A Prayer for Him

Pure in Heart

2008-07-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-21T02:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-07-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-30T05:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-20T03:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-19T03:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-18T03:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-17T06:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-16T03:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-09T08:25:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-26T06:22:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-19T22:50:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-05T02:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-04-28T06:08:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-21T02:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-04-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-07T02:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-31T05:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-24T10:44:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-17T02:00:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-10T22:19:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-03T04:25:00.000-08:00

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 descendantsa 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 rain12 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

2008-02-25T22:31:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-18T05:00:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-11T02:00:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-04T10:29:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-29T07:58:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-22T23:13:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-15T02:00:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-07T02:00:00.001-08:00

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.

Quiet Confidence

2007-12-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 1: 18-25

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

PRAYER

Lord, Joseph heard you, believed you, and followed you regardless of the whispers of well-meaning people in the shadows. I pray that you would give ______ the same ear to hear your direction, the same faith to walk your path, and the same quiet confidence to disarm the impact of other’s opinions. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Don’t live your life based on the popular opinion of others. Is your heart right before God, and your conscience clear? Then walk the path he has put before you. It does not matter how right they think they are. It only matters what God tells your heart.

Compassion

2007-12-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 40:11,17
11 You, O LORD, will not withhold your compassion from me; your lovingkindness and your truth will continually preserve me.

17 Since I am afflicted and needy, let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.
(NASB)

PRAYER

Lord, ______ is afflicted and needy. I ask that you would help him to know that’s ok. Some of his pain is due to things beyond his control, and some is because of his own sin. But regardless Lord, he needs compassion, both from your people and you. I ask that you would move in the hearts of those around him to show compassion. I pray that you would give them a deep awareness and understanding of his pain. Help them to look beyond the veneer of “togetherness” and see the true hurt. Help them to crawl out of their own world long enough to see the reality of his world, Lord. Bring them alongside ______ so that they feel the depth of his pain with him. Move them to show compassion for him, actively, purposefully, and often. And Lord, even in those seasons when your people fail him, hold him close to yourself, and make him know that you truly do understand everything, and that you feel his pain with him. May he know the sweetness of your compassion. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

His compassion is real, powerful, and sweet. Own it. And remember, you are worthy of the compassion of his people. Their abandonment speaks more of their character than your worthiness. Forgive them, and lean on our Lord.

Weeping... then Joy

2007-12-03T02:00:00.001-08:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 30:5

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

PRAYER

Lord, there are days when I weep, if not with outward tears, then with inward sorrow of soul. I feel the heaviness of heart that comes from my mistakes, from the pain I have caused, or from the effect of other’s sin. There is no escape from this pain. There is no road around it, only a hard path through it. The dark clouds of painful emotions hover above, and the pelting rain of circumstance is relentless. The stinging winds of consequence buffet me about without mercy, and for a moment I know your anger Lord, but only for a moment. For though the darkening storm lasts through what seems to be a long night, yet the sunshine of joy is on the horizon. Pain is but for a season, and then you bring joy. And the sunshine of joy is sweeter for having endured the storm of pain. The flower of your favor is more beautiful because of the rain you allow. So Lord, please take me through this night as weeping overwhelms me. Hold me. Help me. Comfort me. And in faith, I long for the morning you will wipe my tears away, and give me joy. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Hold on through the night. The morning will be better. Trust him for that.

Our Prayers, God's Miracles

2007-11-26T22:30:00.001-08:00

SCRIPTURE

1 Kings 16:41- 45 (selected)

Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!”

So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.

Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.”

The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.”

Seven times Elijah told him to go and look.

Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”…And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm…

James 5: 16-18

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

PRAYER

Lord, ______ has many things in his heart for which he prays, actions he would like you to take, situations he would like you to influence, hopes and dreams for his tomorrow, longings for today, desires on other’s behalf. He asks for strength, faith, hope, love, peace, and joy. He would have you effect growth in him and others. Lord, I ask that you would make ______’s prayers earnest. May he pray with a depth of passion that moves the angels to take wing and deliver his requests to you in haste. I ask that you would clothe him with the righteousness of Jesus so that his prayers come to you in power and produce results. I pray that he would fall down before you in humility and dependence, pleading his heart day and night. And Lord, I ask that you would hear his prayers, and answer them in your grace. As he delights herself in you, may you grant him the desires of his heart for which he pleads. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Elijah was no different that you. Allow your prayers to flow from a deep earnestness and powerful righteousness. Then stand back and watch God work miracles indeed.

God's Protection from Enemies

2007-11-19T21:30:00.001-08:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 138:7-8
7 Though I am surrounded by troubles,
      you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
   You reach out your hand,
      and the power of your right hand saves me.
8 The LORD will work out his plans for my life-
      for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.
      Don't abandon me, for you made me.

PRAYER
[Pray this for yourself]

I am surrounded by troubles some days Lord. My enemies seem to sense when I am low, and under the pretense of seeking to understand, their anger lashes out with accusation. I feel unheard, misunderstood, and judged. They know well what to say, and how to strike. I sometimes feel in need of a Samaritan who will render emotional care and healing. Yet there is none, Lord, but you. Thank you that the power of your right hand reaches out and saves me. Thank you that you will work out your plans for my life with a faithful love. And most of all, thank you that you will never abandon me. I rest in your strong arms. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Hear well the promptings of our Lord, yet deafen your ear to the anger of your enemies. If they spoke the words of God, they would also emulate their Lord's faithful love. Though many may abandon you, our Lord will ever be with you.

Unfair Criticism

2007-11-13T06:30:00.001-08:00

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 3:13-17

13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

(NASB)

PRAYER

Lord, there are times when ______ suffers the harshness and accusation of a critical crowd. Sometimes hidden in the refuse of their words are small nuggets of truth, but mostly they are the judgments of small people who prefer the delicacies of slander to truth. Assumptions prevail over honest inquiry. They squint from a distance, choosing the facts they prefer, but never seeking a clear view of the whole. They purport to know the intentions of ______’s heart, but their ears are clogged with their preconceptions. And worst of all, they sometimes cloak their judgments with religiosity. Lord, thank you for ______’s openness to your promptings, for his quickness of confess, repent and obey. And in that, I ask that you would help him to feel the cleanness of a good conscience before you. I pray that you would remove from him any fear of their intimidation. Calm his heart so that he may rest in your smile upon him. And Lord, as he continues to walk closely to you, I pray that you would reveal the shame of his accusers. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Your Lord knows you. He sees right down to your very soul, and understands your heart. Don’t allow these small people to steal your peace or direct your paths. Walk with our Lord, and follow your deep heart.

Rebuilding

2007-11-05T02:00:00.001-08:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 147:1-6

Praise the Lord!

