The Lord's Prayer (Part Three)

We've reached the final portions of our look at the Lord's Prayer.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil...

Other versions of the Bible phrase this section differently. The New Living Translations says: And don’t let us yield to temptation. God is never going to tempt you with sin. However, the devil is going to use every open door to try to trip you up.

When we are tempted, we have to acknowledge that God will always provide a way of escape for us. Temptations rise up every day. We don't have to give in to them. There is always a way for us to avoid sin.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, for ever.

Amen.

Jesus closes his prayer the same way He opened it: acknowledging the awesomeness of God. It is the Lord's Kingdom that will last forever. His power will outlast all others. His glory will shine for eternity. He is the One who will reign forever!

It is important that we keep this fact always before us. We serve the one true God. Our God is above all others. He is the Mighty, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent One. And He has granted us the privilege to go before Him personally in prayer.

In your prayer time today, lift up those areas where you are being tempted. Rebuke the devil, and ask the Lord for help to keep you from sin. Remember the mighty God you serve! He is so magnificent, and He is taking time to hear from you. Give Him glory and praise as you pray.

Have an awesome day today!

Verse of the Day: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:13

The Lord's Prayer (Part One)

I've been meditating on the Lord's prayer lately. Working at a Catholic school, it's almost like the 'default' prayer for people to say. Yet, when you sit and think about it, this prayer is pretty powerful.

When His disciples came asking Jesus how to pray, Jesus responded with this model for them to follow. If we go along with this example as well, we will find our prayer lives prospering.

After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name...

 

Jesus opens His prayer with worship. He begins by acknowledging how holy and sovereign God is. This not only shows the Lord respect, but it gives us the opportunity to remind ourselves of the great One that we have been privileged to talk to one-on-one.

 

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven...

 

After acknowledging the greatness of the Lord, who else's will would suffice? Nothing can trump God's awesome power, infinite wisdom, and omniscient wisdom. Opening ourselves up to the Lord's heavenly will allows us to walk out His kingdom desires on the earth. Isn't it amazing that God trusts us with the privilege of carrying out His plans in our daily lives?

 

In your prayer time today, start off in worship to the Lord. Remind yourself of how great He is. Meditate on His grand splendor. Then, open yourself up to His great will. Relinquish your plans to Him, and allow your Heavenly Father to orchestrate your day.

 

Verse of the Day: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9,10

Can't Get Enough!

On Sunday, my church's worship team sung a song about wanting more of God. That song has been ringing in my heart since! God is so wonderful and amazing! The closer I get to Him, the more I want to get closer to Him!

There is a line in the song that says: So I lay down my life to make room for you. In order to get more of the Lord, we have to be willing to set ourselves aside. Our selfish wants, our fleshly desires, and our own pursuits have all got to fall in the face of our Father. We have to trust in God's love for us and that He knows what is best for us, can give us what we need, and can take us to better places than we can ever dream of.

When Jesus called His disciples, they literally walked away from everything. They left their families, their jobs, their homes... all to follow Christ. And their willingness to give it all up took them to places of greatness in God. Are you willing to give it all up to reach your great place in the Lord?

Today, put aside yourself and make room for more of the Lord in your life. Put down the phone, turn off the blogs, shut off the television, and get in God's presence. Sneak away and wrap yourself in personal time with the Lord.

Got a few minutes? Get some worship time right now and watch this:

Verse of the Day: For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10

Seeing God in Everything

Some of the greatest and most poignant passages of scripture were written in fields as a man was tending sheep. While watching after his flock, David penned psalms of praise to the Lord. Looking after his lambs, David found ways that his relationship with his herd mirrored his relationship with the Lord. In the midst of his regular routine, David was able to find God.

Today, I want to encourage you to find God in your regular routine. Think about your activities and how they mirror your Christian walk. As you take care of different tasks throughout the day, find moments to lift up praise and worship to your heavenly Father. As you interact with others, choose to remember the love of Christ and allow that to influence your behavior.

