A Prayer Journaling Prompt: Counting of Blessings

Count your blessings. What are you thankful for? Praise God and offer Him your gratitude, praise, and worship--as you prayer journal. 

Savor the Moment: A Prayer Journaling Prompt

Prayer journal for a while as you just hang out with God and try to say nothing. Just listen. Write down whatever you feel prompted to and just enjoy Him for a bit. 

Reading 1: Matthew 2:11

NEW TESTAMENT READING OF THE DAY

Read Matthew 1-4 today. Then, read the rest of this study today.

Matthew 2:11 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

There is a lot of context here and there is far more than I want to cover in the study and reflection (pondering, meditation, thinking on, contemplation) of this verse. I don’t want to go into the story of the birth of Jesus right now. Rather, I want to look at the reaction of the wise men.

Re-read the verse and pay attention to that portion.

**~** PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS:

1 What did the wise men do?

2 Notice what they did at the same time at the beginning of the portion which described the action and response of the wise men when they saw the child and then Mary.

The moment they saw Him, they knew it was Him, the Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I cannot help but how they knew for sure it was Him. Sure, the star led them there. But, how did they know in addition to that? Did they feel it? Did God tell them? Or, did God allow Himself to be seen through the babe in His mother’s arms at the time? Did they sense His holiness and power, His majesty and glory?

They went to their knees as they worshiped Him (and not Mary, please note).

They showed Him respect and bowed to Him. They bowed in the lowest and most extreme form the could, without lying flat on their faces. They didn’t just cock their heads downward. They went to their knees. I bet their heads bowed and they probably put a hand to their heart.

3 **~** What did they do next?

They gave Him the best.

They gave Him their best.

What they gave probably lasted Him for several years.

So, they looked for Him. Followed the star. Fell to their knees as they began to worship Him. They gave Him their best gifts.

4 **~** Do you give Him your best each day?

5 Do You give Him your best each moment?

6 You have the gift of time, your most precious resource and gift. Do you give Him what He deserves?

7 How can you give Him your best in each moment, starting in this moment?

8 How can you give Him your best, each moment, even as you are busy and are doing life?

Matthew 2:11 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

11 They ·came to [entered] the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they ·bowed down [knelt; L fell] and ·worshiped [paid homage to] him. They opened their ·gifts [treasure chests; treasures] and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

**~** 9 How do you treasure Jesus Christ?

10 How are you going to apply this verse to your life, moment by moment, starting now, not just giving Him your best, but showing Him your reverence, worshiping Him, and giving Him your best?


{KEY: Anytime you see this symbol:  **~** it means that you need to prayer journal your responses to the following. }

Thank You, Lord: A Prayer Journaling Prompt

What do you thank God for today?

Count your blessings.

Keep them in your prayer journal so you don't forget them.

Thought to Ponder and Pray: A Prayer Journaling Prompt About Eternity

Thought to Ponder and Prayer Journal

How are you living today with eternity (heaven; eternal life) in mind in each moment?

How will you do this tomorrow--and each moment afterward?

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease & Remembering Your Present, LLC. 2014.) 

A New Bible Study Journey through the New Testament

Today is the start a new Bible study journey blog post series (which I will turn into books later). Part 1 (or Book 1) is a 45 or 90 day Bible study, depending on which track you decide.

In this book, and in the next, we will read the New Testament in 90 or 180 days (again, depending on which track you determine) and will cover one verse every day, which we will ponder every moment for the next twenty-four hours. We will read it, study it, prayer journal about it, apply it, review it, and evaluate it through the course of this study today, this week, month, and series.

The point of this way of doing Bible study is to ponder (meditate on) a verse every moment all day and night, and prayer journal about it. It's absorbing every treasure of the verse and letting it sink in to the marrow of our bones. It's taking the time to allow the Word of God, the Bible, to grow deeper in us and in our lives.

To often, Bible studies are jammed pack with so much information that we aren't given the chance to fully digest and absorb what we've learned. This study allows this to happen. I guarantee we'll go deeper and you'll get a lot out of it, for we're thinking on the verse every moment and apply it every moment.

If you're interested, read the introduction here:

http://www.wattpad.com/49225850-a-godly-vision-a-bible-study-journey-part-1

It was just too much to put in one blog post.

also, look at that link if you want to read it in a different format, rather than on this blog.

