Pure in Heart

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
(NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, I pray that your Spirit would continue to cleans and purify (_________)’s heart. Focus his deepest loyalty on you. Be the center of his most passionate affections. Purge his heart from any impurities that would come between you and him. Allow him to enjoy your blessings, not as distracting from you, but as enhancing his worship of you. And as he sits in this place of purity, allow him to feel that unique fullness of your presence... seeing his loving heavenly Father yet again, and with an ever deepening awareness of your goodness. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

Sit with your Lord, and savor His presence.

Mercy

SCRIPTURE

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Matthew 5:7 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, I ask that in these days you would be making (__________) gently aware of your mercy to him. Remind him of how far you reached down to love and forgive him. Help him to own his need for your mercy. Open his eyes to the amazing love that was required for you to actually give him mercy. May he remember those times of desperation, when your gentle and yet powerful mercy was his only help. And then Lord, move him to see the hurts of those around him, and reach into their lives to give them the same mercy that you have extended to him. Help him to discern the presence of pain as he becomes aware of other’s circumstances. Help him to look past the masks, and know the deep hurts of those who need encouragement. Help him to translate his intentions into action, and actually give mercy to those around him. And as he does, I pray that you would ever increase the mercy you extend to him. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Use your own pain, and the relief of mercy you have experienced, as a motivator to give actions of mercy to the wounded God brings to your heart. And you will continue to receive his mercy.

Fully Satisfied

SCRIPTURE

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, I pray that you would create an appetite for righteousness in (__________). I ask that obedience would not be something that feels forced upon him from outside, but rather flows from a desire in his deep places. Make him desire righteousness because it is right and honors you. Make him to so reverence you that he must obey. Stir within him a yeaning to please you. May his desire for righteousness flow into every area of his life, his relationships, his attitudes, his decisions, his thoughts, his words, even his perspectives Lord. And as he lives righteously before you, may he feel that deep satisfaction that comes with your smile of approval and pleasure over his life.


ENCOURAGEMENT

There is nothing that fills the soul more than a clean conscience and the smile of our Lord. Want it and you will be filled.

Gentleness

SCRIPTURE

"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, as I feel my poorness of spirit in dependence upon you, and as I mourn my own sin and the sorrow it has brought, I find myself softened in my attitude toward others, prone more toward gentleness than judgment. Lord, I ask that you would use the memory of the blows of other people’s judgment and the injury to my already wounded soul, to move my heart to gentleness toward those already wounded and bleeding hearts. Make me attentive to their pain, and gentle with my words. Remove from me the judging eyes that would somehow make me better than they, and replace it with humility and kindness. Arouse me from my chair of mediocrity, and move me to active compassion, bandaging wounds and nursing battered souls. Remove from my lips the morsels of gossip, and replace them with a gentleness that believes the best in others. And may the richness of my future inheritance be enjoyed in part today as I feel the fullness of having loved deeply those who hurt.


ENCOURAGEMENT

Those who need our gentleness most, are those our flesh would most likely judge. Soften your heart, and feel it begin to fill with the richness of your coming inheritance.

The Comfort of Forgiveness

SCRIPTURE

 

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4 (NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, I have felt the weight of my sin. I have seen the intensity of pain that I have caused by it. Those I love have been hurt beyond words. Those who trusted me have been disappointed. Words I have spoken, thoughts I have harbored, attitudes I have held, motives I have felt; all sins that have grieved you, and now grieve me as well. Not a day goes by that I do not mourn my sin and the disappointment it brings you Lord. Thank you that in the midst of mourning my sin, you lavish upon me the comfort of forgiveness. Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross and the grace and comfort it brings me Lord. Thank you. Amen.                         

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

When you mourn the pain of sin, God gives the comfort of forgiveness. Be comforted today.

 

Poor In Spirit

SCRIPTURE

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3 (NASB)


PRAYER
[Pray this prayer for yourself]

Lord, I know without a doubt that I can do nothing without you. I am poor in spirit. Without you, I cannot walk the path you have set before me. Without your wisdom, I would not see the path to follow. Without your enablement, I could not resist the temptations that would lure me off that path. Without your protection I would be devoured by the enemy of my soul. Without your care and nurture, my heart would still be wounded and bleeding. And without your forgiveness, my soul would be consumed with the guilt of my sin. I want to surrender myself to you completely. I desire to relax in that place of complete dependence upon you for all that I am and need. I present myself to you, poor in spirit, fully aware of my neediness before you, and willing to receive whatever you give. Amen

ENCOURAGEMENT

(__________), that sweet spot of relaxed submission to your Lord is always safe. Stay in that place at all costs.

