Jeremiah 3:13

 

Only acknowledge your iniquity,

That you have transgressed against the Lord your God,

And have scattered your charms

To alien deities under every green tree,

And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord.

Jeremiah 3:13 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance. Let's ask our Father to show us our sin, to show us where we're at fault and how we can make things better in our everyday interactions with others. Let's also pray for softened hearts, discernment, and wisdom in all situations. Pray that God helps us become more Christlike so that nonbelievers will see us and respond by seeking Him.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #sin #humilty #Christlike #wisdom #guidance #prayer #forgiveness #confess #Jeremiah

This is a test

 

Whenever our week of prayer here brings the focus inward, one of two things inevitably happens: either God uses that time to test my resolve, or Satan steps up the spiritual warfare. 

     I talked to a Pastor last weekend about that and asked him how do I know which is happening? He said to ask God. Why didn't I think of that?!

     So when this week ended up being one of those times, I took his advice. Yesterday I got down on my knees and asked God what was happening. First off, there's something about praying on your knees, or bowing, or laying in the prone position that seems to strengthen our prayer. I confess I hardly ever do any of those things (I talk to God in the car a lot), but I'm going to make it part of the daily prayer life now. I want to totally submit to Him, and to do that, my physical person needs to be in a position of submission as well as my heart and mind.

     As a result (I believe), God answered me right away. "This is a test." Well, I'm just the brown-noser, the push-up-my-glasses-nerd-type person at heart. If it's a test, then I want to get an A+. Anything less might as well be utter failure. My resolve strengthened, I faced my day with a renewed sense of trying hard to be Christlike in whatever situation God threw at me. 

     Honestly, if I'm being generous, I got a D- yesterday. Outwardly I behaved okay when faced with adversity, but inwardly I was angry and resentful and a little bit bitter. I talked about it with my husband and some friends. A Twitter friend said I was doing a good job (thank you, Elizabeth), but I didn't feel like I was. It made me feel depressed. Actually, I've felt depressed all week. So last evening, I did my best to do things for others, which helped me feel better. 

     Today is a new day, and I'm going to try-try-again. Has your week been any different since you've been praying for guidance, for God to show you your sin and/or where you're at fault?

     God loves us so much. The least we can do is try to do right by Him.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, 

so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

About the above photo:

Back in the day, this was a thing that randomly showed up on our TVs. There was a loud noise, this picture, and then the announcement, "This is a test." Or, "This has been a test of the emergency broadcast system. If there had been an actual emergency..." I can't believe I remember all of that from my childhood, but yet I can't seem to remember what day it is.

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance. Let's ask our Father to show us our sin, to show us where we're at fault and how we can make things better in our everyday interactions with others. Let's also pray for softened hearts, discernment, and wisdom in all situations. Pray that God helps us become more Christlike so that nonbelievers will see us and respond by seeking Him.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #sin #humilty #test #Christlike #question #blame #betrayal #wisdom #guidance #prayer #decieved #deception #basicallygood #theFall

Acts 5:29

 

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:29 ESV

Have a safe and happy 4th of July. 

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance from our loving Father. Let's ask Him what He wants us to do or say. Pray that in everything we do, we please Him. Let's also pray for friends and family who get too wrapped up in people-pleasing and deny what God would have them do. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #PeoplePleaser #ask #gospel #calling #supplication #judged #prayer #seekGod #serve #listen #stop #SpiritualGift #SermonOnTheMount #epistles #Church #ChurchBody #Christ #Acts

Proverbs

 

When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 16:7 ESV 

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Proverbs 29:25 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance from our loving Father. Let's ask Him what He wants us to do or say. Pray that in everything we do, we please Him. Let's also pray for friends and family who get too wrapped up in people-pleasing and deny what God would have them do. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #PeoplePleaser #ask #gospel #calling #supplication #judged #prayer #seekGod #serve #listen #stop #SpiritualGift #SermonOnTheMount #epistles #Church #ChurchBody #Christ #Proverbs

Stop and listen

 

This last sentence of today's Bible verse, "and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord" made me wonder how difficult is it to determine what pleases the Lord? I think we know when we're doing something pleasing versus something displeasing, but I believe the real question is, "Am I doing what the Lord has called me to do?"

     There are really two different discussions here. We can behave in a way that is Christlike and that pleases Him. How we handle situations and how we treat others are situations where it's pretty easy to know right from wrong. Doing the best we can to adhere to the Ten Commandments (as elaborated on by Jesus. Read the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew Chapters 5-7), meaning: trying not to hate because to hate is to commit murder in our hearts, trying not to get caught up in lust, because that is committing adultery in our hearts, etc. Even if we stumble, we know whether or not we please Him.