How good to sing praises to our God!
How delightful and how fitting!
2 The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem
and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
4 He counts the stars
and calls them all by name.
5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
6 The Lord supports the humble,
but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

PRAYER

Lord, it brings such hope to know that you are the re-builder. You rebuild broken hearts, broken worlds, broken spirits and broken dreams. I pray for ______ this week Lord that he would feel the power of your attentive care. I ask that you would bandage his wounds, and begin the healing. I pray that your power would be displayed in the reconstruction of his life. May your understanding so penetrate his life that he feels known, understood, accepted and loved by you. And as he feels hid back begin to bend under the load of life, may your support be powerful and sweet. May his hope rest completely in you, Lord. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

He calls the stars by name, and yet you are more brilliant and more important still. He knows and understands you. He heals. He has both the power and the understanding to do whatever it takes to re-build you. Trust him today, and walk closely with him into tomorrow.

Feast Upon His Word

2007-10-29T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 4:3-4

During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Psalm 119:103

How sweet your words taste to me;

they are sweeter than honey.

PRAYER

Lord, I pray that you would nourish ______’s soul with the sweetness of your word. I ask that when the temptations come to divert his focus to the temporal, you would feed him with the eternal. I pray that when his is pulled to worry about his needs, you would give him what he truly needs. Strengthen him with truth as it flows from your heart to his Lord. Make his mind simmer on that truth, pondering its application to his life this week. Bring to his remembrance the bread of truth you have given his soul in days past, and nourish him again as he presses its beauty into his everyday. And Lord, I pray that, as he tastes the sweetness of your word, his soul would be satisfied. May ______ live indeed by every word that comes from you to him. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

His words to you are words of true love. Dine upon them. Savor them. Feast generously. They are food for your soul.

Embrace His Love

2007-10-22T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Romans 8:35-39

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

PRAYER

Lord, I pray that you would reach into the tender parts of ______’s heart and make him know your lavish love. The part of his heart that is broken, I pray your love would heal. The part of his heart that is desperate, I pray your love would comfort. The part of his heart that longs, I pray your love would fill. And the part of his heart that hurts, I pray your love would sooth. Lord, ______ needs you, he needs to know that he is important to you and loved by you. He needs to know that your love will never fail him, no matter what trouble swirls around in his life. He needs to know that your love makes life worth living Lord. Fill ______ with your love today I ask. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

He loves you. When all others fail you, He will not. Embrace his love in the midst of your pain. It is sweet and sure.

Live Close to Him

2007-10-15T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 27:4-6

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.

PRAYER

Lord, I pray that you would put within ______’s heart a passionate desire to live his life in a continual place of connectedness with you, as if he were living in your house. I pray that he would think deeply upon your perfections, your attributes, and your beauty. And as he sees you, may his heart leap with delight, as seeing his best friend and the object of his deepest affections. May he long for closeness with you Lord. And I pray that when those moments of inevitable trouble come, you would hide him in that place of closeness with you, protecting him from the harm his enemies would seek. May he feel so loved and cared for by you, that he can hold his head high as a valued son of the King. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

The place of secure protection in times of trouble is to be near our Lord. Live close to our Lord as the dwelling place of your soul, and delight your heart in his beauty. He will never let you down.

His Abundance

2007-10-08T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 36:7-9
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
the light by which we see.

PRAYER

Life is in you, Lord. Shelter from the storms of life is in you. Abundance and delight come from you. Lord, I ask that today ______ would bask in the generous gifts you have given him. I pray that he would feel alive indeed, and would know that this life comes to him from you. I pray that he would see your abundance in his life and heart. I ask that he would stay very near your, seeking shelter from the difficulties of life. And I pray that you would allow him to drink from your river of delights and feel the satisfaction of soul that comes. Lord, lavish upon ______ your precious and unfailing love. And may his heart be overcome with gratitude because of it. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

His love will never fail. His shelter is secure and sure. His abundance feeds, and his delights quench your thirst of soul. Stay close to him, and live indeed.

Living in Harmony

2007-10-01T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 133

1 How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting.

PRAYER

Lord, give us harmony I pray. There is too much hate, too much fermented anger, and too many nurtured grudges. The embers of misunderstandings are fueled into raging fire, and the sting of pain is returned seven fold. Lord, I ask that you would make each of us aware this week of our part in the dissonance around our web of relationships. Search our hearts and show us each how to be harmonious, and with whom that should start. Move us each to do our part in being at peace with those around us, even our enemies. Restore friendships. Resolve conflict. Reunite families. Replenish love. Move us to show the love to one another that you have first shown to us. And may we experience the beauty, satisfaction, and refreshment of harmony among us Lord. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Forgive an offense. Touch a need. Understand a deep heart. Be a friend. And feel the refreshment of harmony.

Acts of Kindness

2007-09-24T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 25:34-40

34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;

36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, "Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?

38 "And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?

39 "When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'

40 "The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them you did it to Me.'

PRAYER

Lord, needs abound, in both ______ and in those around him. There are not only the physical needs, but also emotional hurts that run deep. Souls are hungry, thirsty, alone, uncared for, sick, and imprisoned. They need a touch from you Lord, a touch that you have designed to come through us, and a touch that is sometimes neglected by those who can give it. I pray two things this week Lord. First, I pray that you would touch ______’s deep needs by bringing to him a few who will act as your instruments of care. I pray that you would prompt their hearts to extend acts of kindness to ______ in just the way he needs, in just the manner that is best, and at just the perfect time. Meet his needs through them Lord. And I pray equally that you would prompt ______’s heart to extend his kindness to those persons you put in his heart this week. Meet their needs through him Lord. And as you do, I pray that you would close a circle of community, a circle that has you at the center. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

When you reach out and meet a need, it has the same impact and the same reward as if you did it for our Lord himself. Keep your awareness keen, and watch our Lord bring a perfect opportunity to touch “him” this week.

Strength and Encouragement

2007-09-21T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 138:3

As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me the strength I need.

PRAYER

Lord, as ______ is crying out to you, I ask that you would answer him quickly, and I pray that your answer would carry with it your strength. There are days when he feels weak Lord. It just feels like the circumstances of his life require more than he has to give. He is not sure that he can go on, but there seems to be no escape. And his heart begins to feel the heaviness of discouragement. Oh Lord, I ask that you would give a double portion of your strength to ______ this moment. And as that strength lands in his heart, I pray that it would bear the fruit of encouragement. Lift his spirits. Fill him with hope. Cover him with peace. May that strength give him the confidence he needs to walk the path before him, with honor and grace. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

It may be that the answer to your prayer comes, not as the answer you expected, but as the answer you needed… strength. Be encouraged… you are just that important to him.

