PM#0336 Unite Our hearts Ps 86 vs 11-12

PM#0336

Unite Our Hearts

Ps 86:11-12

This is a question for those that are married.  Have you ever sensed that your spouse is not on the same page as you?

This may be very true in many marriages at various times, and there may be a number of reasons.  Regardless of the reason, perhaps we should first make sure our focus is on the Lord.  That would also include humbling ourselves in prayer, and asking the Lord to unite our hearts to reverence God’s name and His presence.

God wants to unite our hearts.  He knows what stands in the way preventing it, and He knows how to help.  He will lead you to His wisdom in His word.

Consider this prayer:

Father I come to you in humility for my marriage.  I ask that You unite our hearts to reverence your name.  Lead us so our hearts will be united.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection:

Are you afraid to ask the Lord to unite both your heart and your spouse’s heart?

Are you afraid of what God will reveal if you ask Him to help you and your spouse unite your hearts?

For those who have sought the Lord to unite their hearts in their marriage, perhaps, if you are willing, sharing here may help someone else seek the Lord in uniting their heart with their spouse in their marriage.  

Though this ‘Prayer Minute’ may be focused on marriage, could the principle apply to our nation?

PM#0360 A Heart Desiring to be Clean

PM#0360

A Heart Desiring to be Clean

Based on PS 139:23-24

Did you ever consider that our heart yearns things to be right?  Yet so much has happened, and problems come at us, that it causes dirt to enter our hearts.

The yearning of the heart that we experience may be from the Lord.  If it is, it will hate the dirt and eventually the heart may react and push that dirt to the surface.  It wants to get rid of that dirt.  When dirt comes to the surface, it may seen in the forms of anger, judgment, or other bad reactions. 

What should we do?  As problems and dirt comes to come to the surface, we should go to the Lord, and ask for wisdom on what is needed to cleanse the issue.  Following God’s wisdom allows the Lord to our cleanse heart. 

Father, when our heart is embattled, help us to seek your wisdom, to cleanse. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection questions:

How do we know if a yearning we have is from the Lord speaking to our Hearts?

If it is from the Lord, what is it trying to do?

When it seems that dirt comes to the surface, why is it important to ask God’s wisdom?

Why does the Lord want us to have a clean hear—nothing swept under the rug, hidden in closets, or not talked about?

PM#0343 Unforgiveness is a Deadly Poison - Forgive!

PM#0343

Unforgiveness is a Deadly Poison  -  Forgive

Matt 6:14

Did you know unforgiveness can be a deadly poison?

When unforgiveness is spread all over, it is like a deadly herbicide that kills the roots of trees.

A similar thing can happen when we do not forgive.  Bitterness creeps in and the love and life that was in our hearts withers away and our hearts can become as stone devoid of love.

How do we remove this poison?  In Matt 6:14, Christ instructed us to forgive.   If  there is bitterness in your heart, why not ask the Lord to help you to forgive.  Then take that action and forgive both the other person and yourself.  This forgiveness can bring life again into your heart.

Father, help us to forgive where there is deep bitterness and may that forgiveness allow life and love to enter our hearts again.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

How many times do we just brush something off, and forget about it, rather than dealing with the item and really forgiving?  

That is like sweeping something under the rug.—Yes, probably all have done that at one time or another, but we should consider that when the Lord shows us what we did—to ask His forgiveness, and to forgive the offense that did occur.

Why are we so afraid to forgive? 

Perhaps someone may wish to share how forgiveness has brought life back to them again.

PM#0050 Seven Times Seventy

PM#0050

Seven times Seventy

Matt 18: 21-22

What do you do if someone continually offends you?  When someone continually offends you, you have a difficult situation.  The answer is found in Matt 18: 21 & 22.  Jesus said to forgive seven times seventy.  That in essence means that we must continually forgive.  I know that it does not seem fair to forgive when we are the one hurt.  However, this is God’s higher way. God wants to work in our lives and unforgiveness blocks the work of God and our prayers.  Forgiveness from the heart allows God to work. 

Father, it is difficult to continually forgive when we are continually hurt.  Please help us forgive from the heart.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

Why is a personal hurt so hard to release—even if we go through the words saying—‘I forgive you’?

If we experienced forgiveness of our sins because of Christ’s work on Calvary—why is it hard to forgive others?  Are we holding on to something we shouldn’t by just going through the motions or words saying ‘I forgive’ but not releasing it from the heart?

Maybe some of you could share how complete forgiveness has affected you and you actions with others?

PM#0030 Misunderstanding, Forgiveness, Blessing

PM#0030

Misunderstanding, Forgiveness, Blessing

Have you ever had a misunderstanding where you honestly understood one thing that someone said, but the other party was adamant that they had said something else?  That stirs up a lot of emotion, especially when the other party does not give you some measure of grace and understanding.  How do you deal with this when your emotions are flared up?  Christ said to forgive.  But when have been wronged, it is hard to settle down and forgive. To obey Christ we must take this step.  We must forgive.  When we do it, forgiveness will help us settle down, and then we can ask a blessing for the other party once we forgive them.  Here is an idea of a blessing that could be prayed:  That the Lord will bless them with the knowledge of His grace and fullness of His love. 

Father, many of us have wronged us in the past.  Help us to forgive them and ask Your blessing for them.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

Why does misunderstanding cause a flare up of emotion?

What does forgiveness have to do in settling emotions?

What happens when we bless others after we forgive them?

 

PM#0427 Being Thankful Luke 17 verses 12-17

PM#0427

Being Thankful

Luke 17 verses 12-17

There is an account in the Bible of ten lepers who went to Jesus and asked for healing.  Jesus honored that request and healed them.  This is found in Luke chapter 17 verses 12-17.  Only one returned to Jesus and thanked Him.  The Lord was very appreciative of the one who thanked Him, but asked the question, where are the others?

Probably all of us at one time or another have forgotten to be thankful.  Reminders such as Thanksgiving time are important to us.  They help us to take account of all that we should be really thankful for.  When we take time to thank the Lord for our blessings, Jesus really does appreciate that thankfulness.

If you haven’t taken an account of, and thanked the Lord for the blessings you have, why not take time to do so today. 

Consider a prayer like this, ‘Father, help me to be thankful for blessings.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

Why is it important to thank the Lord?

Why do we act as if it is not necessary to be thankful?

Have we ever taken blessings ‘for granted’?

PM#0539 Look At God's Handy Work Matthew 6 vs 28-29

PM#0359

Look at God’s Handy Work

Matthew 6:28-9

Psalms 19:1. 

When life seems routine and run down, maybe we should look around us and also look up.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:28.  Consider the lilies of the field, yet Solomon and all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Do you ever admire the beauty of flowers in a field?  Jesus did.

This glory of the flowers can dispel darkness that overwhelms us.  When everything seems to be overwhelmed by problems, and going in a way that there seems to be no hope, it is time to once again look at the glory of God and be reminded that God cares and wants to lift our hearts up.  He understands where we are at, and he knows how to encourage us. 

When times and situations are bleak, consider a brief prayer like this: ‘Father, help me to see you handiwork around me, and may it encourage me and lift my heart to give you praise.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.