Advent 2023

Advent 2023

Prayer Point 147 - December 4, 2023

“Heavenly Father, draw me closer to Christ, fill me with His love and increase my awareness of His presence more than ever this Christmas season.” Friend, this is my prayer as we begin the Advent season leading up to the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Let me encourage you to make it your prayer as well. In all of the busyness of the holidays, let’s make sure we truly do keep the reason for the season—Jesus Christ—front and center. May this great God of ours—who was born of the virgin Mary, lived, died, resurrected, ascended and is now seated at the Father’s right hand—become more dear to us than ever before. What a gift that would be this Christmas. Now that’s something to pray about!

Gratitude And The Glory Of God

Gratitude And The Glory Of God

Prayer Point 146 - November 27, 2023

In Psalm 69, David gives us an important truth regarding gratitude. He writes, “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30, NIV). Did you catch that last part? The renowned King and Psalmist of Israel tells us that when we give thanks to God, we also give Him glory. It’s common to think of glorifying God by means of worship, song, sacrifice and obedience—and those are important. Here we see that it can also be as simple as saying thank you. How often have we missed an opportunity to give glory to the Lord because we were ungrateful for one of His many blessings? Let’s give God all the glory by continuing to grow in being thankful. Now that’s something to pray about!

Thanksgiving 2023

Thanksgiving 2023

Prayer Point 145 - November 20, 2023

Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays of the year. The delicious turkey, side dishes and pies on Thanksgiving Day are surpassed only by the family and friends we get to enjoy it all with. The parades, football games and leftovers are the sprinkles on top of a joyous holiday weekend. During this blessed time of year, we all try our best to be more thankful, and I’d like to encourage us all to keep going all year round. Gratitude is one of the more distinguishing characteristics of a mature and healthy Christian faith. As we have heard during earlier Prayer Points this month, even Jesus prayed with thanksgiving. So, let’s keep being like Jesus, with thankfulness ever in our hearts and always on our lips. Now that’s something to pray about!

Our Prayers Outlive Us And Continue To Be Answered

Embracing Lifelong Prayer Assignments

Prayer Point 144 - November 13, 2023

The ministry I lead recently lost one of our most beloved prayer warriors. In a great shock to all of us who knew her, sister Renee was taken home to be with Jesus. As I’ve grieved and reflected on her life, I felt the whisper of the Spirit remind me that all of the prayers Renee lifted up will continue long past her death. Many if not most of this dear woman’s prayers for her family, the community and much more will continue to be answered. I thanked God for that thought as it brought me comfort to know that, in a way, her ministry will continue as answers come in God’s time. Truly, no prayer is ever wasted. God answers even after we’ve gone to be with Him. Now that’s something to pray about!

Embracing Lifelong Prayer Assignments

Embracing Lifelong Prayer Assignments

Prayer Point 143 - November 6, 2023

One of the remarkable things about prayer is we never quite know when God will intervene. Sometimes it’s very quickly, but other times the answer tarries for lengthy periods of time. Sometimes a prayer assignment is for decades, or even a lifetime. One of the greatest evidences of love is when someone simply keeps praying in faith for a particular person or situation. Though the prayer burden may vary from person to person, the invitation from me to you today is to remain steadfast in prayer. Keep on praying. Don’t lose heart. Jesus will intervene at the right time, even if it takes a lifetime. Now that’s something to pray about!