Bless the Children

2007-09-20T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Luke 18: 15-17

15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

PRAYER

Lord, there are some children hovering around ______’s life that he touches. You have given him a special gift that he employs to bless these children in wonderful ways Lord. Today I pray that you would give ______ a blessing because of that. Swell his heart with the satisfaction of knowing that he has made the same tender souls important that you made important. Help him to know that his touch in their lives is eternal and powerful. Give him a glimpse of the fruit of his blessing on their lives Lord. Honor him for honoring them. And I pray that you would give him a really big hug from one of those children, accompanied by a beaming smile that says, “I love you.” Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

The difference you are making in these children’s lives is eternal, and will bring an eternal reward. May God bless you for blessing them.

Calming the Storm

2007-09-19T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 8:23-27
23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.
25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us Lord; we are perishing!
26 He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.
27 The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

PRAYER

Lord, ______ may feel today that the recent storms around his life are overwhelming him with the swells of pain and sorrow. The hurt he carries feels as deep as the ocean that brings the storm. The confusion around him bites like a bitter wind in his face. And some days he feels like he is going under for the last time. The boat of his life feels as if it is becoming swamped. I ask at this moment Lord, that you would rebuke the circumstances of his life, and calm the storm around him. Bring calm and peace I pray. I ask that he would be as amazed as the men on that boat with Jesus were. I pray that he would be drawn to worship you in amazement as he sees what you have done in his life. And Lord, I pray that you would build _____'s faith indeed. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

He sees the storm, and yet he is calm. His strength can calm the storm around you. Ask him. And then trust him.

The Great Healer

2007-09-18T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 6:2-4

2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am pining away; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed.

3 And my soul is greatly dismayed; but you, O LORD-- how long?

4 Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; save me because of your lovingkindness.

Matthew 15:30

30 And large crowds came to Him [Jesus], bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them.

PRAYER

You, O Lord, are the one who heals. Though the sin of mankind has infiltrated our world, and the sins of some have shattered our personal worlds, yet you heal Lord. I ask that this day you would give ______ a quiet reassurance that your power is able, and your grace is sufficient, to heal even a greatly dismayed soul. Give him faith Lord. I pray that he would be among those who come to you, pining away and yet searching for your healing. I ask that you would flood his heart with a healing balm that could only come from the divine. May he know that you are reaching into his heart, and touching him in ways that are beyond counseling, beyond self-help, and beyond understanding. May he feel your touch Lord. And as he does, I pray that he would perceive healing. Don’t just bandaged his wounds, Lord, but take the cancer of soul away. Reach his deep places, his confused places, his blocked places, his fearful places. Heal him… completely… unmistakably… and soon, I pray. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

He came to heal. Be dismayed, that’s ok. Ask, how long, he understands. But plead with him to give you the healing that your heart and soul needs today. Ask him. He is the great healer.

Wings Like Eagles

2007-09-17T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 40:27-31

27 O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?

O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?

28 Have you never heard?

Have you never understood?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

29 He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.

30 Even youths will become weak and tired,

and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31 But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

PRAYER

Lord, the more ______ waits, the more it may seem that you do not see his troubles. And some seasons of life are so unfair that he might think that you are ignoring him entirely. Those seasons of emptiness and aloneness can be consuming, almost like a low-grade terror that builds in the background of the heart and threatens to overwhelm. In those seasons Lord, I pray that you would remind ______ of who you are; the everlasting God, Creator of all the earth. Bring to his heart a vision of the amazing strength, endurance, and understanding that you make available to him. Lord, quiet his heart. Still him. Move him into your presence just to sit in silence, and wait. Wait, Lord. Remove from his mind the fear of the unknown, the worry of the future, the pain of the present. Give his heart a singular focus Lord… YOU. Open a conduit from your heart to his. And as he waits, pour forth upon his spirit a generous supply of strength to overcome his fears, of understanding to see his future, and endurance to face his present. Lift him high above his circumstances as his wings catch the wind of your spirit. Make his spirit soar Lord. Give him that surge of strength, that depth of endurance he needs to walk his path. When it comes to him Lord, may it be sudden and supernatural. May he know for sure that it comes from you. May he see WAITING as the conduit that carries this strength. And Lord, because of that, may the word WAIT become sweet to his soul indeed. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Make the waiting count, my dear friend. Wait long, not for your hopes and dreams, but wait on your Lord. Sit in his presence often and long. Worship him as creator and sustainer. Delight yourself in the intimacy of his presence. And feel yourself soar.

God our Father

2007-09-14T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Rom 1:7b

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

PRAYER

Lord, you have given ______ an earthly father who loved him dearly. Although not perfect, he has gifted him with a treasure of memories, lessons, and love that will last forever. And most of all, he has taught him something of you, his Heavenly Father. I pray that today you would bring to ______’s heart the good gifts he has received from his earthly father, and would thus be moved with gratitude toward you, his Heavenly Father. I pray that as he reflects on his Dad, that he would have a moment of insight that would give him a deeper understanding of you Lord. As he remembers his embrace, may he receive yours. As he reflects on his wisdom, may he ponder yours. As he feels his love, may he savor yours. And as he feels his Dad’s smile, fill him with your grace and your peace. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Earthly fathers may come and go, but your Heavenly Father is always with you; always; right beside you; through anything. He will never leave you ______. Never.

As Unto the Lord

2007-09-13T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Matt 6:1-6

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven... When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

PRAYER

Lord, there is much in ______’s life that goes unnoticed by people. There may be ordinary everyday tasks that he does to serve his family, or his friends, or the elderly, or the needy, or the hurting… and those acts of service may be taken for granted or unseen by many. Very likely the time he spends in prayer, the energy he puts into meditation on your truth, and the authenticity of his honest self-reflection goes unseen by any other person on this planet. He grows in his faith, in the peace he feels from you, in the depth of obedience in his heart, and no one sees that but you. Ah, but Lord, YOU see it. I ask that you would make ______ aware of your watchful eye upon the good he does. Help him to know that you log his good deeds, and will reward them richly one day. May he feel your smile upon his life, Lord. May he feel the satisfaction of having your pleasure. And as he comes to appreciate more the fullness of your smile, may his every motive be refined. May all that he does, big and small, be done as unto you Lord. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

______, God is sees those acts of service that go unnoticed, and he is aware of the good things in your heart. He sees, and he will reward you. Be encouraged, and please don’t give up. We need you.

His Grace

2007-09-12T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 18:13 (NASB)

He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.

