Right Motives

"You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives..."

James 4:2-3

Lord, help me to ask for the right things in the right way with right motives. Help me to cooperate with you, my savior, to accomplish your will for my life.

Forgive me when I have been too impatient to wait for your answer. Forgive me that I've mistakenly taken matters into my own hands moving ahead of your guidance. A non-answer just may be an answer after all.

VMM

Wait or Walk

DAY FOURTEEN

Welcome to week two of Praycation – a Spiritual Journey throughout the month of August. It is my prayer that you are drawing closer to the Lord using as many Praycation Practices as your can. They are your breathing prayer, 31 minutes of prayer, 31 seconds of silence, 31 seconds of praise and at least 31 minutes of studying God’s Word per week.

I also added an Evening Review. Take a few minutes each evening and review the events of the day. See where you stayed on course, strayed from the course and/or need course correction for the next day.

Let me know in the comment section your Praycation experiences. Please share this invitation to someone else.

This Thursday is our bi-monthly Praycation Summer Conference Call. Mark your calendars and tag your digital agendas for the first and third Thursday every month for 30 minutes of prayer, testimony and study. Just call this Thursday, August 17^th at 6 AM CDT/ 7 AM EDT 1-218-936-2800, access code 812713. Join us!

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Discerning direction and destination issues can be filled with doubts and difficulty. Fear tramples faith especially when well-meaning friends suggest conflicting courses of action.

Get alone with God where your questions can be asked without the intrusion of the world or the opinions of others. Listen. Wait in silent anticipation for God’s voice telling you which way to wait or to walk.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind your saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

Isaiah 30:21

Lord, give me the courage to wait on your distinct unmistakable sense of direction and then to walk in it.

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Leave it Alone

DAY TEN

There are things in all of our lives we just need to let well enough alone. We don’t give our scrapes, bruises, or wounds time to heal. We keep checking on it in our minds, pick at the scare tissue in conversation or invite others to share the pain at our private pity parties.

Faith often requires us to leave some things alone. We can entrust the issues and injuries to God, even the self-inflicted wounds. Keep your hands off it! God knows our circumstances and will work at the right time in the right way on your behalf. I’m sure God doesn’t need your help.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalms 37:7

Lord, today I entrust into your care the entanglements and perplexities of my life into your hands and leave them there.

A Waiting Matter

"In the morning, O Lord, hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my needs in front of you, and I wait." Psalm 5:3

Orchestrator of the Universe help me this morning and every morning that you grant me life, to come to you in the quiet of dawn's early light, before caffein, rush hour, the opening bell, the punched clock, while there is a hush all over the house. I come before you to hear Your voice telling me which way to go before I take on too much of the day or before the day takes me on.

I present myself, my soul and body as a reasonable sacrifice. I bring you praise and thanksgiving before I lay my needs before you. I bring the possibilities of the day and ask you to use it for your glory. I bring whatever patience I can gather to wait, wait to hear your voice in every matter. In Jesus name, Amen.

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OPEN DOORS

Let us pray together:

Lord, I am waiting on the Season of The Open Door. As I wait
I cast all of my cares on you

For I know you care for me
My Ears are open
My Heart is receptive
As I wait…
Straining to hear your “YES”
Knowing that it is coming
For I know—and believe--that
You have a good plan for me
Not to harm me
But to give me a future
And a hope.
So here I am Lord
Searching
Knocking
Asking
Savoring
the great expectation
of Your good gift
for me.
I live in trust
Walk by faith
It is…
ENOUGH.

Inspired by: Luke 11:5-13 (NRSV)
Rev. Yolanda D. Lehman
Publisher, Ainta That Good News?!: A daily online Christian devotional that makes Good News easy to read and fun to share! © 2009
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/

MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT PRAYER

Your Morning, Noon and Night Prayer Assignment for Saturday, April 2nd: Pray today that the Lord will show you the beauty of waiting upon the Lord so that you can move forward in full strength. Pray for those who need to learn how to wait patiently.

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength…” Isaiah 40: 31

Dawn's Early Light

"In the morning, O Lord, hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my needs in front of you, and I wait." Psalm 5:3

Orchestrator of the Universe help me this morning and every morning that you grant me life, to come to you in the quiet of dawn's early light, before caffein, rush hour, the opening bell, the punched clock, while there is a hush all over the house. Before I take on too much of the day or before the day takes me on, I come before you to hear Your voice telling me which way to go.

I present myself, my soul and body as a reasonable sacrifice. I bring you praise and thanksgiving before I lay my needs before you. I bring the possibilities of the day and ask you to use it for your glory. I bring whatever patience I can gather to wait, wait to hear your voice in every matter. In Jesus name, Amen.

VMM

Be Still

Be still and know that I am GOD... psalm 46:10

I am busy
I am blustered
I am bewildered
I am bothered
I am broken
and it is still morning.

I will wait
I will stop
I will slow down
I will be still
I will rest
I will relax
I will recoup
I will regain
I will recover

Thank you Lord for allowing me to experience trials. For knowing who you are allows me to be still. Thank you Lord, for refreshing me as I stop long enough to hear from you. Thank you Lord, for rebuilding me, as I have been down. Thank you Lord, for restoring me, as I acknowledge my broken areas. Thank you Lord, for reviving me, as my spirit longs to hear your voice.

I am still
I can hear
I can feel
I can see
I can smell
I can taste
I am still
And I know you are GOD.

Rev. Troy Thomas, Pastor
Historic St. Paul AME Church - Lexington, KY