Isaiah 12:2

 

"Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.”

Isaiah 12:2 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who are suffering, and those who feel helpless to do anything about it. Please pray that they keep their focus on God, that they don't waver in their faith. Pray that they find encouragement in the word and through prayer. Pray that they lean on their brothers and sisters in Christ who love them.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

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Deuteronomy 31:6

 

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who are suffering, and those who feel helpless to do anything about it. Please pray that they keep their focus on God, that they don't waver in their faith. Pray that they find encouragement in the word and through prayer. Pray that they lean on their brothers and sisters in Christ who love them.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #helpless #worry #trust #prayer #faith #love #suffering #pain #purpose #strong #courageous

Give it up to God

My experience has been that when I give my problems up to the Lord, my load seems lessened, my problems or worries seem smaller, more manageable. I'm able to think clearer.

     Someone posted this on Twitter yesterday and it kind of brought things into perspective:

"Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday." Dale Carnegie 

     I tried to remember all of the things I've worried about this week and did any of them happen? Did my worries do anyone any good? The answer to both questions is "no."

     Then, I looked at what I've prayed for this week, and were any of them answered? Did my prayers do anyone any good? The answer to both questions is "yes."

     God is here for us. We need Him. We can't go this alone. Look to Him when you feel helpless. Lean on Him.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

    From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

    who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

    he who keeps you will not slumber.

Psalm 121:1-3 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who are suffering, and those who feel helpless to do anything about it. Please pray that they keep their focus on God, that they don't waver in their faith. Pray that they find encouragement in the word and through prayer. Pray that they lean on their brothers and sisters in Christ who love them.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #helpless #worry #trust #prayer #faith #love #suffering #pain #purpose

All we can do is pray

 

There is a woman who worries to the point of excess. Not only does she worry about family and friends, but also about things that have nothing to do with her. She builds up these 'what if' scenarios in her mind about things that could go wrong, some of which are so creative and outlandish that it scares me.

     I've tried to convince her that she suffers from anxiety, but she doesn't believe me and, therefore, won't do anything about it. The physical results of this are high blood pressure and a stroke. So then I worry. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it? Worry begets worry. Anxiety begets anxiety. All of it takes a toll on us.

     As I was preparing to write this, it occurred to me that it all comes down to control. I can't do anything about the actions and decisions of others, so I'm going to worry about them. At least in that way, I'm doing something. It fills two needs within us:

- to be in charge

- to help others

     How often have you said or heard others say, "All we can do is pray?" All we can do--as in, we can't really do anything. Oh well. At least praying makes us feel like we're doing something. That is just so wrong! Praying should be our first defense! It's THE prize, not the consolation prize! 

     Jesus prayed all the time. Do you think He would do that if it was just an exercise in futility? Do you think Jesus prayed because He didn't feel like He could do something more important? No! Of course not! He did it because it was an important course of action and because He knew His Father in Heaven heard His prayers.

     Our prayers can make a difference in the lives of others. So, whenever you feel helpless or emboldened (in other words, always), pray to our Father, who loves us.

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, 

believe that you have received it, 

and it will be yours.”

Mark 11:24 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who are suffering, and those who feel helpless to do anything about it. Please pray that they keep their focus on God, that they don't waver in their faith. Pray that they find encouragement in the word and through prayer. Pray that they lean on their brothers and sisters in Christ who love them.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #helpless #worry #trust #prayer #faith #love #suffering #pain #purpose

When there's no sorrow

 

As is typical, whatever the topic we're praying about, suddenly I see many posts about the same subject. God is so cool when He does stuff like that!

Two examples from yesterday: 

"If God brings you to it; He will bring you through it." (found on Twitter)

<--- then I found this on FaceBook

It's things like this that show me how God orchestrates everything, even the little stuff. Maybe we don't understand the pain and suffering. We ask, 'how can a loving God allow this?' The truth is that sin and death entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. That is why we suffer. We have to remember that it's just for a short time, though. Soon we'll be resting where there is no more sorrow and no more suffering. God made it so that that could happen because He loves us so very much.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 John 5:4 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who are suffering, and those who feel helpless to do anything about it. Please pray that they keep their focus on God, that they don't waver in their faith. Pray that they find encouragement in the word and through prayer. Pray that they lean on their brothers and sisters in Christ who love them.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #helpless #worry #trust #prayer #faith #love #suffering #pain #purpose

Ancient paths

I used to get frustrated when reading the Old Testament because these people just would not obey God! He provided for them, He spoke with them, He even traveled with them throughout the Exodus, yet they would not obey! It took years for me to see that the same was true of me. God provides for me, He speaks with me, and He even travels with me each and every day, whether I acknowledge His presence or not. He is just as much a part of our lives today as He was with the Israelites of old.
How often do we reject His wonderful gifts?

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; 

in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” 

But you were unwilling,

Isaiah 30:15 ESV

Thus says the Lord:

“Stand in the ways and see,

And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,

And walk in it;

Then you will find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Also, I set watchmen over you, saying,

‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’

But they said, ‘We will not listen.’

