Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Faith and Praise

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 57:7-10

7 My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
8 Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
9 I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
10 For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.


PRAYER
Lord, I pray confidence into ______’s heart right now; confidence in you Lord. I pray that he would so trust in your unfailing love and faithfulness, that he would know beyond a doubt that you will answer him. Lord, please help his faith. I ask that you would take those pictures in this passage, and put them before him as reminders of who you are. As he slumbers, and is vaguely aware of day breaking, I ask that you would put a simple song of praise in his heart. As he hears the wind instruments, and sees the elegance of the harp, may his heart be lifted in praise to you. As he looks out at the full moon, and the clouds above the sunset, may he be reminded of the height of your unfailing love, and the reach of your faithfulness. And Lord, make all of this fortify the confidence he has in you. May he trust, may he rest, may he glory in you. And as he does, may hope spring forth… and shine on all he does. May he wake the dawn with his song tomorrow, because of his confidence in you today. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

Look long upon the full moon. Be still and gaze upon the clouds. Allow your heart to play the harp strings of praise. Remember… he loves you… he will be faithful to you… he is worthy of your song of praise. Sing it today in anticipation of what he will give tomorrow. Raise your voice to him.

A Purpose

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 57:2-3

I cry out to God Most High,
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me.
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.


PRAYER

Lord, lift ______’s heart this day with the reassurance that you have a purpose for him; a high purpose; a purpose that will honor you and impact others with his strength and giftedness. I know that as he sits alone in the midst of the storm, doubt assails him. He wonders if he has missed your purpose. He muses that somehow his failure has thwarted your plan. He fears that the gifts you have given him will go to waste. Ah but Lord, YOU are the one who will fulfill his purpose, by your rescuing help, from the depth of your unfailing love and faithfulness, and in response to his cry to you. Hear his cry Lord. May his cry be specific, persistent, and bold. May he ask you for great things, not great in the eyes of man, but great in the quiet place where only you see. Lord, fill him with a passion for faithfulness to you, faithfulness to use his gifts to your honor. And may he know that he can do that, even when no one but you is listening. It is your heart that is lifted as he makes the music of his gifts, as the songs of his soul come out through those gifts. Lord, make him sing that song; make him sing it to you. And reward him in the deep place of his soul as he honors you in the quit place of his life. Give him the faith to know that one day you will make the beauty of his song an instrument of healing and grace to many. YOU will do that Lord. Help his faith. Give him hope. Lift ______'s heart today, please I pray. Refresh him by his own giftedness. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
He has gifted you. He has a purpose for you. Today he is shaping, sanding, polishing, and tuning you. And one day he will present you as a well-tuned instrument, with the song of your soul touching many. One day.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Shelter in the Storm

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 57:1

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy.
For my soul looks to you for protection;
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the violent storm passes by.


PRAYER
[Pray this prayer for yourself]

Mercy indeed, is what I need O God. I am lost without your strong protection in these times of violence to my soul. I ask that you would stoop down to this undeserving one, and show kindness to me this day. I know that there is no other place that I can go to find shelter from this storm, no other place that is secure enough to offer true protection from the potential devastation. And I know that I do not deserve this grace… that is why it is called mercy. Have mercy, O God. It is my soul that looks for your protection, for refuge, for a hiding place. The ravages of self and sin, the condemning eyes of my enemies, the silence of those who were my brothers, the open wounds of the years that continue to be lanced; these are some of elements of the storm that buffet my soul still. And yet, I have found a hiding place in the shadow of your wing, O Lord. As I climb underneath your strong care, it is as if the door is closed to the storm. The sound of the rain is more distant; the sting of the wind is rebuffed; the warmth of your closeness replaces the bite of the cold. Your strong arm pulls me closer still as your mercy envelops me. And here I stay, waiting, longing, trusting, until the violence subsides, and you release me to again enjoy the warmth of the sunshine. Thank you Lord, for shelter, for mercy… and for the storm that has pressed me to you. I promise never again to take the sunshine for granted, never again to rest in my own sufficiency, and always to remember the mercy you have shown today. I promise to thank you tomorrow, with the same tear-filled fervency of my pleadings today. In fact, I pause now… and thank you today for the sunshine yet to come. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Run to him. He will open his wings and receive you. He will shelter your soul. And when the storm is passed, and the sunshine emerges, life will be greener from the rain, and clearer from the wind. Remember, the sun is shining even now, behind the clouds. Watch for the silver lining. Watch what God will do.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
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Friday, July 27, 2007

