Real Life - A Weekly Blog Devotional

From God’s Word:

Click and Read Acts 12:1-17

Key Verse:

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
- Acts 12:5 (NIV)

I’m sure she didn’t think it was particularly profound when she said it, but it hit me hard and has stuck with me all these years later. I was in Bible Study and we were discussing praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.

One of the ladies said, “You know, I always just think about how I would want to be prayed for if it were me in that situation.”

His faith and his story gripped the hearts of so many of us, including my two young daughters. It was amazing to watch my little girls grow in their faith and compassion as they prayed for Saeed to be freed and returned to his family. I had tears in my eyes when I told them a miracle happened and he was freed.

It is rare in this country of religious freedom to personally know someone suffering like that for their faith. Saeed’s commitment to Christ and his family’s courage touched so many of us. Many people gathered for prayer rallies and believed for the miracle God was so gracious to provide.

My eyes were opened once again to the power of prayer and the need to lift up our sisters and brothers suffering around the world for their commitment to Jesus. How would I want to be prayed for if that were me or my husband?

Personal Application:

How would you want to be prayed for if you were being persecuted for your faith? Write your ideas down and find ways to pray for someone who is suffering today simply for their faith.

How can you grow in your commitment to pray for the persecuted church?

Here are two situations you can lift in prayer:

Saeed needs our prayers for safety. Please pray him home.

These sisters need our prayers. Lift them and pray for their healing and that God would give them all they need.

Dear Lord,

Thank you so much for the freedom I enjoy in this country. Help me to remember the men and women around the world who love you and do not have that same freedom. Bring them to my mind and teach me how to pray. Remind me of how I would want to be prayed for in similar situations. Please comfort and heal the sisters who are suffering so much in prison right now, and please deliver Saeed safely home to his family. In all of these situations be glorified!

In Jesus’ Name I pray,

Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. -Hebrews 13:3 (NIV)

From the Word:
Click and Read Psalm 127

Key Verse:

The girls kept bickering, the baby whined incessantly from the moment he woke up, and my husband had to work, so getting all of us grumpy people dressed and out the door and to church on time was all my job. I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t do that job well. I nagged and yelled and acted like I was the kid.

On the way to church the Mommy guilt rolled in, and I apologized to my kids for the way I behaved.

My oldest daughter was so kind and said, “That’s OK, Mommy, you ALWAYS do that. We’re used to it.”

Ouch! That did not help the Mommy guilt one little bit. Usually, an incident like this would lead to great discouragement, but I’m learning to respond differently. This time I just stopped and prayed the prayer that is becoming all too familiar, “Lord, please cover where I fail.”

Cover where I fail- How thankful I am that I can pray that. When I can’t live up to the ideal mom that I long to be and worry that I’m failing and ruining my children, I can let go, look up, and say, “Help!” And my kids are somehow surviving being raised by me! Ha Ha.

1. Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)

3. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

4. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. -Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Love a very imperfect,

From the Word:
Click and read Colossians 4:2-4

Key Verse:
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. - Colossians 4:12

My mom is a prayer warrior, and I’ve benefited all these years from her prayer cover over my life. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how faithful she was (and still is) to pray for me. I know the blessed life I am living right now is a direct result of Mom’s persistent prayers.

She prayed for the immediate things going on in my life, but she also prayed for my future- my future husband, my future children, etc. Our family talks often about Mom’s gift of prayer. I always know I can call her on the phone and ask, “Will you pray for me?” And she will.

When I read our key verse, about Epaphras wrestling in prayer for his beloved Colossian brothers, I was inspired. What a gift to have someone battling for you in the spiritual realm, lifting you before the Lord. Not just once, but always.

As the recipient of the blessings of persistent prayer, I’m inspired to give that same gift to the people I love.

Not only can we bless the lives of our loved ones through prayer, but we can also participate in the work being done for the Lord worldwide. I may not be able to jump on a plane and go to my friends who are missionaries in Romania, but I can pray. Paul’s request of the Colossians to cover his ministry in prayer reminds me that praying for my missionary friends is not insignificant or unimportant. Through my prayers for them, I’m participating with them. I’m investing in the work being done. Prayer is an amazing privilege.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always come easily. I’ve really struggled with my prayer life this winter. I don’t know why I resist doing something so important. I always leave my time of prayer refreshed and renewed, but oh how often I replace the privilege of prayer with lesser things! I’m so easily distracted. I firmly believe our prayer lives endure spiritual attack because prayer is so effective and important, and such a gift we can give.

