Your Daily Crossroad
Because You Prayed
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)
What do you do with your worries? Do you turn them inward, or turn them upward?
When the brutal Assyrian King Sennacherib was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, he sent a message to King Hezekiah saying that Judah would be no different from all the other nations he had conquered. Hezekiah took this message to the temple in Jerusalem, and “spread it out before the Lord” (Isa. 37:14). He then prayed and asked for help from Almighty God.
Soon afterward Isaiah the prophet delivered this message to Hezekiah from the Lord: “Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word the Lord has spoken against him” (Isa. 37:21–22). Scripture tells us that Hezekiah’s prayer was answered that very night. God intervened miraculously, conquering the enemy forces outside the city gates. The Assyrian army didn’t even “shoot an arrow” (v. 33). Sennacherib would leave Jerusalem, never to return.
Three words in God’s message to Hezekiah—“Because you prayed”—show us the best place to go with our worries. Because Hezekiah turned to God, He rescued him and his people. When we turn our worries into prayer, we discover that God is faithful in unexpected ways!
Father, please help me to turn my worries into prayer. My problems are better in Your hands than in my own. Amen.
I don’t know who this is for today but when I read it, I felt a nudge in my spirit telling me, this is it. I felt someone needed to be reminded of this today. No matter what you face, no matter what your up against, always pray and remember, He is faithful. I loved what it said, don’t turn your worries inward but upward. When we try and internalize our worries and fears we do nothing to benefit our spirit in any way but when we pray and release our fears and worries upward, He is faithful to deliver us out of all our troubles. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:17). Remember, Prayer moves the hand that moves the world
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!!
Today’s Reading is Philippians 4:6
The Perfect Prayer Partner
How good it is to know that because of God’s kindness to us our prayers can also touch heaven. Sometimes when we pray we may struggle with words and feelings of inadequacy, but Jesus taught His followers that we “ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). God’s Word shows us that one of the reasons we can do this is that Jesus Himself “is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Rom. 8:34).
We never pray alone, because Jesus is praying for us. He hears us as we pray, and speaks to the Father on our behalf. We don’t have to worry about the eloquence of our words, because no one understands us like Jesus. He helps us in every way, presenting our needs before God. He also knows when the answers we ask for would not be good for us, handling every request or concern with perfect wisdom and love.
Jesus is the perfect prayer partner—the friend who intercedes for us with immeasurable kindness. His prayers for us are beautiful beyond words, and should encourage us to always pray with thankfulness.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for interceding for me with love. Help me to love and serve You with my prayers today. Amen.
As I read this I tried imagining in my mind, Jesus sitting at the right hand of God, making intercession for me as I pray. I think if we would keep that at the forefront of our minds as we go to God in prayer it would change how we see prayer. Prayer is so so important in our daily lives, and to know Jesus is intently listening to us when we take time to go to Him in prayer and then making intercession for us, is incredible to me. What love! I am loved, you are loved, you are cherished by the most genuine friend you could ever have, He truly is the best prayer partner. Go to Him today, He’s waiting to hear from you, to intercede on your behalf. He is immeasurable!
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Romans 8:31-34
Trust Tally
Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee . . . fear not, neither be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 1:21)
Sometimes, I struggle with a deep-seated fear of the unknown—experiencing unnecessary anxiety instead of relying on God’s track record.
In Deuteronomy 1, Moses affirmed the Lord’s reliability. He encouraged the Israelites to move forward in faith so they could enjoy their inheritance (v. 21). But God’s people demanded details about what they’d be up against and what they’d receive before committing to trust Him with their future (vv. 22–33).
Followers of Christ are not immune to succumbing to fear or anxiety. Worrying about what difficulties we may or may not encounter can keep us from depending on faith, and may even damage our relationships with God and others. But the Holy Spirit can help us create a trust tally of the Lord’s past faithfulness. He can empower us with courageous confidence in God’s trustworthiness yesterday, today, and forever.
Lord, thank You for affirming that we don’t need to know everything that lies ahead when we know You. We know You never change. Amen!
I can’t even begin to articulate how blessed I was by this devotion today. To those today who have allowed the enemy to cripple you with fear and anxiety over the unknown, rise up and encourage yourself with this word today. Remind yourself, God’s past faithfulness proves His everlasting dependability. 2 Corinthians 4:18, While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 5:7, For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Timothy 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. When the enemy tries to overtake you with fear and anxiety, remind him of what The Word of God says and he will flee from you. James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Deuteronomy 1:21-33
Fight the Good Fight
Fight the good fight of faith . . .(1 Timothy 6:12)
Timothy was a young preacher, mentored by Paul and used in a mighty way to spread the Gospel of Christ. Paul knew how much Timothy’s faith would be, and was being, tested. He would have to “fight” to keep going or his faith would be shaken. In our world, the word “fight” is heard so often. We hear of fighting actual wars in numerous areas of the world and we fight battles in our own lives every day. As Christians, we may not always be aware of the battles that we are fighting. Sometimes they are manifested in arguments, disputes and areas of stress in our homes. Sometimes they are internalized battles that rage in our minds, frustrating our thoughts and emotions. Ephesians 6 speaks of the battle as a spiritual war, one that tries and tests our faith to the limit, and to the end of our lives. We must learn how to fight to stay in the faith or we will find ourselves desperately weak and shaken.
So, how do we “fight” this “good fight of the faith?” Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). If we are not in the Word on a daily basis, then deceiving thoughts and feelings have more opportunity to take root within us. The enemy roams about seeking whom he may devour and we are more easily devoured when we are not standing on the promises of God. But not only do we need to read God’s word everyday; but also we need to learn how to use it. We must learn how to fight with it.
I challenge you today to read the Bible with a different perspective. Take certain verses and keep them in your thoughts. Speak them against the enemy forces that may attack you. For example, if a thought comes to you like, “God really doesn’t care about what I am going through–where is He?” Read Psalm 139 and speak out the verses. Verses 7 & 8 speak about how God never leaves us; no matter where we go, He is there. Verse 17 tells us how much God thinks about us everyday. Take these verses and fight back. Let the Lord strengthen your faith through His word. You will gain strength spiritually, even when the battles rage. Ultimately you will win in the end. Our Lord and Savior Jesus has already won the war for us and He will be with us in every battle we fight. Just remember to take Him with you.
When I read this I couldn’t help but think of these two scriptures. Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 2 Timothy 3:16, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. We must never fail to equip our mind, heart and soul with The Word of God. As you consistently read the Bible and feed your spirit man, you are equipping yourself to allow God to use you to poor out of you into others lives and into your own life, and in those moments when you don’t know what to say, He will give you what you ought to say and what you have read in The Word will come resounding back to you. You are not alone in any battle you face, He is with you. Fight the Good Fight.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Jeremiah 29:11-13