Restful Trust

SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do
And he will direct your paths.


PRAYER
[Pray this prayer for yourself]

Lord, I admit to you that sometimes I just don’t understand the “ways” and “whys” of your work in my life. I cannot escape the impact that people and events have on my heart, sometimes a profoundly life-changing impact, and sometimes flowing from sin and death. It just does not seem right or fair Lord. I long to make sense of the pieces, and see the puzzle of my life through your eyes. The master plan is a mystery to me. I wish that I could know the end. My mind stews, trying to sort and collate and synthesize events and responses into some order, to see what glue of truth might hold it all together. I want to know, to understand, so that I can somehow rest on that understanding. But alas, it is the leaning on my own understanding that is the opposite of trust in you. So I stop. I pause. I take rest from my frenzy of calculation and lean myself on you Lord. I allow myself to freefall into your arms, releasing my need to understand and resting my whole heart in your capable and loving fatherliness. I am content to see through the fog of my life, just the next few steps of the road, and to walk that path in faith. I know that you see the end, in fact you have already woven the whole of my life into a purposeful design. I want what you want Lord, I acknowledge you and seek your will in every step. And as I do, I thank you for the confidence of your faithful direction. I promise that I will pause long at every crossroad in my life, and seek your direction. I promise to follow you, even when it seems not to fit the mold. Your will is my only hope. You have my heart. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
Reach down into the deepest place of your heart, and allow yourself to sink into a restful trust in him. Don’t be consumed with calculating the end. Just walk the path. Walk it a step at a time. And be ready for the day the fog lifts, and the milk and honey begin to flow. Be ready.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Comfort and Strength

SCRIPTURE
II Thessalonians 2:16-17

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.


PRAYER
Lord, you are indeed the one who has loved ______. Make his heart feel the passion and depth of that love. You are indeed the one who has comforted him. Spread the warmth and calm of that comfort over him just now. You are indeed the one who has given him hope. May he awaken with a sense that all will be well, no matter how difficult it may seem. You are indeed the one who has given him grace. Wash him anew with your undeserved forgiveness and favor. And Lord, you are the one who gives strength to his heart. Please use the works of his day, and the words that land on his soul as a means to infuse raw strength into his heart, a strength that can endure the sting of the storms, and the persistence of the pelting rain, and the bitterness of the biting winds. May comfort and strength reside side-by-side in his heart and provide that wonderful blend of calm, dignified endurance. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
The love you desire, the comfort you relish, the hope you long for, and the strength you must have… all come from our Lord himself. Open your heart and receive them. He will lavish them with generosity.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Courageous Faith

SCRIPTURES
Numbers 13-14 (selected scriptures)

Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them [the spies] out to explore the land: “Go north through the Negev into the hill country. See what the land is like…

After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned to Moses…This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey… But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley… We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”`…

Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”


PRAYER
Lord, your faithfulness to give ______ the desires of his heart will one day bring him to the brink of the Promised Land. And you will require a courageous faith to enter. As he stands, gazing at this land flowing with milk and honey he will no doubt see the giants… the obstacles that appear to be impossible to ever overcome. Most around him will affirm that the giants are simply too tall and too strong and too many. “It will never work,” they will say. And they will lure him to the safe mediocrity of another 40 years in the desert. I ask you today that you would fortify ______’s faith in preparation for that moment of decision. Assure him now that you are pleased with him, that you are present with him, and that your power can bring him safely into the land no matter how overwhelming the obstacles may seem. Shrink the giants, Lord. Enlarge his confidence in your wisdom and power. Ready him today for the battle tomorrow that he may rest in a peaceful trust of you. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
Wait with the anticipation of faith for that moment. And then follow our Lord’s touch of your heart rather than the multitude. Swallow your fear, gird your sword and follow your Lord into battle. He will not let you down. And the honey will indeed be sweet and plentiful.


