and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple— then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart), so that they will fear you and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.
2 Chronicles 6:29-31
Pray
I opened my eyes before the sun rose in my home this morning, and I was determined to fill my mind and heart with Your Word today Lord. Father it amazes me that many of Your children do not take the time to read, study, learn, and gain wisdom from Your good book; to see and realize that the stories from thousands of years ago which were recorded in the Bible can also be found represented today as Your children face many of the same tests, trials, perils, and situations as did Your children in ancient times.
Father today there are nations suffering from famine and living in ruins. There is crime, sin, worship of other gods, unethical and dishonest rulers, kings and queens, and people killing in Your name. Father forgive us. Forgive us for our ignorance, arrogance, ego, pride, and refusal to obey You fully. Forgive us for making our own rules even though You clearly outlined Your own. Forgive us for marrying and divorcing like we’re buying and discarding clothes.
Forgive us for maintaining property better than we do our personal relationships. Forgive us for judging each other without Your guidance or permission to do so. Forgive us for thinking we know what we’re doing, when we clearly have no clue. Forgive us for repeating and committing worse sins than of our predecessors and ancestors. Forgive us for using Your name in vain and for cursing using Your name. Forgive us Father.
Forgive me Father for the wrongs I have committed. Help me to undo the web I have created. Help me to restore my good name as Your child. Help me to repay my debts. Prepare me Father to be the parent You see in me. Prepare me to be the spouse You know I am capable of being. Father mold me into a better child for You as well as for my human parents. Show me how to be a better sibling, because I am my brother and specifically in my case, my sister’s keeper. Teach me how to be a better servant, neighbor, friend, advisor, mentor, sponsor, and person. I want to be better, I want to do better, I want to live better. Help me Father.
In Your name I pray. Amen.
Reflection
Today is the day my beloved mother was brought into this big world to bless me, our family and friends, and many nations. I am so grateful for her and for what she has done for me. She is not only my mother but she is my friend and mentor. I will always love her, respect her, adore her, and look up to her. Father forgive me for any and all moments that I am not 100% respectful of and to my mother. Touch her heart so that she knows my true heart and that I never want to or mean to dishonor her in any way. I pray that she forgives me the moment I do. I pray that God heals my mom mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and provides her with the financial means to live comfortably so that she can provide a way for others as she has always dreamed. I wouldn’t trade my mother for another woman for anything. I hope that she lives another 58 years and enjoys her birthday! I love you mom!!!!!!
Let me also say “Happy birthday Jack”…he is the newborn son to some dear friends of mine and he entered the world this morning; an adorable blessing to this world–bound to make a positive change for many generations.
Every solution to every problem and issue can be found in God and through the Bible, Jesus Christ, and within ourselves when we connect to God. Jesus is the way to salvation. Jesus is the shepherd who shows us the right way to walk, talk, act, think, and live. We don’t need interpreters or guides to have a conversation with either Jesus or God. We just need to stop what we’re doing and speak through prayer or conversation. The answers will always come…you just have to be receptive enough to listen, see, and then respond. Be prepared for your blessings or they will come and you will be so self-consumed that you won’t notice them, and then later cry out that God didn’t answer your prayers–when He did.
When life is going great for you and you have God’s favor, never say, “it’s too good to be true” but rather say, “thank You Father!”
When life is going rough and it at times seems unbearable, never say, “I can’t go on” but rather say, “I need a moment to breathe and get my bearings right!”
We’re all going through something right now today. I know I am. I know that I have family members and friends who are getting knocked around by the ‘waves’ of life. I know that there are times when it so hard to breathe. There are days when I can barely see through my own tears. There are days that the pain within makes my body ache all over. But I would rather us continue to pray for guidance, strength, wisdom, and determination to move forward another day, than to give up and tell God that we can’t go on. God has never put more on us than we can handle. He has always provided solutions to our problems; it is up to us to accept the solutions and get ourselves out of the compromising situations, by following the paths He has placed before us.
I believe God can do anything. I believe that I can do anything through Christ. I believe that when I fall it is because of something I did wrong, and it is up to me with God’s guidance to make it right. I believe that before I can ask for forgiveness I must first forgive myself and then forgive those who have wronged me. I believe that God will never leave or forsake me. I believe that God loves me more than I can ever comprehend. I believe that He wants me to begin loving myself better starting this very second. I believe that if it weren’t for Him I wouldn’t be alive today.
The tears that fill my eyes are created by Him and as they flow down my face I am gradually being released from my self-imposed bondage, and being healed from inflictions–some new and some that have been building over time. I believe this. I also believe that God has amazing things in store for me and amazing opportunities for me to serve Him and His children. So each day I will take another step to humbly step out of my own way and let go of my issues so that His Truth can become my accepted reality.
Embrace today. Embrace your life.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
breakingbreadwithnatasha.wordpress.com
Breaking Bread With Natasha 