prayer

Our Plans…His Plan

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“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:21 NIV

The faith journey can feel like a repetitive cycle

We read God’s Word, we go to worship, we listen and learn

We believe we understand and will now go and live according to what we have learned…then as humans tend to do, we try to take control and go off our own way and end up frustrated and wonder what happened?

Then it’s back to God’s Word and going to worship and drawing closer to God

And then off the rails again and again…

How can this cycle be broken?

When we get to a point where we are about to take some form of action or control, we need to pause, step aside and pray about it

Ask God what do you want me to do here?

Ask Him to give you wisdom according to His plan and then wait, watch and listen

If we don’t we could end up spending a siginificant amount of our time on something God never intended for us to be doing

The only way to find out is between you and Him

Seek the will of the Lord for your life and live your best for Him

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

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

Praise Him

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“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.

3 For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
7 for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.”

Psalm 95:1-7 NIV

King Of Kings by Hillsong Worship

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“Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 150 NIV

(This photo was taken in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Encourage One Another

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“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV

Receive encouragement from the Holy Spirit and be renewed by spending time with God and reading God’s Word

God’s love is for all of us and we are created to love God and to love others

Let His love flow through you and be encouraging for others with your words and your actions

Encourage one another

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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 in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)

Be Different

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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

Father God, forgive me for the ways I have turned away from You physically, spiritually and emotionally

If You are not the center of my life, nothing else matters

Please lead me to live differently

Show me how to live a life that draws near to You and is devoted to honoring You and loving others

In Jesus name, Amen

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“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 12:2 NIV

(This photo was taken at Falls Park near Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

God’s Faithfulness

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“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

Father God, You make all things beautiful in their proper timing

Nothing is too hard for You to accomplish

You are faithful to keep Your promises

So often, we forget this and grow discouraged when our situations don’t seem to change

In those moments, it’s easy to forget that You are not done working

Through Your Holy Spirit, please change the way we think and behave

When we start to grow weary, help us remember that You are near and You are faithful

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

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

Guard Your Heart

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“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

We all face trials and struggles

The one thing we can control during these times and situations is how we choose to respond

Many of us quickly try to gain control and take charge, determined not to let the situation get the best of us…

Others do an about face and get away from the situation as quickly as they can

All of us can do better if we start with bringing the situation, the difficult time or difficult relationship to God first

We need to stop striving and trying to do things our own way…

Going into battle against darkness and evil without God is like a soldier heading into a battle without a weapon

If we turn towards God first, the more likely we will find peace and be able to overcome the troubles of life

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NIV

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

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

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)

Compassion

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“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100:5 NIV

To be helpful…thoughtful…aware of the suffering of others…a desire to provide help and support…understanding the needs of another

One of the strongest elements of humility is compassion

Being aware that others are suffering and need assistance and then going and doing something that provides help and support

We all have different roles in our relationships with others

Which means there are many different ways for us to provide help and support depending on who needs us and what has happened to them

When you know or get a sense inside you that you should do something for someone else but you are unsure what it is you should do, do not ignore that feeling

Turn to the Lord and ask Him to help guide you to what the other person needs…then listen and pay attention

Be careful not to do something you believe or think they need from your perspective…rather be sensitive and aware of what they say they need

Compassion does not have to be something difficult and complex in order to be helpful

Often times it is the simple and thoughtful things that make the biggest difference for others

May God’s grace and mercy flow through us and into our relationships

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken near the border between Minnesota and South Dakota)

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

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)

God Is Walking With You

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“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.“

Psalm 23:1-4 NIV

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV

The peace and comfort we seek from worldly values and other people will only be found in our relationship with God

Remember that God has said that in this world we will have trouble

Also remember He is walking with us through every moment of every day

He doesn’t take away the suffering

He gives us the strength and courage we need to go through it

Put your trust in Him and give Him the worries and burdens of each day

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“So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.“

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)