Pure in Heart

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
(NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, I pray that your Spirit would continue to cleans and purify (_________)’s heart. Focus her deepest loyalty on you. Be the center of her most passionate affections. Purge her heart from any impurities that would come between you and her. Allow her to enjoy your blessings, not as distracting from you, but as enhancing her worship of you. And as she sits in this place of purity, allow her to feel that unique fullness of your presence... seeing her loving heavenly Father yet again, and with an ever deepening awareness of your goodness. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

Sit with your Lord, and savor His presence.

Mercy

SCRIPTURE

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Matthew 5:7 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, I ask that in these days you would be making (__________) gently aware of your mercy to her. Remind her of how far you reached down to love and forgive her. Help her to own her need for your mercy. Open her eyes to the amazing love that was required for you to actually give her mercy. May she remember those times of desperation, when your gentle and yet powerful mercy was her only help. And then Lord, move her to see the hurts of those around her, and reach into their lives to give them the same mercy that you have extended to her. Help her to discern the presence of pain as she becomes aware of other’s circumstances. Help her to look past the masks, and know the deep hurts of those who need encouragement. Help her to translate her intentions into action, and actually give mercy to those around her. And as she does, I pray that you would ever increase the mercy you extend to her. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Use your own pain, and the relief of mercy you have experienced, as a motivator to give actions of mercy to the wounded God brings to your heart. And you will continue to receive his mercy.

Fully Satisfied

SCRIPTURE

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, I pray that you would create an appetite for righteousness in (__________). I ask that obedience would not be something that feels forced upon her from outside, but rather flows from a desire in her deep places. Make her desire righteousness because it is right and honors you. Make her to so reverence you that she must obey. Stir within her a yeaning to please you. May her desire for righteousness flow into every area of her life, her relationships, her attitudes, her decisions, her thoughts, her words, even her perspectives Lord. And as she lives righteously before you, may she feel that deep satisfaction that comes with your smile of approval and pleasure over her life.


ENCOURAGEMENT

There is nothing that fills the soul more than a clean conscience and the smile of our Lord. Want it and you will be filled.

Gentleness

SCRIPTURE

"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, as I feel my poorness of spirit in dependence upon you, and as I mourn my own sin and the sorrow it has brought, I find myself softened in my attitude toward others, prone more toward gentleness than judgment. Lord, I ask that you would use the memory of the blows of other people’s judgment and the injury to my already wounded soul, to move my heart to gentleness toward those already wounded and bleeding hearts. Make me attentive to their pain, and gentle with my words. Remove from me the judging eyes that would somehow make me better than they, and replace it with humility and kindness. Arouse me from my chair of mediocrity, and move me to active compassion, bandaging wounds and nursing battered souls. Remove from my lips the morsels of gossip, and replace them with a gentleness that believes the best in others. And may the richness of my future inheritance be enjoyed in part today as I feel the fullness of having loved deeply those who hurt.


ENCOURAGEMENT

Those who need our gentleness most, are those our flesh would most likely judge. Soften your heart, and feel it begin to fill with the richness of your coming inheritance.

The Comfort of Forgiveness

SCRIPTURE

 

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4 (NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, I have felt the weight of my sin. I have seen the intensity of pain that I have caused by it. Those I love have been hurt beyond words. Those who trusted me have been disappointed. Words I have spoken, thoughts I have harbored, attitudes I have held, motives I have felt; all sins that have grieved you, and now grieve me as well. Not a day goes by that I do not mourn my sin and the disappointment it brings you Lord. Thank you that in the midst of mourning my sin, you lavish upon me the comfort of forgiveness. Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross and the grace and comfort it brings me Lord. Thank you. Amen.                         

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

When you mourn the pain of sin, God gives the comfort of forgiveness. Be comforted today.

 

Poor In Spirit

SCRIPTURE

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3 (NASB)


PRAYER
[Pray this prayer for yourself]

Lord, I know without a doubt that I can do nothing without you. I am poor in spirit. Without you, I cannot walk the path you have set before me. Without your wisdom, I would not see the path to follow. Without your enablement, I could not resist the temptations that would lure me off that path. Without your protection I would be devoured by the enemy of my soul. Without your care and nurture, my heart would still be wounded and bleeding. And without your forgiveness, my soul would be consumed with the guilt of my sin. I want to surrender myself to you completely. I desire to relax in that place of complete dependence upon you for all that I am and need. I present myself to you, poor in spirit, fully aware of my neediness before you, and willing to receive whatever you give. Amen

ENCOURAGEMENT

(__________), that sweet spot of relaxed submission to your Lord is always safe. Stay in that place at all costs.

