up on people, courage to face my shortcomings and sins, and courage to move forward in unknown territories.
Saturday:
15. What is your takeaway and why?
To pray without ceasing and not be encumbered by what I think I should do-keep a journal, be diligent with keeping tab of answers, thanking God, be good, be nice, share the good news-all can be a product of performance rather than seeking God’s face first, spending time with him and all the above things will be given to me, in that order. Rabbit trailing here and feel like I am all over the place. Thank God He is patient with me. I remember Tim Keller’s quote from St. Augustine-
“The essence of sin is disordered love.”Disordered loves means that we often love less-important things more, and more-important things less than we ought to,…
I like your rabbit trail. It shows your heart. It takes a lot to look at ourselves and question our motives and our courage. I too have been feeling nudged to just spend time with the Lord. I listened to a lovely YouTube recording of Elizabeth Elliot speaking about how to keep a quiet heart. It was directed especially towards mothers and full of so much wisdom. I plan to listen again today. The wedding coming up on Saturday has me pondering what is really important. We rush about in life doing so many things we think are important, but are we loving and doing what is really important? Thank you for your rabbit trail Bing.
Oh, Chris! Thank you for being so kind to me. I know I can rabbit-trail here, as I feel safe in sharing what is in my heart. As a pastor’s wife, I tread lightly in some of my relationships/interactions, not out of fear, but out of discretion and sensitivity (I hope). It can get lonely at times, so this blog is a true gift to me. Not wanting to put anybody on a pedestal, but to avail myself of the wondrous gift of Christian friendship that God has given me through all of you. I will listen to E. Elliot-I think I have heard this once before.
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I am having some women from various churches to my home this morning to pray and talk about going into our one big assisted living facility with a 5 week Bible study where we’d sing, I’d teach a little, and then mix up these younger women with the older in small groups. The hardest thing may be finding a time where most if not all can come — but that’s always hurtful to leave some out. Here is my 3:20 prayer:
Father,
I know you care about us as our bodies wear out, and I pray You would give us hearts of compassion and love, enthusiasm, and Your plan for how to reach, grow, and minister to these women. Please show us the best time to meet. I pray they will have a desire to pass out invites to those they know, and that those people would pass out invites to those they know. I also ask for favor with the director, though she does not know you, but is allowing us to come. Be with the sitter this morning too and keep the children safe. A big dream I have is that one or two of the women might bring the children in to a different part of the facility while we meet to do crafts or something with those residents who are not able or interested in attending. Like Maggie said, I don’t want to minimize You! In Jesus name I pray.
I love this beautiful prayer, Dee. Trusting the Lord to do many miracles in this ministry to those in the Assisted Living Home. It would be wonderful to have the children interacting with the residents.
Sunday:
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week? The shower was lovely. We had 14 adults and four children in attendance. The Lord did give me time to sit in his presence and feel confident of the material to share. I read from Ephesians 5 and shared some excerpts from Tim Keller’s book, The Meaning of Marriage, which I believed would encourage everyone in the room. The bride thanked me specifically for the devotional, and her grandmother, who I believe is the only other Christian in her family. Her grandmother said she liked the changes she has seen in her granddaughter. She was baptized last summer after attending church with our son, which we had let her know was a requirement if they were going to be dating. It turned out she had wanted this. Overall, I am encouraged. I think it helped a lot for all the sisters of the bride on both sides to go out on Saturday. As a bachelorette outing, they went thrifting, to lunch and the beach in Holland, MI. They were able to establish connections and break down barriers. I’m continuing to pray now for more opportunities as the wedding approaches for conversations that could lead to spiritual growth. Thank you to all who prayed for me. I definitely felt confidence that can only come with time in prayer.
As a side note, Dee, I had no idea you were 80! Praying many more years for you. My mothers (my step-mom and my bio-mom) are both 80. Interestingly, my bio-mom is in Wisconsin and missed the shower, and my step-mom is leaving for Wisconsin this morning for a week long trip to Milwaukee. She is taking the ferry across the lake from Muskegon.
I do love the prayers your friends prayed for their children. Intentional prayers are important. I like the mention of what’s being prayed for and whether the request is eternal in nature. I have been convicted this past year to pray more eternal focused prayers and to use more scripture when praying. I find it so much more satisfying and I believe effective. I find myself going back to old ways and making my list which is quite earthly focused, but when I look for scripture to pray over top of these earthly requests, it changes the focus to eternal and gives me peace about them.
In my rush, I realize that I typed this to read as though baptism was a requirement for dating our son, when I meant church attendance. Oops! Baptism came later of her own desire.
Chris! Praising God for this wonderful answer to prayer! I have prayed for you each day and I know the other ladies have prayed too. I love the way you are praying and the eternal prayers. So good: I like the mention of what’s being prayed for and whether the request is eternal in nature. I have been convicted this past year to pray more eternal focused prayers and to use more scripture when praying. I find it so much more satisfying and I believe effective. I find myself going back to old ways and making my list which is quite earthly focused, but when I look for scripture to pray over top of these earthly requests, it changes the focus to eternal and gives me peace about them.
Chris, I love this “I have been convicted this past year to pray more eternal focused prayers and to use more scripture when praying. I find it so much more satisfying and I believe effective. I find myself going back to old ways and making my list which is quite earthly focused, but when I look for scripture to pray over top of these earthly requests, it changes the focus to eternal and gives me peace about them. and have had the same conviction about praying more eternal-focused prayers.
Such good news on the shower. Oh Lord, how I pray You will capture this bride-to-be’s heart and bless generations to come.
So glad for you Chris. Sounds like God was with you for sure and that hearts were opened to hear and listen.
Thank You Jesus!
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week?
I was blessed to spend time with a dear friend of my daughter, who has become a friend of mine. We had a lovely brunch at her mother’s home. Her father died a few months ago, so she and her kids are moving in to her mother’s lovely and spacious home in the country. I had never met her mother, but we had an instant good connection. Thanking the Lord for being very present. It has been a devastating year for all of them, yet I see God’s hand on their lives. They are spiritual, not believers, yet Anna-Lisa sees God’s hand in all the tragedy they have experienced in the past few months. Anna-Lisa’s ex- husband passed away two weeks ago. Praying Ephesians 3:20 for this precious family. I know this sounds like an upside down blessing, but God is moving in their hearts.
