Thankful Thursdays: My thoughts on the power of prayer

It's Thursday and I'm thankful for the power of prayer!

Earlier today, I prayed for a woman in the parking lot of the grocery store. She asked me for money and shared her story of hardship. I told her that I didn't have money to give but I could pray for her. So then and there, I placed a hand on her shoulder, we both bowed our heads and I prayed. I asked God to send her people who could help her and to help her and her family through this tough time.

Hours later, I've already forgotten her name but I know that God knows her name and He heard my prayers for her and He'll answer those prayers according to His will because God loves ALL of His children so I am certain He will send help.

This Thursday, I'm doing something different with my routine "Thankful Thursdays" post. I'm going to share a video of a sermon by Dr. Tony Evans. The sermon is titled, "Prayer That Works." After you watch his message, I ask that you please pray for him and his wife Lois. She is battling a rare form of cancer. You can learn more about her situation by reading this article (click here).

I believe in the power of prayer and I believe that God always answers every prayer that we pray to Him. God's Word (The Holy Bible) advises us in Hebrews 4:16 (KJV), "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Read more Bible verses about the power of prayer by clicking here.

As promised, you can watch the sermon by Dr. Tony Evans by pressing the play button on the video below. 

Be encouraged, friends! God loves you!

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of "God is Love" blog

Devotionals for the Heart: Jo's story about God's Healing Power

Equipment for Valley Travel
by Jo Huddleston

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27).

My bedside vigil stretched into days as I watched meningitis suck precious life from the still form of my college-age child. Sunday afternoon I sat alone with my daughter, watching the disease apparently winning its battle. Gone were the twinkle in her eyes and the ready smile on her lips. The nurse had just left, the same one who had been coming in every 15 minutes to take vital signs. Pained and discouraged, I watched when she recorded on her chart a blood pressure reading only half what it should be.

Alone again in the hospital room, each of us experienced our own unique agony. Lying curled in a fetal position, my daughter moved only her eyes. With them almost swollen shut, she looked up at me through her consuming torture. "Mother, this may be my time to die," she whispered. No panic or fear registered in her words or in her fevered eyes.

The same thought had been silently hammering inside my mind all afternoon. Holding her limp hand in mine, I leaned closer and said quietly, "Darling, it may be." She shared a labored smile with me and slowly closed her eyes.

Amazingly, I did not curse God or offer him any arguments or attempt to bargain with Him to spare her life. I knew without doubt that my daughter believed in God's Son and trusted Him for her salvation and eternal life.

As precious minutes slipped away in that lonely hospital room, I trusted God for his comfort and everlasting strength to support me (Isaiah 26:4). I rested in the assurance that my daughter also claimed these same promises. I saw peace on her swollen face when she closed her eyes. We both accepted God's will.

Our pastor and his wife came by after evening church services. They barely concealed their shock at seeing my daughter’s hands and face twice their normal size. After speaking encouragement to her, they prayed with us in that still, quiet hospital room.

Looking back, I can only believe the Holy Spirit influenced every medical move my daughter's doctors and nurses made. The next day, her health made an unbelievable change for the better. Since she was fully recovered by Wednesday morning, the doctors released her from their care.

On Wednesday evening when our pastor found my daughter's hospital bed empty, he asked about her at the nurses’ station. Later he told us how much the nurses had marveled about her unexplainable recovery. "It's just a miracle that she survived," one nurse told him. We all smile now, knowing what absolute truth that nurse spoke.

Does a Christian experience valleys between the mountaintop experiences? Yes. Those trying days when it was evident I might outlive my daughter was one of the deepest valleys I’ve traveled. God promises His buffering strength and calming peace for valley travel. We can always cling to His promises, "For he himself is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14).

~*~
Author Bio: Jo Huddleston is a multi-published author who writes novels inspired by her fascination with the 1950s and her love of her native American South. 

Novels in her endearing Caney Creek series, her West Virginia Mountains series, as well as her stand-alone release, Tidewater Summer, are sweet Southern romance novels. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the Literary Hall of Fame at Lincoln Memorial University (TN), and holds an M.Ed. degree from Mississippi State University. 

Visit Jo at www.johuddleston.com. 

Devotionals for the Heart: Life Lessons and A Reason to Rejoice

Rejoicing in the Lord Always
A devotional by Melissa Henderson

“Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say Rejoice.” ~Philippians 4:4 KJV

Rejoicing during difficult times can often be stressful. How can we rejoice when bills are overdue, our health is in jeopardy, the news is filled with scary information and we are not sure what will happen next?