Jeremiah 6:16-17 NKJV

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Please join me this week in praying for rest for the weary. Pray that they receive a peaceful heart and mind.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

I give you peace

One of the devotionals I'm reading is based on 'be still and know I am God...' and it pointed out that the bible mentions multiple times that Jesus went off and prayed. If it was important for Jesus to do, as the Son of the Living God, then it's surely even more important for us to do. We need to have that communication with the Father on a daily basis.
     Plus, think about it...our God allows us to talk to Him and He communicates back with us. Sometimes, I get so overwhelmed when I realize that He's answered me, my prayer directly. After all, who am I that I should have an audience with the Creator of all things? I'm nobody. Yet He takes the time to listen to me and He answers me. It's yet another gift He gives His children. We need to cherish that. He wants to hear from us.
     Through this communication with the Father, we can obtain peace. I feel like I have that (most of the time). This kind of peace is so wonderful, it's a relief from anxiety that I get when I give up all of the stress in my life to Him. I give them to Him and then I can just rest in the knowledge that He'll take care of it.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. 

Not as the world gives do I give to you. 

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for rest for the weary. Pray that they receive a peaceful heart and mind.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Peace be with you

For years I had trouble sleeping because my mind would not seem to shut off. I tried meditation, I followed all of the "rules" like no screentime within an hour before bed, (I can't remember the rest of them now), I even tried a self-hypnosis app. None of it worked. I don't know for certain, but it sure seemed like when I started being in the word every night and praying consistently that a lot of things changed for me. I can fall asleep on my own now and I just feel more at peace.
     Philippians 4:6 comes to mind so often but this morning I copied verse 7 also and a God thing just happened. I wrote that last sentence "...I just feel more at peace." and then I read verse 7: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,..." I didn't plan that. Maybe I'm not making any sense but I've been really stressed out this week and trying to get back to that peace. I even yelled at Satan the other day to "give it up" which seemed to help a lot! He was stealing my joy and I was sick of it.
     Peace be with you.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything 

by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving 

let your requests be made known to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for rest for the weary. Pray that they receive a peaceful heart and mind.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

When pain prevents sleep

Some of my friends cannot sleep, cannot rest due to physical pain or illness. I was trying to find bible verses for them that tied in pain and rest and found these.
- Whenever I'm suffering, I always turn to Job. Nothing can compare to what he went through. Because of his pain, he couldn't possibly sleep.
- James tells us what to do when someone is sick.
- David finds he can rest in the midst of all he's going through because the Lord watches over him and protects him.
- There's a point when no matter what's keeping us from rest, we become so exhausted that our bodies say "enough" and we get that deep, restorative sleep that we need; even Jesus' human body had to give in to the exhaustion, so much so that He slept through a storm on the sea.

“And now my soul is poured out because of my plight;

The days of affliction take hold of me.

My bones are pierced in me at night,

And my gnawing pains take no rest.

Job 30:16-17 NKJV

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:14-16 ESV

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

Psalm 3:5 ESV

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, 

but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Matthew 8:20 ESV

And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, 

so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.

Matthew 8:24 ESV

I don't know if this is helpful to my friends who are suffering, but just know that I am praying for you. May God give you rest.

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Please join me this week in praying for rest for the weary. Pray that they receive a peaceful heart and mind.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Pray for someone who is in physical pain

I personally am a bit of a baby when I'm in pain for any length of time. I have arthritis, and get allergy-related headaches; but other than that, I have no pain. So, when I meet someone who is in constant chronic pain and deals with it on a daily basis, AND still maintains her faith and sunny disposition, I have to look at that person and believe that God is using her to glorify Him.
We are made in His image and anything we do to show how He is working in our lives, whether it's our disposition, loving kindness, or the way we handle difficult situations; all of it reflects on God. People look at us and want what we have. They want the peace, comfort, love they see in us. If we can inspire others through our suffering, that glorifies God.
Those who suffer from physical pain who don't know Jesus may have a more difficult time dealing with their pain. I imagine that they do.
When I was going through chemo and radiation therapy, I smiled through it all and tried to help others who were having a more difficult time of it. I had lapses where I felt like I was going to die and mourned what I was going through, but they were temporary breakdowns and hopefully, others saw in me how God was working through me.
I sincerely hope this doesn't come across sounding like those in pain need to suffer in silence because you don't. In fact, you should get angry when you feel angry, work through the doubt when you feel low, ask God, "why me?" when you're questioning His path for you. But, when you're ready to bounce back from those low points, feel His love and support and know He has a reason for everything and everything is part of His plan.

Therefore let those who suffer 

according to God's will 

entrust their souls to a faithful Creator 

while doing good. 

(1 Peter 4:19 ESV)

Please follow along with our prayer group where we come together with one voice during the 7:00 hour to pray for the people around us. Please join with us this week as we pray for those who are afflicted with physical pain.

I'll post a daily reminder to pray on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power