“O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name; for You have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.” Isaiah 25:1 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: How do we start our days? One friend of mine told me that before his feet hit the floor while getting out of bed, he thanks God for new mercies, breath in his lungs, and God’s presence in his life. Even before the dust of the day begins to cover his shoes, he is praising his heavenly Father for all of the people and situations he will encounter that day. Now, I’ll be honest. I am usually slow to wake up and I have to convince myself to get out of bed. Not that anything is wrong or bad, I just don’t sleep well. But when I take the time to thank God in the mornings and throughout the day, I don’t get near as overwhelmed or anxious. Sometimes it is small habits we make that can help order our thoughts and align our hearts with His.
Prayer for today: I pray that we would begin to praise God first thing in the morning and continue to praise and thank Him throughout our days. That He would bless you and keep you, and make His light shine upon you.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
May the love of our Heavenly Father fill you…
Category: Prodigal Blog
Verse of the Day – Psalms 16:11
“You show me the path of life. In Your presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalms 16:11 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: David has written a poem (a miktam) to God and he is sharing it with us. He is openly communicating to God that He is David’s source for all things including protection, guidance, and wise counsel among other things. Knowing that David spent plenty of time ducking in and hiding in caves to keep away from King Saul, who was trying to kill him, David still joyfully devotes his life to God. Then we get to the part of the verse that is saying, “in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” What is the meaning of Your right hand? It is a place of honor. Keep in mind that Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father, Almighty. The right hand represents authority and power, but can also mean protection, provision, and mighty works. David had a hold of some amazing insight.
Prayer for today: I pray that we would have the hearts that are seeking God’s heart and that our days are filled with thanksgiving and praise to our Father, even in the darkest moments. He is still protecting us. Father God doesn’t stop seeking after us. Oh, that we would seek Him as intensely as we once loved sin.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
May God’s goodness shine on you…
Verse of the Day – Ephesians 6:12
“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: The apostle Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus, encouraging us to put on the full armor of God so we are able to stand the battle we constantly face. We all know that we are constantly under attack and the side of evil is looking for any weakness we may have to gain a foothold in our lives, whether it is in our minds/thoughts, hearts/emotions, or in any other way possible. Thankfully, God is our strength and our protector. That said, we must do all that we can to be prepared for battle through prayer and relationship with our source of strength. Standing firm, shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow Christians, God will lead us into battle and He will be victorious.
Prayer for today: I pray that we would ready ourselves daily for what we might face. That we would solely depend on our God and Savior for the wisdom and protection we need to face our enemies. But also that we would have the love and compassion to pray for those who wish us harm.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
Verse of the Day – Proverbs 13:20
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 13:20 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: Have you heard the phrase, “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”? It seems the interwebs are not exactly sure who this phrase is attributed to, but it still stems from this bible verse. Who are we building relationships with? Are we tending relationships that are life-promoting or are we spinning our wheels chasing relationships that are one-sided? When I was young, I enjoyed spending time with my grandparents as they just had a different perspective and pace toward life. As I grew a bit older, I enjoyed sitting down with them and hearing their stories of the way life used to be and how God had provided for them. They would brag on their Father without hesitation. Some of them may not have been the most educated, but they were very wise because they spent their time getting to know their God as they worked and played, laughed and cried, prayed and praised. We need to consider the source of all Wisdom and walk with those who bear the life-fruit of the cross.
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that we would seek out the wisdom of our Father. That He would fill us with the wisdom and knowledge that we need to live out the purpose He designed us to fulfill. I pray that we would join together as brothers and sisters in Christ to accomplish the mission at hand.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
May the knowledge of and wisdom from our Father be a focal point of our daily lives…
Verse of the Day – Psalms 85:2
“You forgave the iniquity of your people, you pardoned all their sin. Selah” Psalms 85:2 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: Oh, I am so very thankful for our Father’s forgiveness. I know that each of us can look back to the point in time when we handed over the reigns of our lives to God and let Him lead us. When I think back on that time, I had convinced myself that I wanted nothing to do with Him. I’m so incredibly thankful that He didn’t give up on me. That is one of the reasons that the term “prodigal” resonates with me so much. With our sins pardoned and iniquities forgiven, we can look at the last part of this verse. What does Selah mean, anyway? While there are differing thoughts on what the word means, the base translation of the word is “intermission”, which is a musical/theatrical term. Of course, an intermission is a break/pause in music/theatrical events. This may include music or it might just be a time of reflection. I know that I mention looking back to where God found us quite often. My intent is not to dwell on the past, but to see just how far God has and is bringing me. It reminds me that I handed over the control of my life to Him, who can do way better than I ever could imagine.
Prayer for today: I pray that we would take an intermission. Reflect for a moment on the things that God has done in your life keeping in mind that He brings order and peace, not chaos and strife. I pray that we would rejoice in Him as He has forgiven us for all of our wrongs, and just wants to be closer to the creation He knit together in your mother’s womb.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
May God’s grace, hope, and love overwhelm you today…
Verse of the Day – Romans 10:9
“because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: What do we confess with our lips and believe in our hearts? Do those two things match in our daily lives that others can see? Are others witnessing a Christlike example? These are some questions that are easy to ask, but can be challenging to answer. We have to take a very close look at our lives and what we confess by our lifestyles. Here is a little insight to this verse. The word heart means “the heart; mind, character, inner self, will, intention, center.” Used in this manner, believing in our hearts should reflect in our character and how we live. It is in the spiritual fruit that we bear according to Galatians 5:22-23. Please know that I’m not throwing stones or trying to condescend. These verses are often difficult to send out because it would be hypocritical to write something and ignore the Holy Spirit when I find that I need to work on the same issues. Know this. You are loved. You are wanted by God. You are welcomed to His presence whenever you seek Him out.
Prayer for today: I pray that our lives would reflect what we believe in God and through our Savior, Jesus Christ. That we would desire to allow the Holy Spirit to convict us as needed and to guide us all on the path toward holiness and Christlikeness.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
May the love and hope of God fill your lives…
Prodigal Thinker 