The Lord's Prayer - Part 2

Last week we took a deeper look into The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Today we will examine the last few verses of this beautiful prayer.

Before I begin, I want to let you know that on Wednesday, November 4th, Proverbs will run my devotional for the month of November. It was an extremely hard devotional to write, and I am still in the midst of the struggle with my Lord...praying daily to trust Him in the midst of seemingly unanswered prayer...trusting He knows what is best. Wednesday, I will be giving away a few resources that have encouraged me through this journey, so please share this devotional with your friends, especially those who may be struggling through a tough place with God. Invite them to visit the Proverbs web site to read the devotional and to stop by here and share their journey, their questions, their doubts, and their prayers. My heart is trusting that through the comments women leave, we will all experience God's promise from 2 Corinthians 1, which says,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

As I pondered this verse, the Lord took me back to the Gospels. Each one vividly portrays the tremendous humiliation and physical suffering Jesus endured. He received thirty-nine (a scourging) lashes at the hands of Roman soldiers. Following the scourging, the soldiers stripped Him and draped Him in a scarlet robe. They twisted together a crown of thorns and forced it onto Jesus' head. Mocking Him every step of the way, the soldiers placed a staff in His hand and knelt before Him, calling "Hail, King of the Jews." Surrounding Him, they spit on Him and repeatedly struck Him with a staff. When Jesus was so weak He could barely stand, the soldiers ordered the Savior of the world to carry His own cross as they led Him to certain death. Upon reaching Calvary, the soldiers forced Jesus down on the cross and, stretching out His arms on the cross beam, drove nails into His hands and feet. His blood poured out.

The TRUTH behind these verses pierced my soul. Jesus did this for me!! Jesus did this for you!! A deep sense of sadness and gratitude washed over me. Jesus, who never sinned, who never told a lie (1 Peter 2:22), suffered physical and emotional torment for our sins that was beyond human comprehension. Moreover, as the prophet Isaiah explained, "Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him." (Isaiah 53:10a). God planned for Jesus to suffer and die on that cross before the creation of the world. God poured out His wrath for me and for you on His own Son.

Then when Jesus' tortured body and His crushed spirit could stand it no more, Jesus cried out, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). What a beautiful act of submission to the will of His father. In Hebrews it says Christ "learned suffering" (Hebrews 5:8). Jesus submitted, knowing his obedience meant death and separation from His Father for the first time in history.

Jesus' next words penetrated my heart. Jesus prayed from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34). Jesus asked His Father to forgive the very men who had mocked Him, tortured Him, and finally murdered Him.

The question before us is this: If Jesus died to forgive our sins - if He asked His Father to forgive the men who nailed Him to the cross - what right do we have to withhold forgiveness from anyone. For me specifically, years ago, I had to ask myself, what right did I have to withhold forgiveness from the man who raped me?

Friends, no matter what we are harboring unforgiveness for in our hearts, Jesus, our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer, our Salvation, not only asks, but set the model for, us to forgive others as freely as we have been forgiven. Scripture makes it VERY clear that to receive forgiveness we must forgive others. Mark 11:25 says, "But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too."

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Finally, Jesus directs us to ask God for protection from temptation and for deliverance from the deception of Satan, the father of lies. Scripture tells us that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour all that is God's and all that is good. Only in God's power, the power of His Holy Spirit, can we successfully battle Satan and the many temptations and deceptions he throws our way. Pray in Jesus' name for the strength to resist everything that exalts itself against the will and authority of God in your life.

Friends, I want you to KNOW and BELIEVE with all your heart that the Lord's Prayer is as relevant for your lives today as it was when Jesus uttered the words to His disciples over two thousand years ago. I encourage you to learn this prayer and make it your own!!

Love you and so thankful for you!

The Lord's Prayer - Part 1

On my heart today is prayer. A simple word, yet a word that oftentimes instills questions, intimidation, and even fear in God's people, especially when asked to pray out loud.

Jesus knew we would struggle with the concept of prayer, so He gave His disciples...and us... a model for prayer, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer.

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:9-13.

This, sweet friends, is simply a recipe for prayer. I love to cook. When attempting a recipe for the first time, I follow it exactly and gather all necessary ingredients. As I grow more comfortable with the dish, I may add more of this, less of that, or even add new ingredients to suit my taste.