     The other discussion that is more difficult to grasp is doing what God has called us to do. As the Church, we're to serve one another, love one another as ourselves, serve one another. As individuals, and this is where it gets tricky, God has given each of us certain gifts and He tasks us to do specific things for the Kingdom. In this way, we are all different parts of the same body, working separately (yet together) to make a unified body which is the Church.

     There is so much to unpack in all of this, but I can't do it here. It's all in the epistles, and I get really excited about exploring what God wants me to do for Him. This is really the basis for the book I'm writing and for what I'm developing to become my "ministry." It all comes down to listening to God. Talk to Him. Ask Him what he wants you to do for Him. Then, be still and listen. That will please Him.

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:8-10 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance from our loving Father. Let's ask Him what He wants us to do or say. Pray that in everything we do, we please Him. Let's also pray for friends and family who get too wrapped up in people-pleasing and deny what God would have them do. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #PeoplePleaser #ask #gospel #calling #supplication #judged #prayer #seekGod #serve #listen #stop #SpiritualGift #SermonOnTheMount #epistles #Church #ChurchBody #Christ

Brothers and Sisters

There are so many things to divide us: race, religion, politics, worldview, opinions. With the pandemic, we have yet another separation of those who wear masks, and those who don't. It's just one more thing to get worked up about; one more thing to draw our focus away from Jesus. Sometimes it's hard to love one another when we can only see the differences instead of the one thing we have in common...we are God's children, brothers and sisters in Christ. 

     As such, we have a duty to show the world that we are filled with the Holy Spirit by our words, actions, attitudes. We can agree to disagree. We can have tolerance and forgiveness, grace and mercy for everyone, no matter what. It's difficult, and I myself and not very good at it, but I keep trying. When I slip, I ask for forgiveness and strength and guidance. 

     This can have a positive effect on everyone we come in contact with, like ripples in the water, radiating outward. This entire world needs to see acts of love and unity, especially now when Satan seems to be running rampant, dividing us, keeping us apart and on edge.

     I love what Peter wrote:

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, 

sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, 

and a humble mind.

1 Peter 3:8 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for unity among God's children. 

 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Jesus set an example

For to this you were called, 

because Christ also suffered for us, 

leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps

1 Peter 2:21 NKJV

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NKJV

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

The new self

It's scary praying some things like asking God to show you His will for you, or (even scarier) asking Him to show you your sin. Once He does that, then we really don't have an excuse to keep doing the sin, so it means having to give it up; but, that's difficult because we are sinners. We lie, get angry, lust, have trouble forgiving others ... but if we want to be more Christ-like, we have to at least try...

...To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV

     When I was saved, I was a teenager. I was on fire for Christ and told others about Him and tried really hard to be "good." But over time, it was kind of like a new year's resolution and I started slipping backward. I knew I was saved and therefore God would forgive me no matter what, but I was missing the whole point of being an image-bearer of God. People back then probably looked at me as a hypocrite, and they had every right to. Unfortunately, I can't go back in time and change the past, but I can try to do better each and every day. Yes, it's reassuring to know that if (when) I mess up, God will forgive me, but the goal is to do the very best that I can so that maybe He doesn't need to spend as much time forgiving me.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

Luke 6:46 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

If you love Me

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 14:15 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Walk the walk

Being a Christian is so much more than just saying we believe. Once we are saved (Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved), we are making a commitment to live our lives differently. People should interact with us and be able to see something different that sets us apart from non-believers. They should see the characteristics of Christ in us: humility, loving-kindness, peace, patience, love, hope, a servant's heart, virtuous, obedient, giving, charitable, forgiving, compassionate. If they see that, they'll want to know our "secret," giving us the opportunity to share the gospel. All last week we learned how to 'talk the talk' so now it's time to focus on how we can 'walk the walk.' Pray about it. God answers all prayers. Just yesterday evening, He answered a prayer I prayed on the way home from work. I'll talk about that on Saturday or Sunday's post.
     As you all know, I'm constantly working on curbing my pride. When I was saved, I didn't change overnight, in fact, I don't think I changed my habits significantly at all. I rested in the love of Jesus, but I didn't necessarily reciprocate. It's been 40 years and I'm just now working everything out (I think. I hope). I really regret those "lost years" but there's nothing I can do about them so I just need to do what I can now, in this time and pray for guidance to keep moving forward in His will.

 For we are His workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Perfection

Monday I said something about believing to be Christ-like meant trying to be perfect, which is an impossible task and is a set-up for failure but then I came across Matthew 5:48 (below) and had to go to the commentary to see what this meant.
     In case you're questioning this verse, also, it's saying that God needs for us to perfect in order to be with Him. He cannot accept an unrighteous being into His presence. However, He loves us and wants to be with us, and us with Him, so He arranged it so that that could happen. He sent His Son to be a mediator for us. Christ is perfect for us and He died for our sins so that we can have eternal life with the Father.
     The very least that I can do in return is to be as Christ-like as humanly possible. What I've been trying to do this week is to pray whenever a situation comes up that I would normally be very un-Christlike. I pray for patience, guidance, calmness, insight, humility...whatever I need to handle the situation with grace. It has worked really, really well.

