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Prayer Against Pride

Heavenly Father,

I come before You with a humble heart, recognizing the presence of pride in my life. I acknowledge that pride can lead me astray, hinder my relationships, and separate me from Your perfect will. Today, I lift up my prayers for deliverance from pride and ask for Your transforming grace.

Lord, forgive me for the times when I have allowed pride to cloud my judgment, inflate my ego, and hinder my ability to see the truth. I confess that I have placed myself above others, seeking recognition and validation for my own accomplishments. Please cleanse me from the sin of pride and replace it with a spirit of humility.

Help me, Lord, to see myself through Your eyes. Give me a true understanding of who I am in relation to You and to others. Teach me to embrace humility, recognizing that all good things come from You. May I always acknowledge Your sovereignty and give You all the glory for the blessings in my life.

Father, I pray for a contrite heart and a spirit of repentance. Soften my heart and break down the walls of pride that I have built. Help me to seek forgiveness when I have hurt others through my prideful actions or words. Give me the courage to make amends and restore broken relationships.

Lord, I surrender my accomplishments and desires to You. Help me to use my gifts and talents for Your glory, rather than seeking personal recognition or validation. Teach me to serve others with humility, putting their needs above my own.

Above all, I pray for a deepening of my relationship with You, Lord. Draw me closer to Your presence and transform me into the likeness of Christ, who exemplified perfect humility. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I may walk humbly before You and live in obedience to Your Word.

Thank You, Father, for Your grace that can overcome pride. I commit myself to the journey of humility, knowing that with Your help, I can become more like You.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.

Pride: Recognize and Overcome It

Hey there, friends! Let’s talk about something that can be a real pain in the you-know-what: pride. Yep, that sneaky little sin that likes to creep up on us when we least expect it. But don’t worry, there are ways we can tackle it so we can be humble as God instructed.

First things first, let’s admit that we’ve all had moments where we’ve thought we were the bee’s knees. Maybe we aced a test or landed a promotion at work, and suddenly we start feeling like we’re unstoppable. But let’s face it, that kind of thinking can get us into trouble.

So, how can we deal with pride? Well, one idea is to practice being silly. Yep, you read that right. Do something silly like singing in the shower, dancing like nobody’s watching, or wearing a goofy hat. Doing something silly reminds us that we’re not perfect and that it’s okay to be a little ridiculous from time to time.

Another way to combat pride is to surround ourselves with people who aren’t afraid to call us out on our nonsense. Sometimes, all we need is a friend who can lovingly tell us, “Hey, you’re getting a little too full of yourself.” We can’t always take ourselves too seriously, and having friends who keep us grounded can help us stay humble.

And finally, let’s remember to give credit where credit is due. Whenever we accomplish something, it’s easy to start thinking that we did it all on our own. But the truth is, we didn’t get to where we are without the help of others and without God’s grace. So let’s give thanks and praise to God and the people in our lives who have helped us along the way.

Dealing with pride doesn’t have to be a downer. So, take a deep breath, have a little fun, and remember that we’re all in this together. We’re all a work in progress, but with a little humility and grace, we can overcome our pride and become the best versions of ourselves.

I want that kind of Faith!

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I have always talked about wanting faith like Noah. In Hebrews it says that he built the ark for 120 years with NO visible sign of rain. Now that’s faith! He didn’t have a weather report saying “rain will be here in 50 years, 50 days, or 50 minutes.” No!

I don’t know what your circumstances are, but to put Noah’s faith in today’s terms, it’s like this:

  • Sickness – he didn’t have a doctor’s report saying he was healed, but God’s word says you are!
  • Financial issues – he didn’t have a financial report saying provision was coming, but God’s Word says, He owns the cattle on a thousand hills – He is your provider
  • Depression – he didn’t have meds to take to make him better – but God’s word says that joy comes in the morning

He had God’s Word and He trusted in it so much that he devoted his life to building the ark (120 years) without a sign of rain!

However, today, I just realized that before the flood, there had NEVER been rain! So, Noah trusted God’s word for something that HAS NEVER BEEN DONE!!!!

What need do you have right now and will you trust God’s Word – no matter what the signs says? What miracle are you believing God for?

4 Things Christians Need to Do More

As Christians, we often hear about the things we shouldn’t do. Don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t cheat, and so on. But what about the things we should do more? Here are four things Christians need to do more:

Love one another – Love is the most important thing, and we need to show it to everyone around us. Let’s make it our mission to love not only our friends and family, but also those who are hard to love. Let’s spread kindness, forgiveness, and compassion wherever we go.

