If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. – John 15:7
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. – John 15:10
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. – John 15:14
If – a condition, requirement, stipulation
1 Chronicles 16:37–18:17 Romans 2:1-24 Psalm 10:16-18 Proverbs 19:8-9
Therefore Thy Servant Hath Found in His Heart To Pray Before Thee
And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God. What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant. O LORD, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt? For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God. Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said. Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee. For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee. And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever. – 1 Chronicles 17:16-27
The Goodness of God Leadeth Thee to Repentance
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God. – Romans 2:1-11
We all have things in our lives that God wants to change. Sometimes those things are evident, and the whole world can see, but sometimes those things are hidden in the smallest corners of your heart, and only God knows. Sometimes those hidden things seem minor in our eyes, but in God’s eyes, there are no minor things, and the hidden things will be exposed if they are not dealt with even as the evident things are. He wants us to look like Jesus more and more each day until we meet Him and are like Him. Maybe when we are tempted to judge another for their sin, we should look honestly at what we have hidden and look honestly about whether we are allowing God to change us in that area. Maybe we should remember what we looked like when we first met God and how far He has brought us. Perhaps we should focus on the goodness of God that brings us to repentance and that His goodness is there for each person if they are willing to receive. Maybe we should spend our time praying that today they will encounter His goodness; and that today we will.
Thou Hast Heard the Desire of the Humble
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. – Psalm 10:17-18
Get Wisdom, Keep Understanding
He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. – Proverbs. 19:8
Today’s Scripture passages – Exodus 2:11 – 3:22; Matthew 17:12-27; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 5:7-14
God Remembered His Covenant
And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. – Exodus2:23-24
God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has a covenant with them and with every one of His children. He remembers His covenant with me. Do I remember my covenant with Him?
Covenant – an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified; the conditional promises made to humanity by God as revealed in Scripture; the agreement between God and the Israelites in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.
I Am the God of Thy Father
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. – Exodus 3:3-6
When God calls me, do I stop and say, Here am I? Do I take my shoes off in reverence? Do I take the time to hear Him?
I AM THAT I AM
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. – Exodus 3:13-14
Never be ashamed to go forth with the Word of God. I AM THAT I AM sent you too!!!
Faith as a grain of mustard seed
And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me” And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” – Matthew 17:16-21
Jesus was trying to get the disciples to see that what He is asking them to do in faith was not a supernatural thing, but a normal thing.
It bothered me today that Matthew 17:21 was not read by the person I listen to for my devotions. It was a different translation than the KJV which I normally read. That being said, I can’t ignore any part of God’s Word and especially this one, as I have been changed by the power of both prayer and fasting (together) bringing deliverance!!! Because it is left out of so many versions, many don’t have the chance to receive the revelation of this passage and the manifestation of it in a personal way. It is KEY in my life, but even more – it was KEY here!!!
Our fathers trusted in Thee
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. – Psalms 22:3-5
Depart not from the Words of His mouth
Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: – Proverbs 5:7, 9
My Father, I come before you this morning at the beginning of this day that you have given to me, and I thank You for the Words You have given to me. Help them not to depart from them but to ponder them all day long. You are a holy and wonderful God, and as all of the mothers and fathers of the faith living and that have gone before me to be with You, help me to trust in You, Help me to walk out and speak out the faith that You have given me to see those issues of life that loom like great and mighty mountains in people’s lives, depart at the declaration of Your Words. Help me to be a woman of prayer and fasting and help me never to depart from Your Words or forget their revelation and manifestation in my life. Help me remember my end of the covenant I have with You as I know You will never forget Your covenant with me. Oh God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob change me today so that my life lines up with Your perfect and holy will and plan. Please give me a great burden for the lost and help me to walk in Your Love! Touch our nation, Father. Give our leaders encounters with You that save, deliver, and set them on the course You alone have prepared that they would yield and lead our nation according to Your perfect will. I ask this all in the name of Your beautiful Son, Jesus! Amen! Amen!!!
It seems like lately, I have received more than once the gift of the Father’s “No.” Did I receive them willingly? I confess even though I ask for “Thy will be done in my life (and my family’s lives) as it is in heaven,” hearing and accepting “NO” as His will isn’t always easy. I have been guilty of fighting against God’s “No.” I have kicked and cried like a child hoping if my cries were loud enough, it would all go away. Or enough tears would turn the “no” to “yes.” But in the end, there truly is only one choice for a child in a tantrum, and for me – hush, surrender, and accept the answer – no matter the answer.
Help me, Lord, to trust You and Your “no” as much as I do Your “yes.” Help me to receive them as gladly and be just as content knowing they are Your gifts and good will come of each and every “No.” Help me, Father. I ask in Jesus’ Name! Amen!!!