Matthew 7:1 (NASB)

Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

Galatians 5:14-15 (NASB)

For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

John 8:7 (NASB)

[Of the woman caught in adultery and brought before Jesus to be stoned]

Jesus straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

PRAYER

Lord, there are times when the hateful eyes of “Christian Pharisees” are upon ______, and the venom of their condemning words threaten to bite and devour him. They feel qualified to judge, although they know nothing of the facts, have not walked his road, and cannot see his deep heart. They relish an opportunity to hurl a stone. Lord, protect ______’s heart and soul from these. Cause him to turn toward your grace, receiving your forgiveness, and continuing to walk in humble repentance and renewed obedience. Help him to know and feel your favor and grace on his life. Guard him from their bite, and make the accusations roll off his heart like water off a duck’s back. And I ask that the beautiful grace that you have given him, he would extend patiently and kindly to his accusers, that they may come to their senses and stop doing the enemy’s work. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Hear our Lord’s voice clearly through the crowd of your accusers, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)

Draw Near

2007-09-11T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

James 4:8a

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

PRAYER

[Pray this for yourself]

Dear Lord, there resides beneath the surface of my heart a dull ache regarding my future. What will my life become? Will my needs ever be met? Will my longings be fulfilled? Is there hope? Will my worries become realities? Will my fears take flesh? Which will come true, my nightmares or my dreams? Lord, I do all that I can do, all that you call me to do, but there is so much that is outside of my control. I confess that at times I feel both helpless and hopeless. Help me Lord. Help me to seek you with more of my heart. Give me that singular focus that draws me to long for your attention and yearn for your nearness. I cry out to you Lord, please listen. Please listen, and please reveal yourself to me. Give me that same comfort that you gave your people, give me a comfort to know that you have plans for good, not disaster; that I do indeed have a hopeful future Lord. I need comfort. I ask you to enter that place of ache deep inside, and dissolve it into peaceful trust in you and your grace. Help my faith. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

God knows the plans he has for you. He knows. Draw near to him. Enjoy him. Rest in him. Trust him.

Get and Give Mercy

2007-09-10T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Luke 18:9-14

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

PRAYER

Lord, cultivate in ______ that posture of heart that sees in one view both his sin and your mercy. Keep him from confidence in his own righteousness and the unseemliness of scorn that comes with it. This confidence comes so subtly Lord, almost unaware. It seeps in over years of religiosity and overtakes that once humble heart. And we forget from whence we came. And we think that we made our own righteousness. And we so easily look down from our self-made loftiness, guard ______’s heart from that place Lord. Give him that beautiful balance of awareness of his own sin, and yet trust in your mercy for forgiveness and cleansing. Make him feel the unworthiness and sorrow of his sin, and yet the justification that comes to him though your mercy. And Lord, may you honor his humility. Exalt him I pray. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Ok, so you have sinned. Feel your sorrow fully, and cry for his mercy. He will be pleased with your humility of heart, and will declare you righteous. Then go, and give what you have been given, mercy rather than judgment.

A Sure Help

2007-09-07T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 142:4-7a

4 I look for someone to come and help me,
      but no one gives me a passing thought!
   No one will help me;
      no one cares a bit what happens to me.
5 Then I pray to you, O Lord.
      I say, "You are my place of refuge.
      You are all I really want in life.
6 Hear my cry,
      for I am very low.
   Rescue me from my persecutors,
      for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring my soul out of prison
      so I can thank you.

PRAYER

It is an empty feeling to be abandoned in our most desperate time of need, Lord. And yet, it is when ______ feels the sting of consequences for his own mistakes that he is most likely to be ignored by those who were his friends. He hopes for someone to help him, but they put him out of their minds. No one seems to care. And the very ones who could add comfort, multiply pain by their neglect. Yet, it is in those times that he is most likely to turn to you Lord. Move his heart to find his shelter in you. I ask that ______ would see you as the only one who could ever really fill that empty place in his life. I ask that you would hear his cry, lift his spirit, and rescue him from those who would spit the venom of self-righteousness upon him. Their accusations are too strong for him to handle Lord. Please release his soul from this prison. Free him to live again. Bring him home Lord, so that he can lavish his thanks upon you. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT
Seek God's attentive and caring help most. It is the only sure help there is.

Pour Out Your Troubles

2007-09-06T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 142:1-3

1 I cry out to the Lord;
I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
2 I pour out my complaints before him
and tell him all my troubles.
3 When I am overwhelmed,
you alone know the way I should turn.

PRAYER

Lord, sometimes ______ just has a need to come before you and unburden his heart. He feels the pain of trouble in his life, and the pressure gives vent to a respectful complaint. He has a case to build for what he would like you to do. I pray that you would release the constraints on ______’s heart, and allow him the freedom to tell you what he will. Lord, bid him follow the Psalmist example, and cry out with a plea for your mercy and a detailing of all his troubles. Somewhere in the expression there is hope and comfort to be found, we know. So pull from his heart the depth of pain that he holds there. I pray that he would release that pain into your hands, with details. You are big enough to handle even the raw blast of emotion he feels. You are able to sift through the words and hear his true heart. He has no risk of being misunderstood by you Lord. Give him permission in his soul to speak from that place of being overwhelmed. And as he does, I pray that you would reassure him that you alone understand the situation, and you alone know the change in direction that he needs. From the expression of pain, show him your direction Lord. Make it as clear as day. Help the eyes of his heart to see it. Help the feet of his will to follow your direction Lord, follow it completely. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

There is no shame in feeling pain, and in venting the full blast of your emotions to God. He can handle it. Tell him where you hurt, why you want it to change, and what you want him to do. It’s called prayer, and it may not look like a church prayer, but it will certainly look like a prayer of Psalm 142. God will be pleased, and you might just find some direction waiting at the other end.

Incomprehensible Love

2007-09-05T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 3.18

"And I pray that you may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge."

PRAYER

Lord, there may be some days that ______ longs for the love of a person. He wants to be cared for. He wants to be important and needed. He wants to be listened to, understood, and admired. He wants to capture the attention and affection of someone important to him. But Lord, when ______ looks deep within, he knows that the love he really needs is yours. I ask that today he would be empowered to grasp even more clearly how amazing your love for him really is. Help him to know that the breadth of your love covers all, the length of your love is never-ending, the height of your love is immeasurable, and the depth of your love reaches the most important parts of our being. And as he grasps this love, I pray that it would go even deeper… I pray that he would know the experience of your love in such a way that his heart is touched and his life is changed. Be the lover of his soul today. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

______, always remember, the one who loves you most matters most… our Lord himself. Soak it in, bask in it, and allow that love to change you. It will never let you down. Never.

Unfailing Love

2007-09-04T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 143:7-10 (NLT)

7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,

for my depression deepens.

Don’t turn away from me,

or I will die.

8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,

for I am trusting you.

Show me where to walk,

for I give myself to you.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;

I run to you to hide me.

10 Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God.

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward

on a firm footing.