Serve others – Let’s follow in the footsteps of Jesus and be the ultimate servants. We can volunteer at a local shelter, help a neighbor in need, or just do random acts of kindness for strangers. When we serve others, we’re showing them the love of Christ and making a positive impact on their lives.

Share the gospel – The gospel is amazing news that we should be excited to share with everyone we meet! Let’s invite people to church, share our testimonies, and show them what it means to be a follower of Christ. Let’s make evangelism a fun adventure instead of a daunting task.

Pray – Prayer is such a powerful thing, and it’s where we can connect with God and ask for guidance and blessings. Let’s make prayer a regular part of our daily lives, not just when we’re in trouble. Let’s pray for ourselves, our friends and family, and even strangers we encounter throughout the day.

When we do these things, we’re not only living out our faith, but we’re also making a positive impact on the world around us. Let’s love, serve, share, and pray more, and let’s be a shining example of what it means to be a follower of Christ.

What’s Your Goliath?

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I was reading Psalms 104:1-4. It is so powerful that I had to share it with you!

Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great! You are clothed with honor and majesty—
[You are the One] Who covers Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain or a tent,
Who lays the beams of the upper room of His abode in the waters [above the firmament], Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind,
Who makes winds His messengers, flames of fire His ministers.

No wonder Goliath was nothing to small David! Even though he was the smallest son of Jesse, once he heard of this big giant, he knew that God (the God of Israel) would win the battle! Why? Because he knew the heart of God. David knew God intimately and deeply!

Nothing was impossible for David’s God! No one and no thing even compared to David’s God!

When our impossibility is bigger than our God, then our impossibility becomes our idol. What’s your impossibility? What is your giant Goliath?

Prayer Against Ungodly Thoughts

Heavenly Father,

I come before You in humble reverence, seeking Your divine guidance and strength. Lord, I acknowledge that ungodly thoughts can sometimes infiltrate my mind, causing me to stray from Your path. Today, I lift up my prayers to You, trusting in Your power to help me conquer these ungodly thoughts and align my thinking with Your truth.

Father, I ask for Your forgiveness for any ways in which I have allowed ungodly thoughts to take root in my mind. I confess my weaknesses and my need for Your intervention. Please cleanse my mind and heart, purifying them with Your holy presence.

Lord, I pray that You would grant me discernment and wisdom to recognize ungodly thoughts as they arise. Help me to distinguish them from Your truth and to reject them with conviction. Fill me with the knowledge and understanding of Your Word, so that I may be equipped to combat these thoughts with the sword of Your Spirit.

In moments of temptation and doubt, strengthen me, Lord. Surround me with Your protective love and grant me the resilience to resist the enemy’s attacks. Let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Father, I surrender my thoughts and desires to You. Help me to fix my mind on things that are pure, true, honorable, and praiseworthy. Renew my thought patterns and transform my mind according to Your perfect will. Let Your love saturate my thoughts and guide me in every decision I make.

I thank You, Lord, for Your unfailing grace and mercy. Thank You for the victory we have in Christ, who has conquered all darkness and sin. I trust in Your power to overcome ungodly thoughts in my life and to lead me on the path of righteousness.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.

Conquer Ungodly Thoughts

Hey there! Have you ever had a hard time getting rid of ungodly thoughts? You’re not alone! We’ve all been tempted in ways that could take us away from God’s plan for our lives. But don’t worry, there are things you can do to get rid of these thoughts and stay on the right road.

First things first, it’s important to acknowledge that ungodly thoughts exist. Trying to ignore them won’t make them go away. Instead, see them for what they are: threats that can hurt your relationship with God and with other people.

Next, turn to God in prayer. Ask Him for help and guidance to resist temptation and choose the path of righteousness. Prayer is a powerful tool for defeating ungodly thoughts.

Reading the Bible is also a great way to stop thinking bad things. Spend time reading and thinking about Bible verses that talk about your problems. Remember them and say them when you’re having bad thoughts.

Surround yourself with positive influences, such as friends and mentors who model godly behavior and encourage you to do the same. Limit your time with media that encourages bad ideas or actions.

Lastly, take practical steps to avoid temptation. Identify your triggers and take steps to avoid or lessen them. For example, if you struggle with lustful thoughts, avoid situations or media that trigger them. If you struggle with anger, practice deep breathing or meditation to calm yourself down.

Getting rid of evil thoughts takes work and discipline, but it can be done with God’s help. Don’t let ungodly thoughts control your life; instead, take action today and seek God’s help to overcome them. You got this!