Personal Application:
Who needs your prayer cover this week?
What obstacles prevent you from regular prayer?
What can you do to overcome those obstacles and make prayer time a top priority?

Resources and Tips That Have Worked For Me:

Fighting Distraction:
If you are easily distracted (like me!) try journaling your prayers. I love being able to look back and re-read prayers from the past that I forgot I prayed but can now see how God answered. Writing or typing my prayers keeps my mind focused so I don’t end up doing the dishes or starting a load of laundry because I was distracted away from my prayer time.

Praying for Kids:
Wanting to be a praying mom like mine, I saw the value in prayer, but I didn’t necessarily know what to pray about for my kids. Then I found this list online. There is one spiritual virtue or character trait to pray for each day of the month. It has been so helpful in showing me how to pray about their spiritual development.

I saved the list as a Word file I can refer to do during my morning prayer time, and I also printed a hard copy I leave on my nightstand so I can check it before bed. On the first day of each month, I start over again at number one. Today, being the first day of February, I prayed for my kids’ salvation.

There are many things I pray for my kids that aren’t on the list, but I’m thankful to have this reference and know that God will be shaping their hearts as they grow up.

An unexpected result of going through this list has been realizing how much I need to grow in each of these areas. This list could be used to pray for anyone you care about and also as a list for praying for yourself. None of these things come naturally. Only God can make these reality in a person.

Praying for Your Husband:
I highly recommend the book, The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. I have read this book over and over again and am grateful to know how to specifically pray for my husband.

There is no right or wrong way to pray. These were just helpful resources I hope will help you too, as we commit to not take the privilege of prayer for granted. (Thanks for praying for me, Mom)

Father,
Thank you so much for the privilege of prayer. Please help me to value time in your presence and to make it a priority in my life. Show me who needs me to pray for them this week. Help me to give the gift of prayer cover to the people I love and to brothers and sisters worldwide who are working for your Kingdom or who are suffering for your name. Make me a prayer warrior and do not allow me exchange this privilege for lesser things.

In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen

From the Word:

Read Luke 22:39-45

Key Verse:
Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. -Luke 22:39-45

I love good books and some of my favorites are Jan Karon’s novels “The Mitford Series.”  Set in the small Southern town of Mitford, they tell the story of a lovable, Episcopalian priest, named Father Tim.  The magic of the books lies in how ordinary life is in Mitford.

I have learned so much from Father Tim.  Before he starts his day, he always prays, “Make me a blessing to someone today.”  What an attitude!  Whatever happens today, Lord, please let me touch someone’s life!  He has a firm grasp on grace, and it shows up throughout the books.  But I think the most important lesson that I have learned from Father Tim is his famous “prayer that never fails.”Whenever he is counseling someone or trying to figure out a situation, he suggests that they pray the prayer that never fails, “Thy will be done.”

Why don’t we pray this prayer more often?  Fear! We forget that our God is trustWORTHY. If we are honest, many of us are afraid of what that Will might include.  It is almost as if we see God in Heaven saying, “Yippee!  She finally surrendered. Now I can pour on the really hard stuff!”

We must remember God’s character and His heart toward us.  He says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

He isn’t out to get us.  He is out to love us, mold us, shape us, draw us to Himself, and ultimately work out what is best for us individually and for the Kingdom as a whole.  Pray the prayer that never fails and trust for just the right answer.

Personal Application:

Does praying this prayer terrify you?  List what you are afraid of, confess your unbelief, and ask God to help you trust Him more.In his book, Absolute Surrender, Andrew Murray gives this exhortation:

“Oh, I want to encourage you, and I want you to cast away every fear.  Come with that feeble desire. I f there is the fear which says- ‘Oh, my desire is not strong enough.  I am not willing for everything that may come, and I do not feel bold enough to say I can conquer everything’ – I implore you, learn to know and trust your God now.  Say:  ‘My God, I am willing that You should make me willing.’”

Give the Lord Your fear, and then ask Him to make you willing and able to surrender to His good will.

More of God’s Word:

1. Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief! Mark 9:24 (KJV)

2. All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy. – Psalm 111:7 (NLT

)3. God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); - 1 Corinthians 1:9a (Amplified Bible)

Dear Lord,
Thy will be done.  As scary as it is to pray, I know that I can trust You because you are worthy of that trust.  Thank you that I can rest in knowing You are sovereign over the details of my life.  Equip me to let go and wait for Your perfect will.

In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen

Devotions will be published each Monday.  Check back October 20th for our next one.  Have a wonderful week everyone!

Love,