Take Heart: John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NIV)

Jesus is comforting and preparing His disciples, explaining that He will not be with them much longer. His words are ones of reassurance, strength, support, and hope for the disciples and us. Jesus shares his grace and promises us peace. We may have troubles, but His peace, a peace that surpasses all, understanding is always with us. Jesus’ died on the cross, overcoming the authority of Satan. He delivered us from the domain of darkness. So take heart for Christ, died for us, paid the price, and overcame the world.

Are you relying on your abilities or faithfully taking heart in Jesus’ victory?

Prayer; Jesus, our rock and redeemer, we thank You for Your sacrifice and love for us. Teach us to reach out to You and rely on Your strength during times of trouble. Help us to let go of our problems and learn to dwell in Your peace. Jesus, let us take heart and realize that You have overcome the world. Like the strong, beautiful petals of the native sunflower, let us be strong in faith and rest in your beautiful peace. In Your holy name. Amen

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Dwell in the House of the Lord: Psalm 27:4

One thing I have asked of the LORD, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.
Psalm 27:4 (AMP)

David’s prayer and life priority were to have a deep relationship with the Lord. He was seeking to be in close communication with God; he longed to be closer to Him, for he wanted to dwell in the house to the Lord, to set up residency for all the days of his life. David longed to behold and to gaze upon the beauty, glorious majesty, of God. To be able to meditate in the gracious presence of the Lord. To take time to praise and worship His power, mercy, and grace. What a beautiful sight it will be for faithful followers to behold the beauty of the Lord.

Are you asking and seeking to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of your life?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for your grace and love. We seek to be near to You. We ask to dwell in Your house, the house of the Lord, all the days of our life. We long to experience the wonder and to behold the beauty of You, Lord. Like the beauty of butterflies and flowers brighten spring, seeking the beauty of Your kingdom brightens our days. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Empowered: 2 Timothy1:7

For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NET)

Paul is writing his friend and protégé Timothy. In this encouraging letter, he reminds Timothy that the Holy Spirit empowers and directs him. Power for our life comes when we rely on Christ, who strengthens us when we are weak. This power gives us energy, courage, a spirit of love, and the ability to make sound judgments. God has given us the Spirit of love which, carries us through opposition. Strength in God’s Spirit of power and His guidance for self-control. Faith in God empowers and casts out fear.

Are you empowered; do you rely on the power of God to cast away your fear?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love and care. Teach us to seek your direction, rest in Your strength, and rely on Your power. Lord empower us, strengthen us when we are weak. Let us embrace your Spirit of power, love, and self-control. Like the three camellia blossoms are open and closely gathered on the branch, let us have open hearts, closely gathered to the Holy Trinity. In Jesus’ Holy name. Amen

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Pathway: Psalm 32:8

8 I will guide you and teach you the way you should go.
I will give you good advice and watch over you with love.
Psalm 32:8 (NIVR)

The Lord guides us and teaches us He wants to lead us along the best pathway for our life. He instructs us directs our way through life. We receive His counsel through praying, reading His Word, and following His truths. When we accept God’s counsel and follow His good advice, He helps us achieve the life He desires for us. For, God has plans for us, plans to prosper us and give us hope and a future.

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.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Is your pathway through life self-centered or God-centered?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for guiding us and watching over us with love. Teach us to seek Your way through scripture and prayer. Guide our steps and lead us along the best pathway for our life. Lord be our compass, as we travel, let us not get lost or stray from Your path. Like the open, reaching upward, white flowers of the crocus, let us be open to Your path and reaching upward for Your guidance. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Endurance and Encouragement: Romans 15:5

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,
Romans 15:5 (NIV)

God is a source of endurance and encouragement. He will help us to keep going, following His path for us. God is patient and forgiving. He lifts us with encouragement and with endurance to keep moving forward. Paul is encouraging the church in Rome to get along; live in harmony. To act like Jesus did, glorifying God, showing patience, and compassion to others. With God’s endurance and encouragement, we can work together, with unity.

Do you look to God for endurance and encouragement? Are you patient, compassionate, and forgiving to others like Jesus?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for encouraging us, forgiving us, and giving us the endurance to move forward. Teach us to be patient, forgiving, and compassionate like Jesus was. Encourage us to be tolerant and work together in unity. Like the white rhododendron petals are gathered together around the flower center, let us gather together in love, centered on Jesus. Amen

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God of Hope: Romans 15:13

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NLT)

This is a short prayer by Paul for the Christians in Rome. The verse also is used as a benediction. It is a reminder that God is the source of all blessings. God is the source of our hope and true spiritual happiness. This overflowing powerful hope; derived from the supernatural power; of the Holy Spirit inside us, calming us and alleviating our fears. When we open our hearts and walk in faith with our God of Hope, we can have confident hope, spiritual peace, and inward joy.