Forgive AND Forget

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Have any of you seen the movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe lately? It is definitely worth a watch if you haven’t yet.

Today, I wanted to share a line from this movie that stayed with me long after I finished watching it.

In this movie the younger brother betrays his three siblings. When he finally comes back to fight with them, he has a talk with Aslan (the lion). After they are done talking the brother goes to face the other three for the first time since betraying them. However, before anyone can say anything Aslan says this: “What’s done is done. There is no reason to talk to Edmund (the younger brother) about the past.”

His siblings never bring up what happened or what he did. They never hold it over him. They just simply invite him back in.

How often do we do that today in our own lives? I know from personal experience that I am very quick to forgive but it is sometimes a huge battle for me to forget. It is something that I have to keep working on. I want to be able to forgive and then completely forget just as easily.

This is exactly what Jesus does for us. He tells us the same thing Aslan told Edmund’s siblings. He has forgotten our past and He tells us there is no reason to dwell on it, no need to bring it up again. He forgives us and He forgets about what we did.

Hebrews 8:12:

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Hebrews 10:17

“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

Jesus tells us again and again that He has forgiven us but even more He has forgotten it just as quickly.

He doesn’t have to think about it.

He doesn’t have to look at reasons for why we should be forgiven.

He doesn’t look at what we did to figure out if it should be forgiven or not.

He just forgives.

Then He forgets.

Praise Jesus for that is good news!

I pray that you may be blessed by this good news! Remember He has forgiven and forgotten. I pray that just as Jesus forgives and forgets that you may begin to do the same in your own relationships. I pray that you will begin to no longer bring up someone’s past just because you know what it is.

Love, Kathleen 🙂

Pay friendship forward

As followers of Christ, we’re called to love and support each other through thick and thin, including being there for our friends when they need us most. After all, we often turn to our friends for comfort, advice, and encouragement. 

The past few months have been a challenge for my family. But thankfully, God has sent reinforcements in the form of our good friends. I bawl daily, thinking about all the love and support we have received. 

Now, I want to pay forward the love and support that they have given! So I thought of how my friends have given me encouragement and strength so I can reciprocate it to whoever needs it. Jot this down in case you want this too!

First things first – listen up! When friends struggle, they often need someone to hear them out. So let’s put down our phones, turn off the distractions, and give our friends our undivided attention. By actively listening and offering empathy, we can show our friends that we genuinely care about what they’re going through.

It’s not just about listening, though – we must show up and be there for our friends, whether in person or virtually. Sometimes, just knowing someone is there can make a difference. So let’s make time for our friends, whether grabbing coffee, going for a walk, or having a heart-to-heart conversation over the phone.

When our friends are going through a tough time, they may not always know what they need. Let’s offer specific ways we can help, whether bringing over a meal, watching their kids, or just listening. We can help our friends feel supported and cared for by taking action and showing up in tangible ways.

As Christians, we know the power of prayer. So let’s make sure we’re lifting our friends up in prayer when they ask for it and when they don’t. We can ask God to give them strength, comfort, and wisdom in their struggles. And we can pray that they would feel God’s love and presence.

We know that our hope and comfort come from Jesus, so let’s point our friends to Him, whether it’s through sharing scripture, praying with them, or just reminding them of God’s faithfulness. We can encourage our friends to seek God’s guidance and strength and remind them that they are never alone.

Let’s strive to be there for our friends lovingly and compassionately. By listening, being present, praying, offering help, and pointing them to Jesus, we can show our friends how much they mean to us. Love you, friends.

Time to Show Gratitude for God’s Gift of Motherhood

Hey there, friends! Can you believe it’s already Mother’s Day? It’s the perfect time to show some love and appreciation to the incredible women who have shaped our lives in so many ways.

As believers, we know that mothers have a special place in God’s heart. The Bible is full of amazing stories of women who have played crucial roles in their children’s lives. From Moses’ brave mother to Hannah’s fervent prayers for a child, these women teach us that motherhood is a divine calling.

So, let’s take a moment to honor our moms and express our gratitude for all they’ve done for us. Whether it’s a thoughtful gift, a heartwarming message, or simply spending quality time together, let’s show them how much they mean to us.

Let’s also remember those moms who may be struggling or going through tough times. They need our love and support more than ever.

On this Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate the gift of motherhood and thank God for the incredible women in our lives. Let’s pray for their continued strength, wisdom, and grace as they fulfill their divine calling.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there! You’re the best!