Hear His Voice

SCRIPTURE

 

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

John 10:27-28 (NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

I ask Lord, that through the constant drone of voices around him, (__________) will hear your voice. I pray that his heart would be so attune to you, that no other will matter. He is your child. You are his shepherd. He knows you Lord, and has come to know you even better in recent days. His spirit is accustomed to listening to your Spirit, and moving at your prompting. Do not let him loose that now Lord. Keep his heart and ears open. May he hear you whisper in his ear, and may he follow you in faith. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

God has given you a unique strength in your deep heart. Listen to what he has put there.

 

Blessings

SCRIPTURE

 

“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.

“I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear.

Leviticus 26:3-6a

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, I ask that you would honor (__________)’s obedience to you. He has repented with action, not just intent. The sincerity of his heart is seen in his deeds, not just his words. He has forsaken his sin and followed you. He has given up his pursuit of self, and has honored you with his life. I ask that you would give him the fruit of his obedience by lavishing your blessing on him. Surprise him with your grace. Cause blessing to overflow onto blessing to overflow onto further blessing. Fill his life with good things Lord, the very things he longs for. And as he receives them, give him peace in his deepest parts, and make him rest with no fear. Give him today the harvest of his faithful obedience I pray. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGMENT

 

He is pleased with you friend, and will bless you beyond measure.

 

Savor His Blessings

SCRIPTURE

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.
Psalm 92:4


PRAYER
[Pray this for yourself]

Lord, it seems I always find myself longing for more than I have. So, I purpose now to pause, and sing for joy because of what you have done. You have answered me. You have not yet given me all of what I have asked, but you have given me much. Thank you. You have held back the forces of evil, and given protection. You have reached into the deep places and touched those I love. You have seen the secret places of my heart, and spared me from my most terrifying fears. I stand before your throne, and lift my heart in praise to you. You alone know me. You alone understand fully. You alone can give me the desires of my heart. You alone I trust. You. Alone. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

The measure of your meditation on his past and present blessings will equal the measure of your hope for the future. Take time to enjoy the blessings he HAS given. And let tomorrow care for itself.

Stay the Course

SCRIPTURE

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 (NASB)



But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, that you can actually take hardships and transform them into hope is nothing short of genius. I take pause for a moment, and lift my heart in gratitude for the way you have worked in (__________)’s heart and life. Thank you for taking the events of his life… all the events of his life… and adding the seasoning of your grace that was needed to produce the fruit of strength. Thank you that fhe had the perseverance to endure when he thought that he could not. Thank you that he did not give up. Thank you that as he endured, the hardship produced a depth of character that has been proved in the fire of life. And thank you that this proven character has given birth to new hope in his life, the hope of both delighting in you, and the hope of receiving the desires of his heart. Thank you that he clings to you, and you alone. Thank you that he sees all other gifts as simply an extension of your love and grace to him. Thank you that he leans on you alone. Thank you that he hopes in you alone. Thank you that he longs for you most. Thank you for his strength, and sufficiency… for his health and wholeness. Thank you Lord, thank you. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

What got you here will get you there. Stay on the same course.

Direction

SCRIPTURE

 

1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.

Romans 14:1-4

 

4 Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth.
look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.

Psalm 25:4-7

 

PRAYER

[Pray this for yourself]

 

Lord, thank you for your mercy, your compassion, and your forgiveness. Without these, I would be a shipwrecked on the rocks of life. Instead, you have lifted me in my weakness and set the feet of my soul on solid ground. Thank you, Lord. I cast myself upon your strong Fatherly wisdom and love, and ask that you would give your direction to me now. I am responsible to you Lord, to do what is right. I need your wisdom. I pray that you would release me from the confusion that comes from the pressure and opinions of others, and give me a clean clarity that comes to my heart by your Spirit within me. Make clear the path I should walk. Point clearly to the road for me follow. Help me to see truth, not through the eyes of others, but through the eyes of your Spirit within me. Speak to me in my heart, and give me ears to hear. I have put my hope in you, and you alone. I trust that you are a heavenly Father who delights in giving me good gifts. And so I promise to go where you lead, and only where you lead. Please lead me Lord, clearly and with a deep peace, that I may bask in your approval. Amen.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Do not sacrifice your conscience before God for anything, or anyone. Do not. But neither allow others to rule your conscience with their opinions. Your heart is wholly devoted to your Lord… trust it, and trust him.