The following picture is from Elisabeth Elliot’s book – A Lamp for My Feet.
1Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, 3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derisions. 5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. ~ Psalm 2
In Acts 4, the church in Jerusalem faced a crisis. Authorities commanded the Christians not to preach in the name of Jesus. The first response of the church was to pray and when they prayed they prayed boldly! That should be the response of every church and also every believer.
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. ~ Acts 4:31
These early Christians based their prayers on Psalm 2, acknowledging the authorities’ hostility to Jesus while agreeing with the Father’s promise to His Son to receive all nations (the heathen) as His inheritance. Their prayers were bold. They asked God, not to protect, but to empower them to be witnesses in the face of all that came against them. They even asked the Lord to confirm their message with signs and wonders.
God’s answered their prayers. He shook the building, filled them with the Holy Ghost, and they immediately began to speak the Word of God with boldness. Within weeks of this prayer meeting, even their enemies said that they had filled Jerusalem with their teaching.
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. ~ Acts 5:28
When will the Church today pray such prayers? When will we as individual believers? To do so, we must be a people more interested in growing the Kingdom of God for Jesus’ sake, than our own comfort. We must be more concerned about advancing the cause of Christ than our popularity or bank accounts.
As they prayed, the building shook but so did the circumstances. Are you willing to pray bold prayers that stir the heart of God to shake things? What if the things He shakes first is you? What if He first must shake you so that He can shake the church so that He can shake the World? Will you yield and stay in unity even so? The early believers did and they were not only helped, shaken, and filled – AS THEY PRAYED – but they were empowered to serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Heavenly Father, teach me to pray the Word like the early believers. Please help me to lay aside all fear and apprehension. Help me to pray and preach as they did, with boldness. Lord, help me not to worry about hostility and opposition but to pray in the face of it. Help me not to seek comfort and protection, so much as I seek You. Shake us, Lord! Shake the churches once again with Your power, shake the two or three gathered together in one accord, shake me as I seek Your face alone in the prayer closet!!! Fill me again with Your Holy Ghost so that I may proclaim the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ boldly. Help us, shake us, fill us today that we may be used of You. Empower us all today that we might serve You with fear and rejoice with trembling. Oh Father, let Your Kingdom come in our lives of prayer, as it is in Heaven. I ask this for Your Glory and in Jesus holy and precious Name. Amen! Amen!
I have been journaling since I was a child but only blogging publicly since the fall of 2017.
Like many things we do, blogging has proven to be awkward and uncomfortable. But, in these last three years, I have gained readers from 134 of the 195 countries of the world. The latest person to join me is from Lesotho. Have you ever heard of it? I hadn’t. It is a tiny African country surrounded by the country of South Africa.
While I have many readers from the USA, the majority are not from the United States. In 2017 most were from Brazil. In 2018 – Canada, 2019 – India, and in 2020 it was France (followed closely by China). I suppose they might enjoy the personal journaling and Bible verse pictures I create, but most come to my website to read the Bible Studies or devotions or for prayer. They are searching for something from the Word of God.
To me, that’s amazing!!! And while it is not about numbers, the numbers do tell a story of their own. What’s their story???
Psalm 2:8 – Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen (the nations) for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Jesus also said, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. (Matt 28:19)
So, I have asked for the nations and I have asked for them all. Sixty-one nations to go!
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. ~ Isaiah 56:7
Amazing things take place when the people of God gather to pray. Impossibilities become victories. Stubborn enemies that resist the opposition of the prayers of individual believers flee when two or more assemble side-by-side, each one giving his or her unique spiritual supplies and giftings.
The Bible affirms it again and again in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Word tells us about times when darkness is driven away because some linked their hearts and their faith together and became that house of prayer.
As born again believers, we are a house of prayer. We are God’s temple. He dwells in us, not just individually but also collectively as a church.” And these days, our collective, unified prayer and power are urgently needed.
As precious as our personal and solitary times of prayer may be and as much as we enjoy being alone with the Father, we live in a time with challenges so great that they can only be met by the corporate prayers of God’s people. We are in a season when we need not just lone prayer warriors, but the church in all its various parts, closely joined and firmly knit together … each part working correctly for God’s Kingdom. In other words, during these last days, God is looking for people of prayer who will draw near not only to Him but also to each other. He is searching for those who will join hands and hearts and become His House of Prayer.
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love ~ Ephesians 4:16
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) ~ Acts 1:12-15
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. ~ Ephesians 2:18-22
“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.” ~ Daniel 10:12
Chasten – to inflict suffering upon for purposes of moral improvement; chastise; to restrain; subdue.
Chastise – to discipline.
Remember that the moment that you go before the Lord to pray, God responds. You spend time humbling yourself as you continue in prayer to breakthrough the objections of the enemy.
So therefore set your mind.
