Precious Words

The light of God surrounds me; The love of God enfolds me; The power of God protects me; The presence of God watches over me; Wherever I am, God is!

Prayer is connecting with God. In prayer, you create a sacred space in which you commune with God. Use the following Five-Step Prayer Process to deepen your connection with God, to heighten your awareness of God within you. Experience the power of prayer. Relax Set aside time each day for prayer. Begin your quiet time by relaxing your body and opening your mind to an awareness of God. Breathe deeply, knowing that you are in the presence of God and the presence of God is within you. Let go of your concerns and know that all is well. Concentrate As you close your eyes and release any thought of the world around you, begin to think about God … about God’s presence in your life. Focus your mind on a single thought or idea or scripture that resonates with you. Repeat this idea over and over, either silently or aloud until it becomes your only thought. Meditate Allow this focused state of mind to move you into a deeper awareness of God. “Be still … and know that I am God.” Be still as you co...

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). Getting stress out of your life takes more than prayer alone. You must take action to make changes and stop doing whatever is causing the stress. You can learn to calm down in the way you handle things. Jesus invited us to come to Him if we are overburdened. He promised to refresh us if we are weary, worn out, or overworked. Take time to go to Jesus anytime you feel that you are going over the edge of peace and into the pit of stress. Let His presence refill and refresh you.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53: 5 This time of the year, it's easy to become stressed out with all the holiday preparations. Stress is one thing you don't need, especially as we think about celebrating our Savior's birth. Stress takes a toll on almost every part of your body. We've all experienced the sweaty palms and tremors that stressful situation bring. Stress releases chemical that speeds muscle deterioration. It aggravates nervous tics and causes muscle pain. Remember that daily exercise will help you deal much better with the stress in your life. Jesus, I know you died to take away my sin. Let me find your peace in my heart and mind today.

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. (Psalm 5:11). Many wounded people don't know how to get what they really need, so they wallow in self-pity. You can be pitiful or powerful, but you can't be both." Taking our eyes off of ourselves enables us to look to God. This positions us to trust Him to meet every need in our lives. God knows exactly what we need, and He promises to provide it through His abundant grace and mercy. Ask Him to fill you with His power today, and trust Him as Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord our Provider (see Genesis 22:14 KJV).

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY. GUEST OF HONOR: Jesus Christ DATE: Every day. Traditionally, December 25, but He's always around, so the date is flexible. TIME: Whenever you're ready. Please don't be too late though, or you'll miss out on all the fun. PLACE: In your heart. He'll meet you there--you'll hear Him knock. ATTIRE: Come as you are. Grubbies are okay as He'll be washing our clothes anyway. He said something about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last. TICKETS: Admission is free. He's already paid for everyone. He says you wouldn't have been able to afford it-it's cost Him everything He had! REFRESHMENTS: New wine, bread and a far-out drink He calls 'living water.' This will be followed by a supper, that promises to be out of this world!! GIFT SUGGESTIONS: Your heart. He's one of those people who already has everything else. (He's very generous in return though-just wait until you ...

So I shall keep thy law continually for ever and ever [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it] (Psalm 119:44). You can meet with God while lying in bed. You don't have to be in a private room, with the door closed, bowed down on your knees to meet God. You can meet Him in the shower, while driving to work, or when stuck in a traffic jam. I am not suggesting that you shouldn't set apart time for God. But you should also take advantage of any time you do have that you could be talking and listening to the Lord. Don't wait to talk to Him until you have a full hour to spend with Him. Grasp every minute you can find to open your ears to His voice. Take advantage of the idle moments already available to you and spend them with God.

Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 The angel of the Lord said to Moses, "Take the shoes off your feet, for the ground on which you stand is holy ground" (see Exodus 3:5). The ground was holy because the Holy One was there. Now through faith in Jesus, you are the temple of the Holy Ghost. Everywhere you go becomes a holy place because the Holy One dwells in you. God is not in a building, where you can only visit Him on Sunday morning. He is with you everywhere you go. You can talk to Him while you vacuum, or while you change the oil in your car. When you let God become involved in every aspect of your life, every day becomes exciting.

For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter into rest. HEBREWS 4:3 It is easy to get overcommitted, burned out, bummed out, worn out, and stressed out if you are trying to keep up with too many commitments. It is out of balance to try to do everything. If you are happy doing what you do, keep doing it. But if it wears you out and robs you of peace, don't do it. What sense does it make to commit to something, and then murmur and complain about it while you are doing it? Being overcommitted will frustrate you. Anxiety is usually a sign that God never told you to do what you are doing in the first place. To avoid frustration in your life, keep in balance.

"Before I formed you thee in the belly I knew thee; and before you came out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5). Every day you need to give yourself entirely to God. Say, "Lord, I am Yours. I want to be a vessel fit for Your use. I dedicate myself to You: I give You my hands, my mouth, my mind, my body, my money, and my time. Father, here I am. I am Yours; do with me whatever You want to do today." Once you dedicate yourself to God, then go on about your business. But expect His leading all day long. Listen for His voice to direct you in the way you should go. Accept the challenge to be an instrument for the Lord's use today.

Wherefore comfort (admonish, exhort) yourselves together, and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, even as also ye do. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11 We can improve our relationships with others by leaps and bounds if we become encouragers instead of critics. It is the greater person who does the right thing; Christ's righteousness dwells in you to help you do what is right. You are great in God's eyes when you choose to do right and bless others. No matter how rough your day is today, speak words that uplift and encourage those around you. Encourage others if you notice them doing a good job-not just those who work with you, but people wherever you go, such as store clerks, auto mechanics, and waiters. Say something like, "I appreciate the extra effort you are making to do your job well." You can change your life and someone else's by choosing to speak positive words.

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all thy marvelous works. PSALM 9:1 KJV Some Christians feel guilty when they are doing something that isn't "spiritual." Somehow or another, they feel the need to hurry through the grocery store, dash through the house cleaning, and rush through all the daily aspects of life that seem irrelevant to their faith. They want to get back to doing something "spiritual" so God will be pleased with them again. God did not intend for you to hate the secular side of life. You can enjoy holiness and time with God even when you are doing daily chores, running errands, or taking the children somewhere they need to go. Don't begrudge the routine things of life; see every activity as an opportunity to serve God with your whole heart.

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. EPHESIANS 4:15 KJV If you want to become fully mature in the Lord, you must learn to love truth. Otherwise, you will always leave open a door of deception for the enemy to take what is meant to be yours. Some people have a difficult time facing truth and reality. They prefer to live in a make-believe world, pretending that certain things aren't happening. But we cannot deny the existence of problems or act as if they are not real. The devil is real, life is real, people are real, pain is real, and poverty is real. The good news is that no matter how real our pain may be, or how big our problems may seem, we can overcome all of them with the Word of God.

God is my help in every need; God does my every hunger feed; God walks beside me, guides my way Through every moment of this day. I now am wise, I now am true, Patient and kind, and loving, too; All things I am, can do, and be, Through Christ the Truth, that is in me. God is my health, I can’t be sick; God is my strength, unfailing, quick; God is my all, I know no fear, Since God and Love and Truth are here.

Gracious God, I feel such joy in my heart this day. Somehow the sun seemsbrighter, the air clearer, the colors more alive. It is as if the shadowsthat have kept me in the forgotten places of life have been swept away. Ipray that your grace will protect my joy so that I taste and smell it withfull attention. When the mighty feelings begin to wane, I pray that joy’sscent will remain, so that no darkness will ever be so black that I ceaseto believe in the light. I ask this for the sake of your love. Amen.