Hear His Voice

SCRIPTURE

 

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

John 10:27-28 (NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

I ask Lord, that through the constant drone of voices around her, (__________) will hear your voice. I pray that her heart would be so attune to you, that no other will matter. She is your child. You are her shepherd. She knows you Lord, and has come to know you even better in recent days. Her spirit is accustomed to listening to your Spirit, and moving at your prompting. Do not let her loose that now Lord. Keep her heart and ears open. May she hear you whisper in her ear, and may she follow you in faith. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

God has given you a unique beauty in your deep heart. Listen to what he has put there.

 

Blessings

SCRIPTURE

 

“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.

“I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear.

Leviticus 26:3-6a

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, I ask that you would honor (__________)’s obedience to you. She has repented with action, not just intent. The sincerity of her heart is seen in her deeds, not just her words. She has forsaken her sin and followed you. She has given up her pursuit of self, and has honored you with her life. I ask that you would give her the fruit of her obedience by lavishing your blessing on her. Surprise her with your grace. Cause blessing to overflow onto blessing to overflow onto further blessing. Fill her life with good things Lord, the very things she longs for. And as she receives them, give her peace in her deepest parts, and make her rest with no fear. Give her today the harvest of her faithful obedience I pray. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGMENT

 

He is pleased with you dear girl, and will bless you beyond measure.

 

Savor His Blessings

SCRIPTURE

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.
Psalm 92:4


PRAYER
[Pray this for yourself]

Lord, it seems I always find myself longing for more than I have. So, I purpose now to pause, and sing for joy because of what you have done. You have answered me. You have not yet given me all of what I have asked, but you have given me much. Thank you. You have held back the forces of evil, and given protection. You have reached into the deep places and touched those I love. You have seen the secret places of my heart, and spared me from my most terrifying fears. I stand before your throne, and lift my heart in praise to you. You alone know me. You alone understand fully. You alone can give me the desires of my heart. You alone I trust. You. Alone. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

The measure of your meditation on his past and present blessings will equal the measure of your hope for the future. Take time to enjoy the blessings he HAS given. And let tomorrow care for itself.

Stay the Course

SCRIPTURE

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 (NASB)



But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, that you can actually take hardships and transform them into hope is nothing short of genius. I take pause for a moment, and lift my heart in gratitude for the way you have worked in (__________)’s heart and life. Thank you for taking the events of her life… all the events of her life… and adding the seasoning of your grace that was needed to produce the blossom of beauty. Thank you that she had the perseverance to endure when she thought that she could not. Thank you that she did not give up. Thank you that as she endured, the hardship produced a depth of character that has been proved in the fire of life. And thank you that this proven character has given birth to new hope in her life, the hope of both delighting in you, and the hope of receiving the desires of her heart. Thank you that she clings to you, and you alone. Thank you that she sees all other gifts as simply an extension of your love and grace to her. Thank you that she leans on you alone. Thank you that she hopes in you alone. Thank you that she longs for you most. Thank you for her strength, and sufficiency… for her health and wholeness. Thank you Lord, thank you. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

What got you here will get you there. Stay on the same course.

Direction

SCRIPTURE

 

1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.

Romans 14:1-4

 

4 Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth.
look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.

Psalm 25:4-7

 

PRAYER

[Pray this for yourself]

 

Lord, thank you for your mercy, your compassion, and your forgiveness. Without these, I would be a shipwrecked on the rocks of life. Instead, you have lifted me in my weakness and set the feet of my soul on solid ground. Thank you, Lord. I cast myself upon your strong Fatherly wisdom and love, and ask that you would give your direction to me now. I am responsible to you Lord, to do what is right. I need your wisdom. I pray that you would release me from the confusion that comes from the pressure and opinions of others, and give me a clean clarity that comes to my heart by your Spirit within me. Make clear the path I should walk. Point clearly to the road for me follow. Help me to see truth, not through the eyes of others, but through the eyes of your Spirit within me. Speak to me in my heart, and give me ears to hear. I have put my hope in you, and you alone. I trust that you are a heavenly Father who delights in giving me good gifts. And so I promise to go where you lead, and only where you lead. Please lead me Lord, clearly and with a deep peace, that I may bask in your approval. Amen.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Do not sacrifice your conscience before God for anything, or anyone. Do not. But neither allow others to rule your conscience with their opinions. Your heart is wholly devoted to your Lord… trust it, and trust him.

