My Intercessor

Promise:
...If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. I John 2:1
It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes interecession for us. Romans 8:34

Prayer:
You are such an awesome God. You, who cannot even look on sin planned my way of escape and paid the ransom. You made me, and then You bought me, and now You intercede for me. You are my powerful defense attorney. You stand between the Father and me, and You say that You have already paid the price. I am pardoned and my file is marked 'Innocent'. What is even for astounding, Lord, is that it is as though I had never sinned. You see me covered in Your righteousness. Isa. 61:10 states I am "clothed in the garment of salvation...wrapped with a robe of righteousness...adorned with jewels." Thank You, my Lord, You are so Good and I worship at your feet! Amen

No Pain, No Gain

Promise:
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. Psalm 119:67 and 71

Prayer:
Lord, You have heard the phrase "no pain, no gain" which is often one we humans quip regarding our physical bodies. I think it can also be applied to our spiritual lives. It is during the hard times, the painful times that I have learned to cling to you. When I have thought I was sinking, I have called out to you! I wish this was not always so, but just as the Psalmist states: "Before I was afflicted I went astray...". Lord, you know what is best, your thoughts for me are of peace. You would that I be strong and healthy spiritually. I bow before You and say 'Thy will be done.'
Amen

I Will Praise You

Promise:
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night. Psalm 92:1-2

Prayer:
In my Praise book (by Ruth Myers), Lord, it states that "thru Praise you can tune in God's Enriching Presence." Another thought from this book is: "Thru Praise you can activate God's Power." Psa. 22:3 says "You inhabit the Praises of Your people." My 'Sacrifice of Praise' is in Praising You through trials, giving thanks for all things. You are worthy, O Lord, to recieve honor and glory and Praise. Charles Spurgeon has said "Praise helps to remove our burdens, excite our hopes, and increase our faith." He likens Praise to spiritual excercise, and it is with Praise that we will join with the angels in singing "Worthy is the Lamb..." Amen

I Thirst for God

Promise:
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.
Psalm 42:1

Prayer:
My soul does hunger and thirst to know You, Lord. I have read that you are my 'soul food'. I feed upon you by studying and reading your Word. It's a hunger, a desire within me, to be filled by You. I think Mary of Bethany had this desire and could not get enough. I long for the day when I shall be with You forever, sitting at Your feet as Mary did, beholding Your beauty, feasting on Your words. You are my "Stream in the Desert", my "Spring in the Valley". You are life to me! You are all I need! I long for you to fill my cup, Lord. Amen

Pure Thoughts

Promise:
Let the Words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my redeemer. Psa. 19:14

Prayer:
Phil. 4:8 tells us to think about whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Lord, you have told us to guard what we say, so if we apply these verses, what comes from the mouth should be acceptable and praiseworthy. Phil. 4:7 states that the 'peace of God' will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. You give us commands, but never leave us to do it alone. I give you my heart, Lord, and you have promised (vs. 9) that the God of Peace will be with me. Amen. Thank you, Lord!

God of All Comfort

Promise:
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Isaiah 40:1

Prayer:
Lord, written in the margin of my Bible of II Cor. 1 is the Greek word for comfort "paraklesis", and that the Holy Spirit is our "paraklete", our comforter. II Cor. 1:3 also calls God the 'Father of Mercies' and 'God of All Comfort'. You were called 'the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief'. You understand our sorrows. Now may I in turn use my sorrows, my heartaches, my afflictions, to be able to touch others. "If I can help someone along the way, then my living will not have been in vain." Amen

No fear of Death

Promise:
O Death, where is your sting?
O Grave, where is your victory? I Cor. 15:55

Prayer:
Acts 2:24 states"God raised Him up again putting an end to the agony of Death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power." You won, Lord! Life has won! Death and Satan have lost! Praise God! We have looked death in the face this past year, but we all see beyond to the Greater Glory. We look forward to the glorified body, and falling on our knees to worship the One who conquered death. To you, O Lord, be glory forever and ever! Amen

Prayer & Praise

Promise:
Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psa.141:2)

Prayer:
Lord, You ask us to pray and bring our petitions to You. It has been said that "prayer is the slender nerve that moves the mighty hand of God.' It is not that You cannot work without our prayers, but you want to have us ask, and seek, and worship and praise You through our prayers. Our prayers come to you as 'a sweet smelling sacrifice'. Our prayers rise to you as smoke of burning incense. Our prayers show we trust in You. II Chron 13:18 states "The sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the LORD." I will lift my hands in Praise to You! Amen

New Year--New Beginnings

Promise: The land whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: a land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year evcn unto the end of the year.

Deuteronomy 11:11-12



This is a wonderful thought, Lord--You are with me from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. Its really just another day, sunrise, sunset, and yet its the first day of 2008. We think of a new year as one of New Beginnings, time to make changes, have new goals. It is also a time when I wonder what new sorrows, what new heartaches. Yet one thing remains the same, and that is Your Faithfulness! You lead me even on paths I do not know--and from Deut 11:12, "from the beginning of the year unto the end of the year." Thank you for being my one constant all year long. Amen