I love that the Lord gave you opportunity to help others facing loss. He knows how to use us. I love your upside down prayer for them and that you can see him working in their hearts.
This sounds like a divine connection, Patti.
WOW Patti, what a blessing you have been for her.
Praying for Anna-Lisa, Patti.
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week?
More rest for my body and mind this past week. We came home from the beach and spent the week regrouping and catching up on a few Dr appts and other activities. Pretty soon life will “ramp up” and be crazy for the next 10 months.
Specifically, the friend I have been back in touch with (along with our other friend) is having a “conversion” of sorts, in her faith. She is realizing she needs to connect more with God and our other friend and I are part of the plan! It is so sweet to see her changing her life in front of our eyes! She asked me what “worship” was to me. She said she had a dream or a thought during praying, and God said she needed to worship, to just worship Him. I feel privileged to be able to watch her growth! She burst into tears when she told me it was sweet. I told her my ideas about noticing the beauty of the Earth every moment I can, and singing worship songs. Please join me in praying that my friend Julie continues to connect with God in all she does. Thank You Lord.
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see?
The first thing that sticks out to me is the “…glory of God…”
Next is the “…mighty power within us…”
Finally, “…accomplish infinitely more…”
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday.
I suppose I could ask several people the “Heaven meter” question and see what responses I get. Not really sure here because that seems like the obvious, easiest way to complete this question. I usually like to be more creative and find another way.
Let me make sure I understand the assignment….we aren’t praying for something in our lives to develop a certain way, rather praying to be part of the Great Commission. Is that right? For example, could I pray for a family member to soften their heart through something I say or do to help them. Or is this more about watching the Spirit move through a person and bring them more to Jesus? I’m kind of confused, I guess.
That’s great about your friend.
Laura — I probably confused you — you have a choice of praying Ephesians 2:30 specifically — and I’ve encouraged you to ask for something more eternal — it might be for an open door to share the gospel, or it might be to see a real softening of a heart — or an opportunity to use your dance to glorify Him.
The other choice is to share the gospel using the 1-to-10 method — but you certainly could share the gospel your own Spirit-led way — that was just meant to be a help for those who have no idea how to begin.
You may want to do both — for they do work hand in glove.
Oh, Laura! I love seeing what is happening with your friends! Thank you Lord. I pray that the Lord will guide you and give you direction and His perfect words!
What an awesome move from God with your friend Julie, Laura. God definitely is opening the eyes of those who are weary and eager to see Him work.
Okay, thanks for your help here Dee. Here goes…
I am asking God, with expectation, that our daughter’s heart be softened, and she will remember her growing up with God. That she will specifically remember that she is a child of God and that He loves her as His daughter. With this knowledge I would ask, boldly, that she recommits her life to Him and throws away her own present, sinful ways. I know this may be a rejection of her current living situation and even of the painful court proceedings which we endure. I’m not sure what that will look like with respect to myself and how I am to behave to help this happen. I am searching my heart for a way to broach the subject with her. We are headed back to the beach for a few days so I might have the chance to talk to her if she agrees to come. I know God can do anything, even when it seems impossible to me. Thank You Lord, in advance, for all You do for me and my family. Amen.
I will join you in praying, Laura. I understand how answers can seem impossible, yet God does do the impossible!
I also think I might ask her to rate herself on the scale 😉
Laura, I love your prayer for your daughter.
So agree with your prayer and for wisdom and timing to ask her the 1 to 10 question.
Monday: Praying Ephesians 3:20 boldly.
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see? When praying for spiritual strength, we look to God who is able to more than we ask or imagine AND it is done according to the power at work in US. I find I need to remind myself of this. Why do I tend to think it is up to me? That is when I begin to fear, but when I trust in God’s power, I have peace.
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday. Hmm. I’m looking for guidance in homeschool planning this week. While the grandkids and my youngest are at VBS Tuesday-Thursday, I expect to get some planning done for our school year. It’s a big task and probably will take more time than I have this week, but I hope to get a good start. I really like the Ephesians 1:18 prayer and want to make that the focus of our school year. I pray that the Lord will guide me in content and activities that will enlighten the eyes of our hearts (all the moms & kids) that we may know what is the hope to which he has called us and what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. I’m also including part of verse 19, that we may know the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might. May we see these things in what we learn about creation through our math, reading, writing and other subjects. Help us keep our focus on you, Lord. I believe we can draw our faith into what we learn and deepen our trust in you when we are intentional and careful to plan our days. In Jesus name, I pray.
And of course, I am praying for the VBS volunteers and their impact on the hearts of the children attending. May you be glorified and your people be magnified.
Wonderful prayers, Chris!
HOW MANY AND WHAT AGES DO YOU HOMESCHOOL? What a gift to them.
Amen to Dee! I have read this several times, Chris and it takes my breath away. What a blessing you are! May God uphold you in all you do!
Thank you all for your prayers and support. It means so much.
We have 6 families total, ages 8-babies, 15 total children. 10 are preschool-2nd grade. I have a 17 year old who is still figuring out her path to graduate and working with a tutor. I am personally teaching my 7 year old day to day, but all the families meet on Fridays during the school year to collaborate on some things and do field trips. I have been homeschooling since 1996, when my oldest daughter turned 4 years old. I have used various curriculums over the years and thought I would sit down yesterday and review what I have used in the past for the 2nd grade and lay out our year with field trips and co-op plans, but the Lord has lead me in a completely new direction. Wouldn’t you know, I am researching something I have never used before, but am very excited about. I believe it will be something exciting for me and for our whole group. It is a Christ centered program and works intuitively in a family dynamic, where other curriculums tend to bring the idea of the traditional school into the home. This one makes the home the learning environment. I am loving the philosophy but I have much to learn, so its looking like early mornings for me and much leaning on the Lord to “plan as we go.” It is funny, because in all my years of homeschooling, I have never imagined myself in this place of leading a group and mentoring other moms. I have a friend from church who is coming on Wednesday to ask questions about her planning for the year. It’s just wild to me to be in this place. Prayers for wisdom, because I want what I say to be led by the Lord and pleasing to Him. It is such a big responsibility.
