Category: Prayer

The Greater Work

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Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.

Oswald Chambers

Sometimes I don’t know how to pray. Illness, loss, divorce, conflicts, and trials abound. I receive prayer requests from others often and having multiple petitions layered upon others, my heart becomes heavy for family and friends. As an empath, I have found that being off social media is best for me. I keep my world relatively small so that it’s easier to focus on those who are close to me. When prayer requests pile up, I feel like I am playing the game of “hot potato” with God. When I receive the request, I think of Romans 8:26-27, and immediately hand it over to God.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27

How do I pray anyway? A few of my friends are dealing with heavy family issues. What do I ask for? How do I form words when the heart hurts, the soul aches, and the mind is numb? The prayer that never fails comes to mind; “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10). Even if it hurts? Even if it means I don’t get my way? Even if someone still suffers, dies, walks away, gives up, or takes years to come back to God? My thoughts are not His thoughts. His timing is not mine. I have found some direction on what to pray for from the book of Philippians when I start to feel overwhelmed.

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

Philippians 1:2-4

GRACE to you (dignity, balance, thanksgiving)–for every mile, for every trial. I ask for new grace to face a new day even when there are no answers – at least not at present. I pray for dignity to accept mistakes and to receive forgiveness, for balance through a diagnosis or other issues with thanksgiving that God’s hand can still keep, protect, and guide.

and PEACE (one accord with God, tranquility, the quietness of spirit)— I long for stillness – not rushing to find answers or even understanding. I urge for reassurance that God alone can fix, bend, and mend people and problems.

MAKING REQUEST WITH JOY – calling out with joy because I go to the One Who has the answers!

No matter the situation, prayer is the greater work. Whether the prayer is short or long, a breath or ongoing throughout the day, God hears. When my soul seeks for a voice, sometimes the only words needed to cover it all from the One Who sees it all are Grace and Peace.

Strength of Heart

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“Follow your heart”, the world advises. “If it feels good, do it.” Yet in the Bible, God guides us to trust HIS heart and HIS path because our hearts lead us astray all too easily. The heart is deceitful, wicked, swayed and distracted. But there is H O P E. There is a Redeemer who longs to cleanse, heal, renew, and guide.

Over on Facebook this month, I have been posting Scripture verses pertaining to my February “Grace Goals”. Along with these verses, I have been sharing prayers and thoughts. Here are last week’s reflections:

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Within me, Lord, let no seed of resentment take root and grow.

Within me, I want to know joy, wisdom, and grace.

Within me, deep down, I know that strength of heart comes from not comparing my life to others or in jumping to conclusions. It comes from trusting You and Your plan for my life and the way I should go.

Within me, plant a will to forgive and the ability to extend mercy for I have received above and beyond what I deserve from You.

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I want to see You, Lord, in the every day.

Shadows fall, I turn to disbelief instead of the Divine.

Keep my heart pure from doubting that You are good. Keep me safe from the shouting of the world and from those against You, so that I may notice Your hand working in ways I may not see and hear Your still small voice.

In order to truly see You, free my heart from distrust, from complaining, from comparing and dissatisfaction. You have given me more than I deserve and more than I will ever need. When my heart and thoughts are focused in the right direction, I will see all that You have given me and all that You are.

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My flesh and my heart ignores, neglects, deserts, disappoints, and forgets.

But…However…Nevertheless…Still

God is my courage, my stability, my anchor, my might.

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Wait on the Lord…continue, persevere, endure, persist, remain

and He will…

bolster, establish, restore, sustain, fortify.

Grace Goals for January

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I have had this idea rolling around in my head for quite awhile now, and I think it’s time to let it out of my brain and see how it goes. A “mood board” of sorts to set the tone for the month, a theme for #straygifts, a specific prayer plan/topic along with helpful blog posts, a corresponding Scripture verse to implement, and a possible ‘ministry goal’. It seems like a lot, I know, which is why I created a collage guide to explain.

TOP LEFT CORNER is a photo of cardmaking supplies, a ministry of sorts for me. I like to send cards and to hopefully be an encouragement to someone. I especially like to include a note about family happenings, flowers which may be blooming, the weather, ministry updates – more than just my signature at the bottom of a card. I strive to make each card personal. This month’s card theme will be winter-related for me. Is there someone who would love a handwritten note? Would you consider sending a card to at least one person this month?

