Prayer Time ~ Right Paths (Hosea 14)

Today's Influence:

Hosea 14 (NLT):

1-2: Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, "Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises."

4: The Lord says, "Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever."

9: Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall. 

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Today's Prayer:

Dear Lord, I confess that my walk with you has wandered and I have found myself too often in the wilderness from my own sin. I know now that even there, in the midst of my own exile, you were my comfort and my salvation. Lord, I thank you for forgiving my sins and I beg you to open my eyes to your acts of graciousness within my life. Heal me of my faithlessness in times of doubt, and remind me of your unfailing love, that I may walk in the paths you set before me as your daughter, full of the righteousness placed within me through your son Jesus Christ. Give me wisdom and discernment to follow your calling for my life. I praise you, Lord, for your righteousness, justice, unfailing love, and compassion. 

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My Story:

I spent the first part of my adult life believing in a distant, disciplining God, rather than a personal, loving God. While I did not purposefully place myself in a sinful exile, I was unaware that there could truly be a personal communion with God outside of following the traditional Christian checklist of things to do or not to do. This personal legalism quickly grew tiring and I had no connection with God beneath the surface of praying when things got really bad - while not actually having any faith that the prayers would change anything. Doubt in His love and personal affection for me, as His daughter.

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Your Turn:

In times of weakness, the devil loves to play off of our insecurities, quickly reminding us that we have sinned and convincing us that God will lose patience with us for our failures or our own faithlessness. The truth is, God never loses faith for us. He never lacks compassion or gives up on chasing after us with His unfailing love and ultimate grace. Nothing we ever have done - or could ever do - will ever be enough to separate us from Him.

Have there been times in your own life when you placed yourself in exile from God, believing that somehow your sins were greater than His forgiveness? Or maybe that He was too distant to truly love you and show you the grace and mercy you so desperately needed? What trials have you endured during wilderness periods that have ultimately brought you closer to God or revealed His plans for your life? Share in the comments.

Prayer Time ~ Earnest Love (1 Peter 4:8)

Today's Influence:*

1 Peter 4:8:

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

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Today's Prayer:

Dear Lord, please help me to love my family earnestly and whole-heartedly. Remind me to show them love and kindness even in the midst of hardship and trials. Give me your heart to forgive their sins and help them learn to forgive themselves. I pray that you shed your love over us, so we may all love one another.

Help me to learn how to show love without conditions or limits. Teach me unfailing love as only you can.

Watch over my relationships with my children and help us to love and respect each other. Help them to follow your guidance and to ask for your mercy to forgive their sins and your grace to cover their weaknesses. 

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My Story:

It's easy to say "I love you" when things are going well, but I have a hard time not being sarcastic when things are not running smoothly. Having my teen yelling and screaming at me is more likely to elicit an "I love you, but..." than a straight up "I love you". Follow that "but" with anything from "it's hard to show you that while or screaming" to "it hurts me to watch you doing this to yourself"... Loving them unconditionally, no matter how much they're driving me crazy isn't hard - but showing them that love is a whole different ball game. I need help. God's help.

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Your Turn:

When do you find that you need God's help or reminders to love earnestly, without conditions attached to your level of care? Are there some relationships that are naturally easier for you to get along in than others? Share in the comments.

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*Today's scripture is from the week 1 lesson of the 2016 edition of Read Pray Love from Proverbial Homemaker. It might be obvious I'm running a year behind, but I'm new to this praying through the scriptures concept and I just printed out both the 2016 and 2017 sets last week and didn't want to "miss out" on anything while playing catch up. Instead of focusing on one verse a week, I plan on just working my way through one lesson every couple of days. With God's help, I'll catch up eventually.

Here are the links to both editions on her blog:
2016 edition of Read Pray Love - 52 Weeks Of Praying For Your Family
2017 edition of Read Pray Love (still in progress)

Prayer Time ~ Lead Us To Repent (Ezekiel 33:11, 18-20)

Today's Influence:

Ezekiel 33:11, 18-20 (NLT excerpts):

(11) ...I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?

(18-20) For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die. But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live... ...I judge each of you according to your deeds.

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Today's Prayer:

Lord, your Holy Word says time and time again that if we repent and turn from our sins then you will show us mercy and we will live. That our past sins will be forgotten so long as we repent and do what is just and right. I pray to you now that you help me and those around me to see our wicked ways and to turn from them. Help us to be righteous and do what is just and good according to your laws, not those of man. Help us to show others mercy and forgiveness so they may learn of your grace through our actions toward them. Help keep us from slipping into ignorance, arrogance, and pride - so that we may continue to heed your warnings and follow your commands, acting in ways that honor and please you.