I know those years of homeschooling will bear so much fruit.
Wow, Chris that’s quite an age range from your oldest to your youngest!
I homeschooled my 4 sons from 1995 to 2011. My youngest never went to public school, I started when the older boys were in 5th, 3rd, and 1st grade. We ended up sending the oldest son to a private high school as he and I were butting heads all of the time and it was making life miserable for everyone. I worked full time as well so I counted on my husband to do most of the co-op and field trips (the fun stuff).
When I started college classes in 2012, I aced the entrance exams and I said well I’ve been teaching all high school subjects for the last 8 years. I hope I retained some knowledge!
I hope the new direction that you’re being lead in will be fun and enriching for both of you!
I pray that you are guided by the Spirit here. I love homeschooling. I have b only done it for a couple of years when my kids were very young. I want to homeschool the grands but I’m not sure how it will work out.
Chris, homeschooling! Wow! I love it! ad I do admire homeschooling moms-I have a few of them. And love your prayers-specific and Scripture-based.
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see?
”Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works with in us”
God is able. He will do things beyond what we ask . God will answer our prayers in ways we cannot even think of or often comprehend. When we come before Him in humility and sincerity, He will answers our prayers so that He will be glorified. He has given us gifts and He can give us His words in His time that will glorify Him. May we ask on His Name and may He be glorified in the answer to our prayer. May others see Him in all we do and say.
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday.
Dear Father in Heaven, Lord over all the heavens and the earth, I Praise You and glorify Your Name above all Names. Your power is great and Your ways are beyond my understanding, yet I know that Your will is good. I pray that I will speak Your Word in tender kindness to those I interact with this week, I specifically pray for Anna-Lisa’s family, that I will get to know them and that they will have Your light in their lives. It is hard when they have had negative experiences with Judaism. You know this precious and loving family. They have had much pain in a short time. I pray for healing, love and peace in their hearts. Help me to show your love in gentle ways and help me to build a wonderful relationship with each of them. May You be glorified in all I do and say. May I never minimize Your power and Your grace. In the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray.
I also pray for a miracle in my family. I pray that you will turn the one with an angry and self focused heart to You. I cannot do anything but pray, for I have been cut out of this life. I cannot even envision an answer to this prayer, but I trust this child to You, for You are the creator and You alone know what can cause and what can cure one heart that is so troubled. Only You dear Jesus can change this heart in Your way and Your time. Help me to never minimize You, Your power and Your grace. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, I pray.
Patti, praying the Lord gives you wisdom for your friends needs and gives you a miracle cure for your child’s heart. May healing begin in both areas of need.
Thank you, dear Chris.
I so agree with your prayers, Patti!
Thank you, Dee.
Patti, I love that you are asking God-size prayers! It is a very worthy example of being other person-oriented. I am learning from you as I do from the others here.
Sunday:
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week? – The Lord blessed me this week, by giving me moments of laughter amidst the pain and suffering.
Oh, thank you for the laughter.
Julie, Thanking God for these sweet moments of joy, in painful times.
Yes, Julie, I, too, am thankful for laughter this week.
Monday: Praying Ephesians 3:20 boldly.
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see? – “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…” What I see is that the direction of who is being talked to seems to have changed with the word ‘now’. I also see that God will work in us as much as we’ve put in. How much of God’s word we have embedded in our hearts is the measure that God will work for us.
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday. – Lord, I know you can do all things and I’m asking to see healing in my friends who have cancer raging in their bodies. I ask for doors to open quickly and treatment plans to be set in place and quickly work. I ask for minds that are failing to be young and wise and for minds that are confused to be made new with understanding. Help me to always seek you first and in a bold way so you can work through me in a mighty way.
Lord, may you be glorified in Julie’s friends and her ability to help that situation.
Amen to Chris’s prayer, dear Julie. May God be glorified.
Amen, Julie!
4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise.
You are my Father, You are Holy in all ways like no other, Your Name is Holy, Your kingdom is all encompassing, Your will is perfect in heaven and on earth, Your are all power and You are glory
5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin.
Forgive our sins and give us the humility to forgive those who sin against us. Lead me away from temptation to sin. Deliver me from evil.
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity.
Protect my heart and mind from the desires that would cause me to sin; deliver me from all evil thoughts and acts. Lead us away from temptation.
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day
Give us this day our daily bread, forgive me daily for my sins,
8. What did you learn from this exercise? God is good, He desires our worship and obedience. He provides all we need. His will is perfect, even when we cannot see it. God knows our temptations and weaknesses and He desires that we ask Him for our needs and help when we are tempted to sin. He desires our love, obedience and respect. We reside in His kingdom and we are to live to glorify Him and His Name. It is about Him being at the center of our lives, not us.
Sunday:
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week?
—We had dinner with old friends, dear friends that we had not seen in a number of months. My friend Sara had just finished reading “Imagine Heaven” by John Burke. She was excited about what she had read because it had brought her a great measure of peace about death, dying and had encouraged her in the glorious hope of Heaven. I put a copy on my Kindle and have now finished reading it myself. I will be curious to know if any of you have heard of it or read it. The author examined hundreds of stories from people who had near death experiences and considered similarities from each of their experiences in light of what the Bible teaches about Heaven. Basically he was wanting to see if there were patterns that lined up with scriptural accounts of Heaven. All in all it gives an amazing picture of what Heaven is like and the glorious hope we have in God and our Savior Jesus. And causes you to want to live in the light of His love in a much greater measure. I was blessed by reading it.
Monday: Praying Ephesians 3:20 boldly.
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see?
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Ephesians 3:20 NLT
—The NLT version first gives glory or praise to God. It is always good to stop first and give glory to God.
Next it says He is able. He has complete ability to accomplish anything because of his mighty power. I think of the scripture from 2nd Corinthians 10:4 KJV
“(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”. That phrase “but mighty through God” speaks to a power beyond anything we can know apart from God. But the interesting thing is that his mighty power is at work in us. I have to admit I don’t “feel” very powerful. Actually I feel pretty weak in myself but the verse goes on to say that power, His power, can accomplish way beyond anything I can imagine.
