"Media" Prayer

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

As grandmothers, we are concerned about the media's influence on this culture and the power it has over our grandchildren. Give them discernment, wisdom, responsibility, and a strong conscience to know and understand what is right in Your eyes. We rebuke communication that is not of You. We pray each grandchild will desire to please you with their communication.

The Bible, Your Holy Word, is Your written communication to all, and therein, the precepts for daily living. Create in our grandchildren a desire to study Your Word, so they may be fully equipped to influence their culture. In JESUS Name, Amen.

Thank you for joining us in prayer. You are welcome to add short, simple prayers regarding the media in our "Comments" section. I love your praying hearts!
Bobbye

God and Culture

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

Romans 12:2 (NAS)

Culture is defined as "the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group." In our lifetime, behaviors and beliefs regarding marriage have changed drastically. The media contributes to cultural shifts.

In New Testament times, a Jewish couple participated in a betrothal (engagement) ceremony in the presence of witnesses. After the ceremony, the young woman was called a "wife." During the betrothal period, she could be widowed, divorced, or even put to death for adultery. The marriage might take place up to a year later.

A sharp contrast exists in the American culture. Engagements can be broken, and marriages quickly terminated. In 2011, a reality star divorced her husband 72 days after their wedding. Many couples choose to live together, rather than marry. The media presents television programs not aligned with God's precepts. Infidelity and divorce among celebrities, politicians, and professional athletes make big news stories. God's people who choose abstinence until marriage may suffer ridicule.

According to  a report published December 14, 2011 by the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan group that provides information on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping America and the world, barely half of all adults in the U.S. - a record low- are currently married. Pew reported, "In 1960, 72% of all adults ages 18 and older were married; today just 51% are. If current trends continue, the share of adults who are currently married will drop to below half within a few years. Other adult living arrangements- including cohabitation, single-person households and single parenthood - have all grown more prevalent in recent decades."

Cultures change; but God does not (Psalm 102: 27; Malachi 3: 6; James 1: 17). His Word is eternal (Psalm 119: 89; Isaiah 40: 8). He calls us to live in purity and holiness (1 Peter 1: 15-16; 1 Thessalonians 4: 3; 1 Timothy 4: 12), and instructs us not to be conformed to this world...not be shaped by the culture, but to be changed into another form - as a caterpillar turns (morphs) into a butterfly. The Father desires to conform us to Christ's image (Romans 8:29). God's truth renews our minds.

Join us as we pray for our descendants and the world they live in. Pray for the media to present truth and morality (Proverbs 12:22; Matthew 12: 36-37; Philippians 4: 8), young people to choose abstinence until marriage, purity, provision of godly spouses (Genesis 2: 18, 21- 24; Ephesians 5: 22- 33), healing and stability for those affected by divorce (Psalm 147: 3) strong God-centered marriages, and fidelity (Exodus 20: 14).



Meditation: Psalm 145:9

"The LORD is good to all;

He has compassion on all He has made."

Psalm 145:9



When was the last time you stopped to consider the LORD"S goodness and His tender love? The LORD is excellent. He is kind. He is right. He is merciful. The LORD is good...to all! Take time, today, to reflect on the goodness God has shown to you. Thank Him and celebrate His great love!

LORD God, You are good and You show compassion to all those You created! Forgive me for failing to stop and meditate on Your everlasting love. Thank you for Your mercy that is new every day. Help me to be still, and consider the great things You have done! In the Name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray...Amen.

SMART Spiritual Goals

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus"

Philippians 3:14 (NAS)

As I pray about and identify my God-centered priorities  for the new year, I recognize the benefit of writing spiritual goals.

A goal is "the distant mark looked at; the end one has in view." Written goals help remind us and provide us with structure. They help us stay focused on what we need to accomplish. We can expect greater success when we put our spiritual goals in writing.

Pray first for God's direction in setting spiritual goals; then, write SMART goals.

SMART goals are:

S - Specific: Identify what you are going to do, and how you are going to do it. I desire to know Christ and His Word. It's my priority.  Rather than, "I will study the Bible in 2012," my written spiritual goal is "I will study the book of James, completing all daily assignments,  for 9 weeks. Weekly, I will meet with my small group to discuss material and watch the video session."

M - Measurable: Identify how you will know that you have accomplished your goal. By completing all five days of homework and the video listening guide, I  know I am progressing toward my goal.

A - Attainable: Determine how your goal can be accomplished. My Bible study goal can be accomplished by spending 30 - 40 minutes completing each lesson.