_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Monday, July 23, 2007

His Care

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 56:8
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.

Matthew 10:29-31
What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Matthew 6:28b-30
Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?


PRAYER
Lord, thank you that you care so deeply for ______. Help his faith. I ask that as he feels the pain of sorrow in his heart, you would remind him that your attention and concern run so deep that you have bottled every tear, whether shed or not. You remember. I pray that as he sees a stray hair on his pillow, that he would feel your attentive care revise the count of the hairs on his head in that instant. I ask that as he awakes in the morning to the sweet music of the birds, that he would be reminded of his worth to you as the day begins. And I ask that the next time he ponders the beauty of a flower, and marvels at your attention to the intricate detail of each variety, that he would be impressed with your care of them. And then, as he watches the beauty of those flowers slowly wither…that he would know in that moment your surpassing care for him. Lord, take these simple pictures, and use them to mark him with a true awareness of your constant, sustaining, enduring love and care for ______. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
As the flowers fade, know that his attentive care for you will not. You are supremely important to him. It is you he loves. You.


_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Stand Tall

SCRIPTURE
1 Corinthians 4: 1-4

[Paul, questioning his own faithfulness to God]
“What about me, have I been faithful? Well, it matters very little what you or anyone else thinks. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that isn’t what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful.”

PRAYER
O Lord, you are the one who will examine ______ when you return. You will look past the confusion, and see his deep places. You will see the shortcomings, but you will also see the humility, the remorse, and the repentance. And even today, it is only what you think that matters. Press that reality into ______’s heart. As he feels the judgment of others pressing in on him, either real or perceived, make it matter not. Make his humility and your forgiveness blend together to form his confidence. He is forgiven, whatever others may think. Cause him to stand tall in your grace. And it is your favor that rests on him today, affirming his straight path of obedience. Make the mist of human accusations evaporate in the sunshine of your grace. Make him to know, in his quiet moments, that you are pleased with him. I ask that your pleasure would so far out-weigh the opinions of people, that he would walk the streets as though next to the Almighty himself. Make him know deeply the affirmation of your love and the peace of your pleasure. And may it shape ______’s view of self both in this moment and forever... a sinner forgiven by your grace… a sheep secure in your care… an instrument ready to be used in your hand. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
Stand tall in the sunshine of our Lord’s forgiveness and favor. His opinion is what matters… and only his opinion. Your heart before him is right, and that is what is real, no matter what anyone else says or thinks. Period. S T A N D T A L L.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Friday, July 20, 2007

Don't Hold Back

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 77: 1-3 (NLT)

1 I cry out to God; without holding back.
Oh, that God would listen to me!
2 When I was in deep trouble,
I searched for the Lord.
All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, pleading.
There can be no joy for me until he acts.
3 I think of God, and I moan,
overwhelmed with longing for his help.


PRAYER
Lord, thank you that you can handle the full flow of ______’s deepest emotions. With respect, and yet with full honestly I ask that he would articulate to you all that he feels. Lord, I ask that he would bring before you the deepest trouble of his soul, and pray it out to you. I ask that he would turn those sleepless nights into nights of honest pleading with hands lifted toward heaven. May he not run from his desire for you to act, but plead it aloud on his pillow. Lord, give him permission to feel, to moan with longing for your help. May he not hold back. And Lord, I ask that ______ would feel your smile as you see behind his pleas, that quiet resolve not to take things into his own hands. I pray that you would honor that by attending to the cry of his deep heart, and acting. And may his pleading melt into a slumber of peaceful faith. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
Don’t run from your heart. Tell him what you long for. Give him the details. Long. Plead. Build your case. He can handle it… and he is listening.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
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Thursday, July 19, 2007

A Best Friend

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 139:1-6

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up.You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!