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday.
—I am asking God to provide a buyer for our son’s home. They have purchased a home in Lincoln where they moved and need to sell the old one. The market here in small town America is different than in larger places. The house has some needs that make it harder to sell. I am asking God to glorify Himself in the sale because Ephesians 3:20 says He is able to do accomplish more than we ask or think. The request and the need is practical but everything in our lives has spiritual connotations. We address the practical but our faith has to remain in Him to accomplish it. I trust there is a witness for God in all of the dealings surrounding the sale.
I do have that book, Bev. I have not read the entire book, but I have enjoyed it. I have heard a few interview with John Burke. Sean McDowell had him on his YouTube show and it was excellent. I enjoyed the interview and it was very good. I will pray for your son’s home sale. May it be a blessing to the buyer and to your son.
Lord, I lift up the home of Bev’s son and ask that you open the eyes of the new homer for them to see this listing and not be afraid of what might need to be done. You can make all things new and we pray for your peace to be felt as this new homeowner walks through the home. You did it for me way back when and I believe and trust you will do it again for Bev’s son. Bless the work that he is doing for your kingdom and make this ‘old’ home a blessing to the new homeowner. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!
Bev, praying for your son’s home to sell, and it would be a blessing for them and for the buyer. We have been there, had a few offers, and when the God-sent buyers finally came, they were what we were hoping for, specific to our prayers.
Bev, I just read the introduction to the book. It is fascinating and I believe people do see glimpses of heaven in these near death experiences. I do wonder what our sweet Lucy saw and what she is doing there now. I loved the look on my dad’s face as he was leaving this earth. It’s funny how kids think. My son has seen so many die in his short life and thinks heaven will be boring because we will just lay there asleep. I try to help him understand we get new bodies, but he has a hard time trying to understand this.
Tuesday: Insight from The Lord’s Prayer
4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise. – Our Father, who are in heaven – Lord you are above all things; Hallowed be thy name – Your name, Lord, is worthy to be lifted up; Thy kingdom come, thy will be done – Your kingdom and your will, will reign on high
5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin. – Forgive us our trespasses – Lord, please forgive me of my sins; Lead us not into temptation – Lord only you can help me stay on the path that leads to you; Deliver us from evil – The enemy may attack, but you will be by my side and deliver me out of it in some way.
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity. – Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven – Lord, I know I will be with you in eternity; Forgive us from our trespasses – Lord, cleanse my soul from sin; Deliver us from evil – Help me see the evils of this world and help me stay clear of them.
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day. – Give us this day, our daily bread – You will provide all of my needs each and every day
8. What did you learn from this exercise? – When I pulled up the prayer on my phone to see each verse without scrolling up and down, I found a little bit more. I found the following broken down key parts and thought these were so good…It has our ‘Address to God’ (establishes a personal relationship with God as our Father); ‘Hallowing God’s name’ (expresses reverence and respect for God); ‘God’s Kingdom’ (expresses a desire for God’s will to be enacted on earth as it is in heaven); ‘Daily needs’ (is a request for provision and sustenance); ‘Forgiveness’ (highlights the importance of forgiveness both receiving and giving it); ‘Protection’ (is a plea for protection from temptation and evil forces). This exercise has made me more aware of how deep this prayer goes and that in order for me to be protected and in the presence of God, I need to be saying and meaning this prayer every day.
Oh, Julie! I love the broken down key parts you added. Thank you so much. It is such a deep and meaningful prayer…and yes! I, too, need to say it with meaning every day.
Julie, I love this!
Great insights, Julie.
Julie, I so agree with everyone else here. What you wrote out is beautifully done and so meaningful.
4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever.
5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven.
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
8. What did you learn from this exercise?
I learned to meditate to understand the meaning better.
Sunday:
1. How has the Lord blessed you this week?
I started the monthly Scripture writing for August, which I do with a Facebook group I belong to. This month is on “Peace”. Oh, how I so needed it! Writing the scripture brought an awareness of my idols and where I looked for peace. I felt like I was being washed clean inside as I prayed my tears (thank you, Tim Keller), and prayed for a renewed heart and mind.
Bing, I too am doing a monthly Scripture writing on “peace.” I agree with you…”oh, how I so needed it!
1. Write out Ephesians 3:20. What do you see?
Now to him who is able to IMMEASURABLY more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is work within us…
The words, able ( sufficient power, skill, or resources), immeasurably (cannot be measured), more than ( it is always by His math), his power that is at work within us ( I have been changed and only God can do that in me, and He can do more in my life)
2. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, this week. Hopefully, you will be able to report on Friday.
I just shared this verse with a friend as I pray for her husband to find a job. He just lost his job last week; no warning, just an email that they were laying off people because of a lack of revenue. Just like that. They have two young kids, and she is a stay-at-home mom and used to be a nurse. Lord, you can open up a job opportunity for the husband of my friend. And you will use this time to draw him closer to you, more than ever before, as my friend has requested.
For my heart to stay on you even when the going gets tough. I am already seeing you change my heart in some relationships I have been struggling with. This peace and a love for people can only come from you. I have unconsciously resigned myself to a long struggle, but I know that you can do more than I could ask or imagine. Thank you for this promise, and I can totally avail myself of it.
I thought of Joni E. Tada’s song: I am willing Lord, I am willing Lord, To be just exactly what You want me to be. Help me to be willing, Lord.
Bing, Your comment “I have unconsciously resigned myself to a long struggle, but I know that you can do more than I could ask or imagine.” resonated with me. I too have resigned myself to some relationship struggles but God has made me question the validity of doing that. I have questioned whether I choose to allow my thinking to settle into resignation when rescue is what I need and He is able to set my spirit free. It’s hard in this flesh and I haven’t arrived but I have a strong sense of hope about it. Bing I have no idea if this helps in some of your relationship issues but a story from my son Tyce. Before he moved from our community he had a relationship that he made one last attempt to reconcile with the help of another objective pastor as the mediator. When the session was finished the wife of the couple chose to stay in her bitterness and refused to reconcile. Tyce felt her husband wanted to but she is a very strong personality. On Tyce’s part he told me “Mom I had to let it all go and put it behind me and leave it with God so I could move on.” But his point was he felt he had done all he could and should do to forgive and now he should not carry the weight of it any longer or hold anything against them. It made him sad on their part because they carry the burden of their unforgiveness with them but when he is tempted to concern himself with it he just brings it back to God and leaves it there. He also said “Mom. You have to let it go too.” He knew I would struggle in my heart because of the mamma bear syndrome and because we live in a small town and I occasionally cross paths with them. We saw them at a restaurant just the other night and I pretty much just feel sad for them now.
