Tag: #praying

Why Should We Wait on the Lord?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

Isaiah 40:31 King James Version (KJV)

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

Have you ever prayed and got weary in waiting on God to answer your prayer? If so, let me encourage you by saying you are not alone in feeling or thinking in this way.  Let me welcome you as a member of the human race.

2 Corinthians 12:6-9 King James Version (KJV)

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

God Has Something to Say to You:

I don’t know what God has to say to you, but I have shared with you in the above passage what God said to the Apostle Paul.

Now, I will share with you some of the things God said to me today.

The storm comes before the glory.

The promise comes before the blessing.

The blessing comes to those who believe.

The glory belongs to God alone.

The price precedes the provision.

In my weakness, God provides His strength.

There is nothing too difficult for God.

God uses my problems as raw material for a miracle of sufficient grace for all my needs.

Philippians 4:19 King James Version (KJV)

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13 King James Version (KJV)

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Father, we exalt You together as we look up to You in prayer. We give You thanks for who You are, and for how much You love us; even when we were unlovely.

Father, today we ask You to teach us to pray and to wait on You. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

— 

Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author’s Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

How David Handled A Difficult Season of Trouble

Text:

Psalm 39:1-4 (ESV)

1 I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2  I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.

3  My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

4  “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

Observation:

In this Psalm David peels away some of the layers of his life to reveal the struggles he was facing.

In spite of his distress, and the difficulties he was facing personally, he resisted blaming God for his troubles. He remained silent before the Lord.

Psalm 39:7-9 (ESV)

7  “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

8  Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!

9  I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.

David realized that the chastening of the Lord was a sign of God’s love for him. The best response to God’s chastening is to submit to God’s will, and allow Him to have His way in our life.

There is peace, power, and provisions when we take our troubles to the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 39:12 (ESV)

12  “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.

It pays to pray, watch, and wait on the Lord. Remember that God’s delay is not His denial.

Psalm 40:1-3 (ESV)

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2  He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

3  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I pray that we would always be willing to bring all of our needs to You in prayer.

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Father, I am so thankful that we can trust in You with our whole heart; and that You are willing, and able to help us.

Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

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.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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

The Jesus Way – – Why He Prayed Out Loud

Text:

John 11:41-42 (NLT)

41  So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.

42  You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”

Observation:

When I first started recording the Daily Devotionals, and sending them out in audio format, one of the listeners told me that my message and prayer played out loud help her to stay focused. That is one of the benefits of praying out loud, and is the reason Jesus gave for praying out loud; it was for the sake of those standing around him.

Anything I can do to encourage others, and help them to know God, or to draw closer to Him, I am willing to do. I have a link to the audio version of this devotional listed at the bottom of this page.

Recording the message and the prayer I write helps me; it reveals to me in a way writing and reading silently does not do.

It is my greatest desire to do what I can do with what God has given me to be a blessing to others. My heart felt desire is to seek truth, and when I find it I want to share it with you. I send it with a prayer that it will encourage and strengthen you in your daily walk with the Lord.

Philippians 1:3-4 (NLT)

3  Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

4  Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,

Prayer:

Father, I am so thankful that I have the privilege of handling the Word of God, and the grace gift of encouragement. I delight to be given the ministry of helping others, and stirring them up to be the person that you made them to be, and I pray that they will be encouraged and strengthen to overcome whatever challenges they may be facing in their life. In the mighty name of Jesus I 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.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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