Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2023 i 60 Days of Prayer

I often get up early and go on a long walk to clear my head. As I plan the day and organize my thoughts, I sometimes find objects along the road: feathers, coins, or strangers’ lost grocery lists. Last week, as I headed home, a foldedup scrap of paper on the curb caught my attention. Another shopping list, I thought. Opening it up, I read the words penned in blue ink: I am asking for strength. What an odd thing to find. I placed it in my pocket and forgot about it until I put my jacket on and rediscovered the scrap. I reread the words, though this time, I took a moment and prayed for the person who had written it. I’ve kept it in my pocket—a reminder to…

YOU HAVE DIRECT access to Jesus’ infinite wisdom and understanding. The next time you struggle with a problem, reach out to Him and ask for His counsel. Be still, get quiet and listen. Wait. Breathe. Trust His answer. Dear Lord, I know You want what is best for me. Fill me with the strength and wisdom to make choices that serve You.…

Your true beauty shines from the inside. The magnificence of your character grows and flourishes when you love others. Your spirit is refined by helping others and developing a strong relationship with God. When you love Him, you radiate His light. All-Powerful God, I pray that the way I live my life pleases You.…

“WHY ARE THERE so many songs about rainbows?” is a question posed in a popular children’s song written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher. Rainbows make us stop and take in the pure majesty of beauty in the sky. More importantly, they remind us of God’s promise to Noah to never destroy the earth by flood again. Lord, thank You for the many ways you connect us to the triumph of mercy and the victory of grace.…

GOD IS WITH you. Reflect on the reassuring truth that although life might seem to wear you down with troubles, you are being built up by God. He is restoring and strengthening you. Best of all, He will never leave you. Lord, thank You for empowering me with Your presence. Help me overcome hurdles and keep my mind clear and focused on You.…

WHO HASN’T HEARD this verse and groaned a little when trying to be thankful during challenging times? But strength lies in this powerful verse. Because of your relationship with God, you are not alone! You have the Creator of the universe to help you navigate life’s twists and turns. Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your loving presence. Teach me always to see the good in a situation.…

HOW DO YOU respond when someone treats you unfairly? Do you resist the urge to get angry and upset? Sometimes the best response is to take a moment and pray. Ask God to help you turn the situation around. Practicing self-control strengthens your character and enables you to develop the ability to diffuse contentious situations. Merciful God, help me control my reactions to difficult people and situations. When I am frustrated, fill me with Your peace.…

YOUR GOD-GIVEN NATURE allows you to be a conduit of His love. Each day is an opportunity to support the people He has placed in your life—even the difficult ones. Choose to love the hard-to-love. Make an effort to love with Christlike love! Lord, help me to love deeply with all my heart—especially those people who need it most!…

ARE YOU LOOKING to lead a more balanced life? Perhaps work or stress has taken over time that would be better spent enriching your spiritual life. When you feel offcenter, turn to His Word. Scripture will help guide you to surrender your will for His, and in doing so, you will release your stress, have more energy and discover the perfect balance. Dear Lord, fill me with Your Spirit—and guide me to take the time I need to focus on You.…

WHEN YOU ARE tunneling through dark times, have faith and put your hope in Jesus, the Light of the World. Know that every difficult path offers lessons and blessings that will help you grow. Trust that God is by your side. He will not forsake you. Lord, life’s trials test me, but I trust You to help me through the dark moments. I have faith and will persevere.…

THE GREEK WORD koinonia appears in the Bible in the context of the importance of participating or simply showing up. When we attend events or show up for people, we support them and let them know that we care. Fellowship is an essential part of your faith. Are you present for those that need you? Lord, I am so grateful for the people You have placed in my life. Guide me to recognize opportunities where I need to show up.…

IN THE ABOVE verse, Jesus is “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” When you feel alone with your grief, know that God understands your pain. Share your heartache with Him and take comfort in realizing He fully understands what you are going through. He will support you and guide you to the other side of grief. Lord, sometimes I feel no one else understands the depths of my hurt. But You do! You are the Source of my healing. I am not alone in my pain.…

CHARLES SPURGEON SAID, “Do not say, ‘I cannot help having a bad temper.’ Friend, you must help it. Pray to God to help you overcome it at once, for either you must kill it, or it will kill you. You cannot carry a bad temper into heaven.” Slow down your anger and rise above provocation. Build up resistance to anger by letting this verse guide your thinking. Dear Lord, help me resolve differences with love and compassion and strive for solutions that bring peace and harmony.…

THIS PSALM REASSURES us that God completely forgives our wrongdoings. There is no transgression so great that He cannot completely forgive you. When you bring your regrets to God, He, in His mercy, removes all evidence of your offense. Lord, thank You for forgiving my shortcomings and guiding me forward to a life that aligns with Your will and is graced by Your peace.…

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE doing things alone? This verse reminds us that fear should not stop you from experiencing life to the fullest. If you want to do something—rather than waiting to find someone who will go with you—recognize that any adventure can be possible with God as your companion. Lord, thank You for being my closest friend—or encouraging me to explore new places and things and for going with me when I fear going alone.…