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My Story:

We all have problems keeping away from sin, due to our sinful nature since the fall. I find that the more I try to follow God's commands for actions that are just and right, the more I fight that part of me that wants "fairness" rather than "justice". While God demands that the wicked be punished, He also commands us to be the watchmen and warn them of their wicked ways, so they might turn back toward Him. God's Word is full of reminders of His unending pursuit of our hearts. On the days I seek fairness, I find my own pride getting in the way of God's quest to win my souls. How unfortunate that I'm fighting against God and getting in His way!

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Your Turn:

Do you find your own quest for fairness blocking the path to justice? How do you heed God's commands for us to help lead the wicked away from their evil ways and back towards God's open arms? Share in the comments.

Prayer Time ~ Search Me And Teach Me (Jeremiah 17:5-10)

Today's Influence:

Jeremiah 17:5-10 (NLT):

This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

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Today's Prayer:

Lord, I call upon you to help me to trust in you, Lord. Help me to find my hope and my confidence in you alone. Search my heart, God. Examine my motives. Show me the darkness within my own heart and the errors in my way, so that your Holy light may shine upon them and cast out any thoughts that do not honor you. Teach me to rely on your strength rather than my own.

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My Story:

I'm a stubborn person. Anyone who knows me will testify to that, and could tell you volumes about the lengths I'll go to just to prove that I can do something on my own without any help or assistance - even if it darn near kills me! I don't like admitting when I'm in over my head until I'm in so deep that I can not find any possible way out of the mess. Then I *might* hint that I could *possibly* use a little help to get out of the jam.

 Somehow I don't think that this extreme level of stubbornness is very helpful when it comes to turning over the reins of my life to God, and trusting on Him to take control. This is something I'm sure I'll still be working on years from now. But at least I'm admitting that I need His help asking for help. That's something, isn't it?

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Your Turn:

How good are you at turning over the reins and letting God steer the wagon you call life? What about self-monitoring and keeping yourself in check when it comes to those less-than-pleasant thoughts or motives? Even the best deed can sour if it's done for the wrong reasons. Share in the comments.

Prayer Time ~ Righteousness And Repentance (Ezekiel 18:19-32)

Today's Influence:

Ezekiel 18:19-32 (NLT excerpts):

(20-22) ...The child will not be punished for the parent's sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child's sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.

(24) However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins. 

(27-28) And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins...

(30-32) Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn away from your sins. Don't let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don't want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!

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Today's Prayer:

Lord, I pray that you help me to become righteous in your eyes. Give me the courage to turn away from my sins, and the wisdom and strength to obey your decrees and do what is just and right. Forgive me of my sins and show me how to live so I may honor lead. 

Lead me away from my rebellious nature so I may have a new heart and a new spirit through you, dear God. Lord, I praise you for your mercy, and I repent of my wrongdoings. Show me the path you have laid out before me, that I might follow it and honor you, Lord.

God, how grateful I am that my children will not be punished for my sins. Please help me to guide them to follow your ways, so that they may do what is just and live in honor of your righteousness. I ask you to show them their rebellion and their sins, so they may repent and turn back to you if they stray. Thank you, God. 

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My Story:

The sins I committed in my wilderness years are far too many to count. Thank God that those things are no longer held against me. Nor are they held against my children, who are given a fresh slate upon which to write their own behaviors. While I can not keep them from rebelling and choosing the same sins that I have given in to, I can encourage them to pursue a state of righteousness and to show repentance, asking God for forgiveness when they do fall short of His teachings.

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Your Turn:

When was the last time you thanked God that our sins are not passed on to our children, or that we don't inherit the sins of our parents? Are you struggling with rebellion when it comes to following God in some area of your life? Share in the comments.

Prayer Time ~ Return To God (Ezekiel 11:18-21)

Today's Influence:

Ezekiel 11:18-21 (NLT):

When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their vile images and detestable idols. I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those who long for vile images and detestable idols, I will repay them fully for their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!