 

You Will Sing Again

SCRIPTURE

 

13        But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

14        For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15        For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16        For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17        Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

18            Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Oh Lord, grief and loss are an ever-present reality of this life. Those we love go away, never to be seen in this life again, and the pain of loss seems unbearable. There is no shame in the grief we feel, nor in the reality that this grief never seems to completely go away, no matter how long it's been. That the sense of loss lingers for years is simply a testimony to the beauty and power of the life that was lived. Lord, come to (__________) on this day, and mingle with her grief a powerful sense of hope. May she have the hope of a joyous reunion. May she have the hope of eternal fellowship with them and you. And between now and then, may you give her a new song of love and life. And may her heart hear it's growing melody even today. But most of all, Lord, most of all, may she have a deep and full sense of your comfort today. Please Lord. Overwhelm her with the full sweep of your comfort. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

One day you will sing with them again dear girl. And even before that day, God will bless you with a new song. Listen for its distant melody.

 

Rescue and Gratitude

SCRIPTURE

29 I am suffering and in pain.Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
30 Then I will praise God’s name with singing,and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
31 For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle,more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad.Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.
33 For the Lord hears the cries of the needy;he does not despise his imprisoned people.
Psalm 69:29-33

PRAYER

Lord, you are at work in (__________)’s life, circumstances, and future. You are rescuing her by your saving power. You have seen the suffering and pain, and have heard the cries of this needy child of yours. And Lord, you already know that a wash of incredible gratitude will flow from her as you unfold your work. You know, because you have seen this gratitude flow even in her suffering. She will praise you with the song of her heart. She will see the work you are doing, and her heart will leap with gladness. She has sought your help during these difficult days Lord, and as a result has lived in joy, despite the pain. Bring your answer quickly I pray. Bring it quickly. Amen.

ENGOURAGEMENT

He is already rescuing you dear girl. Brace yourself and watch his saving power unfold with masterful design.

Our Daily Bread

SCRIPTURE

Give us this day our daily bread.
Matthew 6:11

"Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?' or "What will we drink?' or "What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-32 (NASB)

PRAYER

Lord, (__________)’s concerns about meeting daily needs can be utterly overwhelming at times. Our culture has created a web of regular financial obligations that clutters the simple principles of your desire to provide for us. I ask today that you would flood (__________)’s heart with a calm sense of your faithfulness. Move her to ask you for today’s provision, and allow tomorrow to care for itself. I ask that you would replace worry with a passionate pursuit of fully following you, her king. Make her to be occupied with her moment by moment decisions to own and live your righteousness. I ask in passion and power that you would indeed give her this day her daily bread, Lord. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

You Father in heaven knows what you need dear girl. He will care for you. Relax, and just keep seeking him.

Deliver Us

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 6:13
"And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
(NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, I ask that you would keep (__________)’s soul far away from the evil that would seek to overtake her. Keep her from the temptation to be anxious about tomorrow, and fill her with faith. Keep her from the temptation to be discouraged, and fill her with hope. Keep her from the temptation to be resentful and fill her with love. Push away every form of evil that would seek to darken her Lord, even those subtle shades of evil, and fill her with the brilliance of your Spirit. Deliver her from evil Lord. Place a garrison of angels around her heart and soul. Guard her. Keep her safe. And Lord, make her know it in her mind, and feel it deep within her heart. Amen


ENCOURAGEMENT

He will deliver you. There is nothing so great that he cannot rescue you. Ask him. Trust him. Wait on him.

Composed

SCRIPTURE

Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me.

Psalm 131:2 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, you created mothers to teach us something about you. I pray that today (__________) would rest her heart and soul in your tender and secure care. I pray that everything she knows, and has experienced surrounding the idea of a mother would come together in such a way that she would understand you more completely. I ask that you would make your presence known to her in a special way today so that she feels your tender care. Hold her Lord. Keep her soul calm. Compose her. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Everything you need from a mother you have in the tender care of our Lord. Rest your soul in him dear girl.