SOMETIMES CHALLENGES CAN blind you to life’s goodness. The best way to refocus your energy to recognize blessings is to turn to God. Feel Him comforting your heart and whispering reassurances of His loving presence. He will help you see beyond the troubles of this world to reveal eternity’s unseen, glorious peace. Dear Lord, I can trust that tomorrow will be brighter because You will help me see the beauty of my blessings.…

GOD’S PEACE IS always available to you. Instead of worrying, ask for His help in shifting your emotions from fear to gratitude, from despair to hope. Replace your stress with the positive power of the Holy Spirit. Dear Lord, You are the Source of all hope. Thank You for always giving me strength and renewing my faith.…

JUST AS YOU need daily bread for your body, you need God’s Word to feed your heart, mind and spirit. God offers wisdom, guidance and peace through Scripture. Reflect on this verse and the beautiful gift that we are blessed with. Every word comes from the mouth of God. Dear Lord, thank You for filling my heart with the richness of Your Word.…

ARE YOU LIVING the life you want? If not, why not? Is doubt stealing your desire to go after your dreams? Have faith and trust that your dreams come from within you and God. Release all doubt, and believe that you can achieve what your heart desires. Father God, when doubt tempts me to settle for something I am not happy with, strengthen my faith and help me to believe.…

THE HEAVY WEIGHT of anger, resentment and regret can sap your strength and leave you feeling exhausted. Ask for God’s help to release negative feelings and let go of the past. Recognize the important life lessons you have learned from complicated relationships and challenging situations—and look to the future with courage. Sometimes, Lord, forgiveness is hard for me. Remind me how self-destructive it is to hold grudges.…

SOMETIMES GOD’S HELP is clouded by your doubts and desire for a different outcome. It’s not always easy to listen to His guidance and have enough faith to follow His instruction—especially down an unknown path. When you feel uncertain about a decision, ask God for the strength and clarity to follow His will. Heavenly Father, when I am feeling lost, lift the uncertainty from my spirit and guide me to follow Your direction. Please help me to stay on course.…

YOU ARE IN God’s care. No matter where you go or what situation you face, there is no place that you can go where God is not present. Envision Him taking your hand and comforting you with His peace. His wisdom and strength will guide you through every situation. Heavenly Father, I can face any challenge because I am in the shelter of Your wings.…

REFLECT ON THIS verse. Jesus’ greatness is too big to be recorded—and yet, it’s important to remember that He did walk on this earth and experience life as a human. He continues to do good works for His people and through His people. Lord, I am so thankful for the many things You have done. Your love is too big to be contained.…

REFLECT ON THIS verse and any misgivings you would like to ask God to cleanse. Open your heart and spirit to His presence and submit your life to Him. Let go of your past mistakes and trust in His goodness to heal and restore you. Thank You, God, for Your gracious gift of forgiveness. Help me to know Your peace.…

HOORAY! TODAY IS Independence Day. As you celebrate our country’s freedom, reflect on the many blessings God has showered upon us as a nation. See beyond the country’s imperfections and shortcomings to the hope and potential of America. Lord, make us worthy of Your gift of freedom.…

ARE YOU “FEEDING on ashes” rather than nourishing yourself with the Word of God? Often our hearts and minds mislead us as we attempt to replace our faith in God with something else. Looking for contentment or satisfaction anywhere else is a lie. Almighty God, You are my God, a God of grace and truth, and I serve You.…

REFLECT ON YOUR recent actions and ask yourself if you were focused on pleasing people or pleasing God. Jesus has called us to be His servants. Let go of the urge to make everyone around you happy. Instead, seek to please Jesus—that is your true path to happiness. Lord, help me to cast aside the burden of being a people pleaser. Your approval is the only one I need.…

TRY TO SAY the above verse without sounding excited. It’s almost impossible! Just reading the words fills you with the joy of knowing that you serve a mighty God. When your spirit needs a boost, spend a few minutes praising Jesus. Invite joy into your life. Praise Him for who He is, what He’s done and what He has promised to do. Heavenly Father, thank You for being my victorious Savior, best friend and Holy Lord.…

EVERY MORNING, THE rising sun transforms the sky, replacing the darkness with glorious beauty. The same is true for your life! When the light of Christ shines on you, you are transformed and can recognize the blessing of God’s glory. Dear God, help me to center my thoughts on You. Fill me with Your light!…

JESUS OFTEN WENT off alone to spend time in prayer. Do you make time in your day to get lost in the vastness of nature—whether that be on a hike in the woods or a walk in the park? As you spend time with Him amidst the beauty of His creation, your faith will grow stronger and steadier. Lord, You renew my strength in so many beautiful ways! Let me follow Your example and slip off into the wilderness to pray.…

JESUS TAUGHT THAT your words mirror your true spiritual condition. When you have nurtured your faith, your words are good treasure. Conversely, your words can be evil if your focus is on anger, bitterness and resentment. Your outlook and disposition reflect whatever you have stored in your heart. Lord, help me hold on to good treasure so that I speak out of the abundance of my heart.…

