prayer

Put Your Trust In God

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“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”

Psalm 143:8 NIV

What do you put your trust in?

Who do you believe is trustworthy?

Take a moment and think about it

The dictionary states trust is – firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something

So, who or what in your life do you trust?

The world is filled with deception, selfishness, lying, cheating, etc… these things were brought into the world by the human race

There is still hope…there is One who is worthy of trust

There is One who is reliable, who is the truth, who has the ability and the strength and He is the One who sacrificed himself to save us…Jesus Christ

He is a Light in the darkness, turn to Jesus and put your trust in God

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]“

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling through North Dakota)

He Knows My Name

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“But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1 NIV

God knows you

He created you and He wants to have a close relationship with you

Do not let the world define your value

You are God’s child…He sent His only Son down from heaven to save you from sin and evil

He is waiting to hear from you

Turn towards Jesus Christ in prayer today…He is with you, He loves you and He knows what you are facing each day

He Knows My Name by Francesca Battistelli

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“You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.“

Psalm 139:1-4 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Prayer

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“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14 NIV

When we have wandered off…messed things up…did things our own way and are feeling scattered and confused

The first step to reconnecting with God is to pray

When things are going well and we have a sense of courage and confidence…the first step of gratitude is a prayer of thanks to God

If we strive to make prayer a priority, we can move from reacting in prayer to proactively praying about each day and the events and issues we are facing every day

The more we pray the more our relationship with God will grow and the better equipped we will be for the journey

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“

Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

(This photo was taken on the north shore of Maui, Hawaii)

Trust In The Lord

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“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

When you are facing trouble in this world…and it seems like everything you try to do is failing

Pray and wait for the Lord

When you don’t know what to do next

Pray and trust in the Lord

Do something good and wait patiently for God and His will

Trust is hard, especially when we have put our trust in things that have let us down in the past

We can trust in the Lord

He keeps His promises…He always has and He always will

He is with you and He will never leave you

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4 NIV

(This photo was taken in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Perseverance

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“Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:3-5 NIV

When the world knocks you down, don’t stay down

Get up, stand up with your faith

Be strong and courageous because you know that Jesus Christ has already won victory for us

Perseverance is about your faith being greater than your fear!

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2-4 NIV

(This photo was taken while standing on a covered bridge near Winterset, Iowa)

The Truth

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

The Truth is what God says it is…

You Say by Lauren Daigle

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“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 NIV

(This photo was taken in at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Treasures

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“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Matthew 6:19-20 NIV

What gets your attention quickly?

What is it that gets your heart pumping and your blood flowing faster?

What is it in your life that you have passion towards?

These are hints of your treasures

We all have something that drives to the heart of us…as we continue to grow on our faith journey the treasures tend to change

As knowledge and time spent on growing our relationship with Jesus Christ increases we begin to get a better understanding of the value of relationships

We also can begin to clearly see that the stuff and the things we have worried about in the past may have been foolish worries

We are humbled to learn that God in heaven knows us, loves us and forgives us and the things He has planned for us involve far greater treasures than those the world offers us

May the awe and wonder of our God be with you

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“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:21 NIV

(This photo was taken near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Wisdom And Understanding

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.“

Proverbs 9:10 NIV

“How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight rather than silver!“

Proverbs 16:16 NIV

Often times the writings in the Bible can be misunderstood because the true intent of the word has lost its meaning in society

  Take the word ‘fear’ as an example…in today’s world this strictly means to be afraid, danger or a bad feeling

In the Bible to fear the Lord is to regard God with reverence and awe, to be respectful

When we learn we gain wisdom and when we understand the writing becomes clearer

We would be wise to seek wisdom and to get understanding from God, not the world

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
    To him belongs eternal praise.“

Psalm 111:10 NIV

(This photo was taken on the shore on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

A Better Way

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“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

1 John 2:15-17 NIV

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

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“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:9-13 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in northern Colorado)

Strength From God

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“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.“

Philippians 4:12-13 NIV

When whatever you are facing feels too hard and overwhelming

Whether it is a difficult task or person

Remember your ability to move forward is not found in you

God knows all about you and your life

Seek Him and His Kingdom

He will guide you and lead you

Nothing is impossible with God

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“Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Isaiah 40:28-29 NIV

(This photo was taken near Arches National Park in Utah)