PRAYER
(Pray this prayer for yourself)

Lord, I feel so misunderstood, so unheard. My deep heart aches for a best friend, someone who cares, someone who longs to hear what lies beneath, someone who will listen long enough to hear, someone who will stand in my skin and understand. There is none. The ones I look to are either unwilling, or unable. I feel desperate and utterly alone. To whom can I turn? I turn to you, Lord. You made me. You know everything about me. You examine me completely, and know my deep heart even better than I. You understand what others misunderstand. You look past actions, and see my heart. You not only listen to, and understand my words, you know them before I even speak them. Lord, there is nothing in my heart that is a mystery to you. You see me as I am, good and bad. And this deep heart understanding is overwhelming to me. Suddenly I feel heard. I feel understood by the one who matters. Thank you for making me important, for never pushing me aside, for always listening, for completely understanding. Thank you. I need you, especially in this season, on this day, and in this moment. Hold my heart in your caring hands, I pray. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT
God always listens. He knows. He understands. He cares. Cling to him. He will never let you down. Never.


_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

No Worries Mate

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 4:6-7

 

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

 

 

PRAYER

Lord, you know that at times ______'s mind swirls with things over which he has no control; the future, other's thoughts, past events. And as his mind churns, his heart becomes anxious with worry, consternating over things for which he is not responsible, things that he can never change. Lord, I ask that you would draw his heart into that peaceful place of prayer. I pray that ______ would be moved to take each and every individual worry, and come to you with a very specific request. May he ask you to prevent that which he worries might be, to make true that which he worries might never be. Permeate his prayers with gratitude for the goodness you lavished upon him, and so fortify his prayers with faith in your continued graciousness. And if anxiety presses, may his prayers press more. May he linger in this place until anxiety dissolves into peace. Lord, take away every ripple of his heart, and make him as calm as a mountain lake on a still morning. Amaze him with your peace, Lord, and by it guard his mind from the chaotic swirl, and his heart from the burdensome weight. Garrison him about with a legion of calming angels, assuring him of your fatherly care. And may he hear once again your voice whispering in his ear, "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you." Amen

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

Remember, one day your heart WILL say, "Today is turning out to be much better than tomorrow was going to be yesterday." One day. One day.

 

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
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Tuesday, July 17, 2007

A Sovereign Tapestry

SCRIPTURE
Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.


PRAYER

Lord, some of _____’s life has simply been a storm of raw pain and numbing loss. There is no explanation except that sin and death are part of life. Some of this has come as if by chance, some by consequence; some by other’s actions, some by his; some seems unjust, some deserved. But much heartache has accrued, and much substance has been lost. And in his weak moments he feels as if nothing good can come of such loss, that the damage is unsalvageable, the circumstance unredeemable. Oh God in heaven above, make him to know the raw power of your sovereignty to weave from the treads of sin and death, a glorious tapestry of beauty and grace. Just as David and Bathsheba’s sinful beginnings ultimately gave birth to the great Solomon, and eventually Messiah, just as Esther became queen through a circumstance of sin, and yet God used her to save a nation, I ask that you would assure _____ that his current pain is only a thread in the great tapestry of his life. And I ask Lord, that you would be weaving even now. I pray that you would use the dark backdrop of failure to enhance the brilliant diamonds of your powerful grace. I pray that you would twist that which seems hopeless into a weave of joy. I pray that the months to come would leave him agape with amazement as he relishes the unveiling of that which he would never have even dared to dream. Surprise and delight him with your sovereign grace Lord. And in this moment, I ask that you would give him enough faith to dress today for the celebration tomorrow. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

God is working, even now. He is weaving masterfully, secretly. Have faith, dear friend, have faith

Monday, July 16, 2007

Waiting

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 37:7

Be still in the presence of the Lord,and wait patiently for him to act.


