Posts with the tag “prayer”

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” – Matthew 5:43-44 No matter how kind you try to be, someone will still find a way to mistreat you. And when that moment comes, you will have a choice to make about how you respond. Most people fall into one of four categories. Some seek rev...  Read More

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” – Matthew 5:44 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus consistently raises the bar on what it means to follow Him. He tells His audience not just to walk the extra mile or to refuse retaliation, but to go even further by loving their enemies. Then He takes it to a level most weren’t ready for. He says to pray for those who persecut...  Read More

“Pray for those who persecute you” – Matthew 5:44 Jesus does not just ask us to go the extra mile. He tells us to pray for the very people who make us want to quit walking altogether. That was not a casual suggestion. It was a radical command spoken to a group of people who knew firsthand what real persecution felt like. His audience had been mistreated by the Romans, ignored by religious leaders,...  Read More

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" – Matthew 5:44 When Jesus said these words, He was not just correcting a teaching. He was confronting a mindset. Over and over in the Sermon on the Mount, He started with the phrase, “You have heard that it was said,” because He was pushing back on the way Scripture had been twisted by the religious leaders of the day. In t...  Read More

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" – Matthew 5:43-44 Abraham Lincoln was once criticized during the Civil War for being too kind to his enemies. One advisor told him, “Mr. President, you should destroy your enemies.” Lincoln paused and then replied, “Do I not destroy my enem...  Read More

“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:28 Most of the time, the real battles we face never make it out into the open. They’re not waged in front of people. They happen in our heads, in our hearts, in those quiet moments when no one is watching. That’s exactly what Jesus is getting at when He talks ...  Read More

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” - Romans 12:2 Jesus didn’t just come to save your soul. He came to reshape your entire life. That includes your identity, your mindset, and your way of living. In other words, Jesus calls us not only to know who we are in Him, but to live ...  Read More

"Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your whole life is going well." - 3 John 1:2 When someone asks you, “Are you healthy?” What’s the first thing that comes to your mind? For most people, it’s physical. They start thinking about their body, their weight, maybe their cholesterol or blood pressure. For others, maybe a smaller group, the first tho...  Read More

"But in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 Have you ever caught yourself saying something like, “I don’t want to bother God with this”? Maybe you’re good at bringing the big stuff to Him when life hits hard or the bott...  Read More

"But in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving" - Philippians 4:6 Some people just have a way of making everything feel heavy. You know the type. If it’s sunny, it’s too hot. If it’s cloudy, it’s too gloomy. No matter how much they have, they live with a mindset that it’s never enough. That’s what happens when gratitude goes missing. And it’s a real problem, not just for their a...  Read More

“And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.” - Nehemiah 4:9 Pursuing God’s vision will not be easy. If you’ve ever stepped out in faith, you already know that. The moment you say yes to God, the enemy starts drawing up his plan to stop you. That is not a coincidence. That is spiritual resistance. Nehemiah faced it every step of the way. The moment he began...  Read More

"And the king said to me, 'What are you requesting?' So I prayed to the God of heaven." - Nehemiah 2:4 Have you ever looked around at your life and wondered, “Why am I here? Why this job, this school, this neighborhood, this circle of people? Maybe it feels random or even frustrating. But what if it is not? What if God has placed you exactly where you are for a reason? Nehemiah was not a pastor or...  Read More

"Send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it." - Nehemiah 2:4 Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do something that made no sense? Something that felt too big, too heavy, too impossible for someone like you? Maybe you felt the nudge to lead a Bible study even though you have never led anything before. Maybe you felt the tug to share your story...  Read More

"Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways." - Psalm 128:1 Obedience is not flashy. It is not always easy. But it is always worth it. Every move of God begins with someone saying yes. Not a yes built on comfort or popularity or convenience. Just a simple yes rooted in obedience. When you look back on the story of any faithful church or faithful life, you will see this pattern r...  Read More

"Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace." - Nehemiah 2:17 Sometimes God gives you a burden that you can’t ignore. And with that burden comes a call that won’t go away. It starts quietly, an ache in your spirit about something that’s broken. Then comes the prayer. You bring it to God, not even knowing what to say, but knowing you can’t carry it alone. And if y...  Read More

"If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it." - Nehemiah 2:5 Prayer is never meant to be the end of the story. For Nehemiah, it was the beginning. His burden led him to his knees, but from there, it led him to stand up and do something. After days of fasting and praying, Nehemiah did...  Read More

"When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of the heavens." - Nehemiah 1:4 When God gives you a burden, He does not expect you to carry it alone. He expects you to bring it to Him in prayer. That is what we see in Nehemiah. His heart broke for the people in Jerusalem, but before he picked up a tool or made a plan or asked the ...  Read More

"Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." - Ephesians 6:18 Of all the weapons God gives you in spiritual warfare, prayer is one of the most powerful. It’s not an afterthought or a last resort, it’s your direct line to the Commander of the battle. Prayer connects you to God’s power, ...  Read More

"And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." - Ephesians 6:15 In the battle of spiritual warfare, your footing matters. Soldiers in ancient times wore sturdy sandals equipped with nails or spikes to ensure stability on the battlefield. In the armor of God, your spiritual footing comes from the gospel of peace. It’s not just protection for your feet, it’s...  Read More

“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” - Revelation 2:5   Having remembered the times when we were closest to God and repented of the ways we’ve drifted, the next step is to return to Him wholeheartedly. This process of remembering, repenting, and returning is not just a spiritual exercise but a pathway to experiencing the abundant life God desires for us. R...  Read More

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” – Romans 12:9-12 As we continue our journey through the secrets of sacrifice, we arrive at the fourth flesh hook: Fellowship....  Read More

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." - Daniel 6:10   Following God's commands and being faithful to Him can be a radical journey—one that requires courage and unwavering trust. In Daniel ch...  Read More

"A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12Have you ever marveled at the strength of a cord of three strands? It’s a powerful image that goes beyond the beauty of two becoming one. In Ecclesiastes 4:12, we read, “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” It’s a profound truth that God invites us to live out in our marriages. You and your spouse, entwine...  Read More

“In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:6 Seeking God’s guidance is an essential aspect of the Christian journey. It involves praying for His direction in every decision we make, whether big or small, and being open to His leading. Proverbs 3:6 reminds us of this wisdom: “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths strai...  Read More

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2 Prayer is not merely a religious duty or a last resort in times of trouble; it is a vital connection that we, as believers, have with our Heavenly Father. It is through prayer that we communicate with God, seek His guidance, find comfort, and experience His transforming power. The verse from Colossians 4:2 re...  Read More