Tag: spiritual

A Prayer for SIL, Day 54

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, life is getting messy. Could this be the result of the enemy’s desperation because You are making progress in SIL? I don’t always see it, but from time to time I glimpse a changing heart attitude in her.

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions… the end of all thigs is at hand, therefore be self-controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:1-3a, 7-8

Lord, since You suffered in the flesh, I pray that SIL arms herself with the same way of thinking. I pray that she uses any suffering in the flesh she experiences as a means to cease from sin. May she no longer live for her own passions but for Your will, for she has had enough time in the past to live for herself. As the end days approach, encourage SIL to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of her prayers. And above all, to love others earnestly, for it is love that will cover the multitude of irritations and frustrations that accompany human relationships. I also pray that she allows Your love to cover the frustration and disappointments she continues to feel for herself. Help her to see herself as You see her.

In Your Loving Care,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 53

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, what I have seen in the last week is upsetting to me. You, on the other hand, know her heart and You have the master plan of how to restore her. I can’t see that plan. I can only pray about what I see. So I pray that You show SIL how far she has fallen from her first love for You, how many compromises she has accepted from the enemy. Reignite the passion that once filled her heart and mind. Jesus, win her heart again like You did years ago.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?… be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you and I will be a father to you… 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (select parts)

Lord, I pray that SIL will refuse to be yoked with unbelievers and unbelief. I pray she differentiates between righteousness and lawlessness and knows when she is fellowshipping with darkness even when it’s only within herself. Ignite her willingness and desire to separate herself from darkness and to detest touching anything that You have disapproved of and forbidden to us. Welcome her and be the Father she needs and loves and craves.

In Your Light,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 52

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, I lift up SIL to you for Your blessing this morning.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. Matthew 18:13

Jesus, as You lay Your hands on SIL and pray for her, speak words of healing and comfort and compassion. May she find satisfaction in You greater than in anything the world has to offer.

In Your Hands,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 51

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Lord, I lift up SIL to You this night for Your blessing.

Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Ephesians 1:3-4

Blessed are You, Father and God of Lord Jesus Christ. You have blessed SIL with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. I pray that she acknowledges and accepts these gifts. May she walk in them so that she will be holy and blameless before You.

In Your Blessed Name,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 50

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Jesus, You hold us in Your hands. You mold and shape us. You purify us in the fire of You Spirit. I pray that SIL yields to You as You hold, shape, and purify her.

Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continuously. Ps 119:117

Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Rom 9:20b

For he is like a refiner’s fire. Malachi 3:2

You have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 1:6b-7

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11b

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Revelation 3:18

Lord, hold SIL, keep her safe. May she yield herself to You rather than to the world. Reveal to her her needs – and show her how to buy refined gold, how to put on white garments, and how to anoint her eyes. Lord, may she buy the garments and salve from You and not from the world, nor try to do it in her own power. Help her to stay focused on You both in the day when she is awake and at night as she sleeps.

In Your Mighty Name,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 49

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Lord, help me to let go and let you work in SIL at the pace and the way You choose. She is not changing the way I think she should, or as fast as I think she should. But she’s not mine to fix. She belongs to You. She answers to You. I release her, again, to You. Heal her. Teach her. Guide her. Convict her. Love her. I pray that she responds to You, cooperates with You, and seeks You above all else.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work) 2 Timothy 3:16 (17)

Jesus, I pray that You draw SIL to Your Word, that she craves it and feeds upon it every day. And while she does so, that You use it to teach, correct, and train her in righteousness.

In Your Hands,

Amen.

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 11 – Growing in Unexpected Places

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

It doesn’t make any sense. A dianthus flower should be planted in good soil, not growing in the water. All the books that I have read say that its roots will rot in too much water. However, my dianthus is doing fine.

This goes to show that we can’t believe everything the world tells us.

God sometimes plants us in places that don’t make sense or are contrary to our learned understanding of what we need in order to grow well. It’s okay. We can trust that He has a purpose no matter how unlikely the environment. If we keep our roots in the living water of His Spirit, we will flourish.

Scriptures:

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, Psalm 92:12-14

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1

A Prayer for SIL, Day 48

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, carry SIL in Your arms like a young lamb. You are the Good Shepherd – her shepherd. You know her and You know how to take care of her.

I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me… The sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out… He goes before them and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. John 10:14, 3b, 4b

He will tend his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom. Isaiah 40:11a

Oh, save your people, and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever! Psalm 28:9

Jesus, I pray that SIL’s ears will be open to Your voice. May she hear You when You call her by name. May she follow You as You lead her. When she cannot walk, I pray that You carry her in Your bosom, and that You will be her shepherd forever.

In Your Gentle Arms,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 47

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Lord, I lift up SIL once again. Heal her heart – she is still struggling. Give her understanding – she is still confused. Fill her with Your love – she is still needy. Fill her with Your peace – she is fearful of the future. Cover her with Your protection – for the enemy wants to destroy her.

Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Jesus, show SIL what it means to be sober-minded and watchful. Protect her from the devil who would like to devour her. Raise SIL up so that not only is her life dedicated to You, but that she encourages everyone else to be dedicated to You, too. You have gifted her in the way that people want to listen to her. I pray that what she says is Biblically accurate so that she doesn’t lead anyone away from You.

In Your Holy Name,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 46

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, cover SIL with Your wings.

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. Psalm 91:3-4

Deliver SIL from the snares around her. From the ones created by the enemy, the ones created by her past, the ones created by her sin, and the ones created by her pride and self-centeredness. No matter how strong the snare, You are stronger. No matter how hidden the snare, You see it. May SIL find refuge under Your wings. May she be open to Your will. And may she find Your faithfulness to be shield and buckler. Keep her fully aware of Your presence and Your promises each day.

In Your Protective Name,

Amen.