Tag: #askgod

How Important Is Prayer In Your Life?

Text:

Psalm 55:1-3 (HCSB)

1 God, listen to my prayer and do not ignore my plea for help.

2  Pay attention to me and answer me. I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,

3  because of the enemy’s voice, because of the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster on me and harass me in anger.

Observation:

Notice in our focal passage for today how common, and universal are the things that David prayed about.

  • David needed someone to listen to him.
  • David did not want to be ignored.
  • David needed someone to help him.
  • David wanted someone to pay attention to him.
  • David wanted someone to answer him.
  • David was restless, in turmoil, and he needed to voice his complaint.
  • David had enemies who were oppressing him, and he felt his life was in danger.

David expresses his frustration in these words.

Psalm 55:6 (HCSB)

6  I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.

Have you ever said to yourself what David said? Have you considered running away from your problems?

There is a better way than running away from your problems. The truth is that your problems will go with you. Rather, what we really need are wings like an eagle so that we can fly above our problems.

David did two things that enabled Him to fly above his problems.

First, David called upon the Lord.

Psalm 55:16 (HCSB)

16  But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.

Second, David cast all of his burdens upon the Lord.

Psalm 55:22 (HCSB)

22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

God enabled David to overcome his problems, and He will do the same for you. God is waiting to hear from you.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for being a loving, and caring heavenly Father who knows our needs, and who cares about us personally.

Father, give us a burning desire to call upon You for all of our needs, and to cast all of our cares upon You.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB)

6  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7  casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

Father, I pray that You would hear the cry of every one of Your children who calls upon You, and puts their troubles in Your hands.  In the might name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

What Are You Doing While You Wait On God?

Text:

Psalm 62:1-2 (ESV)

1  For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

2  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Psalm 62:5 (ESV)

5  For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Observation:

While you wait on God it is not a time for worrying and whining. Rather, it is a time for walking with God, and joining Him in the work that He is doing as you walk in His steps.

When you walk with God you are never alone. He covers you each step that you take as you walk with the Lord.

We are in such a better place when we pray, watch, and wait, and do all in the presence of the Lord; with Him leading and guiding each step we take, and each move that we make.

1 John 1:6-7 (ESV)

6  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Who is willing to come and walk with Jesus for the remainder of our journey in this world? Let’s sing this hymn to the Lord as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

“Walking in sunlight all of my journey,

Over the mountains, through the deep vale;

Jesus has said, I’ll never forsake thee-

Promise divine that never can fail.”

Psalm 62:11-12 (HCSB)

11  God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: strength belongs to God,

12  and faithful love belongs to You, LORD. For You repay each according to his works.

Prayer:

Father God, You have spoken, and we have heard, and believe Your Word. Father, we look to You for strength because it belongs to You. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV) 
10   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

The Benefit of Asking

Text:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (HCSB)

16  Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.

17  For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

18  So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Observation:

Today I have one word on my mind. Perhaps the seed was planted last night while I was watching a sporting event on television. A Japanese baseball player was being interviewed. He spoke to the audience through an interpreter.

However, for the final question he responded in english. He asked the announcer in the broadcast booth, “Why did you not draft me?”.

That seed is prompting me to think about, and write about the topic of “Why”. I asked the question, “What is My Why?”

This is how I answered the question:

  • Encourage others
  • Elevate others
  • Empower others

This reminds me of a song that some of the most influential people in my life love to sing.

“If I can help somebody, as I pass along,

If I can cheer somebody, with a word or song,

If I can show somebody, how they’re traveling wrong,

Then my living shall not be in vain.”  – Mahalia Jackson, Gospel Singer

The power of asking ourselves good questions is that it provides the opportunity for us to think more deeply. It provides the opportunity to focus not just on the things that we can see, but what is unseen. I pray that it will help us to focus on God.

3 Why Questions:

  • Why this?
  • Why now?
  • Why me?

2 Corinthians 4:18 (HCSB)

18  So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Prayer:

Father, we elevate Your name above every name on earth, and in heaven. All praise and glory belong to You.

Father, help us to draw closer to You, and to learn to bring everything to You in prayer.

Isaiah 41:10 (HCSB)

10  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.

Father, we are encouraged, elevated, and empowered by Your promise that says, “I am with you”. Father, thank You for being with us. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry