Jesus said,“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing … likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:4-5, 7 NKJV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
“He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” Isaiah 40:11 NLT
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 NKJV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”Romans 4:7-8NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
The Lord impressed something on my mind today that I couldn’t shake. He was asking, “Do you believe I will answer your prayer?”
Why do I bring this up? Because today I was asked to pray for 2 young children who were burning up with a raging fever due to Malaria. They are patients of my missionary friends in Africa.
Although my heart was breaking, I felt like my prayers did little good. If I had more faith, wouldn’t I pray with more conviction? Wouldn’t I feel something?
Not necessarily. If faith depended on feelings, we’d be in a boatload of trouble. I believe faith is believing God’s promises, believing His Word, trusting Him, and knowing that He is love. Whether feelings accompany our prayers or not, God’s Word is still Truth.
Just maybe, when we feel like our prayers aren’t making it out of the room, we need to say, “IT IS WRITTEN!”
After all, prayer is spiritual warfare! Just like Jesus did when Satan tempted Him, we can say those same words and encourage ourselves. Isn’t Satan trying to deceive us into thinking our prayers won’t change anything? He is a liar! So let us say,
It is written! “… whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
It is written! “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7 )
It is written! “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 NKJV
When someone is desperate, and asks me to pray, I want to know that God hears me and that His will will be done. I want my faith to be strong! I want to experience fervent, effectual prayer!
It is God’s grace that enables us to do anything for God. It is not our own strength, but His. Even in prayer, I must depend on His grace to give me the ability to pray powerfully and with great faith.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)
So as we approach our loving God in prayer, may we lean on Him and embrace His grace which will teach us to pray in power according to His will. He has given us the privilege of prayer, making us His instruments to bring about His will.
“Our prayers cannot force God to do anything, but He uses them as His own instruments to bring about His will.” ~ R. C. Sproul
SUM IT UP:
Know that God will use your prayers as an instrument to accomplish His will.
Know that prayer is your privilege.
Know He is listening with love and compassion.
ABOUT What A Friend We Have in Jesus : What a Friend We Have in Jesus was written by Joseph M. Scriven. Joseph Scriven’s life was filled with many trials and sorrows. His fiancée died in a drowning accident on the eve of their wedding in 1844. Eventually, he found love again, but his plans for marriage were dashed again when his new bride-to-be died after a short illness in 1855. That same year, he received news from Ireland that his mother was terribly ill. He wrote a poem to comfort her called “Pray Without Ceasing”. It was later set to music and renamed What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Scriven did not have any intentions nor dream that his poem would be published in the newspaper and later become a favorite hymn among the millions of Christians around the world.
Prayer isn’t something we have to do. It’s something we get to do. As the old hymn says, “What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.”
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
“You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:6-7 NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.” Psalm 68:5-6 NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
“He is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trusted in him, and he helped me. Joy rises in my heart until I burst out in songs of praise to him.” Psalm 28:7 TLB
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
“GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN MAKE THE VALLEY OF TROUBLE A DOOR OF HOPE.”
CATHERINE MARSHALL
Hopelessness is the cruelest emotion. I felt hopeless once. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Hopelessness is like being in a dark hole. You don’t know how to get out and you don’t care.
If you have ever experienced hopelessness, and you’re still around to tell about it, you understand the inextricable need of all human beings to have HOPE.
Simply by our proximity to Jesus, we can bring hope and life to people and places trapped in discouragement and despair.”
Pastor Louie Giglio
What greater motivation could there be for devoting time each day to God alone? My prayer is that because I seek Him, others will see Him and take hold of that hope that anchors my soul.
“We are never without hope, because we are never without Him.”
Sarah Rodriguez Rhodes
Sarah writes about the day, shortly after her husband’s death, when doctors told her there was no hope for the life of her two week old baby girl. But Sarah says, “We are never without hope, because we are never without Him.” You can read her testimony of God’s faithfulness here. Sarah’s Story
“…Christ Jesus (is) our HOPE…” 1 Timothy 1:1
A Christian’s hope isn’t an escape or wishful thinking, but something that a Christian is meant to do.
C.S. Lewis
“When you go through deep waters I will be with you.”Isaiah 43:2NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 NIV
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”Romans 8:24-25
“I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future.”
Ralph Abernathy
What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace; knowing that his grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God.
Rick Warren
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
“The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.” Psalm33:10-11 NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?