"I'll Pray for You"

How often do you actually pray for someone when you tell them you're going to? I find myself frequently telling a friend or coworker that I'll be praying for them. I used to fall into the habit of saying this and then realizing later that I never did actually pray for them.  I have also been in friendships where they would say "I'll try to remember to pray for you." or "I'll do my best to pray for you." While I appreciate the honesty of those two statements, I appreciate even more when you hold praying for others as a priority. Yes, telling someone you're praying for them is a great way to encourage them in a hard time; but what is even more encouraging is actually praying for them!!!

Something I've started making a habit of is that as soon as I tell someone I am praying for them, I pray for them right then and there. Whether it's in a comment on Facebook, a text message, in a letter, or in person, I take a moment right then to lift them in prayer. It doesn't have to be long, it doesn't even have to be out loud. But it does need to happen. Anytime I have the slightest thought about someone go through my head, I immediately send up a prayer for them, whether I know what it is that they need or not. It's the perfect opportunity to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and impact someone else's life.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thes. 5:16-18 (ESV)

What is so awesome about prayer is that it is literally just a conversation with our Creator, our Lover. We should talk with God the way we talk with our friends. We do that all day long, so why not talk to God all day long? Tell Him about the "hi" and "lo" of your day, or the funny moment that happened in class, or the stress you're feeling about an assignment. Ultimately, take the time to put yourself and your needs aside and pray for those of someone else, just as if you were encouraging them right there in front of you. Jesus knows what they need, and He wants to give it to them. Help them get what they need.

My challenge to you: Who are you praying for today, and I mean really praying?

Lesson 12: God is the only place we find true freedom

For most of my life I've known the importance of having God involved in my everyday existence. It's not been until recently that I've started to take note of the difference between the days that I invite Him to be a part of my day and the days that I ignore or refuse His presence in my day. Someone asked me this past week why I would refuse to let Him in my day if those days result in so much joy and peace. When she put it that way, it made me think a little harder about why I don't always let Him in. Do I enjoy being miserable? That seems a little odd...

Part of recovering from depression is relearning what a normal day is supposed to look and feel like - it's strange to someone like me to have all joy and roses everyday! But that doesn't mean it's wrong to have all good days!! That's just one more part of God's blessing of abundant life on His people! On the days where I ask God to join me, be my strength and my stronghold through whatever the day brings, and use me in whatever ways He desires, those days are the ones that stick out in my memory as being the most meaningful and profitable. The ones where I focus on myself and my pain, or look only to my own strength are the ones that hold their place in my bad memories, the times that are dragged up and thrown in my face when the Devil is trying to get me down.

This concept goes for anyone - not just those who are dealing with depression or other attacks - literally for everyday living. I am making it my goal to be able to say that I can recognize where God has been involved in every part of my day and consciously invite Him to walk through it with me, whatever it may have in store. My first thought when I get out of bed should be thanking God that I am able to do so, and my last one before going to sleep should be thanking Him for the ways He used my life that day, and all of them in between should be asking for His help and thanking Him for His strength at all times. He does say to "pray continually" and that's exactly what we should be doing!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.

Rejoice in the Lord Always: Not Just Another Cliche

"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!"

But what does it mean to rejoice? How can we rejoice ALWAYS?! God knows it's not easy for us to rejoice through every circumstance, but He encourages us to seek Him for the strength to do just that. Let's look first at what it means to rejoice.

According to Webster's Dictionary, rejoice means to feel or express great happiness. In this verse, the Greek word agalliao is used, which is the ACTIVE form of rejoicing - usually in response to what God has done. It means to feel an exuberant joy, the kind that overflows and affects everyone around you!

In the Old Testament, to rejoice was a short-lived event, but in Phil. 4:4 it is used with the commanding word of 'always' (Vine's Concise Dictionary). We tend to overuse this word 'always' and therefore forget what it really means. Again, Webster's Dictionary tells us that always means without exception, continuously, uninterruptedly, forever, in any event, at any time, perpetual continuance.

Let's take a closer look at this perpetual continuance. Perpetual means continuing without interruption or intermission, enduring forever. So the definition of always is redundant: perpetual continuance = continuing continuance that continues forever, without intermission. redundancy in literature (and the Bible is considered literature!) is used to emphasize a point of importance - meaning that God is emphasizing that we are to rejoice always no matter what the circumstances are, good or bad, promising or bleak.

Rejoicing is also active and meant to be seen by others (continue reading through verse 5). So when God tells us to rejoice in Him always, what He means is to express actively an exuberant joy in what the Lord has done with perpetual continuance!!

How great is that?!