The Divine Encounter

Dear God,

I cannot begin this day without spending time in your presence. I cannot rush to be with you and then quickly move away. I cannot come to the prayer place and not be ready to encounter you. I command my spirit to receive what you will give to me. Amen

Dr. Jessica Ingram
Supervisor, 10th Episcopal District AMEC
Author, The Journey Within
Journeyministry@aol.com

Prayer Quote

"Is the Son of God praying in me, or am I dictating to Him?....Prayer is not simply getting things from God, that is a most initial form of prayer; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God. If the Son of God is formed in us by regeneration, He will press forward in front of our common sense and change our attitude towards the things about which we pray."

Oswald Chambers

On Guard!

“He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.”

Psalm 121: 8

Great God of Creation, call us today to a greater devotion to love and serve you.

Help us to turn away from impulses that dishonor your glory.

Help us to resist the temptations that distract us from our spiritual disciplines.

Help us to deny the fear that if we give what we have we will have less.

Help us to discern that by giving we shall receive more.

Help us to discover a richer faith that holds up under pressure, high gasoline prices, unemployment, and deployment, mortgage and nuclear reactor meltdowns, polluted water and soil, infants, adolescents and aging parents.

Let each step taken today lead us to know that we are preserved by You, accompanied by You, ruled by You, and guarded by You, now and forever more, in Jesus name, Amen.

VMM

MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT PRAYER ASSIGNMENT

Today pray for your co-workers. Pray for those who share responsibilities with you to achieve goals at work. Pray for their health, safety and wellbeing.

Never Alone

“If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.”

Psalm 139: 9-10

Gracious God, it is by your power we are able to stand. It is by your grace we are able to abound and it is by your mercy we are able to live. It is because of your presence our hearts are secured.

When we thought we were all alone, you whispered that you would never leave us nor forsake us. When we thought all seemed lost, the Sonlight of love broke through our darkness.

Forgive us when organized our pity parties and invited others to share in the desperate moments when fear gripped our hearts. Forgive us when we pouted and doubted your presence and power.

Lift the scales from our eyes so that we can see you working behind the scenes of our lives. Elevate our vision to the mountaintops, enabling us to scale the heights and leave the land of pity parties behind. In Jesus name, renew our rejoicing.

VMM

MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT

The challenge of the Lenten season is to turn aside or step away from the hustle and bustle of daily life to launch into a deeper relationship with God. The Psalmist declares “Deep calls to the deep” and this is your invitation to eschew the bane of our age, superficiality, and dig deeper into the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting and study. (Psalm 42:7)

Daniel prayed three times per day in the face of great opposition. (Daniel 6:10) You are invited to do the same morning, noon and night. The moment of prayer can be as long as you are led or it can be a pregnant pause. Pray upon rising. Talk to God before you talk to anyone else. Pray at the noon hour and before calling it quits at the end of the day.

Every Thursday at 6 AM CST/ 7 AM EST Lenten Lessons will be offered by calling 1-218-936-2800 Access Code: 812713. For a few early morning minutes you can join people from all across the country in prayer and study. (Daniel 9: 3)

Daniel prayed and he also fasted. At the end of the fast he was able to understand visions and dreams of all kinds. (Daniel 1: 15-17 and Daniel 10) This is your invitation to join the Daniel Fast. More information can be found at www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com/2011/03/03/join-the-journey/. Always consult your physician before starting a fast.

Distractions will call your name when you begin to dig deeper into the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting and God’s word. You may not have a lot of support from family and friends. Disappointment can set in if you are looking for instant change or answers. Remember, this is an opportunity to develop or enhance your life through spiritual transformation, a way of life empowered by spiritual disciplines a journey toward Christian maturity.

Join the Lenten Journey today. You can share your prayer experiences and transformational testimonies in the comment section or at praycation2@gmail.com.

VMM