We've been so conditioned to think that everything involving God is complex and difficult. As such, when God gives us a straightforward and simple instruction, we struggle to obey.
A perfect example is James 5:13 - Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
How much more direct can the word of God get? There is no trick here - when the people of God are in trouble, they should pray and when they are happy, they should give Him praise.
Sadly, so many of us - myself included - sit and wallow when faced with a difficulty, ignoring this instruction that prayer is the answer. How many of us have done this? Wasted valuable time and emotions grumbling and being sad for too long instead of taking the issue to God in prayer?
How many of us have been filled with joy, yet instead of praising the Lord, we have chosen to keep quiet and not express ourselves in rejoicing? This could be because something else comes up to distract us and in such cases, that is the tactic of the enemy to get a person to not obey the Lord. There could also be another reason for not rejoicing - deep down, we fear the source for our joy is a short-lived fluke. As God did not give us a spirit of fear, that concern/doubt/disbelief is another weapon of the enemy to blind a person from enjoying what God has done in their lives and honoring Him for it.
Nevertheless, God has called us all to praise Him and not bottle in our joy. We are to acknowledge Him, testify to His glory and believe His works, not think they'll flutter away like a mirage upon closer inspection.
The Lord will help us all to take His instructions and put them into effect in our lives. By His grace, His laws will be a pleasure to us and we shall realize that obedience brings even more of the good He has planned for us, IJMN, Amen.
See you at Noon EST for fellowship!
CLOSING PRAYER
Great and mighty God, You are the Sovereign Lord. I bring my praise to You for the privilege of being able to fellowship with others this day. Thank You for this is a great thing You have done and it is marvelous in my sight.
Over the participants, I proclaim 1 Peter 1:2 - Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Thank You Lord for hearing and answering this prayer, IJMN Amen.
*From AC* - Abba, I touch and agree on all of today's praises, intercessory prayers, and silent prayers and I lift them up before you. May Your righteous Will be done in their lives, in Jesus' precious name, I pray, Amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
By now you know that one issue you want to pray about. You can do so offline or drop it as a prayer in the thread. I encourage you to pray for yourself so others can prayerfully agree if the Lord nudges them to do so.
As we are about to pray on our issues, let us acknowledge the word of God as contained in Isaiah 45:19 - I have not spoken in secret or kept my purpose hidden. I did not require the people of Israel to look for me in a desolate waste. I am the LORD, and I speak the truth; I make known what is right."
God is plain.
Let us pray - God, thank You for being plain with us. Thank You for being so mindful of us that You help us to understand what You want from us.
Thank You for telling us to come to You when in trouble and to praise You when in joy. Grace, Lord, to fully obey this and Your other instructions that You be fully glorified in our lives, IJMN Amen.
God bless you and I pray that the Lord hears the good things you ask of Him and moves swiftly to satisfy the desires of your heart, IJMN Amen.
*From AC* - Our Baal-perazim, our mighty El Rapha and Holy Spirit we give You all praise for Your healing power. Please bless JAD, Mama K, Auntie S, @k, @MFC, GrandmaFC and my fellow Peppers and those who concern them with healing and renewed health. May every cell, hormonal system, bone, organ, tissue, nerve ending, and vessel come under the authority of the Almighty Healer Jesus, by Whose stripes we are healed, and into alignment with Psalm 30:2. Abba please comfort Your sons and daughters Lord and guard their minds and hearts against the spirit of fear with Your transcending peace. Please bless them with easy access to quality healthcare and guide the hands and minds of the medical team entrusted with their care and deliver Your children from disease, infirmity, weariness, and pain with a supernatural healing breakthrough, for Your almighty victory. In Jesus' Mighty Name, I pray, Amen.
*From AC* - Abba, thank You for answering our group's prayer and for swiftly resolving the conflicts in M's office and for removing the troublemakers, and for creating a sense of peace and harmony among the coworkers. Only You could have made this possible. Abba please grant the employees the remote hybrid schedule that was promised to them by their superiors, and that they have been so patiently waiting for. You know their many health, personal, and family predicaments, and this blessing will ease so much stress and provide a work/life balance for them all. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Great and mighty God. You are the Sovereign Lord and to You do we lift up the needs of others.
God, You have told us to ask that we receive, to seek that we shall find and to knock so that doors are opened (Matthew 7:7-8)
It is with this in mind that I lift up the financial needs of Your people. Dear Father, many have entered into financial situations that are stifling. They are in debt, experiencing restricted finances, and are in need of money to be free.
God, a person can receive only what is given them from heaven (John 3:27). As such, I call on You to be the Jehovah Jireh that Your people need. For those reading this prayer and earnestly desiring Your financial freedom, I decree a complete turnaround in their lives. I say that my God shall supply all their needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). For the Savior came to destroy the works of satan and this includes poverty and lack (1 John 3:8). Jesus endured these things and so much more so that all who believe in Him will not experience such affliction.