TOP RIGHT CORNER is a prayer plan suggestion to pray for caretakers in January with a corresponding Scripture verse for meditation. Being a “caretaker” myself for a parent who needs care from time to time, I am more aware of friends and family who are doing the same. It is a big ministry for anyone in a caretaker position. When the idea originally came to me, I was thinking of caretakers for aging parents. While doing research for what caretakers do, I came across so many more descriptions for the word. A caretaker could be a stay-at-home-mom, a working mom juggling home and an outside job, a janitor at work, the waitress who always remembers what you order to drink, those who clean your church. All job descriptions which thrive with a humble spirit. There are so many! I would imagine, though, someone came to mind when you read this and maybe this month, you could pray for them and offer an encouraging word through a written note or by spoken word.

BOTTOM LEFT is a “Grace Goals” section. I have a beautiful poem I share on an upcoming blog post that inspired this. Theme: Compliment someone this month – or many people!- you never know how much a person might have needed it that day. Spread some light!

BOTTOM RIGHT are “Stray Gifts” suggestions to look out for throughout January.

Of course, I would love your participation – to build a community where we pray for each other, share stray gifts we see in the day, share ministry ideas for friends and family. I realize a lot of people read posts and do not comment or acknowledge that they read entries on Facebook or here on the blog. I do hope you follow along – whether by likes, shares, and comments, or quietly in your own way. Either way, thank you for stopping by A Record of Graces. I believe together, we can make a difference. #gracegoals2019

I hope your first week of 2019 is going well!

A Prayer for Missionaries

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2 Thessalonians 3: 1-2 , “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”

I have received several phone calls lately from family who are concerned for our safety here on the Juárez, Mexico/El Paso, Texas border. We feel the tension here in El Paso over the news concerning the immigrants who are coming our way. Already, we have seen the border patrol ‘environment’ more alert and dressed ready to take action if need be. We have seen people lined up at the border waiting for asylum and piling up at the border wall. We have had conversations with our church people over what to do if we cannot cross anymore, even temporarily. We feel no alarm when we cross the border as of yet and once we get up in the mountain where our church is, all is as it has always been. That may change, however, if tensions keep rising. We are watchful.

I have been posting lately a few prayers I had found in the back of a hymn book and I saw this one recently and thought it a fitting time to share it.

A Prayer for Missionaries 

O God, bless all those who have gone out to bring the message of the Gospel to other lands.

I remember before You

-Those who have to endure hardship and discomfort;

-Those who have to face peril and danger;

-Those who have had to leave their families and their children behind while they went out to other lands;

-Those who have had to struggle with a new language and with new ways of thought;

-Those whose health has broken down under that strain, and who have had to come home, not knowing whether they will ever be fit for their task again;

-Those who have to face constant discouragement in a situation in which no progress ever seems to be made.

Especially bless those who work in countries where new nations are being born, and where there is strife and trouble and bitterness in the birth-pangs of the new age.

Bless those who preach in the villages and the towns and the cities; those who teach in the schools and the colleges; those who work in the hospitals and among the sick; those who have laid their gifts of craftsmanship or administration at the altar of missionary service.

Help us at home never to forget them and always to pray for them. And help us to give generously of our money to their work so that it may go where we ourselves cannot go.

And bring quickly the day when the knowledge of You will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea: through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

(Found in the back of the hymnal: Praise! Our Songs and Hymns)

Thanks to God! {A Hymn for Thanksgiving}

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Thanks, O God, for boundless mercy from Thy gracious throne above;
Thanks for every need provided from the fullness of Thy love.
Thanks for daily toil and labor and for rest when shadows fall;
Thanks for love of friend and neighbor and Thy goodness unto all.

Thanks for thorns as well as roses, Thanks for weakness and for health;
Thanks for clouds as well as sunshine, Thanks for poverty and wealth.
Thanks for pain as well as pleasure- All Thou sendest day by day;
And Thy Word, our dearest treasure, Shedding light upon our way.

Thanks, O God, for home and fireside, Where we share our daily bread;
Thanks for hours of sweet communion, When by Thee our souls are fed.
Thanks for grace in time of sorrow, And for joy and peace in Thee;
Thanks for hope today, tomorrow, And for all eternity!

(Hymn by A.L. Storm)

 

In Life’s Seasons {A Prayer for All Seasons}

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“God for all seasons,

Who gives summer’s warm breezes the crispness of autumn,

Who lays upon earth’s breast the snows of winter,

Who makes streams flow in springtime,

Who in summer calls forth to fruit the sleeping folds of nature,

be the God of all seasons of my life:

days of joy and nights of sorrow,

weeks of anxiety and years of patience,

lifetime of work and play,

the eternity of Thy grace.