So it was with the Lord's Prayer. When I first began to pray, I followed Jesus' recipe.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

Hallowed
derives from the Greek word hagiazo, which means "to make holy, to make a person or thing the opposite of common." The Lord's Prayer taught me to begin my prayers with praise, praising God for His love, His grace, His mercy, His power, His Presence, and His sovereignty. Often we forget how much we have to be thankful for in having a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe and the Savior of the world until we focus our hearts on praising Him.

Thy kingdom come thy will be done.

Jesus' words direct us to ask for God's will , not our own, to be done in our lives. This is the hardest part of prayer, and the one I struggle most to understand. Jesus sets the example for us. When speaking to His disciples, Jesus continually told them that it was not His will but His Father's will that motivated all He did. Listen to Jesus' prayer in the garden of Gethsemene: "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine" (Matthew 26:39). Again in John 5:30, Jesus says, "I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the One who sent me, not my own will"(NLT). Scripture is clear. We must surrender our agendas to God's agenda, even when we do not understand or even see it.

Give us our daily bread.

What does Jesus mean by daily bread? He is referring to our daily needs. Listen to this excerpt from a prayer in Proverbs 30:7-9: "Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die...give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." God knows that when we seek after too much or have too many riches, we may become proud and forget that He is the giver of every good and perfect gift we have. Moses warned the Israelites:

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God....Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God...You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 17-18.

God cares about our everyday events in our lives and wants us to come to Him with all our needs. But we must to be sure that we are not coming to Him with all our greeds. Asking Him for our daily bread, keeps our hearts centered on Him and His provision.

In my next post, I will visit the last few verses of the Lord's Prayer. Until then, let's end our time together with praise to our God, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords...let us capture the magnificence of our God....

How great are You, Lord, worthy of glory, worthy of honor and praise. We lift Your Name this day, Lord, as the One who is our All in All, the One and Only True God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever!! You are the Lamb of God, the Bread of Life, Living Water to quench our thirsty souls. You are the Lion of Judah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You are our Savior, our Redeemer, the Rebuilder of broken hearts. You are Faithful and True. You are the Rock of our Salvation, the Wisdom of the Ages. You are the Truth on which we stand. Father, as we kneel before You, the Creator of all things, seen and unseen, we lift our faces toward Your heavens and tremble in awe that You know our names, know our hearts,and desire a personal intimate relationship with us. Father, know we are so thankful for You, for Your Son, for the gift of Your written Word, for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, and for the gift of prayer. Father, teach us to pray in a way that draws us closer to Your heart, open our ears to listen and our hearts to receive all You have for us today. We love you and ask this all in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN

"Taming Our Tongue"

First, I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts on my "birthday" post. Your words as always are such an encouragement. The winner of a copy of my book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner, is Anonymous who posted on October 15th at 6:05 p.m. Congratulations!! Please e-mail me at spkrcoord@proverbs31.org and leave me your e-mail address and home address.

Every other Friday in Charlotte, I teach Living Truth Bible Study. We have over 80 amazing women who gather together to study God's Word and enjoy great fellowship. This semester we are studying the Book of Proverbs, and this week we are studying our speech. WOW!!! What is that saying??? Be careful what you teach!!!

Is the Lord ever dealing with me on this subject. Guess He wants to be sure that I LIVE WHAT I TEACH. Below are some verses God used to convict my heart. Wanted to share them with you today and pray the Lord will use them to speak to yours as well.

Let your conversation always be full of grace. (Colossians 4:6)

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)

When words are many, sin is not absent, but she who holds her tongue is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)

She who guards her mouth and her tongue keeps herself from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)

Often, we spew forth words that erupt out of frustrated, hurt, angry, or disappointed hearts. We don't think before we speak. Our emotions rule our tongue. At times, those words can be very destructive, and the hurt they cause difficult to take back. They pierce another's soul to the very core.

God's Word gives us guidance, direction, and warnings about our speech. Before we ever open our mouths, even in the heat of the moment, we need to check our words. We need to ask ourselves:

"Is this something I really need to say?"

"What is my motive in saying this?"

"Am I saying this to make a point, to get even, to hurt back, or to make myself feel better?"

"Are my words meant to hurt or to heal?"

"How will my words reflect my God and my walk and witness with Him?"

"Will my words draw someone closer to God or further away?"

"Will my words drive a wedge between us or bring us closer together?"

Friends, we must cultivate a habit of speaking that which is God-honoring and God-glorifying. It is not easy.

Solution:

Identify your tongue issue (critical, defensive, prideful, cutting, sarcastic)and prayerfully surrender it to the Lord.