Is your trust in the God of Hope? Who will you bless with Paul’s prayer?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, God of Hope, helps us to grow in faith. Thanks for your blessings, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Open our hearts, teach us to trust, and guide us in Your truth. Lord, we thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, for help and guidance. Like the rhododendron, buds hold the promise of flowers; faith in You brings promises of hope, joy, and peace. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Light of Christ: 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
2 Corinthians 4:5-6 (MSG)

In Paul’s writing to the Corinthians, he explains that the Message he brings in not about him. He is only a messenger of Jesus Christ the Lord. In the beginning, God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:4). To fill our lives with His light, God gave us His Son, Jesus Light of the World, and the light of eternal life. From Christ’s face, God’s glory shines bright and beautiful. With Jesus as our Light, we never will walk in spiritual darkness. His true light illuminates our hearts, encouraging us to spread spiritual light, the Word, to others.

Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake. We are his servants because the same God who said that light should shine out of darkness has given us light. For that reason we bring to light the knowledge about God’s glory which shines from Christ’s face.
2 Corinthians 4:5-6(GW)

Are you illuminated with the light of Christ?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for filling our lives with the light of Christ. May our paths be illuminated by Christ, the Light of the World. May His glory shine brightly in our hearts. Like the petals of the geranium glow in the sunlight, help us to glow with Your light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

I want to thank Beverley for nominating me for the Outstanding Blogger Award. I highly recommend her blog Becoming the Oil and Wine; it is inspiring, full of God’s love, and spirit-driven. 🌺

Peace and Assurance: Isaiah 32:17

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¹⁷The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
Isaiah 32:17 (NKJV)

Righteousness is the character of God, shown in the perfect holiness of Jesus. To be righteous is to live in a way that is acceptable to God, the following of His Word, and acceptance of His path. It is a heart transformation, a trust in heavenly things rather than worldly things. When we trust and accept God’s way, we achieve inner peace and quiet confident assurance in His promise of life everlasting.

17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
And the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.
Isaiah 32:17 (AMP)

When you need peace do you reach out in prayer; do you rest in God in quiet assurance?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, help us to grow in righteousness and become more like Christ. Lord teach us to be open-hearted, to love one another as You have loved us. Help us to grow in faith, compassion, and peace. Let us learn to rest in Your quiet with peace and confident trust forever. Like the lovely open peony, let us open our hearts and spread your Word with love. In Jesus’ holy and loving name Amen.

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Love One Another: 1Peter 1:21-22

²¹Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. ²²You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
1 Peter 1: 21-22 (NET)

Jesus, Son of God, was crucified for our salvation. God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him in heaven. Jesus’s victory over death into glory brings trust; we trust in God, He sacrificed His Son to save us. We have faith and hope in God’s promises and His plans for us. With belief, our hearts are open to the truth of God’s Word and His love. We need to embrace Christ’s commandment “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34). When our hope is in Christ, we are born again, and we can love one another earnestly, sincerely, and with a pure heart.

Is your heart open to love one another as Christ loved us?

Prayer; Lord, Jesus create in us a pure heart. Help us to forgive, accept, and love one another. Open our heart to Your truth and direction. Teach us to love one another earnestly, sincerely, and with a pure heart. Like the gentle, glorious beauty of the rose, let us be kind and gentle and spread Your glorious love. Amen

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Joy: John 15:11

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⁹“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15: 9-11 (NIV)

Allowing Jesus into your life, following His ways, and giving Him your burdens, brings joy to your life. Jesus did not want His followers to live in fear; He wanted them to rely on Him, to receive His peace, love, and joy. Jesus wants us to lighten our burdens by turning them over to Him. When we let go of fears and worries and take time to be still in His presence, it opens our hearts to His way. Having faith, trust in Jesus lightens our mind, calms our day, and brings us joy.

Do you let temporary problems and struggles steal away your eternal Jesus given joy?

Prayer; Jesus, our Shepherd, and Redeemer, teach us to give our burdens and fears to You. Lead us on the path of righteousness and guide our way. Help us to embrace your teachings and grow in faith. Like the glorious open flowers of the water lilies, reach upward toward the sun, let us be open-hearted and reach upward toward You, Jesus, and live in joy. Amen

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I believe in the power of prayer. Need prayer? I will be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