Some of my days fly by with creative work or relaxation; others linger with their tiring requirements.

Some days I would cling to with joy; others I would cast away with vengeance.

Some days escape me through the work to be done; others never seem to end.

Strengthen me to live all my days not only in the time it takes to live them but with the peace and patience necessary.

Save me from the waste of today caused by wanting tomorrow.

Help me to stop fighting against time and tide. Cleanse me of anxiety so I may take my days in stride.

Shed Thy Spirit upon me so I may cease worrying about the mysteries of life and wholly enjoy the blessings I can count.

Lead me in my waking moments so I may conquer life rather than complain about it.

Comfort me in my resting moments so I may be strengthened in soul and body for the living of the next day given to me by Thy providence.”

(Found in the back of the hymnal: PRAISE! Our Songs and Hymns)

 

Quietness of Heart {A Prayer for the Weekend}

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Give me, O Lord, that quietness of heart that makes the most of labor and of rest. Save me from passionate excitement, petulant fretfulness, and idle fear, keeping me ever in the restful presence of Thy love.
 
Teach me to be alert and wise in all responsibilities, without hurry and without neglect. Tame Thou and rule my tongue, that I may not transgress Thy law of love. When others censure, may I seek Thine image in each fellow man, judging with charity, as one who shall be judged.
 
Banish envy and hatred from my thoughts.
 
Help me to be content amid the strife of tongues, with my unspoken thought. When anxious cares threaten my peace, help me to run to Thee, that I may find my rest and be made strong for calm endurance and valiant service.
 
Amen.
(Found in the back of the hymnal: PRAISE! Our Songs and Hymns)

The Work of Spiritual Discernment

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Just like salvation through Christ cannot be passed down through another person, so it is with wisdom. It is a personal decision to seek Christ. It is a personal choice to seek knowledge and understanding. A solid spiritual life is not ‘just going to happen’ without any effort on the part of the believer.

Proverbs 2:3-5, “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”

I want to be a seeker of things that God cares for me to know about. I want to have the desire to search carefully and thoroughly for understanding as I would if I were mining for silver. Through crying out to God and digging through His word, spiritual discernment, understanding the heart of God, and knowledge of His faithfulness comes.

 

Don’t Measure the Size of the Mountain

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 “Don’t measure the size of the mountain; talk to the One who can move it.” -Max Lucado

When we face a seemingly impossible task…

Before we get frustrated, be encouraged that God is not.

Before we lose our cool, be determined to breathe, pray, and wait.

Before we say or do something we might regret, be vocal with the One who knows all about it. He wants to hear from us. He is eager to help us. And He might actually have a purpose in mind, something great even… but we will not know unless we ask.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

Making Mention of You Always

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Sometimes…I just don’t know how to pray. Illness, loss, divorce, conflicts, hardships…My heart is heavy for so many people and at times, I just don’t have the words.  What do I ask for? How do I pray? How do I form the words when the heart hurts, and the soul aches, and the mind is numb? The prayer that never fails; “Thy will be done”..but even if it hurts? Even if it means I don’t get my way? Even if someone still suffers, dies, walks away, gives up, or takes years to come back to God? My thoughts are not His thoughts. His timing is not mine. I’ve found some direction when I get to feeling numb with no words and no idea what to ask for.

“Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers.”
Philemon 1: 3, 4

GRACE to you (dignity, balance, thanksgiving)–for every mile, for every trial. New grace to face a new day even when there are no answers. Dignity to accept mistakes and to receive forgiveness. Balance through a diagnosis that will change a life forever. Thanksgiving that God’s hand can still keep, protect, and guide.

and PEACE (one accord with God, tranquility, quietness of spirit)— to be still and know that He is God. Period. And He alone can fix, bend, or mend people and problems. Not I.

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.”  Oswald Chambers

For those on your prayer list– for the faces you will see in your family, church, neighborhood, and even on Facebook who are smiling yet covering tears unshed–for all those on your heart and in your mind, when you find yourself making mention of someone always in your prayers…urge for GRACE, seek for PEACE. And give thanks for these gifts that He alone can wholly provide.

When the soul seeks for a voice, sometimes the only words you need to cover it all from the One Who covers all, are Grace and Peace.