Excerpt from Rick Warren's Daily Devotional - Pray!!!!

**Note: The following is an excerpt from Rick Warren's Daily Devotional App

"So my question to you today is this: Are you praying about your goals?  Are you praying about your future?  Are you praying about your dreams or are you just kind of keeping them to yourself?

Your prayers reveal a couple of things.  First, they reveal how serious you are about your goals.  If you don't pray about them, you really don't care about them that much.  If you only pray about them once, they are not a desire, they are just a whim.

The other thing your prayers reveal is how much you are depending on God to reach your goals.  If you never pray about your goals, never pray about your job, never pray about your finances, you are not depending on God in any of those areas.  The more you depend on God, the more you'll pray."

Well, dang.  What else is there to say other than "amen?"

Next Level Prayer Life

Next level.  Next level.  Next level.  I want next level living in all areas of my life but I can't get there unless I start with prayer.  I HATE getting up in the morning.  I love the fact that Jesus saw fit to wake me up, but I don't want to get up early.  But I need to start every day with prayer.  Every.  Every.  Every.  I am going to keep saying it until my flesh submits to my spirit.  Every.  Every day!  If He wakes you up the least you can do is say "good morning and thank You," right?  I thought so!  So Every Day!

Life More Abundantly

I love how God can use the valleys to elevate you.  But we can't be defined by the valleys.  The valleys were used to groom you, to teach you a few things.  But you are not meant to stay in the valley.  Nor are you meant to keep on the weight of the valley.  When you get out of the valley, you must leave somethings behind.  Leave misery.  Leave doubt.  Leave guilt.  Leave shame.  Leave it all there.  God didn't come for you to continue to carry those things that He has delivered you from.  This dead weight stops you from living live to the fullest.  John 10:10 says "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Thank You, God, for taking me out of the valley.  Thank You for raising me out of that mess.  Thank You for forgiving me for my part in making that mess.  God, I know that You see me as more than I can ever imagine.  Thank You for not seeing my faults.  Help me see myself as You see me.  Let me take off the mourning clothes and put on Your robes.  Help me to live life more abundantly.  I love You and thank You.  Amen.

Proverbs 3:9 This Tithing Thing

Yep, I am still in Proverbs 3 but today it is verses 9-10.  The Message translation read like this:  "Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best.  Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over."  The NIV version specifically says "wealth."  This is a great promise.  Give God His tithe first and He will bless you with more than you can hold.  Sounds simple right?  But for me it's not that simple when it is payday and I have bills.  It then becomes a battle of tithe v. bills.  Quite often bills win.  But if you want new things you have to do the right thing! 

But I must be authentic and say it is easy to write this on day 2 of the new year.  This isn't payday.  What will I do when the check comes?  I want to honor God.  I just have to put my money where my faith is. 

Proverbs 3:1-12 Seeking Him

I have recently fallen in love with the Message translation of the Bible.  Like really in love...  I've been a King James or NIV girl, but I needed renewed eyes and a renewed fire, and the Message translation delivered. 

Here we are on the first day of the new year and let's be transparent.  We all have things that we are believing God for.  We all want a heavenly hook-up (I think I stole that metaphor from my pastor).  But are we really doing what we are commanded to do?  I know I'm not.  So this morning I thought, "let me start this year right! Order my steps.  Seek ye first."  And that took me to Proverbs 3:1-12. 

^1-2 Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you;
    take to heart my commands.
They’ll help you live a long, long time,
    a long life lived full and well.

^3-4 Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
    Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well
    in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.

^5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
    give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
    your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
    don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
    a father’s delight is behind all this.

"Father, thank You for a new year to get it right.  Thank You for a new day to trust You.  Father, can You shout at me for a while?  I know that is a strange request but can You shout at me so I can be sure to not only hear Your voice but also follow Your word.  I don't want to do this year the same way.  I like to fix my problems on my own and not bother You.  But I know that You are not bothered by my pleas for help.  You find favor with those that trust You.  So shout at me so that I can remember to trust You and follow You.  I know You have things for me beyond what I can imagine.  Thank You in advance for being wonderful and holy.  In Jesus' name, Amen.  Amen."

Fire!

Remember when you first got saved and you were on fire for GOD.   But then life, work, and everything else gets in the way.  Now, remember God didn't move.  You did.  You moved away from God.  Now,  it's time to go home!

Liberate Yourself!

Why do we worry about what everyone else will say instead of just trusting what God has already said to us?  We have messed up priorities.  Focus on the Father.  What He says goes. 

The Lie of "I Got This"

I ran across this picture on pinterest.

This could easily be a page from my own diary.  I am an alpha-girl.  I take charge.  I make things happen.  But my alpha-ness is getting in the way of the Alpha & Omega.  I don't take it all to God in prayer.  Quite often, I try to fix the problem and if that doesn't work, then I take it to God.  I need to leave it at the altar first.  Let Him speak to the situation, then act.  Only then will my priorities be in order. 

More Than Enough

"Father, help me to remember that You made me and You don't make mistakes.  I am more than enough.  I am Your child so that makes me great.  You are so awesome and all I need to do is to trust YOU.  You will not lead me astray.  I love You and thank You.  In Jesus' name, amen."