Maybe you'd like to go a step further. Take a short break and pen a poem or paragraph to the Lord. Express to Him what's on your heart. Pour out to Him whatever you are feeling. What I love about David was that nothing was off limits. He was totally transparent before God. Whether he was afraid, angry, restless, joyful, or somber, David expressed it to God and was able to still honor the Lord in the midst of any situation. You, too, can do the same.

Let today be a day of wonder, reflection, and praise to the Lord. Honor the Lord in your work, study, play, and fellowship. Recognize God in the world around you. Spend time worshipping Him in all that you do.

Verse of the Day:  I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:1-3

Get Close

David is one of my favorite Biblical characters. Just looking at his life, you can see that he had a relationship with God. God wasn't just a great being off in the distance, David's faith wasn't just a set of rituals and rules he used to guide his life, David didn't just serve God because He was born into the Israelite nation. David knew God.

David spent time talking to God in prayer. He loved to sit and worship and sing songs to the Lord. David took the time to learn what God wanted from him and tried his best to live accordingly. Even when David sinned, he approached God with a contrite heart and repented (turned away) from his errors.

As a result, God blessed David immensely. He established David's throne, and even chose his bloodline to carry the seed of the Messiah. David's pursuit of the Lord caused favor to rest upon his life.

Forming a relationship with someone takes dedicated time. It doesn't just happen. It occurs after shared experiences, shared conversations, and even shared misunderstandings. It's funny, there are people - co-workers, fellow commuters, family members - who we may see and even speak to every day who we don't really have a relationship with.

We may share trivial stories or engage in the same activities, but we do not share a relationship. We keep certain things private. We don't invite those people to engage in more personal activities with us. We don't allow them to get to know that much or get that close to us.

Could it be that we do the same thing to God?

We may pray every day and even read His word. But do we engage in meaningful activity with Him? Do we have real conversations with Him, or do we just stick to the surface subjects? Do we withhold our inner feelings, fears, and questions from His heart? Do we take the time to dwell in His presence in praise and worship?

Like David, we should have a deep relationship with our Heavenly Father. If there is anyone we should be close to, it's our Lord. He's given us the privilege and the opportunity to get close. Why should we stand off away from Him then? Let's press in like David and get close to God!

Verse of the Day: When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Psalm 27:8

Woke Up This Morning With My Mind On Jesus!

This morning I woke up at four in the morning. I repeat - FOUR - in the morning!

For a girl who sets her alarm for 6:30, but doesn't get out of bed til 7ish... this might have been an issue.

But as I laid there, a song was ringing through my spirit that tells of love for our Savior. As I lay in my bed, I realized that there was a reason why I was awake. Instead of rolling over and trying to get a couple more hours of sleep, I allowed my heart to sing it's song, and I meditated on the goodness of the Lord. I even took some time to talk with the Father.

It's amazing what love will do. It has a way of overtaking your entire being. I remember times when I was crushing on certain boys - I would stay up late daydreaming about them, think about them during the day, anticipate our next time seeing each other. My every spare moment was spent consumed with how much I was head over heels.

How much more should we be thinking about the love of our Father? Like David, we should long to dwell in God's presence all the time. (Psalm 27:4) We should anticipate spending time with Him. Our heart's should be full of longing for His touch.


It was so good to bask in the presence of the Lord this morning. And you know what? Right now I'm not even sleepy or tired. I'm wide awake and ready for the day. My morning worship has set the tone for my day, and my spirit is already primed and listening for the Lord's voice. My whole demeanor is another place. God is good!

Do you wake up bright and early to worship? Or, do you fellowship with God in the evenings? Although I'm a morning devotion girl, I usually spend that quality time in the evenings. After this morning, though, I might just consider switching up my routine. Either way, there's something about spending time with God.

The next time you wake up at an odd hour, don't just roll back over... It might be the perfect time for you to spend with the Lord.

Verse of the Day: O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.  Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Psalm 63:1-3

Thanksgiving WEEK!

Okay, before we break out our Black Friday schedules, Christmas decorations, and holiday songs, we need to take some time to remember that holiday that comes before Christmas: Thanksgiving.

