Love Him

SCRIPTURE

 

Matthew 22:35-40

 

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

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

 

 

PRAYER

 

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

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

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

Peaceable Wisdom

 

SCRIPTURE

 

 

James 3:17-18

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

 

Romans 12:18, 21

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

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

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

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

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

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

 

 

Groan Your Desires to God

SCRIPTURE

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


PRAYER

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


ENCOURAGEMENT

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

Calming the Emotional Storm

SCRIPTURE

 

Proverbs 4:23

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

(NASB)

 

Romans 12:2

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

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

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

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

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