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Rest for your soul

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Humility like Christ

Back in the day when Pastors would say that we need to be Christ-like, I jumped to the conclusion that they were telling us to be perfect (which is impossible, in my mind) and whenever I tried to be perfect, I failed miserably (of course). But now I'm seeing it a little differently. To me, it's more of a heart thing, and/or attitude. To be Christ-like is maybe more about how we handle situations and treat others. As it says in John 13:15: "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." From the verses below, I see Jesus' characteristic of humility, so today I'll strive to be more humble. What characteristic(s) of Jesus do you see that you incorporate into your life?

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

John 13:13-17 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying to be more like Jesus, being His image-bearers to the unbelievers of the world that they may see Him through us.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

A devious mouth

Put away from you a deceitful mouth,

And put perverse lips far from you.

Proverbs 4:24 NKJV

We speak what's in our hearts

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, 

and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, 

for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45 ESV

Seek peace

What man is there who desires life and loves many days, 

that he may see good? 

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 

Turn away from evil and do good; 

seek peace and pursue it

Psalm 34:12-14 ESV

What comes from your mouth

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, 

but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Matthew 15:11 ESV

I've been watching what I say this week (more closely) and filtering what I'm going to say by thinking first and speaking second. I didn't realize how negative I can be! Just little things, but they still create an atmosphere around me that people pick up on. Example: when asked what I thought of lunch, I was going to say, "The service was slow." But, since I thought first, I turned it around to, "the food was wonderful." It's just that small little twist, speaking the positive instead of the negative that not only changes how others perceive you but also affects your outlook. You will have a much better day if you look for the good in people, situations, feelings.

I read a book about positivity several decades ago. It was excellent and I wish I still had it or at least remembered the title, but the one piece of advice that has stuck with me all of these years is take note while you're speaking...how many times do you say a negative word? How many times do you say: can't, won't, no, 'un'-words like unable, unwilling, unlikely, etc.? When I started noticing these things in my own speech, I was amazed at how many negative words I used. It's the 'glass is half-empty vs. half-full' of language. Plus, I discovered that when I changed how I spoke to include a positive selection of vocabulary, I genuinely felt better and happier. Give it a try. Let me know how it works for you.

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Please join us this week as we pray that our tongues be tamed and that our words are fitting of an image-bearer of Christ. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Rid yourself of these things

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: 

anger, 

rage, 

malice, 

slander, and 

filthy language from your lips.  

Do not lie to each other, 

since you have taken off your old self with its practices and 

have put on the new self, 

which is being renewed in knowledge 

in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:8-10 NIV

Time for change

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

I attended a church service several years ago where the Pastor preached solely on this one Bible verse. He closed with this thought:
Close your eyes for a moment and try to picture a world without unwholesome talk, no cursing or yelling, or cruel words. Can you imagine how different our world we would be?
Try to picture it. Try to do that with your own language; set that example for others. We need to build each other up instead of shaming, calling people out, berating each other. We need positive, healing language. It's time for a change. Be the change.

Paul continued with: Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:4

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Please join us this week as we pray that our tongues be tamed and that our words are fitting of an image-bearer of Christ. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

The power of words

     I'm always in awe when I think about something specific and then go to Church the next day and the Pastor preaches about that exact thing. I shouldn't be surprised though since God is omnipotent. As we were praying last week for hearing, I ran into several Bible verses about speaking and anticipated making that the topic of this weeks' prayer. Additionally, I know several people who endure verbal and emotional abuse by loved ones and wanted to include them in our prayers this week, also.
     Yesterday, the Pastor preached on James 3:1-12 about words and about taming the tongue. It was if God was telling me, "Write more specifically about this." I got goosebumps!
     I'm sure we all have experience with someone who consistently tears people down with words, and hopefully, we all have experience with someone who consistently builds others up with words. What we have to be concerned with is our own tongue. Be diligent about speaking with love. Don't gossip. Refrain from cursing and slanderous language.

James writes:

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures 

are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 

but no human being can tame the tongue. 

It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, 

and with it we curse human beings, 

who have been made in God’s likeness. 

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. 

My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

James 3:9-10

Have you ever visited another part of the country and within a couple of days find yourself speaking like the residents of that area? You start imitating their dialect and word choices without even thinking about it. By the end of the first week, you're saying "warsh" instead of "wash", or "soda" instead of "pop" just by being around others who speak a certain way. Think of the difference we as believers can make by simply watching what we say! Tame your tongue and others will follow.

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Please join us this week as we pray that our tongues be tamed and that our words are fitting of an image-bearer of Christ. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power