Showing how appreciative we are of the people around us, the blessings we have, and the love that we share is important. None of us really deserve anything. But the Lord saw fit to bless us with so much. The least we can do is stop and show some gratitude.

When Jesus performed a miracle for the ten lepers only one took the time to come back and thank Him. I'm sure the other nine were grateful to Jesus as well, but it was the one that showed his gratefulness that impressed Jesus. The former leper returned because he realized that Jesus was the Christ, the living God. With this realization, he wasn't only healed, he was made whole.

When you take the time to consider the blessings you have, you can't help but recognize the hand of God on your life. When you think about where you could be and how your life should be going, you can't help but see the greatness of God's work in your life.

And in those moments when you stop to give praise and thanksgiving, you open up yourself to the Spirit's ability to make you whole. When your heart is uplifted towards heaven, the Lord can do a greater work on your inner man to bring you closer to Him and change you more and more into His image.

So, don't just let this week breeze by! Make sure your days this week are sprinkled with moments of thankful praise!

Verse of the Day: And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. Luke 17:15-19

Big God

This morning I've just been meditating on the goodness of God. We serve such a big God, and yet He still takes interest in our individual lives. It's still so amazing to me!

He doesn't have to pay attention to us, listen to our prayers, or even give us the time of day. We are so far beneath His awesome power, wisdom, and holiness. Yet He still loved us so much He sent His Son to die so that we could spend eternity with Him.

We serve such a Big God. He's big in grace, big in love, big in splendor, big in holiness... And He takes care of us with big mercy. I am just bubbling over with gratefulness this morning!

How can we not show the Father our love and devotion? How can we not dedicate ourselves to serve Him? How can we not tell everyone we know about the benefits of His love and what He has done for us?

Lord, I stand in awe of You because of your greatness. I stand in awe of you because of Your love for me. I stand in awe of You because of Your righteousness. You are awesome! You are mighty! You are miraculous!

And I am honored to call You my Father. I am honored to be able to approach Your throne. I am honored that You want me near You.

Be magnified in my life. Be magnified in the earth. Lord, I give you praise.

Verse of the Day: Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:1-5

What's Your Response?

I do not like surprises. I like for everything to go according to plan the way it should. When things happen off the radar (as they always do -  that is the very definition of life), I am easily upset and knocked off my game. Often when bad issues pop up, I react in anger or out of my confused emotions. I say and do rash things only to regret my behavior later.

I justify myself at times by saying that it's just a part of my nature, but it's no excuse. There's no reason for me to still react in such a negative way to sudden misfortune.

Looking to God's Word, Job is a perfect example of how to respond to bad news. After Job learned that he had lost everything, his first reaction was to worship God.

Don't remember that tidbit?

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped... Job 1:20


He just learned that he lost all his children and all of his wealth. In seconds, he went from being one of the wealthiest men on the planet to the poorest.

Yet Job didn't panic. He didn't spazz out. He didn't start cursing to the heavens.

He worshipped.

I believe we can learn a lot about Job just from that one fact. He was a worshipper. He spent quality face time with God. No wonder God was so confident in the face of the devil that Job would not sin. God had a one-on-one relationship with Job. He knew the man's heart.

And after all was said and done, Job passed his trial with flying colors and received more children and wealth than what he had lost. (Job 42:12-17)

What is your first reaction to trials and tribulation? Do you already have a reserve of worship on the inside of you that can sustain you when troubles come? If the enemy challenged God about your loyalty, could the Lord reply back in confidence that you won't succumb to the enemy?

A worshipful heart is a powerful asset. Time spent in the Lord's presence can benefit us in more ways than we may initially think.

Make sure you take some time out today to worship the Lord. Meditating on His goodness, greatness, and love will make whatever problems that may show up seem trivial and small. Worship can strengthen our spirits to handle those challenges when they come.

Worship reminds us of how big and powerful our God is. We can't let ourselves forget that truth.

Verse of the Day: Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Job 1:20-22

Generation Next Should Be On Now

Yesterday we were blessed to have another successful Youth Sunday at our church. Our children and teens led the worship and a couple even brought the Word. It was so encouraging to see the kids giving God praise in their own way.

