Author: Karen Carey

Yet not as I will, but as you will! Thought for the DayThere are things in life we would rather not face, and like Jesus, we can find ourselves asking God to take those things away from us. Sometimes he does take those unpleasant things from us. Other times, we must endure hardship. The real challenge in prayer is not being able torepeat the first half of Jesus’ prayer (if it’s possible, take this cup…) but to be able to pray the second half with conviction: Yet not as I will, but as you will.Consider ThisWhere am I allowing avoidance of pain to govern my prayers?In what area do I need to pray, “Not as I will, but as you will.”Have I recognized that it…

Open our Eyes Lord! Thought for the DayElisha was facing pressure. The King of Aram resented his loyalty to Israel and sent an elite guard to capture him. When Elisha’s servant began to panic at the sight of an enemy force, Elisha prayed for him to see what was unseen…the protection of God. This supernatural event reminds us that we don’t always have a clear picture of how God is at work. Sometimes in the face of the most intense pressure, God is at work in ways we can’t see. This can be in the spiritual, unseen realm, or in the form of those serving him in ways out of the spotlight.Consider ThisHow has God helped me in the past in ways I didn’t expect…

But God is still at work, even if it is behind the scenes. Thought for the DayIt is easy to forget that the Bible was recorded over hundreds of years of time. The acts of God performed in the early chapters of Genesis must have seemed like long-ago history to those like Habakkuk. His refrain of “do it again, Lord” is a familiar one. We often long for God to work inways that reveal his power more overtly. We read of his past deeds and wish we could have been present to witness to them. But God is still at work, even if it is behind the scenes.Consider ThisHabakkuk says that God is famous for his deeds. When you think about God – which of…

Intercession focuses on others Thought for the DayIntercession is a ‘churchy’ sounding word that describes praying for the needs and concerns of others. The Apostle Paul started numerous churches and had deep relationships across the Roman world. He sets a great example of intercession – praying for those in the churches hestarted. His prayers were two-fold: gratitude and requests. Intercession focuses on others.Consider ThisWho am I grateful for in my life?Who can I pray for today?Who needs me to ‘continually’ mention them in my prayers over the next week?Prayer FocusChoose three people and write down their names. List one prayer concern next to each name.Be sure to thank God for them as you intercede for their need.

PRAISE BE TO THE LORD GOD! Thought for the DayTake a look outside and chances are you will catch some glimpse of nature in all its glory. The beauty of a sunrise, the vastness of a dark night sky, the uniqueness of each animal and the fearfulness of a thunderstorm sweeping through an area all tell us something of God. When we see the creation, it prompts us to think of the Creator who is greater than all of it. These marvelous deeds reflect the glory of the one true God.Consider ThisWhat prompts me to feel awe for God?Where have I experienced his majesty?How do I express my praise to God?Prayer FocusPick out something great that you attribute to God and give him praise for…

Protect us Oh Lord! Thought for the DayJesus prayed for his followers to be protected from the evil one. This acknowledgment of the spiritual struggle reminds us that life is more than what we see and hear. There is a spiritual dimension that requires spiritual strength. Prayer provides a connection to the very power ofGod. Resisting the evil one can’t be done on human strength alone. Jesus’ prayer acknowledges that God is the source of protection when the spiritual struggle gets real.Consider ThisWhere am I experiencing temptation right now?Where do I need God’s protection?How often am I praying for God’s protection?Prayer FocusInstead of asking God to take you out of every harmful situation, ask for his protection in the midst of it. Ask God for…

WHO AM I BEFORE YOU LORD? i HUMBLY COME! Thought for the DayGod is honored when people approach him in humility. Pride has no place in the presence of God. Humility, on the other hand, is a clear understanding of who we are in the presence of a majestic God. In a moment of humble clarity, David acknowledged that he didn’t deserve any special consideration from God. What he experienced from God’s hand was sheer grace. We are in our greatest place of strength when we see our lives as gifts from a loving God.Consider ThisHow much am I taking for granted in life?Do I have any spirit of entitlement before God?Where do I need to apply humility?Prayer FocusAsk God to show you areas of…

Prayer — For the month of September, I have aligned with my church, Community Christian Church at White Marsh, Maryland, (communitycc.net) as we are doing a 21 Days of Prayer.  Due to the state of our world, I thought it would be appropriate to be a part of this much needed time of prayer and this prayer movement.  Our church has been, for a while, praying at 6:15pm every day; so now we are adding another level of prayer over the next 21 days. I know we are a few days into the month, but we all can catch up and pray as we reflect straight from the Bible.  This will make you think, reflect, look inside yourself, and grow you beyond you.  Know that…

Sometimes comparisons fall short to describe what we understand. Hannah experienced this as she thought about the goodness of God. To whom can God be compared? Well, there is no one like him! Thought for the DayThere are some moments where no adjective seems adequate to describe your experiences.For example, songs and poems have been written about the Grand Canyon, but the words pale compared to 30 seconds of gazing across the divide. Sometimes comparisons fall short to describe what we nderstand. Hannah experienced this as she thought about the goodness of God. To whom can God be compared? Well, there is no one like him.Consider ThisWhat do you think of when you read, ‘there is no one holy like the Lord’?When is a time…

God’s people must stop discerning good vs. evil to good vs. best. There’s much to fill life with that’s not ‘bad’ …it’s just not the ‘best’. The Apostle Paul prayed for love, knowledge and insight that would lead us to the best.What’s best will always makes us more like Jesus! Thought for the DayThe axiom that ‘the good is the enemy of the best’ is oft ignored to our own detriment. Jesusfollowers must graduate from discerning good vs. evil to good vs. best. There are many things I can fill my life with that are not ‘bad’ things – but they certainly aren’t the ‘best’ things. TheApostle Paul prayed for love, knowledge and a depth of insight that would lead us to the best. And…