Today is a Special Day

President Donald Trump has proclaimed Memorial Day, May 28th, 2018,
as a Day for Prayer for Permanent Peace. He called on all Americans,
saying, “On this day, let us also unite in prayer for lasting peace
in our troubled world so that future generations will enjoy the blessings
of liberty and independence.”

Both Congress and the president recognize
the day of prayer to honor and
“to remember the selfless service members
who have been laid to rest in flag-draped coffins
and their families who have suffered
the greatest loss.”

-- from The Daily Prayer Briefing of the Presidential Prayer Team. 

www.presidentialprayerteam.org  

TODAY, May 19

Today is National Armed Forces Day, so our flag is flying out there;

We smile at these brave people, and every day we mention them in prayer.

       Ideas come to mind, so we don’t just recite some formal kind of word,

       and we’re thankful to know all of this the LORD has seen and has heard.

Our verbal and heart-felt communication is not just “let’s pretend.”

Hopefully, you too have found God's peace when your honest prayer you “send.” 

                                                      + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

My Prayer for Blessing

Heavenly Father,  You are mighty, holy, awesome,

   so I humbly come now to seek Your blessing,

      so I ask: show me, teach me, help me.  

You placed me here at this time

   so I could know how much I need You,

      so I could open my heart to receive Your love.

You have shown me my weakness and failures

   so I can own up to my need for Your grace,

      so I will honestly confess my sins.

You allowed me to experience conditions of life

   so I can recognize frustration, confusion, discouragement,

      so I can rebuke the enemy of my souls who tempts me.

You bring circumstances to teach me

  so I see I lack confidence, strength, determination,

      so I see I lack wisdom for what to say and what to do.

You have a plan and a purpose for me

   so I can survive the tough times ahead,

      so I can learn to trust and obey You.

You have a wonderful Forever for me in Heaven

   so I can be with Jesus my Savior,

      so I can thank You in person for salvation.  

Heavenly Father,  You are mighty, holy, awesome,

   so I gratefully now declare Your blessing upon me,
       thank You for Your wonderful love, forgiveness, and blessings. 

                                      AMEN.

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

Is It Nothing?

We plunge into prayer, as if it’s

nothing.

We sing in our churches, as if it’s

nothing.

We use His name, as if it’s

nothing.

We read the Bible once in awhile, as if it’s

nothing.

Our attitude,

our worship and devotion,

our concern for others,

is it nothing?

Is God a mere man we can snub

or sweet-talk,

depending upon our mood?

Is He

nothing?

By Elaine Hardt ©2004

I Talk to God About My Healing

Heavenly Father, You are the Giver of life and the Architect of my body. 

I am Your obedient child and I am learning to be Your brave warrior. I enjoy being strong and healthy. Show me what to do.

Your Word says I am healed by the stripes Jesus took at the whipping post. He died for my sins. I believe it and gratefully receive all of Your blessings. 

Lord, forgive me for not being a good caretaker of my physical body.  Renew  a right spirit within me.  Align my mind, will, emotions so I come into agreement with You concerning my health and healing. 

I confess right now any sins You show me . . . 

I forgive any who have done wrong to me . . . 

I forgive myself for being less than who I wanted to be . . . 

You are able to heal me, either by instant miracle or a progressive healing. This includes any deformity or condition I was born with. Even old effects from illness and accidents clear up.  

Lord, this is not wishful thinking or begging.  

I do not ask because of my great need or because I deserve it. I ask because of Your great mercy and goodness, and I receive all of these tremendous blessings from You with thankfulness. 

I ask You, Father, for wisdom . . . 

Did YOU Pray for the Politician?

Just before you drifted off to sleep last night . . . 

You probably did pray for your spouse, your kids, your siblings.

Maybe you mentioned some neighbor or friend in your prayer. 

Did you pray for that politician?  Some movie star?  The television reporter? 

That really bad guy they featured in the evening news?

Mention one of our nation’s armed forces — of course you care! 

Here’s an idea for all you caring people who do pray

and of course, our Heavenly Father knows. . . 

Whatever famous person comes to mind, pray for them too.

Nothing fancy, just short and to the point in your bedtime prayer.  

They need God’s blessing tomorrow,

and maybe that assignment comes to you?  

by Elaine Hardt ©2017

Pray for the Police Officers, Firemen, Ambulance & Rescue Teams!

Wisdom    +   Protection   +   Ability   +   Strength   +   Help

   Pray for reliable, truthful bystanders,

   Pray for excellent, honest leadership, 

   Pray for excellent, honorable leadership in our towns, cities, states, and US.

   Pray God’s blessing also on their families!

How often should I pray?  And what words should I say?

Just remember Who you are talking to; your Creator listens to you!

           Prayer is not a memorized bunch of words!

by Elaine Hardt ©2017

What? A One Minute Prayer . . . Again?