Bev, thank you for your sensitivity to my posting and your exhortation. I am glad you did so because it is a confirmation of what God has been teaching me lately. Your words have inspired hope in my heart; in fact, the last 2 days have been evidence of God’s Ephesians 3:20 way. Thank you very much! ” I too have resigned myself to some relationship struggles but God has made me question the validity of doing that. I have questioned whether I choose to allow my thinking to settle into resignation when rescue is what I need and He is able to set my spirit free. It’s hard in this flesh and I haven’t arrived but I have a strong sense of hope about it.”
2. Write out Ephesians 3:20. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. What do you see? No matter how farfetched you think that your hopes are that you can accomplish for the kingdom, God says that He can do more than what you can even imagine.
3. Using Ephesians 3:20, make your specific request in accordance with His Word and Spirit, and be ready to report. Ask the Lord for guidance and write your request here for what you would love to see Him do through His power and through you, His willing vessel, Since I’ve pretty much been a recluse lately, only having in person contact with my family, I guess my request would be to have one meaningful encounter with someone outside of my family.
Awe, Dawn. How are you doing? I’d love to come visit you, if you are close by. Wouldn’t that be something if we live near each other? Are you possibly in the Grand Rapids area ?
It’s too bad that we don’t live closer, Chris. I live about 50 miles from Detroit.
I’m still in pain though not as severe. My surgery is scheduled for the 14th. 11 weeks after I injured myself.
You guys should meet up in Lansing when Dawn is better! Wish I could come too 😉
Dawn, I so understand how difficult it can be to be isolated. I pray that the Lord will bring a friend your way. It would be so lovely if you and Chris lived near one another!
4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin.
forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day.
Give us this day our daily bread
8. What did you learn from this exercise?
There are many more words about confessing sin and protection from sin. The verses before this prayer in Matthew say, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him..” and the verses after talk about forgiveness-this is why we pray this prayer. Not to get things we need, but to be forgiven and to forgive others. And he knows that is exactly what I need to work on the most. This is the thing that keeps me and all of us prisoner to our sin, for we are not forgiven unless we can first forgive others.
Love this Chris. Concise, clear and true!
9. Your turn.- Dee, I like that you prayed for your children and grandchildren to do the same. I see this in scripture. We need to be praying for our children/grandchildren.
Our Father in heaven, you have set the stars in place and told the sea how far to go, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Oh, how this world is struggling to see how you do things in heaven. Lord help me to be a light to shine your love on others. Give us this day our daily bread, as I know we have nothing without your will giving it to us. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors -oh, Lord, you know how hard this is and that some things we cannot possibly forgive in our own strength. Lord, as Corrie was able to lift her hand and forgive the soldier she was under in the camps, give me your strength to forgive those who have hurt me and my family in unimaginable ways. Show me Lord, your heart for them-I cannot do this in my own strength for I have none. Free me from this burden by the blood of Jesus. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Lord, we face temptation every day. May we be wise and turn from it-show me Lord the way out. Help me to always turn to you in prayer when I am tempted to sin in my thoughts or actions. Turn my mind to praise of you instead. I pray this for my children and grandchildren as well. Amen.
I got a text Monday from the aunt of my son’s fiancé, who helped me with the shower. She thanked me for the devotions at the shower and liked the reminder of Titus 3 and said she hoped that some hearts were changed. In addition, her dad, who brought her mom to the shower, said that his grandfather had owned our farm many years ago. What a small world! So the great great grandfather of our future DIL, used to own our farm. I’m off to the genealogical society in town this afternoon to look up some records of our farm. How crazy to have this connection with her family. Maybe the Lord has some work in this for her parents to open their hearts to us and Him.
Love this feedback to the shower, Chris.
Chris, this gives me good chills! Wow! It reminds us of how involved God is in the details of our lives. ‘the great great grandfather of our future DIL, used to own our farm. I’m off to the genealogical society in town this afternoon to look up some records of our farm. How crazy to have this connection with her family. Maybe the Lord has some work in this for her parents to open their hearts to us and Him.”
Wow! That is so amazing about the farm. Small world for sure.
Tuesday: Insight into the Lord’s prayer
1. 4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise.
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name
For thine is the kingdom and power and the glory. Amen!
2. 5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen!
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Amen!
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day.
Give us this day our daily bread, Amen!
8. What did you learn from this exercise?
I think of the acrostic, ACTS for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
I think of amen as “so be it” and claim it.
Remembering who I am praying to.
This is so cool, Bing: I think of the acrostic, ACTS for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
9. Your turn.
Dear Lord, my Father, Creator, most Holy God, the Alpha and Omega. I Praise You and Glorify Your Name. I love You Lord. Dearest Jesus, Help me to love You above all else in this life. I pray that You will guide my way, my thoughts and words each day. I pray that I can represent You well to others, so they will desire to know You.
I pray that You will guide my words and actions to draw my children and grandchildren closer to You. May they all come to know You in a deep and personal way, so that we all will be part of your Heavenly family. Thank you for providing for me before I know what I need.
Forgive me for my sins and my sins of omission. Lord, if I have hurt anyone, I pray for healing for that soul. Help me to fully forgive anyone who has hurt me, and do not let me hang on to wrongs that have been done in the past. Let me also be discerning about cheap grace and false forgiveness.
Lord, I pray that you will keep me strong when temptation comes my way. Give me wisdom to see what is evil, even when it is disguised. Father, help me to find ways to serve and to honor you in all I do. I pray that I will show love, kindness be compassion to all I meet. Help me to think less about myself and more about others. You are the Creator of everything, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. How I want to live a life, so that I may Praise You in heaven for eternity.