Strength and Courage

SCRIPTURE

 

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you;

Genesis 12:1 (NASB)

 

6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:6-9 (NLT)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, moving forward in obedience to your direction can carry great promise and hope, but it can also stir within us deep fear and a looming discouragement. (__________) is following your direction Lord, and that may mean stepping forward into the new places that you have prepared for her. I ask that you would summon within her a strength and courage that can only come from you Lord. I pray that she would decide NOT to be afraid or discouraged. Tune her mind to a perfect pitch of faith Lord, trusting that you are with her wherever she goes, walking next to her arm in arm, giving protection, nurture, guidance, and help. As she dwells on these thoughts, push away the dark possibilities and replace them with a brilliance of hope. I ask that you would assure her, without even a faint doubt, that her promised land is nearing, and will come with such beauty and power and grace that she will have to smile at your sovereign tapestry. Wrap your strong arms around her tender heart, and comfort her this day. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

These last days have simply been giant steps, taking you closer to the land flowing with milk and honey dear (__________). Take courage. Be strong. Feel his presence.

Despite My Enemies

SCRIPTURE


Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

(NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, there are those who do not understand (__________)’s pain, who have not looked closely enough to see her heart-processes, and have chosen to judge and condemn her. Their expressions vary from subtle smirks to harbored anger, to wagging tongues. Their misunderstanding makes them enemies of sort because their posture works against the healing and health of (__________)’s soul. Lord, I ask that despite her enemies, you would prepare a generous meal for her soul regularly. I ask that you would anoint her head with oil to keep the irritating insects from hovering around her mind and thus distracting her from enjoying you. I ask that the oil of your love would cause healing in her soul. I pray that your generous touch in her heart would overflow with abundant grace, Lord. And I ask that she would enjoy all of this in the calm safety of your presence, even with the threat of her enemies occasionally lurking in the shadows. Make her whole Lord, and keep her in that peaceful comfort of your care. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Dear girl, it matters not what they think. It only matters that you have the smile and gentle care of your Shepherd. He loves you, indeed.

His Closeness

SCRIPTURE
 

 Matt 28:20b (NASB)

“… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

 

 Psalm 23:6 (NASB)

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

 

  

PRAYER

 

Lord, I ask that from this moment onward, ______ would feel the comfort of your constant presence. Brush her often with the wings of those angels you have sent to minister your care and strength in her life, so that she never doubts your love and involvement. And as she senses your presence I ask that her fellowship with you would be a sweet taste to her soul from now and forever. Make her to know the depth of intimacy with you that few in this world have known Lord. Revel yourself to her in very personal and powerful ways. Fill her soul with the richness that comes from dwelling with you Lord, not just seeing you occasionally, but living and abiding in your presence. Touch the deep place in her with you Lord God. May she never be the same because of it. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

He is with you dear ______. He is, and always will be. Welcome him, enjoy him, long for him every moment. As you do, you will dwell in the house of the Lord now and forever.

 

Just Like Heaven

SCRIPTURE

Matt 6:10
10 "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
(NASB)


PRAYER

Oh God in heaven above, I ask that your Kingdom would come to ______’s heart, and your will would be done in her life, as it is done in heaven. Flood her heart with a sense of being under your kingship, honoring you with her life, obeying you, seeking to be close to you. I ask that all of the best things that you would will for her life would come true. I ask that you would permeate her with your incomprehensible peace, pushing out of her heart any trace of anxiety or panic. I ask that you would give her a deep sense on inner joy, no matter her circumstances. I pray that hope would spring forth as a spring blossom. Give her a faith that is calmly assured of those things she hopes for. And give her such a feeling of being loved that she just can’t help but smile. Fill her heart with light and life Lord. Make her taste today, those perfect gifts that you will one day will into her life in heaven. Today Lord, give them to her today… Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in ______ as it is in heaven. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

The enemy of soul your has been rebuked. The God of heaven is coming to work his will in your heart and life. Yearn for it. Expect it. Savor it. Light and life is being prayed into you dear girl.