 

You Will Sing Again

SCRIPTURE

 

13        But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

14        For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15        For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16        For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17        Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

18         Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Oh Lord, grief and loss are an ever-present reality of this life. Those we love go away, never to be seen in this life again, and the pain of loss seems unbearable. There is no shame in the grief we feel, nor in the reality that this grief never seems to completely go away, no matter how long it's been. That the sense of loss lingers for years is simply a testimony to the beauty and power of the life that was lived. Lord, come to (__________) on this day, and mingle with his grief a powerful sense of hope. May he have the hope of a joyous reunion. May he have the hope of eternal fellowship with them and you. And between now and then, may you give him a new song of love and life. And may his heart hear it's growing melody even today. But most of all, Lord, most of all, may he have a deep and full sense of your comfort today. Please Lord. Overwhelm him with the full sweep of your comfort. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

One day you will sing with them again friend. And even before that day, God will bless you with a new song. Listen for its distant melody.

 

Rescue and Gratitude

SCRIPTURE

29 I am suffering and in pain.
Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
30 Then I will praise God’s name with singing,
and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
31 For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle,
more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.
33 For the Lord hears the cries of the needy;
he does not despise his imprisoned people.
Psalm 69:29-33

PRAYER

Lord, you are at work in (__________)’s life, circumstances, and future. You are rescuing him by your saving power. You have seen the suffering and pain, and have heard the cries of this needy child of yours. And Lord, you already know that a wash of incredible gratitude will flow from him as you unfold your work. You know, because you have seen this gratitude flow even in his suffering. He will praise you with the song of his heart. He will see the work you are doing, and his heart will leap with gladness. He has sought your help during these difficult days Lord, and as a result has lived in joy, despite the pain. Bring your answer quickly I pray. Bring it quickly. Amen.

ENGOURAGEMENT

He is already rescuing you friend. Brace yourself and watch his saving power unfold with masterful design.

Our Daily Bread

SCRIPTURE

Give us this day our daily bread.
Matthew 6:11

"Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?' or "What will we drink?' or "What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-32 (NASB)

PRAYER

Lord, (__________)’s concerns about meeting daily needs can be utterly overwhelming at times. Our culture has created a web of regular financial obligations that clutters the simple principles of your desire to provide for us. I ask today that you would flood (__________)’s heart with a calm sense of your faithfulness. Move him to ask you for today’s provision, and allow tomorrow to care for itself. I ask that you would replace worry with a passionate pursuit of fully following you, his king. Make him to be occupied with his moment by moment decisions to own and live your righteousness. I ask in passion and power that you would indeed give him this day his daily bread, Lord. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

You Father in heaven knows what you need. He will care for you. Relax, and just keep seeking him.

Deliver Us

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 6:13
"And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
(NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, I ask that you would keep (__________)’s soul far away from the evil that would seek to overtake him. Keep him from the temptation to be anxious about tomorrow, and fill himwith faith. Keep him from the temptation to be discouraged, and fill him with hope. Keep him from the temptation to be resentful and fill him with love. Push away every form of evil that would seek to darken him Lord, even those subtle shades of evil, and fill him with the brilliance of your Spirit. Deliver him from evil Lord. Place a garrison of angels around his heart and soul. Guard him. Keep him safe. And Lord, make him know it in his mind, and feel it deep within his heart. Amen


ENCOURAGEMENT

He will deliver you. There is nothing so great that he cannot rescue you. Ask him. Trust him. Wait on him.

Composed

SCRIPTURE

Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me.
Psalm 131:2 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, you created mothers to teach us something about you. I pray that today (__________) would rest his heart and soul in your tender and secure care. I pray that everything he knows, and has experienced surrounding the idea of a mother would come together in such a way that he would understand you more completely. I ask that you would make your presence known to him in a special way today so that he feels your tender care. Hold him Lord. Keep his soul calm. Compose him. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Everything you need from a mother you have in the tender care of our Lord. Rest your soul in him friend.

