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Prayer Devotional: Day 82
Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. – Jeremiah 29:5 KJV
As Thanksgiving nears, we have many things to thank God for. Despite the hardships that the pandemic has brought on, so many people have persevered.
When we look at our cozy homes and the surrounding gardens, sometimes it seems like the plants and animals around us are unaffected by the pandemic. Plants still grow. The sun still shines. We have warm houses, loving families, and supportive co-workers.
God gives us something to be thankful for every day. It’s the little things that count. Amen.
Prayer Devotional: Day 77
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. – 2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
Sometimes our minds are so full of thoughts and worries, that we can’t remember what it feels like to be free of that negative pattern of thinking.
The Holy Spirit guides us and helps us to transform our thoughts from negative to positive, resentful to grateful.
Our Lord sets us free, in more ways than one. Amen.
Prayer Devotional: Day 51
“If you love me, keep my commands.” – John 14:15 NIV
God’s love for us goes beyond our comprehension. Jesus loves us and died for us so that we might live.
There is nothing that we can do to equal that sacrifice, but we can live with a grateful heart. When we express our gratitude by following God’s law, it’s not out of obligation. We don’t have to follow His commandments; we follow His law because the more we love like Jesus, the more our desires change.
Instead of being critical of others, when we love like Jesus, our relationships improve.
The ten commandments benefit us. They are not a set of arbitrary rules that God gave us.
When we honor our fathers and mothers, our lives are happier and longer. The Lord is pleased when we love Him so much that we desire to love the way He does, a little more each day.
Although we can never earn our way into heaven, we can love the Lord with all our hearts, minds, and souls.
We want to be like Him, not because we fear consequences, but because we appreciate that He died for us, no matter what. He loves us more than anything else in the world. Amen.
Prayer Journal: Day 280
Day 280
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-8
How often do we pray for the same thing three times, only to have it persist? Sometimes God puts thorns in our lives for a reason, so we will learn something from having them present.
Thorns protect roses, so thorns, although pointy and hurtful, serve a purpose.
Sometimes we have to experience a little discomfort to learn to be more grateful for what we have.
To truly rely on God and stop worrying, we have to trust that everything in our lives is there for a reason. Amen.
Prayer Journal: Day 263
Day 263
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. – 1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV
We don’t have to manifest more money to be happy. We can simply focus on what we already have and gratitude for it.
We have more than many people have in third-world countries. We can thank God for that.
Contentment is a practice. We can write in a gratitude journal to remember what we are thankful for. We can write thank you notes. We can remember to tell people in an email that we appreciate them. God shows us what we can be thankful for. Amen.
Prayer Journal: Day 213: I am Moving to Idaho
Day 213
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:18-19 KJV
As my family embarks on a new journey by moving from Nevada to Idaho, I reflect on the new blessings that God has brought into my life.
Even though I tested positive for COVID-19 on September 1, 2020 and suffered from COVID-19 long haulers symptoms, surviving the ordeal has strengthened my faith and brought me closer to God. I am grateful that my husband was able to stay home during my recovery to take care of me and Jacob. I am thankful that my husband was able to find an Executive Director job in Idaho. Our house in Nevada sold within three hours of listing it, and we were able to buy a duplex in Blackfoot, ID.
Instead of remembering how difficult my illness seemed at the time, I am grateful for the new opportunities that God has brought into our lives. He makes way for new blessings. Amen.
Prayer Journal: Day 189
Day 189
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples. Shout to the God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great king over all the earth. – Psalm 47:1-2 NKJV
When the Lord gives us something big to rejoice over, it is time to clap our hands and enjoy that He opened a door for us.
The Lord takes care of all our needs, more than we ask. He is good!
Our Lord is awesome because no obstacle is too big for Him. No challenge is too great. No change is too overwhelming for Him.
He wants the best for us, and He is pleased when we give our lives to Him.
There is so much in our lives that we cannot see or predict, but the Lord makes our path sure.
He allows good things and people to enter into our lives. His timing is perfect. Amen.
Prayer Journal: Day 157
Day 157
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31 NIV
Jesus loves us more than life itself. He is on our side. He is for us.
When life seems uncertain, one thing is for sure: Jesus loves us and saved us. We can be grateful for His sacrifice. He is here to help us.
When we are tired, He is there. When we are sad, He is there. We are never alone. When we are afraid, He gives us courage.
The Lord wants good things for those who love and trust Him. We don’t have to rely on couches, mentors, and marketers for wisdom, because wisdom comes ultimately from God. We can tune into His voice. Amen.
Prayer Journal: Day 87
Day 87
You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. – Psalm 118:28 NIV
All good things come from the Lord. We can be thankful for the blessings He has given us. He gives us health. He gives us life. He gives us family and friendship.
The Lord protects us, guides us, comforts us, and is always there for us.
We can be thankful for the food on the table, the company we share, and the warmth in our homes.
Even in the midst of troubling times, the Lord gives us strength and endurance. We are never alone because He is with us.
When we find ourselves worried about uncertainties, He comforts us. He is our helper. The precious moments in life, the moments of stillness, meditation, and love, are good times to be remembered. He is there to enjoy them with us. Amen.
Prayer Journal: Day 82
Day 82
I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. – Ephesians 3:16-17
We need God’s strength during this time. The fact that He can strengthen our inner being is comforting. He cares about every detail of our lives, and our comings and goings.
It is good to be thankful and to express gratitude, especially if we find ourselves worried about day-to-day things. Gratitude and thankfulness can fill our hearts and refocus our thoughts. We can be thankful for the friends and family we have, the roof over our heads, and the food on the table. We are rich in God’s blessings, no matter what. Amen.
gina akao 