1 John 2:24-25 - As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life.
We wake up each day and are faced with a long list of tasks. Get to work. Finish those reports. Buy groceries. Pay bills. The list goes on and on. These everyday demands not only take up most of our focus during the daytime, we're also preoccupied with them when we're supposed to be sleeping. And when our lives get like this, our prayer points start to take on a certain tenor - God, I need... Lord, bless me with...Father, give me and mine...
There's nothing wrong with asking the King of kings to help with the issues we face each day. After all, He has called us to cast our burdens onto Him (Psalm 55:22). However, we need to strive for a relationship with God that doesn't just focus on problems. Even with the issues we have to overcome, we still have to train our gaze on the promise of eternal life with the Lord.
Our everyday challenges and tasks are far from irrelevant. For instance, we can't just sit in a corner and say, "I'm not going to work because it's not as important as the goal of eternal life." That attitude would contravene the teaching in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - ...“The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” God does not reward the lazy. Nevertheless, we must build time into our daily life that allows us to build a strong relationship with the one who granted us our eternal inheritance. It also means that as we go through the motions of each day, we must do so knowing that this world is not our final destination (Hebrews 13:14).
Therefore, let us live with heaven in mind and make choices that will increase the chance of getting there. Choices that honor God and display love to others, for instance. This could mean giving the elderly man our seat on a train in accordance with Leviticus 19:32 or assisting a blind person safely across the street (Deuteronomy 27:18). Another choice is to do our job well at our work place because Colossians 3:23 tells us, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
We live in bodies that will one day return to dust. Our souls, on the other hand, were created for an eternity. As we wake up each day, we have a choice as to where that eternity shall be spent - heaven or hell. May we never lose sight of the need to get to heaven. May we make choices that bring us closer to the place the Lord has prepared for us to enjoy eternal life. May the Lord help us get there because we have received salvation because of His grace, IJMN, Amen.
From MFC - This week, our family is facing health challenges. Please pray for my youngest daughter, she was diagnosed with Covid last night. My Husband also has two nephews that are in the hospital with Cardiac issues- one with a hole in his heart and another who experiences a pulmonary embolism.
We will not be anxious, but bring our petitions to the Lord. He continues to strengthen my Mother and restore her through her recovery. God has kept me while dealing with chronic illness. I will trust in the Lord!
God of all hope, I look to you in times of need. You are the healing God, please bring healing to my loved ones. You are the saving God, please save those who I care about so deeply. You are worthy of all praise, help us not to turn our back on You but to approach You with thanksgiving. You are the spring of living water, help us find life in all its fullness in You through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
Give God glory by sharing what He's done for you or someone in your life.
You can also share testimony in the Testimony Gala Thread - Testimony Gala | The Miracle Alley. Its goal is to document what God has done for His people.
We are instructed to share our testimony as believers. In fact, doing so allows us to overcome satan according to Revelation 12:11 - They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
CLOSING PRAYER
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation! Father, we are grateful for Your bringing us together to honor You with our fellowship. Thank You for the opportunity to worship and the chance to intercede for Your people.
Take all the glory, Messiah!
I place today's participants before You and call on You to cover them in Your grace. I pray for those who will participate at a later time, that they too will feel the warmth of Your embrace and be lifted by Your touch.
Glory be to You, now and forever more, Amen!
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
LAST 10 MINUTES
Today's message was a reminder to each of us to live lives that keep heaven in mind. What does that mean to you? How can you adopt this attitude from day to day? How you do this might be different from how I do it, but now is the time for us to think about practical approaches that will keep us focused on eternal life.
Care to share your tips? Please do, that the body will be edified and grow together, to the glory of God, IJMN, Amen.
The Lord bless you for giving to the rest of us, Amen.
*From MFC* - AMEN! I will also include Mexico who had a 7.6 magnitude earthquake yesterday.
Compassionate Lord, we pray for those who have been devastated by recent natural disasters. We remember those who have lost their lives so suddenly. We hold in our hearts the families forever changed by grief and loss. Bring them consolation and comfort. Surround them with our prayer for strength. Bless those who have survived and heal their memories of trauma and devastation. May they have the courage to face the long road of rebuilding ahead.
We ask your blessing on all those who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their security and their hope. Bless the work of relief agencies and those proving emergency assistance. May their work be guided by the grace and strength that comes from You alone.
Help us to respond with generosity in prayer, in assistance, in aid to the best of our abilities. Keep our hearts focused on the needs of those affected, even after the crisis is over. We ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN ❤️
*From MFC* - Glory to God! Merciful Lord, thank You that you are the God of unity. You have said that where two or three are gathered in your name, you are there with them. As we gather together, we are grateful that You are in our midst. I humbly join each prayer here in agreement. In everything we do together, we pray that our eyes would remain on You and we would listen carefully for your voice. To You be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
Lord I call on You for Your healing grace upon those waiting on You to bless them and free them from the shackles of disease.
God Your word shows us that You are the Healer. In fact, You have promised that when they cry out to You, You duly send Your healing word. This is even if they themselves brought their sickness upon themselves (Psalm 107:17-20).
Father, satan stands opposed to Your blessing of good health for people. However, I know you can do all things and Your purpose cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2). Glorious God, spread Your healing hand on those in need. Let dry bones come to life filled with Your renewing breath (Ezekiel 37:4-10). You and You alone are Jehovah Ropheka. My trust is in You dear Savior, IJMN I pray so that my joy may be complete, Amen.