Please let me know if you are taking part in this study. I would like to encourage you. I welcome discussion, questions, and even suggestions.

Blessings.

Question About Your Bible Reading and Study

Question About Your Bible Reading and Study

What's working in your Bible reading?

What isn't?

What's working in your Bible study?

What isn't?

Prayer journal your thoughts.

Also, I invite discussion on this blog. Attach a comment at the end of a blog post, email me, whatever.

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease. 2010-2014)

Question About Counting Your Blessings

Question About Counting Your Blessings

What can you do to offer more thanks throughout your day today?

Tomorrow?

A couple of thoughts to prayer journal about and ponder.

(I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject, by the way.)

Another Prayer for Focus, Purpose, and Clarity

Lord, I keep trying this, doing that. What do YOU want me to do? Really, truly.

I keep running ahead and I stop listening to You. I leave You in the dust of my excitement for my latest fancy or whim. I’m tired of short-lived stuff. I keep saying I really do want to do Your will alone. Help me to actually live it.

Lord, forgive me for doing the things I mentioned above. I realize I keep getting sidetracked and busy. These are my two thorns I need to battle against so I can focus on a life focused on You and Your Word alone.

Lord, guide me. What DO You want me to do and how do You want me to be? I realize it’s important to do and be—not just one or the other, but both simultaneously. This is the well-balanced life.

What is Your purpose for me in this moment? I keep trying to ask to see the overall purpose. This is wrong. My purposes can change moment by moment, when and if I am open to You. So, help me live moment by moment in Your purpose.

That being said, though, I know there are some long-term purposes. Help give me clarity and let me know what they are in my life, which is really a life for You. It’s Yours.

What do You want me to do? How do You want me to be with You? I ask You both of these questions for this moment and every moment today and tomorrow.

Guide me, Abba. Help me hear You and to respond immediately and accordingly.

To You be all the glory.

I love You so.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2010-2014.)

Focus and Purpose Prayer

Focus and Purpose Prayer

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the morning and quiet time to spend with You. I so thoroughly need it.

Help me REALLY make today Your day and not give it lip service. Help me mean it all day long, moment by moment, not just right now as I say it (hence, the lip service). After all, today is the Lord's Day. It is not mine, Abba. Help me not to live as though it were.

I pray these verses to You, Lord.

Psalm 19:12-14 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

12 Who perceives his unintentional sins?

Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

13 Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;

do not let them rule over me.

Then I will be innocent

and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

14 May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable to You,

Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.  

-- HCSB: Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Lord, let everything I think, say, plan, and do be of You and Your Word alone. Holy Spirit, please help me hear Your promptings when I am getting off-track and help me to respond immediately. All I want to do is live for the purpose and glory of God. Help me to do so--today, moment by moment, and every day hereafter.

I also pray these:

Psalm 139:1-4 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

139 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

You understand my thought from afar.

3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,

And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before there is a word on my tongue,

Behold, O Lord, You know it all.

-- NASB: Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Lord, what sweet verses to remind me of Your goodness, love, and care. You are here with me and in me. You are always present and are all-seeing, all-knowing. I am never, ever alone. Oh, Lord, how sweet and wonderful You are.

I also pray these:

From "Believing God" by Beth Moore

Week 1 Memory Verse: Hebrews 11:6 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

6

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

Lord, help my unbelief and teach me to believe.

Week 2 Memory Verse: Hebrews 11:3 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

3

By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.

Faith. Belief. Help me draw forever nearer to You and your Word. Help me make Your Word part of my life every moment.

Abba, You are so good to me--and have been all the days of my life, and will be.

Thank You for the enormous blessing of You.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2010-2014.)

Prayer for the Day

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the opportunity of a new day. It is Your day, not mine.

Use me, and my loved ones, mightily today. Help us to live Your purpose every moment today and bring You glory.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease. 2014. Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Courage: What It Takes to Live a Life of Faith

A teaser of what is to come.

Courage: 
What It Tales to Live a Life of Faith

Lion Image Credit: Image courtesy of James Barker / FreeDigitalPhotos.net 
Bible Image Credit: Image courtesy of Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Giving Thanks and Counting Our Blessings