A silly bedtime rhyme came to mind yesterday, “Good night, sleep tight; don’t let the bedbugs bite!”    Along with that childhood prayer,  “Now I lay me down to sleep,” it was a ritual for us little kids.

Lately there’s been a TV commercial about getting a new mattress because an older one might be infected with bedbugs, so no doubt that brought the rhyme to mind yesterday.

And today the big thought of how adults treat prayer as repeating memorized words, reciting them quickly without pause or consideration:  what did I just say to God?  Does the old prayer still mean something?  Am I just being careless, thinking that I did what I was supposed to do?  Do those words make me a believer, a Christian, a good guy?

Memorized prayers recited at home or at church can become useless when our minds are not paying attention.  Why do the leaders say those holy words to quickly?

While we might not be able to bring this problem to the attention of someone in charge, at least we can remedy it at home.  Are you going to pray the “Lord’s Prayer”? Speak slowly, pause between phrases and think about what you’re saying to God.  You are talking to your Maker, and He is listening.  Of course, He sees your attitude.

Now, what is it that you want to say to God?  Here is the “Lord’s Prayer” from the words of the Bible in Matthew 6:9-13  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13 

Here are eleven foreign language translations http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/lord_traditional_king_james.html  that also gives details of the phrases, the context, analysis line-by-line, and prayers for important occasions through the year.   

Ask yourself now, is it a “magic formula” ?  Does it keep us close to the LORD? Then take a few minutes to look up the two websites listed here.  

Afterwards ask yourself, what?  What do I want to tell my Creator?  Would this be a good time to confess my weakness, my shortcomings, my sins?  Would it be helpful to put into my own words something to express my faith, my admiration, my thankfulness?

So, is one minute enough today?

By Elaine Hardt ©2016

My Morning Conversation With God

Good morning, Lord.

Thank You for letting me see the light of another day.  

God, You are awesome and I am amazed at Your greatness.

I praise You for Your mercy and love.

Your Word says I can come boldly into Your presence, so I do.

I come in faith and obedience.  I come with great expectation.

I speak health to my body . . . 

Waiting in Line?

There’s no waiting in line, like at the bank or café;

Your Father in Heaven hears you instantly when you pray.

Of course, He already knows what’s going on with you;

You’re to trust and obey Him — be alert, brave, and calm, too.

And, is there something you are thankful for today?

Put your gratitude and love for Him into words you say. 

Let this be a reminder when you’re standing in line,

Prayer is not a list of words or reciting a rhyme!

by Elaine Hardt ©2014 

You Will Remember This

There’s no waiting in line, like at the bank or café;

Your Father in Heaven hears you instantly when you pray.

Of course, He already knows what’s going on with you;

You’re to trust and obey Him — be alert, brave, and calm, too.

And, there’s something you are thankful for today?

Put your gratitude and love for Him into words you say. 

Let this be a reminder when you’re standing in line,

Prayer is not a list of words or reciting a rhyme! 

By Elaine Hardt ©2014

Your Prayer: Good, Better or BEST ???

Someone speaks up, or emails you, or posts something on their Facebook page.  You are concerned.  What to do?  Pray.

* Here’s an Iffy way to pray.  Just say, “I’m praying for you.”  (Hopefully you remember at bedtime to mention that person’s issue in your quickie prayer.)

* Here’s a Good way to pray.  Say, “Drop me a line when you’ve got more time.  I will pray about that tonight.”  (Written down means the person puts in a few more words so you have a couple of specifics to mention when you do that goodnight prayer to God.)

* Here’s a Better way to pray. Say, “Let’s pray right now. Dear Father, there’s a need now for . . .“  And you pray out loud with that person right then, right there.

* Here’s an Even Better way to pray.  (First, you do pray that Better way, right at that time with a few audible words, to the point, not dragging on and on, and close with a smile, assuring that person that you do believe God hears and answers prayer.)  
        And, then . . . 

Did You Pray for that Hateful Man?

        The first time I heard his name in the news it was shocking.  Then, as months went by this hateful man was mentioned several more times in the national TV news.  

        I remember meeting that man years ago when I was a teenager when he came to speak at our church as a visiting evangelist. What he said then was real Bible preaching. What he said and did now was angering the people who needed to hear the message of God’s love and salvation. 

        Finally, last week the latest news: he had died. It was sort of a relief that he was gone, and I knew he’d face the judgment of God for all the bad he had done.

        But, out of the blue, the thought came to me, I had never prayed for the man.

        Oh, you might say, what makes you think one prayer from you, now and then, would have made any difference to that bad man!

        Maybe my prayer wouldn’t have changed a thing.  But, still, I could have prayed for him. It is no big complicated thing to pray for someone, to ask the LORD to put circumstances into his life that could bring him to repentance and restoration. 