So good, Patti. Are you feeling like you are having more contact with your children and grandchildren now with this move?
I do communicate with all my grandchildren. I am closest to Dawn’s girls and to Hannah, who lives in Nashville.
So glad for that. I know it is so hard to move from a place of so many friends.
I have missed being unable to participate these past two weeks but have so enjoyed reading what everyone has written…I continue to learn so much from y’all!!
We have been busy with both of our grandsons during this summer break…having them all day 2-3 days a week is exhausting but very enjoyable. God has answered prayer in being able to start the day with them by being in His word and prayer. I did ask them the 1-10 heaven question and their responses were 5-6. It gave me the opportunity to ask more questions and share that it’s believing that Jesus died for our sins and not our goodness that saves us. I know the 11 year old understands but the 6 year old is trying to. I just ask God to open their precious eyes of understanding❤️
Please know that y’all have been in my prayers and Lord willing I’ll be able to participate next week😊
I have missed you, Sharon! Love that you are in God’s Word with your grandsons! Precious moments.🙏💕
Sharon, I have missed you here but totally understand the busy with grands concept! So sweet that they said 5-6 to the heaven meter. Aren’t children a blessing?
You were missed but love that time you had with your grands.
Tuesday: Insight from The Lord’s Prayer
4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise.
—Hallowed be Your name.
—Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin.
—And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
—And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity.
—Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day.
—Give us this day our daily bread
8. What did you learn from this exercise?
—I am reminded of how to pray in a way the covers all the basic needs for everyday life and for eternity. The Lord’s model for prayer begins and ends with calling me to focus on God and to acknowledge him as my Father which gives him first place in my life. Knowing Him as a Father brings great security to me in his love for me as his child. When I recognize the Holiness of his Person and his Name I show him the great awe and respect of Who he is above all others. The recognition of his kingdom, power and glory is also a reminder of Who He is in all of life and eternity. He even has eternity covered. 💕😊
In calling on Him for his will to be done on earth as in Heaven is to submit to his will and and says I am willing to align myself with His purposes and give up my own. In my flesh I want my own way but his ways are Heavenly ways not earthly ways. And far better. Physically and spiritually I can trust Him in all things at all times. We serve a wonderful God!
9. Your turn.
Dear Lord, You are Supreme! Thank You for Your Sacrifice! Thank You for saving my place in Heaven! You are Holy and I am blessed to have You as my Lord. You are in heaven now and I am here, on Earth. Help me remember that You will come back here and will take me with You. Please Lord come soon.
Lord, You left me here to spread Your Word, so others may also join in being with You and saved. Bless my words to them, as I encounter those who may not fully comprehend what You offer them. Especially help me to be patient and kind to my family members, as some of them are far away from You and some believe they are close but are truly not at this point in time.
Lord, You know what I need everyday. Help me to know the same and not be gluttonous, selfish, or unwise. Please forgive me for the stupid things I do every day. Ugh. How human am I! Let me remember that others are also as I am and need forgiveness as well.
Please Lord, guide the way for me, as I do not know the path because I am just human and do not know the correct way at times. I need You.
You are amazing God! Thank You for always being with me, no matter what. Your way is the only way.
Laura, I just love your genuine way of speaking to the Lord. Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
I love that too about Laura!
🥰
Amen to the others, Laura. You are always genuine!
Thursday: We Have Not Because We Ask Not
10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want. You do not ask or ask wrongly, for selfish reasons.
11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20? I had to look back and wow did I ask a lot: More connections with DIL family, they see the love of Christ in our family, Spirit to make me bold & give me wha they need to hear, my daughters’ hearts broken for the needs of her family, for the Lord to show us he can do all things and change lives through Christ.
12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you. He definitely answered most of my prayer. We now have this farm connection with her family, her aunt and grandma appreciated the devotion, which shows me they saw Christ. The Spirit did give me what I needed to say, the words they needed to hear. I did see my oldest daughter chatting with my DIL after the shower about a bible study book she had received as a gift and was excited about, and I know they want to share Christ whenever they can. I’m excited to see hearts change, if they are willing. I’m looking forward to this wedding.
13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not? I usually turn the thing over to God and pray, if it is your will. There are times we don’t know according to scripture, like if someone is ill and we wish for healing.
Excited about your answers, Chris.
Wednesday: Practicing the Lord’s Prayer
9. Your turn.
—Oh God You are my Heavenly Father and I am privileged to be your child. You are holy and completely righteous and your Name is above all names. There is none beside You and no one like You. You alone are worthy and I worship You.
It is my desire that your will is accomplished here in my life in this earthly flesh and that I choose to surrender to your ways and not my own. Your will is perfect and directed by heavenly motives which serve to purify my fleshly desires.
I trust You to provide for the needs I have today. Not just for my physical good but for my spiritual needs as well. I need spiritual food today and everyday to survive and flourish as I seek to live within Your will.
I thank you for the Cross which has provided for the forgiveness of my sin. My sins are many but your mercy is more. As I live my life in the reality of your grace and mercy please impress on my heart the need to forgive others. I have no right to hold the sins of others against them because You do not hold mine against me. Soften my heart to love as I have been loved.
Please be the Guide of my life away from all sin and I look to you for protection and deliverance from the evil of this fallen broken world.
Oh what wonderful hope is mine because Your kingdom has come and Your power has been demonstrated and Your glory has been revealed all because of Jesus and the Cross. I am in complete awe that for all eternity we will have the privilege of praising You for Who You are and will live forever in the light of Your love.
Bing, I made a comment on your August 5th posting.
4. Write out the phrases that are simply praise. Hallowed be thy name. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever
5. Write out the phrases that deal with confessing sin and protection from sin. Forgive us our trespasses. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
6. Write out the requests that deal with our souls and eternity. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever
7. Write out the request that deals with our bodily needs for this day. Give us this day our daily bread.
8. What did you learn from this exercise? This is a prayer that focuses on my relationship with God, as my provider, protector and eternal Father.
From Dawn on The Lord’s Prayer: This is a prayer that focuses on my relationship with God, as my provider, protector and eternal Father.
Oh Dawn, your answer on #8 sums it all up. So good!
