I believe that all of us need encouragement. I know I do. I am wondering today what is one area of your life where you need encouragement most? I have a reason for asking. First, I'd like to pray for you and at the end of this post, you can let me know how.
Second, I wanted to tell you about my sweet friend and P31 speaker LuAnn Prater and Carol Davis, 106.9 Radio Host, and their friends at Encouragement Cafe radio show who are hosting an event you don't want to miss! Here is an invitation from them to you:
"Gather with us on January 29-30 in Greensboro, NC as we seek a new level of passionate pursuit of God and the encouragement of our sisters who are walking along the same path. We don't just benefit from our relationships with other women, we need them.
Encouragement isn't just a nice idea given in the Bible, it's commanded; and it's vital to both the encourager and the encouraged! It's meant to be lived out in flesh and bone, and in spirit and truth; and we think it's time we took it to the extreme! All three general sessions will include powerful prayer and worship, along with lots of laughter, fun, and some surprises!
Our speakers will share from the deep places in their hearts about Absolute Boundless Abandon. We will seek to make deep connections as we share our dreams, tell our stories, dry each other's tears, and celebrate each others victories!"
This event is ONLY $119! And includes OVER-NIGHT STAY, ENTRANCE TO ALL CONFERENCE SESSIONS/ALL CONFERENCE MATERIAL, BREAKFAST & LUNCH ON SATURDAY!!! The bad news is...space is limited, so don't wait, register today.
You can register by visiting my sidebar or clicking here.
Okay, so what is one area of your life where you need encouragement most? Click on the word "comment" below and type in the white box. If you don't have a blog, just click anonymous. Please share your first name, though, so I can pray for you personally.
It's an honor to pray for you today.
Blessings,
Subscribe
15 comments:
I need encouragement in honoring and forgiving my husband for a past mistake and letting go of it so we can move forward. That has been so hard for me. It seems everyday little things remind me of it and i need prayer and encouragement to forgive as christ forgives me and move forward.
Anonymous,
How I understand your feelings. Let me pray for you.
Heavenly Father, I pray you will be with my friend, fill her heart with the Presence of Your Holy Spirit, wash over her from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. You know her hurt and understand the feelings harbored in her heart. You teach, no you command us, to forgive, Father, because it FREES us and leaves the consequences of the offense in Your Hands. In that, we are free to love and pray for the one who hurts us and free to hear your voice and receive your love and encouragement.
Lord, fill my friend with Your Love and change her heart. Give her a heart of obedience. Father, may she take the forgiveness You have extended to her and extend it to her husband. I pray the mind of Christ over her and the armor of God so that the evil one may not come in and "remind" her of her husband's past mistakes. I pray for her eyes to see her husband in light of the forgiveness she extends... that the old is gone and the new has come. I pray that each time she remembers, Lord, you will remind her that You command us to forgive and that blessings follow obedience.
I encourage you to go to the back of your Bible, find a few verses on forgiveness, personalize them, and memorize them. I promise you, God will change your heart!! I know. I had to learn to forgive the man who raped me and when I did my entire life changed!!
Here is a prayer you can pray from my book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner p. 191,
"Father, I know my unforgiving attitude toward my husband has grieved your heart. Forgive me for not extending grace and forgiveness the way You extended it to me. You know how he has hurt me. Father, I ask in the name of Your Son, Jesus, for the strength to forgive him. I leave all my pain and hurt at the foot of the cross, and I ask you to begin your healing work in my heart and mind. Take away my selfish thoughts and fill me with Your thoughts... pure, righteous, true, and praiseworthy thoughts. AMEN"
I need encouragement to just be still and be with God on a daily basis. I miss Him when I don't take the time to be in His word and just have conversation that also involves me just listening. I tend to do all the talking. I know He has much to say to my heart when I let Him. Thank you for a wonderful post and for praying for me.
blessings on your day.
This sounds wonderful, Wendy. Wish I could go, but we have plans that weekend. I can definitley pray for the event. I just love Carol in the mornings!! They are great! I'm happy that we get the 106.9 signal down here.
Love you!
Susan
Hi Wendy,
I need encouragement to see my adult children (Chris 27 and Jen 26 who live at home and truly dislike each other)through Jesus' eyes.I pray every day for their hearts to be transformed and for their salvation.I know God has a wonderful plan for them ,encourage me to totally let go and let God.I definitely know I can trust.Help me be an example of true love at home.
Thanks for your care
Susanx
Oh how we all need encouragement every day! Heb 3:13 tells us to encourage one another as long as it is today. It's so easy to get distracted or busy looking at our needs that we miss encouraging others.
A girl in my Bible study brought a copy of your new years prayer to everyone in our group...oh what an encouragement you are!
I will be speaking at a homeschool conference this weekend although it sounds wonderful.
Love,
sheri
I feel like I have been in the wilderness with the Israelites for the past few years, and now it seems like I am on the edge of the river. I need to put my feet in the water and then wait to see what God does, but it is scary to take the 1st step. I have a feeling that it will turn my life upside down. I need encouragement to take that step and know what that step should be.
Kate
I too need pray as I learn how to be still and listen to God! I know there is more in my life that I can do to become more like Jesus, but I have a hard time listening, to be obedient to Him and to study his word. I am on a mission to read the Bible in a year and today is the 15th and I am "right on target". I know there is more........I know he will let me know in "His" time. Thank you for all your wonderful posts and thank God for you!
