Often times, we wait until we have tried everything else to deal with a problem or difficult situation before we pray about it. Unfortunately, it is the last resort for many people even after they have given up hope of a successful outcome.

God wants us to interact with him all the time, like he is a part of our lives every moment. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Never stop praying.” When we have that mindset, we start our problem solving with prayer; Asking God, who has the power to make anything right, and solve any problem we might have, first.

James 5:16 writes, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Prayer is not a long shot, “it can’t hurt,” last resort. It is a powerful demonstration of our faith in and relationship with God. We need to believe that it will produce results, and it will.

Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the ability to come to you with our cares and concerns. Help us to keep you in our thoughts throughout our day and bring our needs to you, believing that you will give us what we ask or something better. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Do ever have a thought that appears in your mind, a terrible thought of revenge, rage, envy, greed, or lust, and wonder where it came from? I believe that this is one of the ways we are drawn into temptation by the devil.

Paul teaches us what to do when this occurs, in Colossians 3:5, he says, “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.”

How do we put these thoughts to death as Paul describes, we starve and suffocate them from our attention, and change our focus to something better. In Colossians 3:2 Paul says, “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” We should pray for deliverance from the temptation.

Dear Lord, we are human, subject to temptation, and routinely fail to avoid it. Help us, and give us the strength to think of the things of heaven, and kill the sinful thoughts planted in our minds. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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The worldly stereotype of Christian morality is that it is constricting and takes the fun out of life. The truth is that it is the “owner’s manual” for a good life.

Psalm 19:8 says, “The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.”

If we want a life that is peace and joy filled, the Bible tells us how. Following the commonly described “10 commandments” written in Exodus 20, and Deuteronomy 5, and the two greatest commandments Jesus described in Matthew 22:36-44, when asked, “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Many times in life it may look deceptively better to do something that is in conflict with these commands, but it will turn out to be the wrong path.

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us the instruction manual for a peace and joy filled life through your teachings in the Bible. Help us study them and strive to follow. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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I remember when my children were toddlers, my wife and I seemed to have an extra sense, and could tell what my children were up to even without watching everything they were doing. It was a combination of caring and awareness. We would intervene sometimes to prevent them from getting into trouble or sometimes let them experience challenges to help them learn.

Though at a much different level, these memories came to mind when I was reading Psalm 139:1-6, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”

God is completely aware of our every action, thought, and feeling, and He cares about each of us.

Dear Lord, what a joy it is to know that you are aware of our every situation and concern, and care for us with your “hand of blessing.” Help us remember this so we can overcome our fears with trust in you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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Our doctors tell us to exercise in order to improve and maintain our physical condition, which is a good practice. In the same way we need to work on our spiritual fitness to build our knowledge and understanding of scripture, faith in God’s support, and strength to resist temptation.

Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:8, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” NLT

What I find interesting about this passage is that it addresses how working on being a better Christian is not just about salvation and life after earthly death, it is also about a better life here on earth, reinforcing the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, ” But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” NIV

Dear Lord, help us build our Christian muscles and endurance so that we may experience and the joy of life following you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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