PRAYER
Oh Lord, why do we find ourselves waiting again? How long, oh Lord, how long? When will you act? Does the waiting ever stop? These are the questions that simmer in ______’s heart Lord. He longs for an answer. Sometimes even “no” seems better than “wait”. I ask that just now, you would give rest to his deepest place, Oh Lord. Just as you calmed the storm, speak stillness to the anxious waves of his heart. Reach out, and put your hand on his shoulder. Look into his eyes and tell him that it will be ok. Steady him with your strong, calming arm. Sit close to him until he stills. Relax his mind, and give it the rest that only you can give. And as your closeness overwhelms him, and stillness presides, I ask that patient faith would emerge. Lord, I pray that waiting would become an anticipation of faith rather than a drudgery of longsuffering. I ask that the assurance of your coming action would transform waiting from restless to restful. May he be so consumed by your presence, that the moments of waiting actually seem sweet to his soul. And Lord, I pray with all my heart that one day, he will see you clearly act, and the waiting will be over. Amen and Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
When you enter the Promised Land, it will be worth the wait. That’s a promise.


_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Saturday, July 14, 2007

A Future and A Hope

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 40:5

O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.Your plans for us are too numerous to list.You have no equal.If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,I would never come to the end of them.

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.


PRAYER
Lord, great is thy faithfulness to ______. Great indeed. I ask that in this moment you would flood his heart with memory upon memory of your goodness to him. Remind him of the miracles, great and small, that you have done for him. Bring back to his heart the details of each, and the feelings that flowed as he experienced you, first hand. As he lays upon his bed, recalling your wonderful deeds, may he fall asleep before his list ends… and may this worship of gratitude assure his deep heart again that your plans for his future are also too numerous to list. Miracles will continue. Wonders will abound. Good will come. May the worship of his slumber be a sweet fragrance to your Lord. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
God’s past faithfulness is proof… his present gifts affirm it… he has plans for you that are good. He will give you a future. Today’s buds of hope will become tomorrow’s blossoms of goodness. Savor the buds today.


_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Friday, July 13, 2007

Strengthening

SCRIPTURE
2 Chronicles 16:9

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.


PRAYER
Lord, secure ______’s unreserved commitment to you. Melt his discouragement. Fortify his faith. I ask that you would make his heart love you more than anything or anyone on the face of this earth. I pray that he would leap within at the thought of your love, at the sound of your word to him, at the look of your creation. I pray that the embrace of your grace would be better than skin. Make your presence such a reality to his everyday that he could not imagine living life without you. I pray that his heart would feel a passion of commitment to you that surpasses even the beauty of marital love. And as a result of this fully committed heart, I ask that in your search you would find him, lavish your pleasure on him, and powerfully strengthen him … today… now… at this very moment. And I ask that you would give _______ a special gift today… a gift that assures him of your presence and strengthening power… something unexpected… something profound. Please do that for him today. In faith, Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
Know that as God’s eyes searched the earth, the brilliant beauty of your heart caught his attention, and he paused to strengthen you. And his strength means something… something powerful and profound. Feel honored, and supported.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Persistent Prayer

SCRIPTURE
Luke 18: 1-8

1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Mark 14: 35-36

[Regarding Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane just before his crucifixion]
35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”