A lot of churches have some sort of Youth Sunday or even Youth Church where the young people lead the service once a month or even their own services on a weekly basis. I think, however, that we should encourage the youth to lead alongside the adults. Not only will it help encourage and strengthen the young people's faith, but it will help the older generation get a fresh outlook as well.

We all have something to learn from each other. And the young people can add to the mix as well. I think a lot of young people are leaving the church because they don't feel that their opinion is valued or wanted.

The older generation has to loosen up the reigns and let the young people in. We shouldn't be running everything. And, if we've trained them up in the right way, we can trust that they will lead accordingly.

Yeah, their tempo may be a bit faster than we'd like. And, yes, they may not dress as traditionally as we would prefer. But, if their message is Christ and their presentation holy, who are we to stop their praise?

There's something about watching a young person who is truly in love with God participate in worship... We all need to see that on a more regular basis. The young people who fill the pews need to see that more than once a month. Teens need to see adults enter into the presence of God at their lead.

We cannot ignore and neglect the upcoming generation. We have to embrace them and include them fully in order to keep them in the church. Plus, they have some wisdom we can glean from them as well. The prophet himself said that in the last days a little child would lead us. (Isaiah 11:6) We all need to be reminded of the power of child-like faith.

Verse of the Day: But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

To Worship God I Live...

So, I've been busy working all morning. Love it!

While I was working, I had my Pandora playing Israel & New Breed's station and right now I'm listening to Lecrae's. I love worship! You can really tell when an artist is genuinely entering into the throne room, and I love to go in with them.

It's so incredible how music can translate you to an entirely different level when you spend time with God. David is a prime example of the power of worship. No wonder he was able to do warfare on behalf of the enemies of God's people. Only someone who spent genuine face time with the Lord could go out and do such damage in God's name.

And his love for God got the Lord's attention and grabbed the Father's heart.

Makes you think. If God considered your worship, would he say that you are a person after His heart? Has He heard the song of worship from your lips lately? Has He been moved to pour out His Spirit on yours because of the love you've given out to Him?

Praise and worship is not just a Sunday morning activity. It can be an intimate personal time that the two of you can share to deepen your love. The rewards are great. Take some time and indulge in some worship today.

Verse of the Day: O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. Psalm 95:6

Ain't No Rock...

Good morning! I pray you all had a wonderful weekend. I sure did. Had a Holy Ghost party with my African brothers and sisters, went out to the zoo with my Goddaughter, and had a encouraging time in the Lord on yesterday. Then today God blessed me with favor to start of my day! Praise God for His many blessings.

While I was at the service on Friday, I was struck by the different forms of praise that went forth. Not everyone that touched the mic could hit a perfect key. Some of the people on the stage were clearly nervous. A few dancers might have missed a step or two.

But every person was making the effort to praise and worship God from their heart. One singer voiced it perfectly: I'm not gonna let the rocks cry out for me!

Their examples ministered to me so much.

Being a veteran church-goer, sometimes I find myself getting complacent in worship. I won't be swayed into standing on my feet unless the music moves me or the singer can really blow... I won't holler 'amen' unless the preacher gets it super hot... I find myself comparing the service to other ones that I've attended in the midst of the one I'm supposed to be engaged in at the moment.

I'm shaking my head at my own self.

The service on Friday reminded me. No matter what's going on... No matter how I may feel... God deserves my praise always. It's not my job to critique who's on the platform. It's my job to connect with the Spirit and enter into worship. At least those people have taken the huge step to publicly praise and magnify God. Who am I to sit back and judge? It's a worship service. Not American Idol.

No more will I sit on the sidelines and look for reasons to praise God with the person on stage. The very fact that they're praising God is reason enough for me to join in with them.

Verse of the Day: And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Luke 19:40

Choose To Worship God In Spite Of It All

One of my favorite characters in the Bible is David. When you really take a look at his life, he went through some drama. Being overlooked by his own father, chased by the King of Israel, living in caves with a bunch of rejects, committing adultery and murder and being punished with the death of the resulting child, watching his children commit heinous acts towards each other... The man had a lot going on.