Strength and Courage

SCRIPTURE

 

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you;

Genesis 12:1 (NASB)

 

6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:6-9 (NLT)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, moving forward in obedience to your direction can carry great promise and hope, but it can also stir within us deep fear and a looming discouragement. (__________) is following your direction Lord, and that may mean stepping forward into the new places that you have prepared for him. I ask that you would summon within him a strength and courage that can only come from you Lord. I pray that he would decide NOT to be afraid or discouraged. Tune his mind to a perfect pitch of faith Lord, trusting that you are with him wherever he goes, walking next to him arm in arm, giving protection, nurture, guidance, and help. As he dwells on these thoughts, push away the dark possibilities and replace them with a brilliance of hope. I ask that you would assure him, without even a faint doubt, that his promised land is nearing, and will come with such beauty and power and grace that he will have to smile at your sovereign tapestry. Wrap your strong arms around his tender heart, and comfort him this day. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

These last days have simply been giant steps, taking you closer to the land flowing with milk and honey (__________). Take courage. Be strong. Feel his presence.

Despite My Enemies

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
(NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, there are those who do not understand (__________)’s pain, who have not looked closely enough to see his heart-processes, and have chosen to judge and condemn him. Their expressions vary from subtle smirks to harbored anger, to wagging tongues. Their misunderstanding makes them enemies of sort because their posture works against the healing and health of (__________)’s soul. Lord, I ask that despite his enemies, you would prepare a generous meal for his soul regularly. I ask that you would anoint his head with oil to keep the irritating insects from hovering around his mind and thus distracting him from enjoying you. I ask that the oil of your love would cause healing in his soul. I pray that your generous touch in his heart would overflow with abundant grace, Lord. And I ask that he would enjoy all of this in the calm safety of your presence, even with the threat of his enemies occasionally lurking in the shadows. Make him whole Lord, and keep him in that peaceful comfort of your care. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Dear friend, it matters not what they think. It only matters that you have the smile and care of your Shepherd. He loves you, indeed.

His Closeness

SCRIPTURE
 

Matt 28:20b (NASB)

“… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

 

Psalm 23:6 (NASB)

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

 

  

PRAYER

 

Lord, I ask that from this moment onward, __________ would feel the comfort of your constant presence. Brush him often with the wings of those angels you have sent to minister your care and strength in his life, so that he never doubts your love and involvement. And as he senses your presence I ask that his fellowship with you would be a sweet taste to his soul from now and forever. Make him to know the depth of intimacy with you that few in this world have known Lord. Revel yourself to him in very personal and powerful ways. Fill his soul with the richness that comes from dwelling with you Lord, not just seeing you occasionally, but living and abiding in your presence. Touch the deep place in him with you Lord God. May he never be the same because of it. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

He is with you __________. He is, and always will be. Welcome him, enjoy him, long for him every moment. As you do, you will dwell in the house of the Lord now and forever.

 

Just Like Heaven

SCRIPTURE

Matt 6:10
10 "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
(NASB)


PRAYER

Oh God in heaven above, I ask that your Kingdom would come to ______’s heart, and your will would be done in his life, as it is done in heaven. Flood his heart with a sense of being under your kingship, honoring you with his life, obeying you, seeking to be close to you. I ask that all of the best things that you would will for his life would come true. I ask that you would permeate him with your incomprehensible peace, pushing out of his heart any trace of anxiety or panic. I ask that you would give him a deep sense on inner joy, no matter his circumstances. I pray that hope would spring forth as a spring blossom. Give him a faith that is calmly assured of those things he hopes for. And give him such a feeling of being loved that he just can’t help but smile. Fill his heart with light and life Lord. Make him taste today, those perfect gifts that you will one day will into his life in heaven. Today Lord, give them to him today… Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in ______ as it is in heaven. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

The enemy of your soul has been rebuked. The God of heaven is coming to work his will in your heart and life. Yearn for it. Expect it. Savor it. Light and life is being prayed into you friend.

