Letters from My Heart: A Prayer of Strength

"Be strong and very courageous." Joshua 1:7a

Strength

During the course of life we become tired, weary and worn out. Becoming weary is not just a physical expression of weakness; it applies to the spirit, mind, and soul as well. The obstacles of life that we face on a daily basis can cause fear, doubt, unbelief and a host of other things that can zap our strength. It is in these times that we find ourselves crying out for help and strength. In our weakness, we have access to a source of strength that is unwavering, consistent and always ready to give.

God's strength is like none we have ever experienced. As we pray for strength, he graciously supplies it for us. God gives us a commandment throughout his word to be strong, courageous and to stand firm. In this command, we find the strength we need through him to do just that. God wants to strengthen your life in order for it to be a testament of his greatness. Rely on his strength today and you will experience the very best that God has in store for you.

Prayer
Lord, your name is my strong tower (Proverbs 18:10). I am in need of your strength. You promised in your word that your power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). You have given me the authority to call on your name and lean on you to strengthen me in every area of my life.

I am grateful Lord that I can rely on your strong hand to keep me in all wisdom, peace and understanding. I ask that you prepare my heart and mind to receive your strength. Thank you Lord for filling me, your vessel to be an example of your awesome power. Because of you, I am made strong. -Amen

Letters from My Heart: A Prayer of Thanksgiving

In this, the second installment of Letters from My Heart, we are going to examine the prayer of thanksgiving. Giving praise to God is acknowledging his character, his provision, his wonder and expressing to him what he means to you. Thanksgiving is an act that requires humble appreciation for all that God is. In this act, you realize that you are not the source of your blessings or good will. Your life and existence is because of God's grace, prayers of thanksgiving acknowledge this fact.
God honors prayers of thanksgiving and praise from a clean heart. As we approach God and show our gratitude it causes him to be overjoyed. He is our heavenly parent and similar to the appreciation that we show our earthly parents he appreciates our gratitude as well. A prayer of thanksgiving is an expression from the heart. As we pray with thanksgiving and praise on our lips God continues to reveal himself which provides more reasons to give him praise.
Offer God a prayer of thanksgiving and it will bring joy to your heart and his heart as well.

Prayer:
At the dawn of the day I will give you praise
As I open my eyes I realize that I live to praise you.
The things you have done are wonderful, but that is not why I lift my heart and hands.
The ways you have made indescribable,
but this is not the reason I open my mouth with shouts of praise,
it is because of your love, your grace, and your faithfulness
When I was miles away
you were there waiting for me
that is what causes me to turn my heart toward you
You are the air I breathe, the song I sing,
I give you my praise each and every day, so I lift my eyes to you.
No one can take your place; you are the God that knows the beating of my heart.
The days of my life are in your hand.
I love you so much and I want my life to be an expression of that love.
Your faithfulness and your mercy are amazing.
You are every beat of my heart.

Letters from my heart: Communication to God

     Communication is a two way street. Over the last six months, I have learned a lot about communication especially with God. My prayer life has been greatly enriched by being sensitive to God's voice and intentional about communicating with him through prayer. He has spoken in many ways: through his word, through people and personally to me in my devotional time.

As a result of these prayers, I decided to write a six part blog series called Letters from my heart: Communication with God. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will post blogs with specific types of prayers including prayers of: victory, affirmation, intercession, healing, strength and thanksgiving.   Each prayer is one that has helped me in my time of need. My hope is that these prayers will encourage your faith and direct you to speak to the Father for yourself. God hears your prayers and will surely answer them according to his will. Prayer is about you sincerely communicating your innermost requests and feelings to God and more importantly allowing him
to communicate his promises to you.

Victory:
As you go through life, you will encounter difficult moments. These moments do not always come as a result of something you have done, they happen to all of us. The most important thing to remember about difficult moments is that you have victory through God. Victory is an aspect of knowing that you will overcome what ever you are facing. In order to fully possess victory it starts by a change of mindset and changing the words that you say. Life and death is in the power of your tongue (Proverbs 18:21), what you declare, you will possess. Speaking victory is imperative to possessing it.

Prayer:
I will not be afraid by the arrow by day; nor the trouble that comes by night. I will stand firm in the Lord and in the power of his might. I refuse to lose. I will believe the word of the Lord and I proclaim victory in every area of my life. No weapon formed against me will prosper; I believe the word of victory that God has spoken.

Failure is not an option for me. I do not accept defeat in any form. I bind the plan and plot of the enemy right now. I refuse to be denied. I will live by the word: believing, receiving and proclaiming it is how I will possess victory. Amen