THE WORD “AMEN” is a Hebrew word meaning “Yes, this is true” When you end a prayer with “Amen,” you are asserting your belief that God will hear and answer your prayer. The last word in the Bible is Amen, signifying that all of God’s Word is trustworthy and reliable. Dear Lord, align my thoughts and actions with Your word. May I strive to be as truthful and trustworthy as You. Amen.…

SOMETIMES, DESPITE CAREFUL planning, life takes a turn and leaves you feeling out of options. Like Hagar, there will be times when you must surrender to a difficult situation. If you face an undesired outcome, take a deep breath and pray for God’s help in accepting His will. Lord, I pray for wisdom and discernment as I seek to do Your will.…

BELOVED TELEVISION PERSONALITY Mister Rogers said, “When I was a boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ ” When upsetting things happen, look for the good in others—and fill yourself with hope. Heavenly Father, thank You for placing loving and caring people in my life. Thank You for the helpers!…

AUTHOR AND MOTIVATIONAL speaker Jack Canfield said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Take inventory of the people in your life and build friendships with like-minded people who bring you closer to the many blessings the Lord has in store for you. Heavenly Father, help me build relationships with people that deepen my faith and bring me closer to You.…

DR. NORMAN VINCENT Peale said, “The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little and give much. Fill your life with love.” Love holds people together and brings harmony. Love surrounds you with joy. Reflect on moments in your life when you felt embraced by love. Father, sometimes I complicate my relationships with petty arguments or disagreements when instead I should focus on love.…

WHEN YOU REFLECT on your life, do you compare yourself to friends or others in your circle? Fight the urge to judge your accomplishments or appearance. Instead, turn to the above verse and know that you are perfect in God’s eyes, just the way you are! He sees the person He created you to be and the person He is helping you become. Lord, help me to look at myself through the lens of self-love.…

ARE YOU WORRIED about your finances? Do you live in a mindset of scarcity or abundance? Keep this verse centered in your heart and mind. God can meet all of your needs. Trust Him. Instead of reflecting on what you lack—focus on what you have! Lord, I surrender my worries to You. Help me get on track with my finances and shift my focus to a position of strength and security—knowing everything will be okay.…

JESUS SPOKE ABOUT the dangers of serving your ego rather than God. When you are faced with a choice, reflect on your motivation. Focus on serving God. Align your will with His and you will set yourself up for success! Lord, I am alive with Your glorious presence! Connect Your will with mine.…

IN THIS PASSAGE, Saul was transformed from a persecutor of early Christians to a follower of Christ. God has the power to change people. Is there something in your life that you would like to transform—a negative way of thinking or a bad habit? Pray for Him to reveal His light of truth in your life. Lord, help me to hear and heed Your call for me to change. Remove my impurities and use me for Your good.…

EVERYONE KNOWS THE saying, “Man plans, and God laughs.” Just when you think your life is on a straight trajectory, circumstances can change in an instant. God knows what your future holds. So when it feels as if your life has suddenly gone off-track, hold on to your faith and travel where God calls you to go. Lord God, I’ll do my best to be faithful and flexible, to follow Your lead wherever it takes me.…

WHEN YOU FEEL upset or overpowered and need a boost of strength, turn to this verse. God is your helper! Let your soul rest in Him. He is tirelessly working on your behalf; all is safe in His hands. He will fill you with love and peace. God our Protector, I know that You are accomplishing Your plan and cause everything to work together for the good of those who love You.…

SOME PEOPLE WANT to ignore parts of the Bible that seem challenging to live by. How do you face Scripture that is hard to accept or understand? Part of your faith journey depends on knowing that you can’t have a “take it or leave it” approach to His Word. When you come across Scripture that you need to digest further— jot it down—and pray for His help to see the truth of His Word. All-knowing God, I turn to Your Word for direction. Guide me through the challenging passages so I can fully connect with You.…

OPEN YOUR MIND to your true potential. What you think of yourself defines your boundaries and limits what you think you are capable of. Often people reject a dream or goal because they mistakenly believe it’s beyond their abilities. Push away these thoughts—and ask God to help you stretch your self-image to see what He sees when He looks at you. Heavenly Father, open my mind to consider new possibilities, new goals, new friendships, and new ways of thinking about myself.…

DO YOU EVER find yourself calm and relaxed, and suddenly, your mind wanders, seeking a worry to fixate on? When this happens, shift your thinking to the many triumphs Jesus has orchestrated in your life. Recall the many times you were victorious because He took care of you. Heavenly Father, when my mind wanders to fears and anxiety, draw my focus back to Your peace.…

ARE YOU SHINING your light on others? Sometimes fear can stop us from moving forward on the path that God has placed before us. If you are feeling stretched in a new role that is opening up for you, pray. Ask God to help you refocus your energy—away from your insecurities and back onto Him. Thank You, dear Lord, for believing in me, even when I doubt myself. Guide me to hand my vulnerabilities over to You so that my gifts and talents can shine.…

SAINT PIO OF Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) famously said, “Pray. Hope. Don’t worry.” These four simple words remind us that in life’s craziness, we can find peace. When you have a relationship with Jesus, you can be joyful despite any challenges or difficulties that you face. Your abiding faith will see you through. Dear Lord, You are bigger than any problem I face. I trust You and know that everything will be okay.…

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