Set your mind to seek the Lord.
Set your mind to consecrate yourself.
Set your mind to live godly.
Set your mind to rid yourself of what’s holding you back.
Set your mind to honor God in all you do.
It’s your decision.
Set your mind.
Daniel did just that. He did as Scripture directs and saw the results of 2 Chronicles 7:14-16. He Humbled himself and prayed.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14-16
“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.” ~ Jeremiah 30:17
Restore – to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish: to restore order; to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition; to bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor; to put back to a former place, or to a former position, rank, etc ; to give back; make restitution of (anything taken away or lost) ; to reproduce or reconstruct in the original state.
Health – the general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vigor. Soundness of body or mind; freedom from disease or ailment
Heal – to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment; to free from evil; cleanse; purify.
Wound – an injury, usually involving division of tissue or rupture of the integument or mucous membrane, due to external violence or some mechanical agency rather than disease; an injury or hurt to feelings, sensibilities, reputation, etc.
“I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds.” This is what the Lord said to his chosen people, the nation he calls His own. These words are powerful. He said He would free them from disease and heal them of any inflicted injuries. God made this promise to an entire nation. And that the King of Glory, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, is concerned enough with this small nation to promise to restore health to them and heal them of their wounds means the world to me! Why? Because it means our Father in Heaven is also keeping an eye out for each one of us. He cares so much for us that He also promises to heal us.
We know from reading the Bible that these are not empty promises. God fulfills all His promises, every single Word. Over and over He proves His Word is true… and so we can be confident that His Word will come to pass.
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. ~ Isaiah 55: 11
Something I read today regarding wounds:
Some wounds take bandages. Some wounds take stitches. Some wounds take surgery to replace new with the old. Just because you didn’t get to choose the way you wanted to heal doesn’t mean you take your bandage off and demand stitches.
Wounds aren’t meant to be reopened. A reopened wound causes more infections…
When you get healed, stay healed. Don’t create your own healing method. God knows how to tend to your wounds. Wounds cannot heal when that healing is sought in the world. It’s impossible. But with God any wound is available for healing.
Lord, I thank You for releasing supernatural strength to me, for restoring my health, delivering me from the bondage of fear, and for healing my wounds. You are so good to me! I love you and honor you, Jesus! Oh, merciful Father, I come before Your throne tonight to ask You to let your healing virtue flow to those that are on my prayer list. Holy Spirit, you know every single name and their affliction and suffering. You know every need. You died so that each one could walk in your healing tonight. Let healing flow through bodies, minds, and spirits tonight…on this earth as it is in heaven…for YOUR GLORY alone!!! I pray this in Jesus Name. Amen! Amen!!!
“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.” ~ 2 Kings 20:1-7
2 Kings 20 is such an interesting passage!!!
In this passage of scripture, I see that the Lord healed in answer to prayer. And yet, figs were used by the direction of the prophet of God before there was a complete recovery. Sometimes God uses medicines. Sometimes healing is a process.
I see that God was true to His Word. Specifically, 2 Chronicles 7:14 – IF my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land. Hezekiah certainly did humble himself and pray. God did answer.
I see that God said He would heal and then defend and deliver the nation…for His own sake but also for the sake of His servant, David. Isn’t it amazing that God might do something for us for the sake of those around us, that are His servants? Have you ever thought that God might have healed you for the sake of your mother or for the sake of your pastor or for the sake of your spouse? Have you ever thought that God might just heal someone for your sake if you are obedient to Him and His will…as well as for His own sake and for His Glory?!?
Reading the rest of the chapter (and you should), I see that even though there was recovery, Hezekiah wanted a sign to prove it. Aren’t we like that? I like that Hezekiah was bold enough to ask! We have not because we ask not!!!! God did give the sign which was a miracle. The Bible doesn’t explain the miracle so we just have to leave it at that. Praise God for His miracles.
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Here are a few things I believe about healing. Some relate to this scripture and some are my beliefs because of the finished work of the Cross and the healing work God has done in me!
It is very late, so maybe I will write some more later and then update. All thoughts are welcome. I truly love to hear what others have gleaned from scripture or what the Holy Ghost has revealed to them about scripture, prayer, and healing. God bless.
On a personal note: When I was a young teenager we lived beside my grandparents. My Granny and Grandpa Burgess had fig trees in their yard. Every year Granny made the best fig jam. I sure do miss my grandparents and her jam. When I read about figs in the Bible I think on those days and thank God for their influence in my life, but mostly for their presence. Their presence brought healing to me just as that lump of figs for Hezekiah. Thinking on Granny’s figs I know that no matter what I lost in my life, I was blessed beyond measure by those two loving me unconditionally and caring for me. Sometimes the greatest gift of healing anyone can give is just to be there!!!!
a lamp and a light 