A Restored Soul

SCRIPTURE

 

Ps 23:2-3a

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul;

(NASB)

 

PRAYER

 

We grow so weary some days Lord. We feel the depletion that comes from running a spiritual marathon. Our souls are parched, and our hearts are exhausted. And Lord, some days ______ has no tears left to cry. Oh Lord, I pray that you would refresh her this moment. I pray that you would cause her soul to stretch out in a pasture that is cool, green and shady. As she rests there, feed her Lord. Give her those thoughts, those truths, those encouragements that her weary heart needs most. Revive her Lord. Give ______ cool waters to refresh her in a place free of anxiety, a place of peace. Renew her. Bring her soul back to a place of calm assurance and readiness. Repair her brokenness. Heal her wounds. Restore her soul I pray Lord. Amen

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

He is your Shepherd ______. He will give you green pastures and quiet waters. Savor them, and he will restore your soul. He will dear girl, he will. Trust him.

 

LIfe and Peace

SCRIPTURE

 

Romans 8:6

6          For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Life and peace Lord, is what I ask for ______ at this moment. I ask that she would focus her mind on that which the Holy Spirit within her would bring. Push out those dismal ponderings of dark futures, and move her to dream of beautiful possibilities Lord. Break into her mind with light and paint hopeful, joyful, futures. Make her know that you take even the dark events of her past and weave them into light. Help her to feel your forgiveness and love and confidence and smile. And Lord, as ______ is filled up to overflowing with the ponderings of your future blessings, please fill her with life and peace. Please flood her emotions with your peace as a result of filling her mind with your Spirit. May her purposeful intentions be to digest in her mind only those brilliant and hopeful blessings that you have yet to give. Amen.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

The thoughts you choose to meditate upon will have a profound effect upon your emotions. Choose to dwell on the hope of his lavish blessing. Choose.

 

 

Hope Indeed

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
(NASB)

Romans 5:3-5
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
(NASB)

Romans 8:24-25
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
(NASB)


PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you that your resurrection gives us great hope for forgiveness from the past, power for the present, and heaven in the future. Thank you that the resurrection speaks of new life, new hope, and new beginnings. I pray that this Easter brings hope to ______’s heart. Lord, she has experienced a storm of tribulation this past year, and that tribulation has built the stamina of perseverance, which as shown the beauty of her character. Now Lord, with this Easter Sunday I ask that you would well up in her heart hope of every sort. Make her feel your complete forgiveness. Make her know your power to persevere in her present. Make her feel beautiful of heart and character. And give her the faith to feel the assurance of those hopes and dreams that linger in her heart. Give her the faith to feel a conviction that those things she has yet to see are indeed coming one day. Flood her whole person with an overwhelming sense of hope that washes away her doubts and fears forever. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

Dear girl, our Lord has seen your pain and your perseverance. As he rests his eyes on your proven character he calls you beautiful of heart indeed. Have faith, rest in hope, and bask in his undying love.

Pour out your Pain

SCRIPTURE

 

Luke 22:41-44

41        And He [Jesus] withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,

42        saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."

43        Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

44        And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, as ______’s heart feels the agony of her current lot, I ask that you would move her to pray her heart with great fervor. Turn her agony into pleadings. Give her freedom to bring her requests to you unashamedly, and yet melt her will into yours Lord. May she feel her agony, release her pain, and submit her will. And as she is in the midst of that agony Lord, I ask that you would bring an angel from heaven to her side to strengthen her so that she might walk the road you have set before her with dignity and grace. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

It’s ok to feel your pain and pour out your agony in prayer. It’s ok.

 

A Friend

SCRIPTURE

 

Proverbs 18:24b

A real friend sticks closer than a brother.

 

1Thessalonians 5:14b

Encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, ______ knows what it is to be fainthearted and weak. The load of emotions she is under seems unbearable. Her heart faints and the knees of her soul are weak. And yet, there seems to be no one who sticks closer than a brother. No one calls. No one encourages. No one helps. It feels as though no one cares. And rather than the pain being lessened by a brother, the absence of a friend makes the pain greater still. Lord, it ought not be so. I pray that you would rouse the hearts of your people to remember what it is to love one in need. I pray that they would see beyond their busyness and see the shadow of those sitting alone in pain. Cause their excuses to be consumed like wood, hay and straw Lord. Help them to remember what it was like to be loved by you when they were unable to love back. Bring to their heart the times they were the ones in need, helplessly hoping for a Samaritan to come along and bandage their wounds. Move them to initiate actions of care and compassion and love Lord. Move them to love ______ today Lord. Move them now, I pray. Amen.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Be the friend you long to have. Give of your heart what you can and when you can. And wait for God to give you a friend indeed.