PRAYER
Lord, there is a quiet longing deep within ______’s being, a desire of his heart. And yet, because of sin and circumstance he is tempted to give it up, to push it away, to stop believing, to pretend that he no longer longs. But he cannot hide that passion from you; you see it and understand it completely, and he knows that. I ask that you would place within him a renewed passion of persistence to, “always pray and never give up.” Fuel that in his heart. I ask that you would give him permission to, “plead with you day and night.” I ask that you would give him permission to own the desires of his heart fully, and pray them unashamedly, just as you prayed yours in the Garden, and yet fully submit his will to yours. May he give up the scheme, but never the dream. May he leave the “how” to your sovereign power, but never give up the “what” of his deepest longings. Fortify his faith, so that he believes with every ounce of his soul that you WILL indeed answer his prayer, and “quickly”. May he be one of the few whom you find to have faith when you return. And when his faith is weak, remind him that he is not alone, that there are others who join him in his prayers with enough faith to make up for his occasional lack. And Lord, as he pleads with you, I ask that you would release within him a wellspring of fresh hope. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
Own your longings. Plead them continually. Submit your will to his. But, never, never, never, ever give up.


_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Heavenly Direction

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 37:23-24

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.


PRAYER
What a great feeling Lord, to know that you actually delight in the details of our lives. Wow. I pray that you would pervade ______’s everyday with a constant picture of you, sitting at the edge of heaven, leaning forward with great interest. May he know that you love him so much that you relish every event, every nuance of emotion that glances across his heart, every mist of a thought that hovers at the edge of his mind. Make him know that your interest is active, speaking your voice into his heart as he ponders the small steps of his life as well as the giant leaps of change. And Lord, help him to feel your hand enveloping his, as he walks, especially during those times when he stumbles badly. May he feel your strength keeping him from falling headlong Lord. May he feel you righting his balance, and re-establishing his footing. And may he walk on with the confidence of walking hand in hand with his Heavenly Dad. Thank you that although you are the Almighty God of the universe, you care deeply and daily for ______. Thank you indeed. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
Relax. God will direct your steps, big and small. He will speak his still small voice, and you will hear. Just keep your hand in his, and you will be cared for and directed, even when you stumble profoundly.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Help

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 20:1-5 (NLT)

 

1 In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
2 May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
3 May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
Interlude

4 May he grant your heart's desires
and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory
and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, ______ has definitely had times of trouble, and has cried out to you, sometimes in desperation. Please answer his cry. Please surround him with the safety that comes with a garrison of guardian angels, always protecting him from all harm. I ask that you would dispatch help by answering the specifics of his cry, and that you would supply a generous dose of supernatural strength to sustain him in the midst of trouble. Please be mindful of the sincerity of his worship and the genuineness of his sacrifice of obedience, and look favorably on both. Please Lord, give this man the deepest desires of his heart, and give his plans success. And we promise to give a joyous shout of praise to you as we hear of his victory. And Lord, we beg of you that you would see the clarity of his heart and answer each and every one of his prayers with an answer that is full, rich, and even overflowing. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

God sees the genuineness of your heart, hears your cries for help, and will give you all that you need to face everything he allows. He will. Never stop crying out for his help. He loves your humble dependence.

 

 

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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Delight and Desires

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 37:3-4 (NLT)

3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.


PRAYER

Lord, I ask that you would move ______’s heart to embrace you as his most intimate delight. Make closeness to you the most important pursuit of his life. Be his best friend. Draw him to spend much quiet time sitting in your presence, listening to your words and speaking his deep heart. May he feel your presence with him in those moments, as if you were in the chair next to him. May that intimacy with you move him to trust you, to trust you so much that he does what is good, even when it is hard. And Lord, as he delights his soul in you, I ask that you would give him a cadence in his heart that you will indeed give him the desires of his heart. May he never resign herself to accepting less than his heart's desire. May he trust your goodness to him so profoundly that he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that you will fulfill his deepest longings. Never allow his hope to fade. And in those moments of deepest intimacy with you, may his heart’s desires burn still with quiet intensity, and may a smile come to his soul as he imagines his loving heavenly Father bestowing that gift from heaven. Give him those desires I pray. Give them soon. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Make our Lord the object of your most passionate delight, and watch what happens. He has not forgotten you. Believe.