Lord, God. You came that people will have abundance - the fullness of life (John 10:10). I pray this for those reading and praying along with this petition. I also pray that when they receive from You, they shall submit that provision to You for Your glory, IJMN, Amen.
Good God, You are the Almighty. Nobody compares to You. Father, please hear my prayer for people that they come to a knowledge of You as You promised in Jeremiah 24:7. Please give people a desire for You. Whet their appetites for more of You. Let hearts clamor for You. Pour out Your Spirit on all mankind in accordance with Your word in Joel 2:28. Be glorified, Lord our Redeemer, IJMN, Amen.
Great and mighty King. Thank You for being the God of Your people. The Defender and Protector. You destroy the enemy, crushing it till it becomes chaff that is carried off. Almighty God, the devil and its minions delight in cursing people. They delight in performing spells and other rituals to harm and maim Your children. I thank You God, for Your word in Numbers 23:23 - No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’ (NLT). I declare this over Your people. They shall be protected from the evil schemes of the enemy. Every stone rolled in wait for the righteous, shall instead roll back on the wicked person. Every curse spoken against Your children shall become a blessing instead as was the case with Balaam. Every trap set for the innocent shall instead swallow the wicked one. The very counsel of every Ahithophel in the midst of the wicked is deemed foolishness and their very agreement with death is annulled, IJMN, Amen. He who the Son sets free is free indeed, Hallelujah!
PRAYER TIME
We have entered His courts with praise and now we bring before Him the prayer needs of others.
Remember, this is an act of obedience to 1 Timothy 2:1. It is also us emulating the Chief Advocate - Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1).
Put your needs to the side. Praise God you'll be able to say a prayer for yourself in about 25 minutes.
Till then, let's intercede in accordance with God's word.
Thank You God for bringing us together and for the blessed opportunity to pray for ourselves. Thank You for the fellowship of Your people who are used to interceding for others and the fact they get to do so over each other today.
Thank You for this privilege.
Thou alone are worthy to be praised!
From HC - Thank you Lord for fighting my battles. Thank you for giving me victory. Thank you sending healing before even the doctor could declare sickness. Thank you Father for your provisions before we even knew there would be a need. You are almighty, all knowing and awesome. You do more than enough. We thank you.
Covenant-keeper. You who have promised and keeps His oath. I thank You for speaking and for Your word not returning to You void.
Thank You for expansion and enlargement. For allowing Your own to walk on a broad path to Your glory.
Hallelujah!!
From AC -
Covenant-keeper. You who have promised and keeps His oath. I thank You for speaking and for Your word not returning to You void.
Thank You for expansion and enlargement. For allowing Your own to walk on a broad path to Your glory.
Hallelujah!!
*From HC* - Thank you Father God for this day which you have made. Thank you for hearing our prayers. Thank you for your wonderful and mighty works. Thank for opening doors for us. Help us to obediently walk through them knowing that it was only opened by the works of your hands and we can trust you as we go down our new assigned paths.
*From AC* - Thank You Abba for Your recent miracles and victories that have come upon those that I have been blessed to witness. Thank You for all that You continue to do for me and mine. Take all the Glory Lord, the victory is Yours! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Isaiah 42:12 - Let the whole world glorify the LORD; let it sing his praise (NLT).
God I come before You with my praises! Thank You El Shaddai. Thank You for being the God who sent Jesus to die for me.
Thank You for being the God who treats me as His daughter. Thank You for showing me love and great kindness.
You deserve all the glory!!
*From AC* - Greetings Pepper fam, I pray that your day has been a blessed one thus far. I am grateful for @FFJ’s message today.
Elohim, Mighty God, thank You for this new day that You have made. Thank You for another day in Your presence and that Your mercy and grace refresh each morning. You are my eternal joy and only constant. Even though change is inevitable, You Lord, are unchanging and consistent in faithfulness - even when we are not. May we never forget Your covenant promises and blessings offered to those of us through Christ Jesus. And may we never - no matter our circumstances - cease praising Your good and sovereign Name. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
PRAISE TIME
We have been told to come to the throne boldly(Hebrews 4:16). One such way is to come with our offerings of praise.
Holler out to the Lord wherever you are! Get real disorderly in your worship.
Love up on God Almighty.
You know what the deal is...
*From BI* - Praise the Lord! I thank You Heavenly Father for another great day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Thank You Lord for letting me abide under Your Shadow. Thank You for being my refuge and my fortress, only in You will I trust.
Thank you for today’s word sis @FFJ. We are to give thanks in all things. Nothing can ever separate us from His love so nothing should ever distract us from giving Him praise. May we praise God in every manner of Psalm 150 now and forever IJMN Amen.