A Restored Soul

SCRIPTURE

 

Ps 23:2-3a

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul;

(NASB)

 

PRAYER

 

We grow so weary some days Lord. We feel the depletion that comes from running a spiritual marathon. Our souls are parched, and our hearts are exhausted. And Lord, some days ______ has no tears left to cry. Oh Lord, I pray that you would refresh him this moment. I pray that you would cause his soul to stretch out in a pasture that is cool, green and shady. As he rests there, feed him Lord. Give him those thoughts, those truths, those encouragements that his weary heart needs most. Revive him Lord. Give ______ cool waters to refresh him in a place free of anxiety, a place of peace. Renew him. Bring his soul back to a place of calm assurance and readiness. Repair his brokenness. Heal his wounds. Restore his soul I pray Lord. Amen

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

He is your Shepherd ______. He will give you green pastures and quiet waters. Savor them, and he will restore your soul. He will friend, he will. Trust him.

 

Life and Peace

SCRIPTURE

 

Romans 8:6

6          For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Life and peace Lord, is what I ask for ______ at this moment. I ask that he would focus his mind on that which the Holy Spirit within him would bring. Push out those dismal ponderings of dark futures, and move him to dream of beautiful possibilities Lord. Break into his mind with light and paint hopeful, joyful, futures. Make him know that you take even the dark events of his past and weave them into light. Help him to feel your forgiveness and love and confidence and smile. And Lord, as ______ is filled up to overflowing with the ponderings of your future blessings, please fill him with life and peace. Please flood his emotions with your peace as a result of filling his mind with your Spirit. May his purposeful intentions be to digest in his mind only those brilliant and hopeful blessings that you have yet to give. Amen.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

The thoughts you choose to meditate upon will have a profound effect upon your emotions. Choose to dwell on the hope of his lavish blessing. Choose.

 

Hope Indeed

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
(NASB)

Romans 5:3-5
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
(NASB)

Romans 8:24-25
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
(NASB)


PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you that your resurrection gives us great hope for forgiveness from the past, power for the present, and heaven in the future. Thank you that the resurrection speaks of new life, new hope, and new beginnings. I pray that this Easter brings hope to ______’s heart. Lord, he has experienced a storm of tribulation this past year, and that tribulation has built the stamina of perseverance, which as shown the strength of his character. Now Lord, with this Easter Sunday I ask that you would well up in his heart hope of every sort. Make him feel your complete forgiveness. Make him know your power to persevere in his present. Make him feel strength of heart and character. And give him the faith to feel the assurance of those hopes and dreams that linger in his heart. Give him the faith to feel a conviction that those things he has yet to see are indeed coming one day. Flood his whole person with an overwhelming sense of hope that washes away his doubts and fears forever. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

Dear friend, our Lord has seen your pain and your perseverance. As he rests his eyes on your proven character he calls you strong of heart indeed. Have faith, rest in hope, and bask in his undying love.

Pour out your Pain

SCRIPTURE

 

Luke 22:41-44

41        And He [Jesus] withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,

42        saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."

43        Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

44        And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, as ______’s heart feels the agony of his current lot, I ask that you would move him to pray his heart with great fervor. Turn his agony into pleadings. Give him freedom to bring his requests to you unashamedly, and yet melt his will into yours Lord. May he feel his agony, release his pain, and submit his will. And as he is in the midst of that agony Lord, I ask that you would bring an angel from heaven to his side to strengthen him so that he might walk the road you have set before him with dignity and grace. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT
 

It’s ok to feel your pain and pour out your agony in prayer. It’s ok.

 

 

A Friend

SCRIPTURE

 

Proverbs 18:24b

A real friend sticks closer than a brother.

 

1Thessalonians 5:14b

Encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, ______ knows what it is to be fainthearted and weak. The load of emotions he is under seems unbearable. His heart faints and the knees of his soul are weak. And yet, there seems to be no one who sticks closer than a brother. No one calls. No one encourages. No one helps. It feels as though no one cares. And rather than the pain being lessened by a brother, the absence of a friend makes the pain greater still. Lord, it ought not be so. I pray that you would rouse the hearts of your people to remember what it is to love one in need. I pray that they would see beyond their busyness and see the shadow of those sitting alone in pain. Cause their excuses to be consumed like wood, hay and straw Lord. Help them to remember what it was like to be loved by you when they were unable to love back. Bring to their heart the times they were the ones in need, helplessly hoping for a Samaritan to come along and bandage their wounds. Move them to initiate actions of care and compassion and love Lord. Move them to love ______ today Lord. Move them now, I pray. Amen.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Be the friend you long to have. Give of your heart what you can and when you can. And wait for God to give you a friend indeed.