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Dave's Life Coaching
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Monday, July 9, 2007

Dissolving Fears

SCRIPTURE
Zephaniah 3:16 (NLT)

“With his love, he will calm all your fears.”


PRAYER
Lord, I ask that you would make ______ feel the depth of your unfailing love at this very moment. May he know that your love is powerful, faithful, passionate, and pure. May he see that the fullness of your love is directed to him. Take all that he knows and has felt of love, and use it to reveal to his heart the perfect beauty and strength of your love for him. Overwhelm him with your love. And as he feels the warmth of your love, I ask that you would melt away those fears… those fears about what the future holds… those fears about what others think… those fears about finance, friends, family, and fulfillment… those fears about aloneness and grief… those fears about anxiety and panic. Take them away Lord. As your passionate love swirls with your graciousness, dissolve those fears, each one, all at once, completely, and now. Give him this gift. Calm his fears with your love, I pray. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT
Fear not, for his love is unfailing. Rest in the strong arms of his love. Rest.


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Dave's Life Coaching
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The Sting of Discipline

SCRIPTURE
Hebrews 12:5-12

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that the limb which is lame will not be put out of joint further, but rather will be healed.


PRAYER

Lord, my friend ______ has felt the heaviness of your discipline in recent days. You have been a loving and firm Father to him. You have shown the strong part of your love to him by using the sting of the consequences that flowed from his actions. Thank you for pressing that pain into his life, and for using that pain to produce the fruit of obedience. Because of his repentance, I ask that over the coming days you would pour a healing balm into his wounds. Refresh him. Give relief. Renew his perspective. Strengthen him. I pray that he would feel your smile as she walks a straight path, and that the memory of the pain of your discipline will keep him from wandering off that path. May he join that honorable band of sinners like King David, who repented, endured, healed, and went on to have an even more precise and powerful impact for you.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Don't give up. Stay close to the Shepherd of your soul. He has healing and hope on your horizon.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
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Forgiven

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 51 (selected verses)
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God,because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion,blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion;it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say,and your judgment against me is just…
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence,and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation,and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels,and they will return to you…. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

PRAYER

Lord, I ask that you would flood ______’s heart with a profound sense of your complete forgiveness. I ask that you would help him to know that even this can be forgiven; that there is no sin that is so great that your powerful love cannot reach it, and your atonement cannot pay for it. Help him to feel the wash of your forgiveness deep within. Restore his confidence before you and before man. May he continue to move forward in ministry, knowing that you are pleased with a broken and repentant heart, and that your powerful Holy Spirit resides within him. And may the condemning eye of judgmental Christians pale into insignificance, as he sees the brilliance of your forgiving and empowering love.

ENCOURAGEMENT

You are forgiven. Get up, brush yourself off, hold your head high, and move forward with the applause of Heaven.

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Dave's Life Coaching
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Close to the Brokenhearted

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 34
16 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help…
17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.


PRAYER

Lord, I pray that you would encourage ______’s heart to know that he is doing right, that your ears are hearing his cries for help, and that you are even now rescuing him from his troubles with a tapestry woven by your sovereign hand. I ask that you would double his portion of comforting angels, and brush him often with their wings so that he does not question your sweet presence. Touch his heart with your fullness, your comfort, your peace, your hope, your faith, and even a taste of your joy here and there… touch it deeply, and touch it often I pray. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

Even this time He will come to the rescue… yes, even this time.

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Dave's Life Coaching
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Don't Despair

SCRIPTURE

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.”
Ps 27:13-14

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…
Heb 11:1

PRAYER

Lord, I ask that you would breath faith into _______’s heart so that he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that one day he will enter the land and see the full measure of your goodness to him. Give him the assurance of those things he hopes for. And between now and then, give him the strength and courage to wait for you LORD, yes to wait for you. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

Believe. Be strong. Take courage. Wait. You can do this.

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Dave's Life Coaching
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