PRAYER

Lord, there are moments in ______’s life, when heaviness of heart would surely drown him in a sea of circumstance, were it not for you. He knows in those moments that your help, your presence, and your unfailing love are necessary for his very survival. Dear God, I ask that this morning you would land your unfailing love upon the awareness of his heart. May that love melt helplessness and hopelessness into a deep pool of trust. Lord, guide ______ with your love. Show him precisely where to take his next step. And after he takes that step, show him the next. I pray that he would give himself completely to you Lord, walking just as you would have him to walk. Rescue him from danger. Teach him your will. Lead him. And as he ponders your present love, I ask that he would feel the safety of hiding in your care. Give him both a firm footing and a forward movement as your spirit leads. Help him Lord, help him. Amen

ENCOURAGEMENT

Listen for his unfailing love this day. It will come to you in unexpected ways. Receive it. Relish it. Trust it. And walk in it.

A Cry for Mercy

2007-09-03T02:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Luke 18:35, 38-43 (NASB)

Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging... And he called out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

And he said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!" And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."

Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.

PRAYER

Lord, it may be that ______ has a hurt in his life that has surrounded him for so long that survival has demanded he adjust. It is a pain that he cannot fix, that limits his wholeness, and dulls hope on the horizon of his future. He needs a touch from you in either his heart, or his circumstances, or both. I pray that he would feel your presence close by, and cry out for your mercy. And though others may not understand or approve of his plea, may he cry out all the more fervently Lord. And when you respond to his heart, may he be ready to articulate simply and precisely what he wants you to do for him. May that desire so burn in his heart that there is no pause in his response. May he tell you what he wants, with a heart that brims with belief. And Lord, I pray that you would see his faith, and grant his heart's desire. Heal ______'s hurt Lord. Fulfill his longing. Make his dream come true. And Lord, in so doing, may you enjoy the sweet aroma of his undying gratitude and praise.
Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Mercy. It flows from his heart to yours. It is released by the cry of faith. Cry out for his Mercy ______. And keep crying out.

Your Mind and His Peace

2007-08-30T23:29:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Philippians 4:6-9

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.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

PRAYER

O Lord, peace of heart is one of your great inventions, one of your most wonderful gifts. Were it not for your peace, we would be left to the agitation of mind and fear of heart that comes from not knowing the future. What an ache of anxiety _______ feels at times, Lord. He sees through the fog of his mind futures that will never be, and feels in his heart today the pain of tomorrow that will never come. And deep down he knows the waste of emotion. Lord, I ask that you would take ______’s thoughts captive, and fix his mind on those things that will lift him out of the dungeon of fear and into the light of hope. Train his mind Lord, to dwell on the beauty of this life you have given. Saturate him with your focus. And somewhere in this renewed perspective I ask that you would bring a peace that is so calming that he wonders at it. Deep within I pray that he would feel the calm of a mountain lake on a still morning. And when he looks fixedly on this calm, may he see the towering mountains of your love reflected there. May ______ know today, in a fresh way, the power of a renewed mind to bring your peace. And when he looks at tomorrow, may he see the beauty of the good gifts you are yet to give.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Think hard on everything that God is. Allow those dark elements of this world to be a blurred backdrop, only adding to the beauty of God’s gifts. Fix your thoughts on that beauty, and not only will you have the peace of God, but the presence of the God of peace as well.

Pray Big

2007-08-29T23:26:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

James 5:16b-18 (NASB)

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

PRAYER

[Pray this for yourself]

Lord, help me to pray big. I confess that my small faith would have me make excuses for unanswered prayer before I even pray. The inertia of my heart believes that because I am not extraordinary, I must pray small. Lord, remind me of the importance of faith. Remind me of the Elijahs ordinary people who accomplished the extraordinary through earnest prayer. Refresh my awareness of the critical importance of personal righteousness to the equation of effective prayer. And Lord, move me to pray great feats of prayer. Release me to ask for the absurd. Free my heart to reach for the sky, and believe that you are big enough and gracious enough to answer me. Make me aware of what I might miss because of cowardly prayers. Make me an ordinary person like Elijah Lord, who dares to ask for the extraordinary, and believes that you will answer. And change the course of my life because of it. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Cleanse your hands, roll up the sleeves of your faith, and ask big. He longs to respond to your bold faith. He already knows the deep desires of your heart ______. And he is waiting to respond to your pleas. Be extraordinarily normal like Elijah.

Be Blessed

2007-08-28T22:11:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 37:23-24, 28; 39:2-5 (NASB)

So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; and they took him and threw him into the pit

Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt

The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge. It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house on account of Joseph; thus the LORD'S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field.

PRAYER

Lord, I ask that your presence and its accompanying blessing would be with ______ in the same way it was with Joseph. Joseph found himself far from home, adjusting to a new place, new people, and a new life. And it all came about because of the impact of the sin of others. But you honored Joseph's loyalty and obedience to you, and added something special to everything he did. I ask you Lord, to bless ______ in all he does, all he touches. Lift his heart so that he sees the good in all that comes his way, so that he sees your hand of blessing in it all. As the events of life seem to slide across the table and drop into his lap, I pray that you would give him the grace to see each event as it comes, to field it, and to respond to it with honor and dignity. And may those events actually be transformed into magnificent blessings, just as they were in Joseph's life. Lord, when life gets harder, and when he feels as though he is forgotten and abandoned in a jail in Egypt, I ask that even there your hand of blessing would rest upon him and cause his heart and all he touches to flourish. Cause him to find favor in the sight of those around him. Bless ______Lord, bless him indeed. Amen

ENCOURAGEMENT

Alone is never truly alone. He is with you, and his blessing is all round you. Watch it come, and receive it as from him. He loves you ______, he loves you indeed.

A Generous Wisdom

2007-08-27T22:21:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

James 1:2-5

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not resent your asking.

PRAYER

Lord, it is when troubles persist that ______ is in special need of wisdom. Knowing your truth is easier than the wisdom of applying your truth to the complexities of life. I pray that you would create in ______ a sense of need and longing for your wisdom. There will be times when new horizons present to him, when big decisions loom over him, when perception and insight beyond his ability are required. As those times come, Lord, I pray that you would swell in his heart an instinct to ask you to unleash your generous supply of wisdom. I pray that your wisdom would make his decisions insightful, his timing perfect, and his intuition divine. But most of all Lord, I pray that his faith in your present wisdom would put his heart at peace. No matter how alone he may be Lord, make ______ know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are present to guide him with the warmth of your wisdom. And may that warmth melt his fear away, and give birth to joy. Do that for him this week Lord. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

It is when you feel most alone, and most overwhelmed that God's generous supply of wisdom will be most appreciated. He will pull through for you this week as you ask. He is never far, and always listening for your plea.

Love Your Neighbor

2007-08-27T00:18:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Luke 10:30-37

Jesus replied with a story: "A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, 'Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here.' Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked.

The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy."

Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same."