R - Realistic: The goal should be do-able, and something you are willing to strive toward. My goal is realistic because I experienced past successes.

T - Time-bound: Identify the amount of time in which you will accomplish your goal. My Bible study goal can be accomplished in 9 weeks. 

Paul pressed on,  persistent and undeterred,  toward the goal, as a runner races to the finish line. God's beloved, let us press on together, eagerly seeking a deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior, cheering one another along every step of the way!

Lord God Almighty, You are my Creator and worthy of my praise! Forgive me for times I have not commited my ways to You. Thank you for giving me strength and enabling me to carry out Your Will. Help me to remain stedfast and disciplined. Give me wisdom to maintain priorities and goals that please You. In the Name of Jesus, I pray...Amen.

What specific spiritual goals have your set for the New Year? Leave us a comment...we'd love to hear from you, and pray for you!

A Prayer for Families

Father God,

We thank You for our families. For those who don't know You yet, touch their hearts and open their eyes to see their need for You. Bring Christians who they will listen to into their lives.

Reconcile our families, Father. Erase past hurts and restore love for each other.

Help us Father to acknowledge You in all ways, for You say in Your Word that it is then that You will direct our path (Proverbs 3:6).

Put a hedge of protection around our families. Keep them in health and provide for all their needs. Pour an anointing of love over our families, and let them see Jesus in us.

We ask this in the Mighty Name of Jesus. We thank You for the answer, for we know that You say in Your Word, "This is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His Will, He hears us and if we know that He hears us, we know we have the petitions that we desire" (I John 1:14-15).

Amen!

(prayer by s.p.)

Priorities

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness..." Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

In the final hours of 2011, a holiday letter communicated the death of a dear friend. Four months after the cancer diagnosis, Cherie went to be with the Lord. She was 55 years old. The news caused me to reevaluate my priorities.

Priorities help keep us focused on what is important, and everyone has them. Merriam-Webster defines "priority" as something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives. 

Jesus said the greatest commandment is  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind"; and the second is "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22: 36-40). Priorities of first-century Christians included devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer (Acts 2:42).

What is involved in making and keeping Biblical priorities?

* Pray: Ask God for His wisdom and direction to identify three areas for improvement (Philippians 4:6; Psalm 37:5). How do these priorities align with God's Word? Do they flow from a desire to please the Lord? Commit your priorities to Him.

* Practice: How will you live out these priorities before the Lord and others? What example will you set? Depend on God's strength rather than human strength and good intentions (James 1: 22-25; Philippians 4:13).

* Progress-check: Take time to evaluate your progress. When circumstances or distractions blow you off course, repent, refocus, and recommit your way to God, staying accountable to Him (Psalm 139: 23-24).

* Praise: Thank the Lord God for your successes (Philippians 1:6; 2 Cor. 2:14).

As we begin the New Year, pray for one another and our descendants to make and keep godly priorities.

After prayerful consideration, what are your top three priorities for 2012? Let us know in the Comments section...we'd love to pray for you! May God bless you in the New Year and fill you with His joy!

Lori

Give Thanks

"Thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live."

1 Thess. 5:18 (The Message)

Six-week-old, Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), suffered an eye infection. After receiving treatment by an incompetent doctor, she became blind. After her father died, Fanny was raised by her mother and grandmother. Her grandmother, Eunice, introduced her to the Bible and taught her the importance of prayer. Their landlady, Mrs. Hawley, helped Fanny memorize Scripture. Fanny memorized the Pentateuch, the Gospels, the Proverbs, many of the Psalms, and much more. Although blind, she was thankful, rather than bitter. Fanny Crosby said:

"It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."

"If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind...for when I die; the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Savior."

Fanny Crosby left the Church a legacy of over 8,000 hymns including "All the Way My Savior Leads Me", "I Am Thine O Lord", "Redeemed", "Rescue the Perishing", "Safe in the Arms of Jesus", "Tell Me the Story of Jesus", "Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer", "To God be the Glory", and "Blessed Assurance". Perhaps some of her hymns comforted you in times of adversity.

Even in difficult times, give thanks to God. Giving thanks demonstrates obedience to the One who is worthy to receive praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 145:3; Revelation 7:12). Thank God for His salvation, love, faithfulness, presence, comfort, peace, mercy, His Word, and goodness. Read the Psalms, meditating on them. Memorize them, speak them, sing them, and pray them! Set an example for others (Psalm 35:18; 145:4).

Let every day be a day of thanksgiving - no matter the circumstances! It is God's will for us.