Finding joy...

My prayer:

So many needs God, spoken and unspoken. So many of us who need your help to get through this life. So many challenges. So many battles. And yet, in the middle of it all, there is your joy and your peace that spring up and remind us why it is all worth it. 

God, I pray and ask that you show each of us tonight, I little bit of that silver lining that you are so good at. Remind us of your joy. Sometimes we need your help to remember.

What God Said Tonight:

My joy surrounds you. My joy is in you. My joy is waiting to be discovered by you. 

You will find my joy in worship. You will find my joy in prayer. You will find my joy when you enter into my presence. 

If you are missing the joy in  our life, spend more time with me. If you are feeling like there is no joy, take a minute and let me fill you with my joy. I have plenty and I never run out. I will pour out joy on your life. Come, be in my presence so you can receive it. 

Rest assured...

My prayer:

I pray and ask for rest, restoration and healing God. I need you mind, body and spirit. 

What God Said Tonight:

Rest by the fire I have made for you. Rest in my arms. Rest in the assurance that I will provide all that you need. Rest in the assurance of the healing power in you. Rest in the assurance of my love for you. 

Rest assured, I have it all taken care of and I am still in charge, working everything to your good. 

Love you anyway...

My prayer:

Awesome God. I apologize for not meeting you here last night but thank you for meeting me where I was. While I often don't have enough (energy, joy, knowledge, grace, mercy, forgiveness, etc.) within myself, you always have enough for the both of us.

I love you and thank you so much for bringing me through this day. I am anxiously looking forward to the sabbath with you this weekend and in the meantime, I will find rest in you.

What God Said Tonight:

I am concerned for you because I care for you. Not just that I care about you, but it is my role, my duty and my pleasure to care for you. 

I have and understand your needs. I have and understand your wants. I understand where you are weak and where you are strong. I understand who you are and who you will be. And, with all of that understanding, I love you more than you will ever know. 

I know the very core of you and I love you more than you can imagine. I will never be surprised by your "failures" and I will never be disappointed. I know all there is to know about you and I am head over heels crazy in love with you. 

My child, my own. My love will never change. My love will never diminish. My love is the one thing that you can ALWAYS count on. Now and forever.

Life is like a stencil...

My prayer:

Holy Father. I am truly yours, without reservation and with no second thoughts. Your presence is the most wonderful place in the world. Your love is the greatest of all experiences. Your joy makes everything better. 

I love you. I love your strength. I love your gentleness. I love your mercy and your grace. I love you.

What God Said Tonight:

Sometimes life is like a stencil, covering up much of what is underneath but showing the beauty in the patterns of what is visible. 

I see it all and I can guide you through the blind spots. I can show you the beauty. I can be the master artist in your life, creating beauty and joy. 

You have to want it. You have to believe. The rest is up to me. 

I will bring more beauty in your life. I will bring more joy in your life. I will bring more purpose in your life. No longer will you wonder what your purpose is. No longer will you wake up in the  morning and wish you hadn't. I am bringing great purpose and joy to your life.

I am all yours, now and forever.

Survival...

My prayer:

Sweet Father. Getting to the end of this day is a miracle. Getting up in time for and getting through tomorrow is my hope. It seems a little pitiful that just surviving is the goal right now but it is what it is. Thank you for helping me survive. LOVE YOU!

What God Said Tonight:

Survival is not such a pitiful goal. I need you for many things yet on this earth and to accomplish them, you must survive this current battle. 

In the battle, I will bless you. On the other side of the battle you will be stronger and more prepared for what comes next. But, right now, lean on me and get through each day. I will see you through. I will work everything for your good. Lean on me and survive. 

I love you sweet child of mine.

Habit of thankfulness...

My prayer:

Thank you God for doing your time stretching thing with today. I was able to get a lot done, have some fun, and rest, which did not seem possible when I looked at the "to do" list this morning. 

Thank you for healing two of my friends this weekend. Your healing power always leaves me in awe. Thank you for being you and for loving me. Really, that is the key to everything else. Because you are you and because you love me, my life is pretty amazing. 

Sometimes I forget or get complacent but today, I want  you to know that I see who you are and what you did and I am grateful.

What God Said Tonight:

I don't need your recognition for my sake but I do need it for your sake. I need you to remind yourself of what I have done and what I am doing. It is those reminders that help you through the tough times. 

When you get in the habit of gratefulness, when you look for the opportunities to be thankful, it becomes a habit for you. That habit will carry you through the good days and the bad ones. It will help you to find the hope in me. It will remind you of my love for you. It will remind you of how I have taken care of you. 

Make thankfulness a habit, not for me but for you.

Real change...

My prayer:

God, I am out of words and thoughts. Everything that I can think of to talk about seems so petty and meaningless. Maybe tonight should be more about listening than talking. Love you Jesus.

What God Said Tonight:

I saw your real struggle tonight and it is the struggle you have been wrestling with for awhile. It is the struggle of change. 

The only true and lasting change comes from me. You know this. But I will not make lasting change in someone's life unless they want it. That is why so many things can change but the people do not. 

I have created a universe that is in a constant state of change, but man, you, have free will and the ability to stop me from changing you, stop me from healing you. I have given you that power and that responsibility. I never meant for it to hurt you but many of my children who I love so dearly,  use it to keep me out. 

Use your free will to let me in. Let me change the things in you that you don't like. Let me in to heal what is broken and restore what was taken.