PRAYER

Lord, there are times when ______ is in need of a true neighbor. There are seasons when his spirit feels beaten, stripped, and abandoned. He finds himself wounded, confused, and unable to help himself. He is simply in need. Thank you so much Lord, for those Samaritans who have looked closely enough to see the desperateness. Lord, thank you that there are some who have listened long enough to understand the wounds and feel a depth of compassion for ______. And thank you that their compassion was active enough to sooth and bandage the wounds, even at the sacrifice of time and energy. Lord, thank you that ______ was not required to meet a certain religious qualification for help, but that help just flowed from the love of a neighbor. We are grateful to you Lord for these honorable saints who are fulfilling the great commandment to love their neighbor. May they feel your pleasure for the wounds they have bandaged. And may ______ pass that same active compassion to others who hurt even to those who may have passed him by in his need. Even those Lord. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

It only takes one Samaritan to effect a great healing in your soul. Receive that gift, and go and do the same. Learn from those who passed you by, and love them like they should have loved you.

Thy Word

2007-08-23T23:23:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.

PRAYER

Lord, when the complications of life begin to swirl around ______, and the fog of his own heart drifts in, and bitter wind of other people’s opinions whips up, he feels confused. He begins to doubt. He gropes through the darkness, and wonders where the path is, and what obstacles might be in his future. He knows you know, Lord. But he needs to know, from you. It is in those moments that I pray he turns to you and your word, Lord. I ask that he would linger long in your word, and not just the surface truth. I pray that he would ponder, dig, meditate, and explore your word for himself. Never allow him to settle for the status quo just because it is the standard line. Press him Lord, to study your word and make it his own. Sift his decisions, perspectives and actions through the truth of your word, and light his path Lord. I pray that illumination would be the order of the day, and that you would light the path before him , today next week, and in the months and years to come. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

His word has everything you need ______. Feast on in and follow the path it lights. And remember, it’s God’s word, so you need not be concerned about what everyone else thinks, just what he thinks. Walk the path he lights before you, in obedience and faith.

Forgiveness and Obedience

2007-08-22T22:14:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 130:3-4

3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,

who, O Lord, could ever survive?

4 But you offer forgiveness,

that we might learn to fear you.

Matthew 5:4 (NASB)

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

PRAYER

Lord, there is something in knowing what we deserve, and the forgiveness that you have lavished that draws us to respect you more. I pray that ______ would feel your forgiveness wash over him Lord. I ask that the full understanding of his failures would not pull him down, but would rather enrich his understanding of your forgiveness. Overwhelm him with the relief of that forgiveness. And Lord, as he comes to know the richness of your grace, grow his passion for obedience. I pray that he would have a deep respect for you, and the obedience that you require. I ask that this wash of forgiveness would lead him to learn reverent obedience. Change his perspective, shape his passions, and soften his will because of a deeper awareness of your grace and your love. I pray that the grace you give will lead him to repentance where needed. And Lord, replace the mourning for his sin with the comfort of your forgiveness. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Your forgiveness comes at great cost to our Lord Jesus. His love for you moved him to be your substitute. Feel the depth of his love for you, and give that love back in your obedience. He wants all of you ______.

The Great Giver

2007-08-21T22:14:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

"You parentsif your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

Matthew 7:7-11

PRAYER

Lord, you are indeed the great giver of gifts. You are the one to whom we plead. And you answer us by giving good gifts. I pray today that you would build ______'s faith. I ask that you would move his heart to ask, seek and knock. Lord, I pray that he would be so intent on receiving the gifts you have, that he would not stop asking and seeking. I pray that the door that seems so tightly shut would open tomorrow because of his persistent knocking today. Revive his passion to plead Lord. Awaken his faith to believe that you are indeed a gracious heavenly Father, and that you love to give good gifts to your children. Do not allow him to settle for what he sees today. Give him an assurance of things hoped for Lord. I pray that you would reach far into ______'s heart and pull out the deepest longings, the longings so desperate that they hurt. I ask that you would light a fire of passion in his soul to ask until you answer, to seek until he finds, and to keep on knocking until you answer. And as he feels his weight on his knees, swell the hope in his heart. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Our Lord is sitting on the edge of heaven, waiting to lavish his blessed gifts. Ask, my friend, ask. And don't stop until he opens the door.

Friends

2007-08-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
(NASB)

PRAYER
Lord, it is during times of adversity that a friend is proven to be a true friend. Thank you for blessing ______ with people who care for him, even in the hard times. Thank you for those who are sensitive, and reach out with active love. Especially thanks for those who know his failures, and reach out still; for those who look past his mistakes to see his true heart. And Lord, I ask that you would bless those who show themselves to be friends indeed. And as you pour forth your supporting love and comfort through them, I ask that a generous measure of that love and support would stick with them as well. Lord, bless them for blessing _______ I pray. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT
Appreciate your friends, and be a friend indeed. And remember that when the going gets tough, true friendship shines.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

His Provision

2007-08-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Philippians 4:12-13

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:19

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER

Lord, at different times, life has brought _____ both abundance and want. He has known fullness and need… and not just with regard to material things. He has felt the richness of love and the heartache of loss. He has known the fullness of friendship and the vacuum of loneliness. He has enjoyed the sunshine of gracious saints, and the darkness of the Pharisees’ condemnation. He has felt the heights of joy and the depths of despair. Yes, his heart has known both a song and silence. And yet, through it all, you have been present; your strength has been available, and your glorious riches have met every need. And that Lord, I ask you to do again today. Pour over ______ a wash of contentment this moment. Give him the strength to face his present day with confidence, a confidence that comes from having you at him side. Whisper in his ear Lord, “We can do this together, we can do this, stay with me, don’t give up, keep walking with me.” And then Lord, I ask that you would do something special for him… lavish a gift today that reminds him that you are meeting his every need, body, mind and soul. Surprise him with your grace and melt the remnants of doubt away Lord. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

My dear ______, relax in his provision. Rest in his strength. Find the joy in your present day and be content therein. Your gratitude will attract his blessings.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

His Presence

2007-08-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 139:7-12

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.