Heavenly Father,
We thank You that You love us, Lord. Thank You that You draw us to Yourself through the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit. I lift up Kelly, Kate, Tammy, and Susan to you now. For Kelly, Kate, and Tammy, Father, I pray that You would open their schedules to spend time alone with You and in Your Word. I ask that as they sit at Your feet that You would give them eyes to see and ears to hear Your voice. May they hear a fresh Word from You as to direction in their lives. Give them the courage to be obedient to what they hear, Father. Honor Your Word that blessings follow obedience. May they see You at work in their hearts and lives in real and practical ways. Father fill them with Your Presence, show them You are at work right in their midst. Meet them in the dry and thirsty places and quench their thirst with Your Presence and the nourishment of Your Word. May it be as You promise... health to their body and healing to their bones.
Father, I pray for Susan. Lord, may she wholly trust in You for the lives and journeys of her children. Father, lead her as to what to pray for each of them. Speak to her as she digs into Your Word for them. Open doors for her to speak into their lives in loving and encouraging ways. Father, prepare their hearts to receive Your Truth. Let them see in her the JOY of salvation. Father, bring believers into their lives, those who they enjoy and respect, give them ears to hear what they speak. Father, Your Word says that You desire for each one to be saved and not one to be lost. We pray specifically for Chris and Jen by name that they would be the lost sheep that would be found. Father that their hearts will surrender totally to you...whatever it takes, Lord. Give them a love for you, for their parents, and for each other. Father, place a protective covering over Susan's home. We pray against the evil one and His guiles and schemes. We pray the armor of God over each one. Thank You, that their is complete victory in You. We claim that today for Susan and her family. Thank You, Lord that one day soon she will be able to say, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!!"
We ask all this in the powerful Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN!
Thankyou Wendy,
I appreciate your prayer for my children and home so much.
Lord, You say faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and I will build up my faith today by reading Your Word and acting upon it.
I cant wait for the day of 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"
Wendy your words mean a lot to me, as a beginner in my walk, you are a huge encourager as you make things very clear.
My prayers are with you and your family, that God knows what is needed for you and Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance- Jude 2
Susanx
Wendy,
You are such a beautiful example of how God works in and through a person who is willing to be used by Him.
I had the pleasure of being part of your book study this past year and I must say I have gleened so much from your story. Thank you for sharing your story and how the Lord is able to bring beauty from ashes.
I would like to just say that I feel at a crossroads of sort. Feeling that the Lord is calling me to step away from some things to open me up to other things. Its hard to explain- but I just want to be open to where he is leading me. Although I am easily confused and doubt ...wondering if I am doing the right thing. Most of my life I have been a captive to my fears and anxieties. I am learning little by little to not live in the "what-if" moments but trusting in Him to see me through each moment...each day.
One thing I know is that so far this year he has placed and incredible desire within me to get to know Him more intimately. I truly am enjoying my extra time with Him.
Once again, thank you for encouragement to those around you. I really wish I was closer to take part in the bible studies! Somehow the almost twelve hour drive makes it impossible-lol.
Have a wonderful weekend and praying that Lauren is feeling better each and every day.
Blessings,
Julie
Hi Wendy! Your are such a blessing and a double blessing for caring so much about us out here that you haven't even met.
I'm not sure if it's my artsy personality, or what, but I can get so many things going on in my head and know that God wants me to go forward with using my talents for him, but I need specific direction and a vision with steps attached. Did that make any sense at all? I loved, and I mean LOVED being a mother and raising our two daughters, but they left the nest about 5 yrs ago.:( I've always had a passion inside of me saying I was to do something more and I know God knows exactly what that is and when it should happen. I started my blog in August 2009 after feeling like God wanted me to use my gift of encouragement to help others. It's been such a blessing to me and I hope others. I also love to paint and create. Wish I could figure out how to do both of these together and honor the Lord that way. So if you would pray for me to have specific directions from the Lord for this path ahead and that I won't get myself in the way of hearing Him by becoming impatient, well I would really appreciate it. I am reading through the Chronological Bible for the first time this year with Wendy Pope and am loving reading the Bible in this way. Such blessings I'm recieving from it.
Sorry I babbled on and on. Thank you Wendy!
Lee Ann
Father, I lift up Julie to you. Your Word promises that when we seek You with all our heart, we will find You. Julie has a hunger deep in her soul to hear Your voice, so we boldly ask that You would speak into her heart and into her circumstances, Lord. Give her direction. Father open doors and close doors as Your Spirit leads. Your Word says that we make our plans but You direct our steps. Lord, please direct her steps. Guide her into places that will enable her to do Your Kingdom work. Father, in all she does as Your humble servant, enable her to do it as if doing it all unto You. Father, grow her in wisdom, and stature, and favor with You and with man as she moves forward. Place Your Hand upon her and be with her every step of the way. May she truly sense Your presence and Your approval. We ask all this in Jesus' name. AMEN.
Heavenly Father, Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift, You have gifted Lee Ann with creativeness as well as encouragement. Your Word says that You equip us for good works that You created in advance for us to do. You tell us that You have a plan and purpose for our lives. She so desires to serve You with her gifts and talents, Lord. Give her a vision to see where it is You are calling her to use these gifts. Father, put people across her path and open doors. Make it ever so clear how Lee Ann can use her gifts to advance Your kingdom. Father, open the eyes of her heart as she reads Your Word to hear Your voice and discern Your direction. Use her Lord to bring Your Light and Your Joy to Your Kingdom. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit may she shine brightly like the stars in the sky as she seeks to serve You with her gifts and talents. Bless the work of her hands, Lord. We thank You in advance for all You will do. In Jesus Name, AMEN.
Thank you so much for praying for me Wendy! May God continue to bless your Big Heart for Him.
Lee Ann
Post a Comment