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Today's Prayer:

Lord, help me return to you, my blessed homeland. Show me those images and idols to remove from my life and my heart, dear God. Help give me the strength to overcome their hold on my, for your power alone is enough. Give me singleness of heart and put a new spirit within me. Take away my stony, stubborn heart and give me a tender, responsive heart, so I will obey your decrees and regulations. Let me be your people, as I call on you to be my God.

Help my family to return to you as well, dear Lord. Show them the idols that are taking place in their heart and lives which should be dedicated solely to you. Give them the strength to fight these temptations in your name, and to place you first above all others. Give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. Take away their stony, stubborn hearts and give them tender, responsive hearts, so they will obey your decrees and regulations. Show us how to be your people, as we call you to be our God. 

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My Story:

It's been about a year and a half since I started venturing out of the wilderness and back toward God's outstretched arms. I find myself being confronted by the truth of my own idolatry and asking for God's forgiveness on a daily basis. Constantly discovering His merciful blessings within my life helps me to keep focused on His unfailing love.

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Your Turn:

Do you have favorite scriptures or prayers that you rely on when you feel the need to re-focus your life on God and His many blessings? Share in the comments.

Prayer Time ~ Restore Me (Jeremiah 15:19)

Today's Inspiration:

Jeremiah 15:19 (NLT):

If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!

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Today's Prayer:

Dear Lord, help me to return to you. Restore me so that I can serve you God. Help me to speak good words and tear worthless ones from my thoughts before they dare leave my lips, O God. Have me be your spokesman. Lead me to influence others for the sake of your righteousness. and in the name of your most beloved son, Jesus Christ. Do not let those who are lost influence me, dear God - but instead show me the way to influence them on your behalf. To God goes all the glory! Amen!

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My Story:

Learning to return to God while raising children is not easy. Trying to teach pre-teens and teens the reason to pray and read the Bible after having spent a decade not touching God's Word doesn't make it any easier. I find myself asking for God's strength and influence daily, so that I can learn to be a better role model and teacher for those whom He has entrusted to my training.

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Your Turn:

What are some ways that God has asked you to influence others? Are there things that come to mind for you to better follow His lead and be a spokesman for Him? Share in the comments.

Prayer Time ~ Be Merciful (Jeremiah 7:23)

Today's Inspiration:

Jeremiah 7:23 (NLT):

Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!

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Today's Prayer:

Dear Lord, help us to stop our evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice - so that you may be merciful toward us.

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My Story:

Justice is a funny thing. We tend to appreciate justice when it works to our benefit, yet we scold it when we fear it's outcome. As I've been trying to focus more on seeking justice, I find myself having to fight my own ideas of what justice is - and what it's not. I continue struggling to obey God in keeping my words under control and refraining from negative thoughts when I'm frustrated.

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Your Turn:

What areas of obedience toward God do you struggle with? Share in the comments.

Prayer Time ~ Seeking God (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Today's Inspiration:

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT):

Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things.

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Today's Prayer:

Help us to know you, Lord, and to witness your unfailing love. Help us to seek your justice and righteousness, Dear God. Help us to bring you delight.

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My Story:

I have a hard time remembering to give God the credit when things are working out according to "my" plan. And yet, things going well are a confirmation of my following God's plan, not my own. I need to be more persistent in praising Him and thanking Him for the wonderful circumstances He brings into my life, as I strive to lean on Him and strengthen my understanding of His wonderful grace.

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Your Turn:

How often do you find yourself boasting about your own achievements rather than giving God the credit? What are you actively doing to increase your knowledge and understanding of the Lord? Share in the comments.

Prayer Time ~ Guidance And Correction (Jeremiah 10:23-24)

Today's Inspiration:

Jeremiah 10:23-24 (NLT):

I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.

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Today's Prayer:

Dear Lord, please help guide me along your path. Remind me to follow the course you set before me, instead of my ego trying to follow its own course. God, gently correct me and lead me the way you would have me go. 

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My Story:

Every time I look back over my years spent wandering, I find myself even my grateful for God's gentleness in correcting me. The traps I'd laid for myself through bad choices and sour relationships were always met with an open window or an escape sign that only God have placed there. And He did it over and over again, with no thanks from me. Giving me way more "second chances" than I ever dreamed possible. While I still struggle daily with following His course, I make a point of thanking Him for His gentle nudges and reminders of His unfailing love.

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Your Turn:

Have you ever experienced a time when you were grateful for the Lord's merciful and gentle correction? Do you present yourself each day to the path He sets before you or do you struggle to let Him have the reins and lead your course? Share in the comments.