PRAYER
[Pray this for yourself]

I am never alone, Lord. I am never alone. Even if I to try to escape, I cannot. Even when I am by myself, I am not alone. This heavy feeling of aloneness is not reality, but is an illusion. I have your presence. Your Spirit resides with me. You are everywhere I could go, and walk with me through every part of my journey. And although at times I think I would rather have someone with skin, indeed I am beginning to see that people with skin come and go, but you are constant. People fail, but you are consistent. People will wander off, but you are a steady companion. People ignore, while you number the hairs of my head. People sometimes do not listen, or understand, or empathize, but you lavish your undivided attention, and your understanding of my deep heart. You enter my pain and sit with me there. You get me. And as I purposefully sit with you, alone, and engage your reality in the room, I begin to feel your wise guidance and strong support come to me. I begin to see that the spiritual truth of your presence is more real that a person with skin could ever be. And I begin to rest in that reality. I still miss the closeness of the touch of a kindred spirit, I still long for that soul connection, but the longing is different now. It is an added grace to supplement the main course of a deeply intimate soul-connection with you. The more I learn to savor your presence, the more deeply will I be able to one day relish the gift of a person with skin who is fully engaged in listening, learning, and loving me. Thank you Lord, for your presence, and the guidance and support you bring. I need you. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT
Seek and savor the reality of his presence. Feel the depth of his lovingkindness. Value his guidance. Rest yourself on his support. And maybe one day, you will have someone with skin too. Never give up.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

A Lift

2007-08-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 145:14

The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

PRAYER

Lord we all fail you at times, and need your help. Please help ______ today. It seems his mistakes follow him, the consequences of his past screaming out in the most important parts of his life, creating more pain than it seems he can bear. He knows that he is forgiven, but the residue of his shortcoming is always with him. The raw pain seems to be getting more intense, and he is beginning to bend beneath the load. Lift him, Lord. Make him know the strength of our hand bearing the load so that he is no longer bent beneath it. Lift his spirit, heart and soul. Give him relief from the pain that follows him. Encourage him to know that your help is near, and your support is certain. Ease the weight now, Lord. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

He is near. He will help with the weight of your burden. He sees your bent and burdened soul, and is here to lift you. Take his help… it is the only certain help there is.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Renewal

2007-08-14T23:02:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 94:17-19

17 Unless the Lord had helped me,
I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.
18 I cried out, “I am slipping!”
but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.
19 When doubts filled my mind,
your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

PRAYER
[Pray this prayer for yourself]

Lord, help me please. There are times when the hurt is so deep, and the confusion so profound that all I can do is cry, “Help!” I don’t know what I need and I don’t know what to ask you to do. All know is that I ache, and if feels as though my soul is settling down in to the silence of the grave. I am slipping, Lord. And even now, at this moment I feel your love; a strong and unfailing love; a supportive love. Stability replaces slipping, and I feel safer. The doubts about your hand in my life, your ability to work good from bad, and your attentive love begin to dissolve as you simply flow comfort into my heart. It’s a funny thing Lord, how the ache and the comfort can reside together there. But as the comfort comes, hope begins to grow again, and even a measure of joy. Thank you Lord. Thank you that somehow between the beginning of this prayer and the end you have given me a measure of renewal in my soul. I asked for help, and you gave it. Thank you Lord, thank you. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Cry out to him. Cry out when you don’t know what to cry. He has unfailing love, comfort, hope and cheer. And he delights in renewing us. Just keep crying out. It will come.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

His Understanding and Power

2007-08-13T23:10:00.000-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 147: 5-6a

How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
The Lord supports the humble…

Matthew 19:26
…Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

PRAYER

Lord, when life does not make sense, and what we long for seems impossible, it is good to remember your incomprehensible understanding and absolute power. Lord, you understand everything about ______’s life and heart. You know. You have it figured out. You understand why. You know when. You could explain the details of how. And you see the what, before it ever comes to be. If ______ could only see what you see, he would rest. But then, that is the whole idea of building his faith Lord, so that he is convinced of those things he does not see, and is assured of that for which he hopes. Give him faith, Lord. And as he feels that his dreams are simply impossible, I ask that you would show him your power. Remind him , by something special today, that you are indeed God, and your power is absolute. You can do anything. Anything. I pray that you would convince him that you can even do that one thing that he thinks is impossible. Convince his heart Lord. And as he humbles himself in dependence upon your understanding and power, I ask that he would feel your hand encourage his spirit with your support. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

God can do it. No barrier is too high for him; no situation too complicated; no dream beyond hope. Believe. Hope. And never give up.
_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Rest

2007-08-12T23:00:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 131:1-3

O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me.
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.
O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever.

PRAYER

Lord, daunting tasks loom on the horizon of ______’s future, tasks that he doesn’t want, doesn’t feel comfortable with, and is not very good at, but tasks he must do, nonetheless. I ask for your peace. I ask that you would take away that low-grade ache that hangs in the back of his heart. Free him from the anxiety these future tasks would bring. Give him the singular focus of resting in you today, Lord. Take the complicated matters, those things too difficult for him , and cause them to fade to the background of his mind… so that he can simply rest in your arms. Just like a mother’s arms hold a calm and satisfied child, draw ______ to your soothing embrace, and rock his soul into a place of rest. And as he relaxes in your loving care, I pray that hope would spring forth and refresh him indeed. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Stop the flurry of anxious thoughts. Compose your heart. Quiet your mind. Sit with him and rest calmly in his love. Put ALL of your hope in him. He will not let you down.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Faith and Obedience

2007-08-09T23:47:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 22:1-12 (selected)

Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" …Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him…. Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."

Hebrews 11:17-19

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead...

Matthew 16:25

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

PRAYER
[Pray this for yourself]

Lord, I admit the agony of obeying you when it means giving up the gifts most precious to me. The pain of release is unspeakable. And yet, I do it. I release my hold. I choose obedience because of faith. But Lord, I hear the flesh of my heart tearing as roots of self are being extracted. I truly feel that I am loosing my life for the sake of obedience to you. And then I remember the faith of Abraham, who trusted you so much that he believed you could give him the promise even if you had to raise Isaac from the dead. Lord, please give me a faith like that. As I sacrifice, give me faith, help me to believe that you can and will keep your promise to give me the desires of my heart. Lord, I affirm the truth in my head, that I will only ever find my life by loosing it for your sake. Now please apply that faith to my heart as well. Help me Lord. Help me. Amen

ENCOURAGEMENT

Loose your life for his sake. Obey him. Trust him. And you WILL find your life.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

His Comfort

2007-08-08T23:25:00.000-07:00

SCRIPTURE

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Matthew 5:4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

PRAYER

Lord, today I ask that you would send an angelic messenger to ______, carrying a double measure of your comfort to be poured directly into his heart. And after that another, and another, and then another, until he is filled up and overflowing. You know that he needs that comfort today, this morning, this moment. So please give it generously. Push out the sense of loss, and replace it with the memories that have been gifted to him over the years. I pray that he would be truly blessed as your comfort washes over his mourning. And Lord, as he lingers in that place of peaceful comfort, I ask that you would bring him a new gift, a gift of hope. I pray that he would know beyond a doubt that you see the true dream of his deep heart, and that you are promising to fulfill the desire of his heart as he delights in you. I ask that he would see the serendipitous events of yesterday as evidence of your sovereign tapestry, and so would be moved to trust you for tomorrow… giving him hope for today. And just as he begins to feel this new hope begin to rise on the horizon of his future, send another brigade of angels with triple loads of comfort. Overwhelm him with your love today. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

