prayer

Seek Him First

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“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33 NIV

Jesus Christ…He sacrificed Himself to save you

No matter what has happened in your life, no matter what you have done or left undone

He is waiting for you with open arms…to forgive you and restore you

He is ready to do that for you and for others in your life because He loves you and He loves them too

Jesus Christ is the way…He is the only way to fellowship with God

The Way by Housefires

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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

(This photo was taken near Glacier National Park in Montana)

Light Of The World

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“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NIV

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV

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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.”

John 1:1-5 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Trust…With God Anything Is Possible

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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

Father God, I believe in You

No matter what happens or what my circumstances, I believe that You have overcome the world

You are my constant source of peace

I know anything is possible for You, just by looking at Jesus, His birth, His teachings, His death and His resurrection

I praise You because You are the One in whom I can trust

Thank You for sending Jesus and for saving us

I know You are in control and that with You anything is possible

In Jesus name, Amen

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Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 NIV

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

Be Thankful

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“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

What are you thankful for today?

How often are we able to see something to be thankful for during difficult times?

It is not easy…yet it is a choice

An attitude of gratitude may not come naturally to us but we should strive for it

It can make such a big difference in our lives and the lives of others

We don’t have to do it alone

Start by thanking God for Jesus Christ and what He did for you at the Cross and see where you can go from there

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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling through North Dakota)

Christ-Centered Humility

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“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV

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

Lord Jesus, You showed us what true humility should look like

Thank You for Your kindness and grace toward us

Please show us how to have the same attitude toward others that You had toward us

Teach us to love others unconditionally and sacrificially…for Your glory, and their good

In Your Holy Name, Amen

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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

(This photo was taken at a park in Winterset, Iowa)

Pray…Find Peace

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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

Prayer is available to us anytime, anywhere

It is not a wishing well, rather it is a foundational element in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ

It is about communication with God about all things, good and bad

It is listening, sharing your joys and your worries and most importantly, it is your path to peace

Peace Be Still by Hope Darst

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:12-15 NIV

(This photo was taken in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Worship And Praise

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“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

John 4:23-24 NIV

Father God, we want to honor, worship and praise You

So often, we fear people and circumstances more than we love You

Remind us that You are greater than any situation or person we encounter

You alone are worthy of our worship and praise

Help us put You first in everything

Remove any distractions or fears that hinder us and keep us focused on You

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 150:6 NIV

(This photo was taken near the Black Hills in western South Dakota)

To Know Him vs To Know About Him

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“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:7-8 NIV

Each of us needs to ask ourselves…

Do I truly know Jesus or do I just know about Him?

There is a significant difference

To know that He lived and the things that He did and even the things He said is to know about Him

To know Him is to meet with Him daily and communicate with Him all the time

To know Him is to ask Him questions and express your true feelings to Him

To know Him is to do what He did in your relationships with others

To know Him is to take up your cross and follow Him

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“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” 

Matthew 16:24-24 NIV

(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota)

Perspective

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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

Father God, I am Your child

Thank You for adopting me into Your eternal family

Please shape my heart

Teach me how to act in a way that honors You in my daily life and circumstances

Help me correct my thoughts and perspective along with any patterns of behavior in my life that displease You

Replace these things with characteristics that show how much I love You

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

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

Humility In Relationships

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“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[a]

1 Peter 5:5 NIV

Father God, You invite us into a peaceful relationship with You where we can be fully known and loved

  You also invite us to pursue peace with others around us

  Please help us to appraoch our relationships with humility, grace and wisdom

Grant us knowledge to recognize when we should speak and when we should listen as we pursue peace

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:1-4 NIV

(This photo was taken at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)