 

The Promised Land

SCRIPTURE

 

Deuteronomy 11:8-12

 

8 "Therefore, be careful to obey every command I am giving you today, so you may have strength to go in and take over the land you are about to enter. 9 If you obey, you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors and to you, their descendants—a land flowing with milk and honey! 10 For the land you are about to enter and take over is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you planted your seed and made irrigation ditches with your foot as in a vegetable garden. 11 Rather, the land you will soon take over is a land of hills and valleys with plenty of rain—12 a land that the Lord your God cares for. He watches over it through each season of the year!

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, deep in ______'s heart she longs for a promised land in her life. Circumstances and events have brought hardship, and she may be in a season of life that is much more like Egypt, where everything seems to come by labor and toil. I pray that you would give her the hope a promised land on the horizon of her future. I ask that you would cause the sun to rise on a new season of her life soon. Make her aware that you are beginning to take her there, even now. And Lord, in preparation for that day, draw her closer to you, deepen her love for you, and make her obedient to you in every area of her life. I ask that this commitment to you will give her the strength needed to enter this wonderful place in her life. Give her the faith to believe that you will slay every giant that stands between her and that Promised Land. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Trust him. Obey him. And when the moment arrives, step forward in faith. He will give you the strength you need to enter this land of his gracious provision.

 

Love Him

SCRIPTURE

 

Matthew 22:35-40

 

One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, when the complications of life swirl around ______, and her mind spins with questions and the anxiety of tomorrow’s wonderings… I pray that you would slow her down… and bring her back to simplicity… loving you and loving others. Lord, well up within ______’s heart a deepening love for you. Take every ounce of passion, every joule of energy, every synapse of her mind and make them pulsate with a love for you. Cultivate a sense of worship of you in every moment of her day Lord. And as she senses this love for you washing over her every activity, thought and feeling, may your peace overwhelm and envelop her very soul. In that peace, may she spill your love into the lives of those she touches. May the love she gives come back to her a hundred fold in measure. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Love well. Make him the center of your love, and people the overflow. And watch to see if God will not measure back to you more love that you could have ever imagined. Watch and see girl.

Peaceable Wisdom

 

SCRIPTURE

 

 

James 3:17-18

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

Romans 12:18, 21

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men…

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, there are some who hover around ______’s life who are simply not peaceable. The sting of their judgment penetrates like a biting wind. And although they offer accusations with a religious cloak, they are far from gentle or merciful. And the fruit of the seeds of their words are far from peaceful and much closer to the evil accusations of the enemy. I pray that you would keep ______’s heart in peace today Lord. I ask that you would help her to release ownership of their words, judgments, and responses, and embrace her own heart and actions only. May she do those things that make for peace, whether or not they are accepted. May you protect her from the evil judgments around her, and move her to simply do what is right, from her heart. And Lord, I ask that as she steps forward with courage and does what she knows pleases you, that she would overcome the evil judgments with the good of your grace. I ask that you would fill ______ with your peace today Lord. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Stand up, march forward and do good ______. Do good no matter what anyone else says. Do it with courage. Do it in the face of accusations, misunderstanding, and judgments. Overcome their evil with your good. And rest in his peace.

 

 

Groan Your Desires to God

SCRIPTURE

 

Romans 8:26-28 (selected)

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words… He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, at times ______ finds herself in such a place of pain and confusion that she is not even sure how to pray. Her soul aches for both your will and her heart’s desire. Swirling around the mix is a healthy dose of people’s sinful actions and the attendant consequences that flow. Making sense of it all, and articulating a prayer that is in line with your will, and will work good from the chaos just seems beyond her. Thank you that your Spirit takes ______’s deep heart and conveys it accurately in a prayer that is according to your will. Thank you that you will take everything in this girl’s life and work it together for her good. I ask that you would help her to feel your Spirit groaning with her, pushing together in a direction that will ultimately work your perfect purpose and plan from the imperfection that surrounds her life. Hear her desire for your will Lord, and honor that with an answer that makes her heart leap. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

He knows your heart and his. He can do this, dear girl, he can work the magic of good from even this. Groan your desires to God through His Spirit, and watch him weave the sovereign tapestry for your good and his glory.