Daughter of God

It's Monday

It's Monday.  You can grumble.  You can gripe.  You could complain about just how tired you are.  Or you could pray and be thankful for this wonderful gift of another day.  Today I am going to choose the latter.  It is MONDAY!  Another day to pursue the vision.  Another day to chase God.  Another day to draw closer to Him.  Another day to say "Thank You."  Amen.

#MyriadPrayer - Sarafina "The Lord's Prayer"

#MyriadPrayer - Don't Get Sidetracked

On Sunday my pastor preached from Galations 5: 1-7.  (You can watch it here.) The last line smacked the mess out of me.  "⁷ You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?"  Well, dang.  I was running a good raced but what (or who) stopped me from obeying the truth?  Did that smack you too? 

So when I got home I had to expand the chapter.  What did the Word say after verse 7?  Well, it said a lot.  Here is a snippet:

⁷ You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹ “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.

That person or thing that is stopping you from obeying what God has called you to do is like a little yeast.  You have to move biblical metaphors.  A little yeast changes a whole batch of bread dough, right?  Just a little time with the person that is distracting you from purpose can change your whole life.  Makes you re-evaluate your habits and folks in your life, huh?

"Father, please help me to clear out all the distractions that are keeping me from drawing closer to You.  God, please remove the people and things that are in the way of me being exactly where You want me to be.  God, remove those distractions no matter how much I want to hold onto them.  Take them away - far away- so that I may not be tempted or distracted by them again.  Father, I trust that You know best.  I love You and thank You!  Amen.  Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Proverbs 29:25

About a year ago, I attended a small workshop at church and the ministry leader said that whenever you need guidance turn to Proverbs and the date.  So today is 6/29/12 and I am reading Provers 29.  The part that jumped out at me was Proverbs 29:25 "Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." 

I've battled fear for a long time.  Fear of what?  Fear of success, fear of failure, fear of not being good enough.  I know what I am good at doing.  I know that everyday I am learning that God is stretching me to learn more and do more.  And I wonder what would have happened if I trusted that feeling, that inner voice that said I was "bigger than my current situation" a long time ago.  Fear makes you complacent.  Fear makes you think that just enough is ok.  Fear crushes dreams.  And let's be honest, half the time it is fear of what others will say.  But who cares what they will say?  The proverbial "they" are already talking about you, right?  And why are we more worried about what "they" will say instead of focusing on what He will say?  I want to hear "well done." 

"Father, help me to lean on You and focus on pleasing You.  This fire that You have placed inside of me to stretch, grow, learn, be needs to be nurtured and fed.  Today, I refuse to feed fear.  Today I will press on toward whatever dream, vision, plan that You have shown me.  I will trust You even when I don't see the entire picture.  Father, thank You for trusting me with a piece of the kingdom.  I love You and thank you.  Amen.  Amen."

#Myriad Prayer Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I love this scripture.  Why?  Because it says that while you may not always see it, God sees it.  He knows what is around the corner.  He knows when the breakthrough is coming.  He knows when the storm will be over.  He knows.  We have to trust Him.  That trust will keep you walking even when you don't see the next step. 

The prayer for today is "Yes, I will go.  Amen."

#MyriadPrayer Gifts and Guidance

"Father, thank You for today.  Thank You for Your gifts and guidance.  Father, please shift my perspective on situations.  While I know that 'all things work together for Your good,'  I have to admit that when bad things happen, my first reaction isn't always a positive one.  Please help shift my focus so that I worship and praise first.  That will leave no room for worry or panic or complaining.  Father, I know that I don't have to like negative situations but I need to have peace in them.  Send Your Holy Spirit to envelope me and keep my fire going.  In Jesus' name, Amen.  Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Let God Be In Control

"Father, thank You for today.  Thank You for giving me a glimpse of how wonderful life can be when I allow You to have control.  You have given me the blueprint and it is up to me to obey and follow it.  My mistakes are what are causing me turmoil and I have to submit to You to fix them.  I love You and thank You for the clarity!  Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Praying Strength

"Father, thank You for being my strength.  I try to follow what You want for me and so many times I fall short.  Thank You for being patient with me.  Thank You for having mercy on me.  Father, re-ignite my passion in so many areas.  Please help me to continue to not only do what You want me to do but to do it graciously.  Father, I love You and thank You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Prayer Time

"Father, thank You for today.  Thank You for the power of prayer.  Thank You for providing us with a vehicle to speak with You.  Thank You for being receptive to our cries, our moans, and our words.  How often we forget that everything gets better after a conversation with You?  It goes beyond 'casting my cares' on You.   It is listening to You when You speak to me.  Thank You for thinking so much of us that You listen to us.  You care about us.  And You want the best for us.  Father, I love You and thank You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Grandparents

"Father, Thank You for today.  Father, today I want to pray for my parents and grandparents.  So often I am praying for my children but today I want to pray for my elders.  Father, thank You for blessing me with such great parents & grandparents.  Thank You for their wisdom, love, and prayers.  Father,  please let any generational curses known and unknown stop with me.  Please make my elders lives a bit easier.  And please tell my grandfathers that they are still loved and not forgotten.  In Jesus' name, Amen."