        If he did read his Bible in those years he would have been reminded of the importance of repentance.  He needed a big dose of honesty to own up to his hateful attitude.  As a traveling speaker he should have had a team of intercessors who helped keep him accountable to God’s Word. 

        Did you pray for him?  Did you pray for those who saw and heard him, and grew angry, or confused, or hurt, or turned away rejecting God and the Bible?  Did you pray for the media people who were there to document the protesting?

        No, it wasn’t any of my business; I was busy with my own life, the people nearby and around me. I do pray for my siblings, my family and relatives. And I do read the Bible, completing the whole thing by the end of each year.  So, am I doing what I should?                + + + 

by Elaine Hardt ©2014

Take a Grownup Look at Prayer

Is praying just a kiddy-thing?

A child’s bedtime routine?

Or, is prayer for actual grownups

Who say to God what they mean?

Is praying out loud for showing off?

How can it be from the heart?

What do we find in the Bible,

That we’ll make a brand-new start? 

People prayed with serious words

Back in those olden days;

They confessed sins and weakness,

Then they gave the LORD their praise. 

Sometimes today we hear mumbled words

Or frivolous phrases in prayer;

We must consider for ourselves

Do we believe that God is There?

A Creator, awesome in power!

And He cares so much for us!

We so bravely acknowledge Him

that we choose to obey and trust.

By Elaine Hardt ©2014 

Time Alone, then Time Together

We deserve a small, quiet “Time Alone” at the first of every new day.  Find your focus. Think of what you’re thankful for. Declare your determination to live for the LORD.
Now, enjoy a “Time Together.”  Jesus is really there with you.  His blessings are what we need for a successful day.  We can talk to the actual Savior when we pray! 
What do we need for today?  Consider this: Faith, Hope, and Love. 
Many people have a weak definition of the words, FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE.        But the Bible points out the power of each of these words.  

“Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God 

through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 

through whom also we have access by faith 

into this grace in which we stand, 

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

And not only that, 

but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 

and perseverance, character, and character, hope. 

Now hope does not disappoint, 

because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts 

by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” 

Romans 5:1-5  

Look here http://www.jewsforjesus.org/files/pdf/newsletter/newsletter-2014-03.pdf   for the article by Karl deSouza.  He gives us these strong definitions: 
        Faith has the force of trust in something that is true.
        Hope is a forward-looking assurance of a promise to be fulfilled.
        Love is sacrificial and committed.
Here’s your challenge:  every morning this week have Time Alone and then Time Together.

By Elaine Hardt ©2014 

What It Means to Pray

•  a blessing for you

•  a blessing for the one you pray for

•  a stirring of compassion

•  a conversation with your Heaveny Father

•  an opportunity to bring help

Vision, Action, Results!

Are things getting better?

Are some things getting worse?

What do you think you can do? 

By our vision

We enlarge our possibilities

Growing in obedience to God

By our actions

We live a new life 

Demonstrating God’s love 

By our lifestyle

We set an example

Giving others something to see and talk about.

By God’s provision 

We are equipped

Expanding an outreach to bring glory to God.  

Is this your focus?  Is this a worthy goal?

Is this a matter for you to pray about? 

Vision, action, results! 

By Elaine Hardt ©2013

Growing Stronger for Today's Challenges

         Consider why and how you can grow stronger.  Consider what your needs are today.  Consider how much God loves you!

        You can grow stronger for today's challenge.  Consider these simple words in this short prayer. 

Dear Father,

I want to learn what You have for me to learn.

   I do want to grow in grace.

I can do better than I’m already doing,

   In my life’s challenging race.

I know others are watching, listening,

   And I want each one to find You,

So strengthen me, help me to be in the right place;

   Show me what — today — I should do!     AMEN.

Did You Notice That Label?

People who disagree with you are labeled for prayer,

People YOU disagree with are also labeled there,

People you hear about in the news,

Those really bad, and those you choose,

People you remember from way back then,

Others pop into your mind from who knows when,

They’re needing God, needing prayer,

So, less complaining when you are there!

The Lord has labeled them for you,

So, caring Christian, what will you do?

By Elaine Hardt ©2013

Your Assignment for This Summer. . . .

Remembering can make you happy, 

Remembering can make you sad;
It all depends upon
The kind of life you’ve had.

Anticipation can make you sparkle, 

Anticipation can make you blue, 

You’re in charge of your feelings: 

The choice is up to you.

Plan ahead with determination, 

Take time for genuine prayer; 

Summer can be a new beginning 

To demonstrate you care!

Enjoy the possibilities,
Stretch yourself and grow; 

Accomplish something useful, 

Summer won’t last, you know!

By Elaine Hardt ©2009

You know, every season of the year presents to you this opportunity.  Pray about your attitude, words, actions.  God loves YOU!