Wednesday: Practicing the Lord’s Prayer
9. Your turn.
Thank you, God, for being my Father. You deserve all the glory, and may I praise your holy name daily.
May your kingdom permeate this world, and your light overcome the darkness that is looming over the earth. May your will be done in my life and may I not get in the way of your good purposes, not only in my life but in the lives of others. May your will be done in the lives of people I love, my husband, my daughter, our church, and those I rub shoulders with every day.
Thank you for your abundant daily provision. May I be mindful of those who are less fortunate. Help Richard and the ministerial alliance of pastors and churches be true ministers of the gospel by way of our food pantry in this community. Let us see past our need for physical food and point our hearts and others to the manna from Heaven.
Forgive me, Lord, for sinful thoughts, actions, and words. Help me to forgive others and love them sincerely.
The enemy, Lord, is prowling like a lion. Thank you for always providing a way of escape from his clutches through your Word and the power of the Spirit in us.
For truly, there is no kingdom other than yours, eternal and glorious. Help me to focus on the eternal, steadying my heart’s compass to the true north, Jesus. And may you use me for your kingdom purposes while I am still here on earth. “Be a friend to the sister or brother who has hurt you. Don’t give up on people.
Additional comment:
In the last few weeks, God has been watering the soil of my heart to focus on the magnificent value of God’s Word and how to appropriate it. Also, ever since Ephesians 3:20 came to the forefront, along with the example of Maggie, not a day goes by that my prayers have not been challenged to apply this prayer on behalf of the circumstances I find myself involved in. People and their impossible situations have come up (perhaps I have just been more keenly aware of them, and it seems to have upped my antennae to ask God to do the impossible and to pray this BIG prayer. It is exciting!
Exciting!
So good, Bing. I love how Maggie focused on eternal souls in her prayer, knowing God’s will that His Word go throughout the world!
Thursday: We Have Not Because We Ask Not
10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want.
We are not asking God.
We are asking with wrong motives-for our pleasure.
11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20?
Dee, I keep adding things to my Ephesians 3:20 prayer! I am not sure what to write here from the 5 that are on my list. Even the rains that kept popping up amid heat advisories in our county, God brought rain here, and I can think of at least three times now that it has happened. I can only cry tears of thanksgiving for such a personal way that God has been answering my prayers.
12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you.
Love for somebody who has hurt me. One day, I just woke up with an overwhelming sense of peace, and when I thought of that person, my heart went out to them. I reached out to this person since then, and God has taken out the strain of relating to them. This has to come from God alone.
13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not?
Wait on God. That is what I am doing along with my husband. We shared verses today; he, Ecclesiastes 3, and I, Ephesians 3:20
So excited for you. Seeing answers to prayer can be so motivating and I love that you are not giving up on people. I think we all tend to do this due to being limited by our human thinking. We need to remember anything is possible with God.
Amen — excited to see faith growing in all of us.
Friday: Action Assignment Report
14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 2:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven? My prayer has led me to some exciting ideas for our homeschool program that I think will breathe life into it and help us all to glorify God in the process. It will mean much more work for me but this is motivating and exciting and I can see the Lord’s hand in it. It has also given me confidence as we face challenges of many special needs in our group. I am planning to ask the 1 to 10 question to some of the kids today. I think that should be fun after they have all just been to VBS. It was a great success by the way. They all loved it and learned so much.
I just went back and read some comments from earlier in the week. Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers. And Dawn, what a bummer! It would have been fun to meet up. If I’m ever headed your direction by chance, I will look you up for sure.
Thursday: We Have Not Because We Ask Not
10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want.
—We don’t ask God for it and we have wrong motives. Lack of faith and selfishness keep us from receiving God’s answers to our prayers.
11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20?
—My request is for God to provide a buyer for Tyce’s former home and to glorify Himself in the process.
12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you.
—My relationship with my oldest daughter was somewhat strained and I asked God to heal some old wounds between us. He has brought us together recently in meaningful ways. I see we both sought the Lord and the result of our own personal relationships with Him has resulted in drawing us closer together.
13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not?
—I am finding the importance of waiting on God. I try not to act on my own impulses when there isn’t clarity from Him. Also I want to have biblical affirmation from Him. I find it always good to ask What does His Word say in relationship to whether something is within his will. Often God uses scripture to impress on my heart affirmation of his will but there are any prohibitions in the Bible regarding something then it is not His will.
Friday: Action Assignment Report
14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 2:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven?
—I don’t have anything to report yet but I am confident that God is at work and I am convinced it is good to wait on the Lord.
Bev, I, too, am waiting on the Lord. I try not to act on my own impulses when there isn’t clarity from Him. Also I want to have biblical affirmation from Him. I find it always good to ask What does His Word say in relationship to whether something is within his will. Often God uses scripture to impress on my heart affirmation of his will but there are any prohibitions in the Bible regarding something then it is not His will.
Wednesday: Practicing the Lord’s Prayer
I’m going to make it personal for me today — then it is your turn.
9. Your turn. – You are my Father in heaven, and you sit and reign above all things. Your name is worthy to be praised. Your Kingdom is coming back, and it will be your will that is done here on earth, and it will copy what is being done already in heaven. Provide my needs for each day Lord, though they may be different from day to day, give me what is needed to face each day. I ask that you forgive me, as daily I’m a sinner who tries to do what glorifies you, but your forgiveness and guidance is needed each day that I have on earth. Help me to not see my temptations as fun and easy but steer me away from all things that are not from you. Help my discernment grow to see the schemes of the enemy so I can be free from his grasp. Your kingdom and your power and your glory will win in the end and the new world will be a true blessing to us all. Amen!
Thursday: We Have Not Because We Ask Not
10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want. – For one we don’t ask God and the 2nd is when we do ask, we ask for things with the wrong motives. It’s not heartfelt needs or wants, but foolish, selfish mind wants.
11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20? – I asked God to provide healing to my friends with cancer and for minds of friends and grandson to be as they were meant to be.
12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you. – God has provided the words to flow out of my mouth as I write devotionals to daily scriptures and to have the ‘courage’ needed to verbally speak these devotionals out on video form. I just kept feeling the nudge to write them out and started doing that and recently it was mentioned by two different people that I should be putting them on video for a devotional app I follow. I could not do either without Him. He is providing what I need each time I write or speak one out.
