Powerful Prayer Week 1

This week I am beginning a Tuesday series devoted to prayer.  Prayer is a big part of my life but I feel like I need to spend more of my time focusing on it.  I would like to share with you the prayers that I study from the Bible and how they affect my life.  This is, also, intended that your prayer life will be even further enriched and that you will see more of the beautiful work of our Lord in your life!

At first I was going to attempt to write a deep and thorough study of the verses that I focus on each week.  After a couple of failed attempts, I am positive that I am supposed to keep it simple, to allow for the Holy Spirit to work in each of us to show each one personally what He wants us to take away from it.

Week 1 of Powerful Prayer Tuesday!

Colossians 1:9-12

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things--    ¹⁰That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition].
    ¹¹[We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,
    ¹²Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light.


This is a prayer that I have been praying over my husband for a while. God has truly blessed him in many ways.  Recently, I began praying it over our whole family and our close friends and I can feel it working in our home.  I am confident that our family and friends will be blessed also.  I feel that this is a prayer that we can all benefit from and as I type, I pray that all who read this will be blessed by it.  That you will be "filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things..."


So it shall be!

Blessings and Joy to all!

Jamie

Linking up with 

                      

How God listens and moves

On this special day, I prayed a prayer on the way to our new church.  It is a long drive but worth every second we spend in our new church home. 

I struggled finding our new church after the awesome one we left.  However, in Gods time... we found the new home He had for us. 

This prayer I prayed was very specific and heartfelt. For revelation regarding the authority that Jesus died to give us.  The authority that His victory gives us.  The authority we have over the enemy through our King of Kings. 

After the awesome worship service and before the amazing childrens program, our new pastor spoke of the very thing I prayed for.  This beautiful, humble, sweet man truly is in tune with the Holy Spirit.  I am so blessed.  We are all so blessed.  I cannot tell you all he said today.  I could not give it justice.

What I can say, with confidence and gratitude, is that Jesus died for our sins.  And He rose from the grave, conquered it to give us victory and authority over the enemy.  Death, sin, sickness, disease, addiction, etc.  You don't need me to give it a name.  You already have the list. 

Now, all we need to grasp is that that list is ashes in the wind.  Jesus Christ is our King of Kings.  The Alpha and Omega.  The Beginning and The End.  Our Victorious Savior.  As the devil is under His feet, so he is under ours.  We have authority, now we just need to embrace that authority.

Take hold of the victory that Jesus gave each of us, put on your combat boots and show the devil who the boss is.  The devil and his minions have no authority in your life.  They are defeated already, all you have to do is remind them in the name of Jesus and they will flea faster than you can spell Victory!

Thank you, my sweet, loving and perfect Jesus.  I love you and I love all of yours.  I melt at the thought of Your Love!

Joyful Friday - My Testimony

I am changing Joyful Friday up a little this week.  I have finally gotten up the courage to share my testimony of how God drew me to Him.  How he took the bad decisions I made and worked them for good.  How he picked me up out of the deep black pit I was in, dusted me off, wrapped His arms around me and put me back on my feet, facing Him.  On His path, surrounded by Light and Love.

My wonderful friend Nikki from SimplyStriving was kind enough to take some of her precious time to read it and give me some suggestions. I am eternally grateful for her insight and kindness!  Because it is so long, I have decided to make a page dedicated to it.  I will give you a snippet of it today, along with a song that sings along with my spirit.  Then, should you want to read the whole story and have a few extra minutes you can click on over and check it out!

Taken from "God's Story through My Life" -
"So I woke up one day and decided to go with "Plan B."  I began to relive the years I felt I had missed.  I started drinking, doing drugs and then found less than desirable ways to make money.  My goal was to make as much money as I could as fast as I could so that I could leave my first husband and my life as I knew it quickly and completely, never to look back.  I was as far from God as I can ever imagine someone being."

Oh Happy Day by Jesus Culture truly sings along with my spirit!



I pray that you will read my testimony with an open mind and open heart.  I also pray that you will find encouragement and hope in it.  That you will be reminded that you can not stray too far from God.  His love for you is perfect and unconditional.

I would love to hear from you!  What is your testimony?  How has God worked in your life to bring you to Him?

Blessings and Joy to all!

Joyful Fridays Vol. 1

I am starting something new!  Joyful Fridays!  Every Friday I am going to post on Joy and how we can have more of it in our lives.  I would love to make this a Link Party or Blog Hop but I am not sure I have the following for that just yet.  If this is something you would be interested in, please let me know in comments or email!

This is one of my favorite songs by Casting Crowns off of their Until the Whole World Hears album and it going 'round and 'round in my head last night inspired me!



There are so many scriptures in the bible on Joy and Joyful that I am sure that this is something that God wants us to have lots of in our lives.  In John 10:10, Jesus tells us that he came so that we can have an abundant life and to enjoy it!  Each Friday I am going to give a verse on Joy and share a little of my own insight and how I apply it in my life.

Psalm 95:1-3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

    ¹O COME, let us sing to the Lord; 

         let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!    
      ²Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
         let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!

    ³For the Lord is a great God, 
         and a great King above all gods. 

I would like to say that I am consistent each day but I am not.  That is something I am working on.  However, on the days that I make the time to spend time with God and to sing and make a joyful noise to Him, I can feel and see the difference.  He is our Rock, our King; the Alpha and Omega.  We live in a chaotic and ever changing world.  We can rejoice in the fact that our God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!

Maybe you aren't comfortable singing out loud.  Maybe you were not gifted with a singing voice.  Well, I fit both categories and am here to tell you that you should forget yourself and just try it.  Yes, some of us even have to step out in faith just to sing out loud!  Once I got over my own insecurities and reminded myself that this was not for me but for God; that it is not a contest but a way for me to bring joy and praise to my King; I let go and let loose!  It felt great!  Once we ask Jesus into our hearts, we are filled with Him, His Holy Spirit.  When I focus on praising and worshiping God with my less than lovely voice, Holy Spirit steps in and helps.  That is why He is here, to be our helper, counselor, comforter.  To step in and fill in where we are weak, broken, unable.

So turn on your favorite worship song or just click play above and SING, SING, SING!  Make a JOYFUL NOISE and start (or finish) your day with the peace and joy of the Lord!

I would love to hear from you.  What songs do you enjoy singing out?  What things bring you joy each day?

Tune-In Tuesday: Forever Reign by One Sonic Society

I am excited to share a worship song that is always timely for me.  Some songs speak to me in different seasons.  This is a song that speaks to me and brings me to my knees every time I hear it.   In many ways it is hard for me to express just how much this song speaks to and for me.  I truly am running into His arms, so grateful for His love, peace, light and mercy!   








I know this one can be found on the Wow Worship (Purple) along with many more beautiful worship songs!  What a beautiful way to worship our Awesome God!


The beginning of this song really breaks it down.  He is Good.  He is Love.  He is Light.  He is our Hope.  He is our Peace.  And He is all of those things, especially when we are not.  All we have to do is run into His arms!




"You are good, You are good
And there's nothing good in me

You are love, You are love
On display for all to see

You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in

You are hope, You are hope
You've covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling"

As I sit here and type this I sing out 

"My heart will sing no other name! Jesus! Jesus!"

Would you like to share your favorite worship tune?  Check out Tune-In Tuesday and link up!  I am!