The journey...

My prayer:

Thank you God for your favor and for your blessing on my life. Today was a great day of completion. I should be happier about it but I kind of feel a bit numb. I thought when this day came, I would feel great relief. I don't really.

I find that is true of a lot of things in my life that I look forward to for a long time. Once they arrive, they are not nearly as exciting as I expected. Is that just me God? Am I missing out on something? And, if I am, can you help me change that?

I love you God and regardless of whether I feel it, I know in my head and my heart that I was tremendously blessed today and it is all because of you. Thank you.

What God Said Tonight:

Completion of a thing, good or bad, may be the goal but it is less important than the journey to get to it. Especially with those things that take time and patience, there is more in the time getting there than there is in the arrival.

I have taught you many things about trust and about provision in the last fifteen years. Those things are what matter and those things are what got you to today. Celebrate the learning, the growth, the love we have. Those are the real things worth celebrating.

I will always have a new goal for you. I will always have a bright horizon for you to aim for.  Celebrate the road there, along the way.

Weakness...

My prayer:

Well...I made it to Friday! Thank you God for your strength, your guidance and your help all week. I am so GRATEFUL that I have you to lean on.

For anyone who wants to say I use you as a crutch to lean on, I have one response. They are completely correct! Thank you God for being my crutch!

What God Said Tonight:

In your weakness, I am strong. It is  not just words my daughter, it is truth.

It is through your humility, your vulnerability, that I get to shine through most clearly. I came for my people who need me. If you didn't need me, I would not need to be here.

I am here for you, for my love of you. I am with and for you and I always will be.

Mistakes and miracles...

My prayer:

Errors and failure. I don't like them God. I know I am supposed to see them as opportunities for growth. I know it is not reasonable or even sane to expect to never make a mistake and to never fail. I know all of that in my head. But, when it comes down to it, I really hate it when I make a mistake and when I fail. I hate letting other people down. I hate looking and feeling stupid. I ESPECIALLY hate it when it is something that I knew better and went ahead and did it anyway.

OK, I think I got that out of my system. Thanks for listening. Thank you even more that you always forgive my mistakes and failures. Thank you most that you find some way to always work them for my good. Now that is a true miracle at work!

What God Said Tonight:

I have not seen a mistake.

I walk on he water, not to impress you but because I can. I calm the storm, not for your awe but for your benefit.

Fragile...

My prayer:

I am tired of trying to figure it all out God. Sometimes the more I seek answers, the more aware I am of how little I actually know.

Tonight I just want to hang out with you and listen to what you want to talk about.

What God Said Tonight:

Treat people with the gentleness that comes from understanding that they are always more fragile than  they seem. Just as you are.

Don't be fooled or put off by their tough exterior. Do not be frightened away by their anger. See it all for the protective coating that it is and have the patience and mercy to see through it.

Be patient. Be kind. Be loving.

Thanks for always being willing to try.

Following God's lead...

My prayer:

I am worn out God. Today was long and hard but I made it through. I am praying for rest and restoration tonight God.

What God Said Tonight:

There were things today that were on your heart to do that you did not do. Don't let the business of life get in the way of following my lead. 

I love you. I will always provide you the rest and the relief you need. I will also provide you the opportunities. Don't miss out on any of them.

You can do more with less when you have me working on your side. Don't ever forget. Don't compare yourself to others. What is reasonable for them may or may not be reasonable for you.

Follow my lead.

The environment for faith...

My prayer:

It has been a wonderful break and rest God. Tomorrow it is back to work and I will need your help, as always. I don't know what challenges await me tomorrow but I know that I can meet them all with you on my side.

I pray that you make me a blessing to everyone around me. I pray that you fill me with your grace for everyone around me. I pray that you fill me with your mercy for everyone around me. Help me God to be the best reflection of you love that I can be. And, I pray your protection over me throughout it all.

What God Said Tonight:

The faith in you is a seed planted long ago. It grows and reproduces as all good seeds will do. It matures and sprouts, all in good time.

However, the better the conditions, the faster and better it grows. If it gets enough light, if it gets enough water, if gets enough food, it will grow bigger and last longer than if one or more of those things are withheld.

Your faith is in you and it will grow. You get to choose how fast and how big it grows by the environment you surround it with.

The cherry tree...

My prayer:

Awesome God. I pray for healing tonight. But my prayer tonight is a little different than normal.

God, I ask you to heal us of the hurts and sicknesses that we can't even recognize within ourselves. There are some things that have damaged us so badly, for so long, that we don't even recognize that something is wrong and yet it affects us in every area of our lives.

So, I pray for your healing power to work in the areas of our lives that we cannot see need to be healed, in Jesus name.

What God Said Tonight:

It is like a fruit tree. When you look at a fruit tree, let's say a cherry tree, very little of the tree is actually the cherries, but the cherries are really the point and the purpose of the tree. Without the cherries, the tree would not need to exist. It would not be a cherry tree.

Similarly, your desire to be well and your wholeness is a very small part of your life but it is the purpose of it. Without your wholeness, you are not you.Your purpose is stolen.

I will see you made whole.