Yet he was still a man who chased after God's heart. He was still a worshipper in God's presence. His love for God was so deep that God promised that the Messiah would come from David's line.

The book of Psalms stands as a testament for the drama and emotions that David went through. Yet with every Psalm and every song of despair, the common thread of God's greatness, majesty and love shone through. No matter what David was facing, he never lost sight of the greatness of his God.

We too should take a page from David and continue to remember God's greatness and love. No matter what drama is swirling on around you, continue to chase after God's heart. Keep pressing into God's presence remembering the awesomeness of His love.

There is nothing you can do that will keep you from God's love. All it takes from you is a contrite spirit and God will wipe your slate clean and welcome you back into His arms. Don't let the drama keep you from the greatness of God's love. Use every situation as an opportunity to lift up the mighty God that you serve.

Today take a moment and read a Psalm. Remember, it's not about what's going on around you, it's about the One who's living in you.

Have a great day!

Verse of the Day: Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:4, 5

Spritual Rest

Right now there’s a lull in my work office. Things have slowed down, and many people are out on vacation. There is a relaxed air about the place, and people are enjoying the more leisurely pace that the holidays have brought.

I’m not concerned with any work issues (there isn’t much work to have issues with, for one thing), I don’t have any stress with deadlines, and the fewer people in the office means I receive fewer requests for assistance.

It’s times like this that I love. I can collect my thoughts, muse on some creative ideas, and give myself a break from the normal hustle and bustle.

Our spirits need these times of refreshing as well. So often we allow the issues of the day, our fears and concerns, personal struggles, and prayer requests to monopolize our fellowship with the Father.

These things can cause our spirits to be drained and on edge. The constant warfare can cause us to grow weary. Even champions have to take a break from the ring in order to regain their strength.

In order to keep our spirits refreshed, we have to spend time in worship before the Lord. Entering into His presence just to love on Him and allowing Him to love on us, will cause us to experience a ‘vacation’ for our spirits.

Pouring out our adoration for God causes His spirit to show up and fill us up with the strength, assurance, and courage we need to go back into the ring and battle the enemy. Lifting up praises instead of prayer requests causes our ears to catch God’s voice on the matters that are most important to Him for our lives.

So, if you’re feeling weary and worn, draw close to your Heavenly Father in worship and praise. Allow His love to rejuvenate your spirit and refresh your soul. Listen to His words of encouragement and life for you. You’ll be so glad you did!

Verse of the Day: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort… 2 Corinthians 1:3

Pouring Water on My Dry Season

Lately I’ve been feeling a bit dry in my walk with God. Church doesn’t seem to stir my spirit, my times of prayer seem fruitless, and my Bible reading has seemed more like fulfilling a habit than a true time of feasting on the Word.

Last night I chose to put an end to it. I set apart some time and spent it before the Lord in worship. I didn’t ask for anything, I didn’t lift up any concerns, I didn’t even call out another person’s name. I simply repented of my sins and pressed into the throne room of my Heavenly Father.

Can I tell you it was a true press? It took me several minutes just to get into the frame of mind where I was fully focused on worshipping God. So many other items kept popping up in my brain. I actually had to pause and take a bathroom break. I had to get up and get a sweater because all of a sudden I was cold… So many distractions! But each time I took care of the issue and continued to press my way in. I refused to let go or give up. I was going to feel God’s presence if it would’ve taken all night!

Soon I was able to get into the mode of worship. Although I didn’t feel the total connection that I know I wanted, the Lord did speak to me. That was all of the assurance I needed. It gave me the peace and assurance that things were okay. And tonight I will be doing the same thing again. Tomorrow will still find me kneeling before His throne. I’m going to keep pressing into God’s presence daily until I feel the release that I need.

And once I get my breakthrough, I’m going to stay on the wall to avoid another dry spell like the one I’m coming out of right now. It’s one thing to go through because of issues that God allows; it’s a whole ‘nother agenda when it’s a product of complacency.

The Lord will be magnified in my life on every level!

Verse of the Day: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:10-12