God gives us a spirit of power and love and of sound mind. Anxiety and fear do not come from the Lord. So what do we do when troubled times enter our lives?

We pray. We talk with God, sharing our hopes and fears with Him. He already knows what we are thinking. He wants us to come to Him. He is waiting with open arms.

Recently, my husband and I moved from Virginia to South Carolina. We prayed and asked God to give us the wisdom, discernment and revelation as to what He wanted us to do about the move.

Yes, we had our times of uncertainty and fear. Yet, each time we paused and prayed, God gave us a feeling of calm and comfort.

Remembering to praise Him and to Rejoice in Him each and every day made our move easier. Even with road bumps along the way, we know God is with us and we will “Rejoice” again and again. He is in charge and He has a plan for our lives.

Have you thanked God for His blessings? Have you Rejoiced in His love and mercies today? Share time with God and you will be refreshed as you Rejoice.

~*~
Author Bio:

Melissa Henderson and her husband Alan live in South Carolina. Married for over 38 years, they have one son (Mike) who is married to daughter-in-love (Christine) and now are blessed by precious grandson (Rowan). 

Melissa was taught the love of reading and writing at an early age from her parents. She is now working on her first inspirational fiction novel. 

Her passions are volunteering, Bible Studies and reading and writing. 

Connect with Melissa online, https://mimionlife.wordpress.com.

Learning to Forgive

31 Days of Prayer: A song from Scripture

Sometimes, all you need is a prayer.

A friend prayed with me today and I'm glad she did because it was a much needed reminder for me to stay close to God no matter what life brings me.

She reminded me of a song that I played a lot when I was in college. It's a beautiful song from the Bible book of Psalm, chapter 64. I've posted the song performed by Smokie Norful above this text. I hope you will listen to it and be spiritual refreshed.

Sometimes all it takes is a song about prayer and drawing close to God to usher you into the presence of the Eternal King. After finding this song on YouTube and playing it over and over, I can feel my worries subside and I can sense that everything will be okay even when I feel it is not. And I pray the same for you. I pray that God will enrich your life with His presence, fill your heart with His love, envelope your home with His peace and your life with his joy.

In closing, here's a picture and a prayer for you:

Thankful Thursday: Calling Heaven via Prayer

It's Thursday and I'm thankful for the opportunity to talk to God through His direct line, prayer.

And there you go, a Thankful Thursday post completed in one sentence. :) Really,there's not much more to say. But to elaborate on the concept of calling heaven via prayer...

I am grateful how God can hear ALL of our prayers from ALL of His people around the entire world at the SAME TIME and yet He knows how to spend individual time and answer each prayer personally. Only God can do that you know. I was reminded of God's awesomeness on this topic today when my mom and grandma were trying to talk to me at the EXACT SAME TIME-- my grandma was on the phone and my mom was in the next room. It was very frustrating and I told them both, "Do you realize you're BOTH trying to TALK to ME at the SAME TIME?! I can only hear you ONE AT A TIME!" And then it hit me, Aren't I glad God can hear me and over a billion other people vying for His attention at the same time? And He'll never get frustrated like I did because well He's GOD and He's got this all worked out!

God never ceases to amaze me...not only does He hear my prayers and ALL prayers from people EVERYWHERE in the world, but He works it so I feel like I'm the only one talking to Him and He makes it so when He answers my prayers, it feels like He knew just what I needed, and gave it to me exactly when I need it. I do believe in the Education career world, they call that "differentiating instruction." :)

So dear hearts, today I encourage you to try this amazing channel of communication which connects the imperfect (you, me, all human beings in general) with the ETERNAL Living God. PRAYER is the channel of the communication that connects us to God who loves us with ALL of His divine heart! :)

If you've never prayed before and are wondering how, I would like to tell you it's just like talking to a dear friend or family member but with due respect and I say "due respect" because you are talking to the Creator of the Universe. You are not alone if you've never prayed before and are wondering how, just read the Bible book of Matthew, Chapter 6 when someone asked Jesus Christ how do they pray to God the Father. Jesus said,“This, then, is how you should pray: “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. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one". And I say you might want to end your prayer with (as I was taught in church), "For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory forever. In Jesus' Name I Pray, Amen."

Now that you know how to pray, go ahead and call heaven. God's prayer line is open to receive calls all day/night from now until eternity. :)

God bless you!

Sincerely,

Alexis