 

The Promised land

SCRIPTURE

 

Deuteronomy 11:8-12

 

8 "Therefore, be careful to obey every command I am giving you today, so you may have strength to go in and take over the land you are about to enter. 9 If you obey, you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors and to you, their descendants—a land flowing with milk and honey! 10 For the land you are about to enter and take over is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you planted your seed and made irrigation ditches with your foot as in a vegetable garden. 11 Rather, the land you will soon take over is a land of hills and valleys with plenty of rain—12 a land that the Lord your God cares for. He watches over it through each season of the year!

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, deep in ______'s heart he longs for a promised land in his life. Circumstances and events have brought hardship, and he may be in a season of life that is much more like Egypt, where everything seems to come by labor and toil. I pray that you would give him the hope a promised land on the horizon of his future. I ask that you would cause the sun to rise on a new season of his life soon. Make his aware that you are beginning to take him there, even now. And Lord, in preparation for that day, draw him closer to you, deepen his love for you, and make him obedient to you in every area of his life. I ask that this commitment to you will give him the strength needed to enter this wonderful place in his life. Give him the faith to believe that you will slay every giant that stands between him and that Promised Land. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Trust him. Obey him. And when the moment arrives, step forward in faith. He will give you the strength you need to enter this land of his gracious provision.

 

Love Him

SCRIPTURE

 

Matthew 22:35-40

 

One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?"

Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, when the complications of life swirl around ______, and his mind spins with questions and the anxiety of tomorrow's wonderings… I pray that you would slow him down… and bring him back to simplicity… loving you and loving others. Lord, well up within ______'s heart a deepening love for you. Take every ounce of passion, every joule of energy, every synapse of his mind and make them pulsate with a love for you. Cultivate a sense of worship of you in every moment of his day Lord. And as he senses this love for you washing over his every activity, thought and feeling, may your peace overwhelm and envelop his very soul. In that peace, may he spill your love into the lives of those he touches. May the love he gives come back to him a hundred fold in measure. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Love well. Make him the center of your love, and people the overflow. And watch to see if God will not measure back to you more love that you could have ever imagined. Watch and see friend.

Peaceable Wisdom

 

SCRIPTURE

 

 

James 3:17-18

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

Romans 12:18, 21

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men…

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, there are some who hover around ______’s life who are simply not peaceable. The sting of their judgment penetrates like a biting wind. And although they offer accusations with a religious cloak, they are far from gentle or merciful. And the fruit of the seeds of their words are far from peaceful and much closer to the evil accusations of the enemy. I pray that you would keep ______’s heart in peace today Lord. I ask that you would help him to release ownership of their words, judgments, and responses, and embrace his own heart and actions only. May he do those things that make for peace, whether or not they are accepted. May you protect him from the evil judgments around him, and move him to simply do what is right, from his heart. And Lord, I ask that as he steps forward with courage and does what he knows pleases you, that he would overcome the evil judgments with the good of your grace. I ask that you would fill ______ with your peace today Lord. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Stand up, march forward and do good ______. Do good no matter what anyone else says. Do it with courage. Do it in the face of accusations, misunderstanding, and judgments. Overcome their evil with your good. And rest in his peace.

 

 

Groan Your Desires to God

SCRIPTURE

Romans 8:26-28 (selected)
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words… He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
(NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, at times ______ finds himself in such a place of pain and confusion that he is not even sure how to pray. His soul aches for both your will and his heart’s desire. Swirling around the mix is a healthy dose of people’s sinful actions and the attendant consequences that flow. Making sense of it all, and articulating a prayer that is in line with your will, and will work good from the chaos just seems beyond him. Thank you that your Spirit takes ______’s deep heart and conveys it accurately in a prayer that is according to your will. Thank you that you will take everything in this man’s life and work it together for his good. I ask that you would help him to feel your Spirit groaning with him, pushing together in a direction that will ultimately work your perfect purpose and plan from the imperfection that surrounds his life. Hear his desire for your will Lord, and honor that with an answer that makes his heart leap. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

He knows your heart and his. He can do this friend, he can work the magic of good from even this. Groan your desires to God through His Spirit, and watch him weave the sovereign tapestry for your good and his glory.