He knows. He cares. He understands. And he is there for you, pouring out his comfort. You have felt it before, feel it again today. Receive his blessing.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

His Peace

2007-08-07T23:14:00.000-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

PRAYER

Lord, today I ask that you would calm the storm… the storm within ______. I pray that you would lay your hand upon his heart, and command the waves of anxiety to cease from churning. Lay the stillness of peace within him, Lord. Please take away the storm clouds on the horizon of today that threaten tomorrow. Make the wind of your comfort simply blow them away. And shine around them the silver lining of your grace. I pray that you would move ______ to fix his thoughts on you, Lord. May he remember the real touch of your comforting angels, your strengthening hand, your sustaining grace, your provisions and your care. May he be so calmed with the memory of your goodness that he can not but trust you for tomorrow. May his mind be so filled up with you that a flood of peace overtakes his worries and drowns them all. And Lord, when you give him that peace, please make it a perfect peace. He deserves it, Lord, you know that he deserves it.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Take control of your mind, and fix it on the memory of the good things God has given you. Dwell on his goodness and grace. Saturate yourself with thoughts of our Lord. And trust that his peace will follow.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Gratitude

2007-08-06T22:26:00.000-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 75:1

We thank you, O God!We give thanks because you are near.People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.

PRAYER

Lord, I pray that you would nurture ______’s soul with gratitude today. As his will identifies and expresses gratitude for your wonderful deeds, I ask that you would feed the emotion of gratefulness within. May his list be long Lord, and when he begins to come to the end I ask that you would stretch his heart to look even more deeply at who you are, and what that means in his life. Lord, again I pray that you would open his eyes to see just how near you are to him, how present you are in his everyday, how close you were today. Make him feel your nearness at his right hand. May he feel the warmth of your presence in the sunshine, and the comfort of your presence in his sleep. Surprise and amaze him today with your nearness, Lord. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Count your blessings. Recall some of his wonderful deeds to you. Name them to him, everyday at least once. And watch your awareness of his nearness grow.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Bearing Burdens

2007-08-05T23:33:00.000-07:00

SCRIPTURE

Luke 10:33-37
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Matthew 7:1
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged.”

Galatians 6:2
“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

PRAYER

Lord, I thank you today for ______, and the strength of his caring heart, for he is truly a man who understands love. He listens deeply to the true heart, and does not judge on past actions alone. In fact, he does not judge at all, but just reaches out with humility and forgiveness. He knows that even the heart that has wandered hurts. He does not ask where the wounds came from, and judge the worthiness of the wounded. He simply sees the wounds, refuses to pass by on the other side of the road, and reaches out to give what he can toward healing. He calls. He writes. He shows hospitality. He encourages. He prays. And he even talks straight when the time is right. He is a friend. He is a true neighbor. He gives his strength to help shoulder a load that is too heavy to carry alone. So Lord, I ask that at this very moment you would smile upon ______. Give him a taste today of the reward you have stored up for him … an extra dose of your blessing … something special just for him . May he know how deeply those he reaches out to are touched. May he know they will never be the same because of him. May he know that he is making a difference. And may he know how rare his breed is indeed. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

You will never know how profound your humble, forgiving touch has been. Grace has flowed from the throne of our Lord, through you, and into the wounded. Thank you… thank you.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
_______________________________________

Soul-Fitness

2007-08-02T23:28:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE
James 1:2-5

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not resent your asking.

PRAYER
[Pray this for yourself.]

Lord, I admit to you that I really don’t like it when troubles come my way. It hurts, it’s confusing, and I seem to either feel guilt or injustice, depending on the cause of the trouble. I sometimes feel like I am pressing the barbell up, up, up, squeezing out that last repetition of the third set while my shoulders scream out with that clear burn of muscle fatigue. It hurts. But then I realize, Lord, that the pain is not destructive to my life, but is producing an increase in the strength and endurance in my character that will make me more spiritually fit for worship and ministry. And at that moment of realization, the pain actually feels different, Lord, it feels healthy. When I think back on the accumulation of strength and endurance that has accrued over the years, I begin to feel something under the pain, something deeper and more profound. I begin to feel joy; a sense of fulfillment as I taste the fruit of increased personal soul-fitness. Lord, keep my perspective clear. Keep my heart longing for growth. And make me willing to walk the road of fatigue to get this growth. Give me more moments of joy along the way, I ask. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Keep walking the treadmill of God’s path before you. Even when you don’t feel you are making any progress, your soul-fitness is increasing bit by bit, and the muscles of your faith are tightening. And it will pay off. So keep walking, and allow yourself to feel the joy of growth.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
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Rest in Him

2007-08-01T23:25:00.001-07:00

SCRIPTURE
Matthew 11:28-30

[Jesus said] "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

PRAYER

Rest for his soul Lord, I pray rest for his soul. I ask that ______ would come to you in his weariness, and the excessive load of the burden he carries. I pray that he would come and rest. Make his heart cease from its churning. Make his mind stop trying to calculate the sum of the parts of his life and circumstances. Stop him Lord, gently, and quiet him . May he lay down this night, sinking into your arms, and rest in you. And as he rises, may he simply continue obeying you, taking your yoke, doing what is right today, leaving tomorrow for you to care for. I pray that as he obeys, that your smile would shine upon his soul, and that the weariness would melt away. Rest Lord, rest is what I pray into ______ this day. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Take a deep breath, and let out a big sigh… and rest in him. You have come already. You have taken his yoke, and are doing what is right. Now rest my friend, rest. You are in his care.

_______________________________________
Dave's Life Coaching
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Faith and Praise

2007-07-31T23:18:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-31T06:51:00.000-07:00

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
_______________________________________

Shelter in the Storm

2007-07-29T22:57:00.000-07:00

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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Restful Trust

2007-07-27T07:02:00.000-07:00

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
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Comfort and Strength

2007-07-26T00:20:00.000-07:00

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
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Courageous Faith

2007-07-24T23:42:00.000-07:00

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
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His Care

2007-07-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

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
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Stand Tall

2007-07-22T23:23:00.000-07:00

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
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Don't Hold Back

2007-07-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

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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A Best Friend

2007-07-19T00:19:00.001-07:00

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
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No Worries Mate

2007-07-18T06:06:00.001-07:00

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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A Sovereign Tapestry

2007-07-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

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

Waiting

2007-07-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

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
_______________________________________

A Future and A Hope

2007-07-14T23:53:00.002-07:00

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
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Strengthening

2007-07-13T23:36:00.000-07:00

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.

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Dave's Life Coaching
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Persistent Prayer

2007-07-13T07:15:00.001-07:00

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.

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Dave's Life Coaching
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