Memorize a few Scriptures that get to the heart of your tongue issue.

Invite the Lord into your every conversation. Ask His Holy Spirit to convict you of your tongue.

Replace any harsh words that come to mind with one of your memory verses.

Celebrate when you overcome the temptation to speak harshly.

Humbly ask immediate forgiveness when you fail.

I read somewhere that Kay Arthur says to always consider:

What you say,

When you say it,

How you say it, and

To Whom you say it.

And, I would add, SHOULD you say it.

Here are a few more verses from Proverbs. If you have a few minutes during your quiet time, I encourage you to look them up.

Proverbs 10:11

Proverbs 15:1

Proverbs 16:24

Heavenly, Father, thank You for giving us the gift of Your Word. As we seek to honor and glorify You in our speech, please hide these verses from Your Word in our hearts. Father, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, teach and remind us of Your Truths. Convict our hearts, hold our tongues, put a guard at our mouths. May we be men and women who bring glory to you in every conversation...even in the most difficult of battles at home, at work, and at school. Humble our hearts; let our words be unifying and healing; enable us to be peace-makers. We ask all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

Sweet Blessings to You,

Wendy

THANKFUL FOR TODAY.....GIVEAWAY

Despite the fact that birthdays mean we are another year older, I do love birthdays. They often bring us to a place of reflection. For some reason, this has been for me a particularly reflective birthday. As part of this reflection time, God has laid on my heart this day to give away a copy of my book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner . Details are at the bottom of my post.

There were many years following my rape that I did not want to live to see my next birthday. Life was just too hard.

BUT GOD!!! His Love and His Word penetrated my heart, healed my soul, and changed my life forever. As I reflect back, I am amazed at how far God has brought me since those dark days of living in a prison of fear and despair. I can now count so many blessings that I never saw through the prison bars.

Yes, it is easy for me to thank God today. Life is good. But I am reminded as I sit with God in His Word today that we are to give thanks in ALL circumstances.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems you life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.. Psalm 103:2

O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever. Psalm 30:12

Yes, these words tell us IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCE give thanks, FOR EVERYTHING give thanks, FOREVER give thanks. The emphasis is on time - give thanks all the time, everywhere, NO MATTER WHAT. ALWAYS, UNCEASINGLY, CONTINUALLY.

Give thanks in good times and in bad...in comfort and affliction. How, Lord, how can you ask this when someone loses a spouse or a child, when someone is the victim of a horrific crime, when someone loses a job??

Our God can ask this because He is a GREAT GOD who loves us passionately with a love that is never-ending. He has given us His Word full of promises that, when believed, claimed, and prayed enable us to be thankful in all circumstances.

One verse in particular, Romans 8:28 says,

And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

I KNOW the Truth of this verse. These words mean that ALL things we endure - even the most painful and difficult of circumstances - fit into God's plan. We may not understand or see it at the time...or ever. But we can trust the Word of our God. A heart of thanksgiving in the midst of these trials recognizes God is in control and TRUSTS Him in the midst.

It is KNOWING and BELIEVING Romans 8:28 that makes living the thankfulness verses possible. We can thank God for everything because we know in all things God works together for our good.

If the Lord brought you here today, I believe it is a divine appointment...a fresh Word He has for you today. He intended these words for you. I pray that He will take His Word and plant it deep in your heart.

If today finds you in a crisis of faith or a struggle so deep you feel as if you cannot escape, I encourage you to read my story. I am a rape survivor, and my book Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner. shares how God took me from victim to victor. You can find it at Amazon or Proverbs 31.

I would like to give a copy of Hidden Joy away. The Lord has burdened my heart that there is a woman out there who needs to know the Truths we have talked about today. Please share my post and this giveaway with your friends. Leave a comment and invite your friends to leave a comment, and I will prayerfully select a winner on Monday. God brought to mind Romans 10:17 as we close

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.

Are You Believing the Lies - Final Chapter

I have missed blogging this past week...missed you, my bloggy friends...the words of wisdom you share and the encouragement you give. It made me realize how much a part of my life you have become!

Today, I end my time on this topic by examining who we are Christ. I begin today with God's Word...Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We, as believers in Jesus, are God' workmanship. In Greek, workmanship as used here means "work of art, a work done with extraordinary skill; a supreme achievement." We are a work completely created and fashioned by the very Hand of God.

What does this mean? It means that we are not created to squeeze into a fabricated mold...not made to look like the girl on the cover of a magazine. God created us with the express desire that we journey through life with our eyes fixed on Him. It is in this posture that we will discover who we are in Him...our unique gifts and talents...our specific calling...our purpose on this earth.