 

Calming the Emotional Storm

SCRIPTURE

 

Proverbs 4:23

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

(NASB)

 

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

(NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, there are times when ______'s mind throbs with a constant pounding of unwelcome thoughts about past events, present concerns, and an uncertain future. It is as though her thoughts feed an emotional swirl of regret, anxiety, and worry. The emotions trigger more thoughts, which feeds more emotions until the swirl has become a downward and darkening spiral. I pray that at this moment you would set her free Lord. Transform her thoughts. Renew her mind. Refocus the lens of her mind onto those good and beautiful gifts you have given. Allow her to bask in your forgiveness and healing from yesterday, your strength and wisdom for today, and the hope of her desires and dreams for tomorrow. Cause her heart to swell with gratitude for the love she feels from you, the faith you are building in her, and the bright hope you put on her horizon. May ______ feel the storm within her calm, and the sun of your grace begin to warm her soul. And tonight may she fall into a peaceful sleep, secure in your strong arms. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Dear dear ______, rest your weary mind on his love, and grace, and forgiveness, and compassion, and wisdom, and strength, and hope. Rest your thoughts, and watch your emotions follow. You are his, dear girl. He is always near.

 

Nourishing the Soul

SCRIPTURE

 

1 Peter 1:24, 2:2-3

"People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever."… So get rid of all evil behavior, deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, crave the pure spiritual milk of the word so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.

 

 

PRAYER

 

Oh Lord, ______'s heart has felt the violence of imperfect people, and the loss of those she loves. Coping with this pain sometimes drains her reserves, and leaves her weak and spent. Please feed her with your words of life. Well up within her a longing for the milk of your word. Lead her to those passages of scripture that will strengthen and sustain her spirit. Make those words sweet to her taste and nourishing to her soul. She knows well that people fade from her life like flowers of the field, so Lord, make her know equally well that your words of life will never fail her. Make her to lean upon you. At this moment Lord, I ask that you would reach her deepest places with the sweet sustenance of your truth. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Feast upon his eternal words, dear girl. Savor the taste, and texture of his truth. It will never fail you.

 

A Humble Heart

SCRIPTURE

 

1 Peter 5:6

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor."

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, I ask that you would keep ______'s heart soft and easily molded by your hand. I pray that she would not be occupied with the need to be honored by people, but that she would long for your approval and smile. I pray that her humble spirit would so groom the substance of her heart that when the heat of adversity comes, it would soften her heart like wax rather than harden it like clay. May that softness take away some of the pain of your work, and give you an open space to work in her life. And I pray that as others see the clear marks of your shaping hand, that she would receive honor at just the right time. Amen.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Concentrate on cultivating a genuine humility in your own heart. Leave the honoring to God. He will work his miracles in his own time.

 

The Love of a Father

SCRIPTURE

 

Psalm 103:8-14

 

8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.

13 The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, there a few things that inspire as much wonder and awe as the vastness of the heavens you created. And yet that endless expanse of height is a picture of something far more powerful and precious to ______, your unfailing love for her. That love moves you to mercy. You forgive her. You have thrown her sins as far away as the east is from the west. You are her tender and compassionate father. Lord, you know her weaknesses, every one, and yet love her still. I pray that you would come to her with this strong and tender love, and fill her up to overflowing. As she gazes into the sky on a clear night, may she feel overwhelmed by the vastness of your love. And may she feel with sureness that your love is indeed unfailing, no matter what. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

No matter whose love may come and go from your life, our Lord’s love will never fail. Never. Lean on his unfailing love.

A Shepherd's Care

SCRIPTURE

 

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my shepherd;
      I have all that I need.

 

PRAYER

 

You are ______’s shepherd Lord. You love her deeply. You know her pain. You understand, when those around her could not possibly. You see every empty place, every heartache, every moment of aloneness, every fear, and the despair that sometimes envelops it all. You are her shepherd. You know the real needs that even she does not comprehend. As she comes to know your shepherd care, she feels your tenderness and strength flow together in a way that answers her cries and meets her needs. The pain remains, and her aching soul still throbs, but it’s different knowing your care, more secure, more at peace. I ask that at this moment you would fill ______’s heart with a quiet reminder of your shepherd care. May she feel your presence, your protection, and your healing. And may she be overwhelmed with the knowing that all her needs are met in you.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

The great shepherd offers you all that you truly need. Rest in his care. Rest.