Calming the Emotional Storm

SCRIPTURE

 

Proverbs 4:23

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

(NASB)

 

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, there are times when ______'s mind throbs with a constant pounding of unwelcome thoughts about past events, present concerns, and an uncertain future. It is as though his thoughts feed an emotional swirl of regret, anxiety, and worry. The emotions trigger more thoughts, which feeds more emotions until the swirl has become a downward and darkening spiral. I pray that at this moment you would set him free Lord. Transform his thoughts. Renew his mind. Refocus the lens of his mind onto those good and beautiful gifts you have given. Allow him to bask in your forgiveness and healing from yesterday, your strength and wisdom for today, and the hope of his desires and dreams for tomorrow. Cause his heart to swell with gratitude for the love he feels from you, the faith you are building in him, and the bright hope you put on his horizon. May ______ feel the storm within him calm, and the sun of your grace begin to warm his soul. And tonight may he fall into a peaceful sleep, secure in your care. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Dear friend, rest your weary mind on his love, and grace, and forgiveness, and compassion, and wisdom, and strength, and hope. Rest your thoughts, and watch your emotions follow. You are his.  He is always near.

 

Nourishing the Soul

SCRIPTURE

 

1 Peter 1:24, 2:2-3

"People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever."… So get rid of all evil behavior, deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, crave the pure spiritual milk of the word so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.

 

 

PRAYER

 

Oh Lord, ______'s heart has felt the violence of imperfect people, and the loss of those he loves. Coping with this pain sometimes drains his reserves, and leaves him weak and spent. Please feed him with your words of life. Well up within him a longing for the milk of your word. Lead him to those passages of scripture that will strengthen and sustain his spirit. Make those words sweet to his taste and nourishing to his soul. He knows well that people fade from his life like flowers of the field, so Lord, make him know equally well that your words of life will never fail him. Make him to lean upon you. At this moment Lord, I ask that you would reach his deepest places with the sweet sustenance of your truth. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Feast upon his eternal words, dear friend. Savor the taste, and texture of his truth. It will never fail you.

 

A Humble Heart

SCRIPTURE

 

1 Peter 5:6

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor."

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, I ask that you would keep ______'s heart soft and easily molded by your hand. I pray that he would not be occupied with the need to be honored by people, but that he would long for your approval and smile. I pray that his humble spirit would so groom the substance of his heart that when the heat of adversity comes, it would soften his heart like wax rather than harden it like clay. May that softness take away some of the pain of your work, and give you an open space to work in his life. And I pray that as others see the clear marks of your shaping hand, that he would receive honor at just the right time. Amen.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Concentrate on cultivating a genuine humility in your own heart. Leave the honoring to God. He will work his miracles in his own time.

 

The Love of a Father

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 103:8-14

8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.9 He will not constantly accuse us,nor remain angry forever.10 He does not punish us for all our sins;he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear himis as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.12 He has removed our sins as far from usas the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children,tender and compassionate to those who fear him.14 For he knows how weak we are;he remembers we are only dust.

PRAYER

Lord, there a few things that inspire as much wonder and awe as the vastness of the heavens you created. And yet that endless expanse of height is a picture of something far more powerful and precious to ______, your unfailing love for him. That love moves you to mercy. You forgive him. You have thrown his sins as far away as the east is from the west. You are his tender and compassionate father. Lord, you know his weaknesses, every one, and yet love him still. I pray that you would come to him with this strong and tender love, and fill him up to overflowing. As he gazes into the sky on a clear night, may he feel overwhelmed by the vastness of your love. And may he feel with sureness that your love is indeed unfailing, no matter what. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

No matter whose love may come and go from your life, our Lord’s love will never fail. Never. Lean on his unfailing love.

A Shepherd's Care

SCRIPTURE

 

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my shepherd;
      I have all that I need.

 

PRAYER

 

You are ______’s shepherd Lord. You love him deeply. You know his pain. You understand, when those around him could not possibly. You see every empty place, every heartache, every moment of aloneness, every fear, and the despair that sometimes envelops it all. You are his shepherd. You know the real needs that even he does not comprehend. As he comes to know your shepherd care, he feels your tenderness and strength flow together in a way that answers his cries and meets his needs. The pain remains, and his aching soul still throbs, but it’s different knowing your care, more secure, more at peace. I ask that at this moment you would fill ______’s heart with a quiet reminder of your shepherd care. May he feel your presence, your protection, and your healing. And may he be overwhelmed with the knowing that all his needs are met in you.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

The great shepherd offers you all that you truly need. Rest in his care. Rest.