When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, all that defined you before life in Christ...worry, fear, doubt, despair, impatience, anger, unforgiveness, shame, guilt, inability to love...is gone!!! You are a new creation. Hear me loud and clear, sweet friends, it does not mean you will never struggle again, never hurt again, never be angry again, never fear again. But it does mean that you have a strength outside yourself to overcome who you once were. You live in the strength and power of God's Holy Spirit who lives within your heart.

So if you meet me today here feeling like a failure as a wife, as a mother, as a daughter, as a friend...feeling like you are not who you want to be...let the cry of your heart be known to your Father in heaven. He is waiting with open arms to meet you right now, to forgive you, to hold you, to teach you, to mold you, and to change you.

Do you know that in Christ you are Holy?

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21.

When you unite your heart with Christ, you are made Holy, meaning you are set apart from the rest of the culture. You are no longer ordinary for common use...no longer made to "fit in." You are extraordinary, set apart by God for a sacred purpose, a purpose God had in mind for you since the foundation of the world.

This is a FACT!! It is done the moment you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Do you also know that in Christ you have strength and beauty?

Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants and our daughters will be like pillars, carved to adorn a palace.

I think it so interesting Scripture compares us to pillars. Pillar comes from the Hebrew word "omenoth," which comes from the root word meaning "to stand firm, to stand immovable." In a building, a pillar is a prominent support, the ultimate stay of the building. That is who God calls us to be...in our homes, in our families, and in our culture.

Yet, the verse elaborates further and says, carved to adorn a palace. Ornate pillars give a building its uniqueness; they grace it with beauty and charm. On our trip to Washington D.C., I remember standing in awe as I stood at the foot of so many historical buildings - the United States Supreme Court, the Capitol, the White House, and the Lincoln Memorial. Incredible structures, strong yet beautiful. They grace the city...leave a legacy for all time...a reminder of things past and the hope of things to come.

Sweet friends, that is who we are in God's Kingdom. We are strong. We are essential for the perpetuation of His Kingdom on this earth. He created us to bring strength, beauty, hope, love, and grace to His World.

And what is so important to remember is that sometimes the more carved and ornate the pillar, the more time and labor it took the artist to create it. So it is with us, sometimes the deeper our pain, the longer our suffering, the more beautiful we are and the more useful we are to God because He uses our pain for His glory.

These TRUTHS changed my life. And my prayer is that after reading these posts, after spending time with these Scriptures, you will no longer see yourself as the world defines you but you will see yourself as God sees you. I pray that you will know how strong, how beautiful, and how useful you are to God's Kingdom.

Below are some truths I encourage you to memorize. Knowing and believing these Truths is essential to becoming a woman of strength and beauty, one who teaches others, influences others, leads others, and loves others.

You are Forgiven

You are Loved

You are Holy

You are Set Apart

You are Beautiful

You are Made with a Purpose

You are the Temple of the Holy Spirit

God calls you to an extraordinary life!!! When you pull back your sheets tonight and crawl into your comfortable bed, read these words, pray the prayer I have written below, and never forget who you are in Christ!

Father, I praise you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank You that I am Your workmanship and that You have a royal call on my life. Please grant me wisdom and discernment as I walk my journey with You. Help me to discover the woman You have created me to be. Father, may I know deep in my heart that I am holy, created in Your image, and set apart for Your purpose. Open my eyes to see my true beauty, a beauty that reflects You, Your heart, Your character. Plant Your truths deep in my heart. May I be an influence on the culture around me. Protect me from being influenced by the lies and temptations of that culture. Surround me with godly friends and mentors. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and bless me all the days of my life. I ask all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus. AMEN.

And the Winner Is......

Hi bloggy friends,

This past week has been filled with speaking, studying, hosting a Cool Mom Boutique Show (coolest, cutest clothes), helping with Lauren's Homecoming activities, and so much more that I have not had time to post. I have missed writing and missed hearing from you. I hope to write again this weekend, but I do want to announce the winner of Karen Ehman's book.

THE WINNER IS KELLY WHO POSTED AT 10:58 ON SEPTEMBER 30TH

Congratulations, Kelly!!! And thank you, Karen, for sharing such great wisdom with us. Kelly, please e-mail me at spkrcoord@proverbs31.org and send me your mailing address to pass on to Karen?

Blessings,

Wendy