13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not? – I try and wait and ask Him to provide confirmation in some way, so I know that I’m in His will. If it’s in His will I usually get confirmation in either word or written form from someone I trust. If it’s no, I usually get a ‘sickening’ kind of feeling, like oh man, what did I just do, and if I’ve stepped out too fast, he has taken care of it in a way that I was not affected.
Friday: Action Assignment Report
14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 2:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven? – God is providing one of our friends with a new treatment plan that will be started to attack the new area. Our other friend has a doctor’s appointment today that will give him some new answers so he can make the necessary decisions on his treatment plan. I’m trusting God that both of our friends will be healed and have a life here on earth longer than what doctors said from the start. They are both strong Christian men and have their faith and trust in God for what He has planned for them.
Love the encouraging answers for your friends, Julie!
10. Read James 4:2-3 and give two reasons why you might not have what you want.
We don’t even ask and we have the wrong motives for asking.
11. What did you ask the Lord for in praying Ephesians 3:20?
Foe my daughter to soften her heart and remember she is of God. He loves her and wants her to be with Him.
12. Share a recent time when you asked the Lord for something you felt was in His will and He gave it to you.
I was struggling with having close (in proximity) friends, and He made a way for my former friends and I to connect.
13. What do you do if you don’t know if something is within His will or not?
Hmmmm….good question. If it isn’t of God then it probably isn’t in His will. For example, losing 10 – 20 pounds would be great, but if I’m not willing to remember to be in self-control (as He asks us to be) then it probably won’t happen. Concentrating on Him, not food is most important.
Laura — you make me smile. I remember a cartoon in CT of Kathryn Kuhlman praying “Lord, heal me of obesity!”
14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 2:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven?
Well, our daughter never came to visit us, so I was unable to talk with her about faith and hope of eternity. She most likely won’t be amenable because her husband has hijacked her brain with the Israel/Palestinian conflict and she is believing propaganda. There is no clear reporting, at this point, to understand exactly what is going on there. For one, Hamas is a terrorist organization. That’s who is leading the Palestinians. We know how that turns out. I did listen to some of an interview with Bill Hemmer on Fox with Netanyahu and regular Palestinian citizens who say no one is being murdered in line for supplies. Who knows 🤷🏻♀️? I will continue to pray for her soul.
I thought about asking my son but chickened out. I was extremely tired and didn’t have it in me to have the conversation.
I will say that many friends and I are doing a daily devotional and this latest one is on waiting patiently for the Lord to move! I thought that was interesting, and timely!
I love the devotional you are doing with your friends on waiting patiently on the Lord to move, Laura!
The right time will come. The devo sounds great. I was completely distracted yesterday with harvesting from my garden, but will look for opportunity today with the kids on the question about heaven.
Laura, I, too, love what you said about “waiting patiently for God to move!” It is hard. I find this comparison of the meaning of time helpful.
https://thisvsthat.io/chronos-vs-kairos
Chronos and Kairos are two concepts that represent different aspects of time. Chronos refers to chronological time, the linear progression of seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years. It is measured and quantifiable, representing the passage of time in a systematic and predictable manner. On the other hand, Kairos represents a qualitative, opportune moment in time. It is not bound by the constraints of a clock or calendar, but rather focuses on the significance and quality of a particular moment. While Chronos is concerned with the quantity of time, Kairos is concerned with the quality of time and the opportunities it presents.
I want predictability (chronos) and God works more, the kairos way, if I rightly interpreted the above.
Thank you for that explanation!
This is so interesting Bing! Thank you for sharing!
Friday: Action Assignment Report
14. What happened with your prayer using Ephesians 3:20? Or in asking someone the 1 to 10 question on how confident they are of going to heaven?
I have mentioned my feelings of resignation to what I thought would always be a struggle in my heart towards others, especially to a few Christian brothers and sisters. Although I go back and forth on this, I find my soul and mind being nudged back to the truth of God’s word and not to depend on my feelings. I feel God asking me to go deeper with him, and He is helping me articulate what my true heart motive is for my prayers.
In some sense, He is doing more than I could have asked or imagined in this regard. Courage seems to be the overarching Ephesians 3:20 theme of my prayers. Courage to love and not be afraid to get hurt, courage not to give up on people, courage to face my shortcomings and sins, and courage to move forward in unknown territories.
Saturday:
15. What is your takeaway and why?
To pray without ceasing and not be encumbered by what I think I should do-keep a journal, be diligent with keeping tab of answers, thanking God, be good, be nice, share the good news-all can be a product of performance rather than seeking God’s face first, spending time with him and all the above things will be given to me, in that order. Rabbit trailing here and feel like I am all over the place. Thank God He is patient with me. I remember Tim Keller’s quote from St. Augustine-
“The essence of sin is disordered love.”Disordered loves means that we often love less-important things more, and more-important things less than we ought to,…
I like your rabbit trail. It shows your heart. It takes a lot to look at ourselves and question our motives and our courage. I too have been feeling nudged to just spend time with the Lord. I listened to a lovely YouTube recording of Elizabeth Elliot speaking about how to keep a quiet heart. It was directed especially towards mothers and full of so much wisdom. I plan to listen again today. The wedding coming up on Saturday has me pondering what is really important. We rush about in life doing so many things we think are important, but are we loving and doing what is really important? Thank you for your rabbit trail Bing.
Oh, Chris! Thank you for being so kind to me. I know I can rabbit-trail here, as I feel safe in sharing what is in my heart. As a pastor’s wife, I tread lightly in some of my relationships/interactions, not out of fear, but out of discretion and sensitivity (I hope). It can get lonely at times, so this blog is a true gift to me. Not wanting to put anybody on a pedestal, but to avail myself of the wondrous gift of Christian friendship that God has given me through all of you. I will listen to E. Elliot-I think I have heard this once before.
Not sure this would post but today, Sunday, the 10th. Dee has no electiricity due to a storm. Please pray.
Thanks Bing for letting us know. Dee has been in my prayers.
This is Patti. Dee does not have electricity, so she has not posted this week’s lesson. Let us all pray for Dee and her family.