*From YR* - Thank you, Lord! Bless you all!!
From TUR - Father, I lift to You the children who are growing up in poverty across the world.
As inequality becomes steeper and climate change makes their future bleaker, I ask that You provide them with opportunity and hope. I ask that You fill their stomachs and meet their needs. That You bring the cycle of poverty to an end. I ask that You multiply what Your children give so that it can bless Your less fortunate children many times over. In Jesus name, Amen.
Father, the reason Jesus died was to free us from the clutches of hell. Before His sacrifice, most men were hell-bound. However, You granted us Your grace and brought forth Your blessed salvation. A salvation that has set us free from satan.
Forgive us, Lord, for forgetting the great feat that was accomplished with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Forgive us for falling for the devil's scheme where it overwhelms us with problems. Forgive us for taking our eyes off the prize - eternal life with You in heaven.
We repent for diminishing what You did for us.
Thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for Your grace.
Thank You for Your word in 1 Corinthians 1:8 - He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah!!!! IJMN, Amen.
Lord, You are the God who gives rest to His beloved. Good and wonderful is who You are. Altogether holy and lovely always. Glory be to You, Yahweh!
Father, You told us You have given Your disciples the authority over the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). We need only proclaim Your word and watch it be fulfilled here on earth as in heaven (Job 22:28).
Therefore, despite satan's plans, I speak against the spirit of death, depression, suicide and suicidal thoughts. I command these and all confederate spirits to leave in accordance with Your word in Luke 9:1. I speak Your granted spirit of sound mind unto those who You will allow this prayer to reach (2 Timothy 1:7). I decree that the Spirit of the Lord brings freedom and speak this freedom to those bound in the clutches of the aforementioned strongholds, IJMN, Amen.
For Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and so, I speak Jesus into these minds and hearts to Your glory and by Your grace. For what does light have to do with darkness? Satan you bow to the word of the Lord, IJN, Amen.
From BI - I lift up our leaders into Your capable hands Lord. I pray they receive the wisdom and guidance of the Lord as they make decisions that affects all of us. May they work with integrity to uphold justice and equality. Lord, help them to follow Your ways and show compassion to the vulnerable in society. Bless them with good health and the strength to carry out their duties. Lord, show them the way to restore calm and bring hope to the people they serve. Lord, help them to display courage, generosity and kindness all to Your glory IJMN Amen.
God, You are a merciful Father. You know each person You created. Nothing about them is hidden from You. Every mistake. Every failure. And yet, You sent Jesus to die for exactly these types - the imperfect.
Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
Lord, I pray for the grace and salvation You have provided to spread into every corner of the earth. I call on You Lord to send out Your workers that they may reap a harvest Even a double harvest. All to Your glory. That Your grace and salvation will be felt in even the darkest places. Those places where the devil thinks it is in control. Let Your gentle hand scoop out the bound. Set the captives free. Overwhelm the enemy and destroy its refuge.
IJN, Amen.
From MFC - Almighty God, we give you all praise and honor. Your word tells us Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. She is a wonderful example of a Christian soldier! We bless Your name for providing financially, spiritually, emotionally, and physically for her and her family. You have remained faithful to her for in all 104 years of her life. Thank you for blessing Ms. Dobbins with a righteous and long life. Amen.
*From TUR* - Father, thank You for the fact that @SeventeenDayze is here with us today. Thank You for Your presence in her life and the blessings you shower over her. Father, I ask that You hear her cries and that You make your presence and power felt in her situations. Bless her with the outcome she desires and remove any obstacles that may be preventing that outcome. Thank You for hearing her and our cries Father. I have faith that You will move mountains for her. In Jesus name, Amen.
Dear God, You are Protector. The Defender. Thank You for being the God who neither slumbers nor sleeps.
Father, I lift up Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Japan and other nations that have experienced dangerous weather and natural disasters as of recent. Father, the word states that You are He who stills the roaring of the seas and controls nature (Psalm 65:7).
As such, whether satan likes it or not, You are in complete control of weather for the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1)
God, I pray for comfort for all affected, I pray for Your mercy upon the souls of the departed and I give You all the glory, IJMN, Amen.
PRAYERS
It is Prayer time. The time we put our own needs aside and instead cover the needs of others with our prayers.
Please, please, please. Pray for others. We don't pray for each other enough, you know? It's because we each have so many issues we're dealing with and they are hard not to think about.
However, P&P gives us a chance to not think of our own problems. A chance to focus on the problems other people are facing. Please, pray for your friends. Pray for your nation. Cry to the Lord to help different groups of people. Use this opportunity to stand in the gap for as many as possible.
Might not seem like it, but when we pray for others, it really pleases the Lord. It opens up the way to the answering of your own needs.
May the Lord guide you to align with Him in praying for people, IJMN, Amen.
From MFC - Oh Lord, a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I pray heavenly Father that I have divine access to Your spiritual realm, let the doors of heaven be open. We will praise Your Name and we will sing a new song to You. Lord, we praise Your Name because You are the One who helps us win our battles. We pray that Your will for us in heaven aligns to our life here on earth, Amen.
And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:5
*From TUR* - Thank You Father for remaining patient with me when I lose my patience waiting for Your response. Thank You for the blessings that seem mundane and ordinary because those are the ones I could not do without.
Thank You for the chance to wake up this morning. Thank You for this kindness. Thank You for the love this reveals. A love I can never fully reciprocate.
Lord, You are great and greatly to be praised!
Yahweh!
Thank You!