Each of us should carry a thankful heart for every “yes” we receive from God as an answer to prayer. We can also be thankful He doesn’t say “yes” to prayers that are not in agreement with His will—prayers that are based on our wisdom and not on His; that would bring leanness to our souls; that would put us in the wrong place; that would make us ineffective; that would bring us into wrong relationships; that would cause our hearts to cool; that would keep us from His highest and rob us of His best.

I know not by what methods rare,

But this I know, God answers prayer.

I know He gives His pledged word

Which tells me prayer is always heard,

And will be answered soon or late,

Though often it is hard to wait.

I know not if the blessing sought

Will come in just the way I thought;

I leave my prayer with Him alone,

Whose will is wiser than my own,

Assured that He will grant my quest,

Or send an answer far more blest.
(-Unknown)

“And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.” 1 John 5:14 (AMP)

by Roy Lessin
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Praise God for Answered Prayer

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How To Be Sure God Listens To Your Prayers

The post Answered Prayer can be found at Thoughts about God.

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”  1 John 2:6 NLT

How did Jesus live each day?  Is it really possible for us to live as He lived?  Here are some things to consider:

The first is His dependency.
Jesus lived each day dependent upon His Father. We can also live each day in complete dependency upon the Lord. He is our strength, our life, our sufficiency, and He is the source of all we need.

The second is His faithfulness.
Jesus lived each day in faithfulness to what His Father called Him to do. As followers of Jesus Christ we can be faithful to what God has called us to do and do His will whole-heartedly.

Think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest. For He was faithful to God, who appointed Him. Hebrews 3:1-2 NLT

Jesus lived each day in faithfulness to what His Father called Him to do. Jesus stayed true to His Father’s plan and will for His life. He didn’t drift away from it or follow it half-heartedly.

‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:23 NKJV

As followers of Jesus Christ we can be faithful to what God has called us to do and do His will whole-heartedly.

The third is His obedience.

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 NKJV

Jesus lived each day in obedience to His Father’s will. Jesus not only obeyed His Father, but He obeyed Him without delay. He obeyed willingly and joyfully.

So you must live as God’s obedient children. 1 Peter 1:14 NLT

Obedience to God’s will in our lives is a choice we can make each day. As God’s children, He trains us to be obedient because He knows what is best for us. It is through our obedience that we know the meaning of a joy-filled heart and a meaningful life.

The fourth thing is His motivation.

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” John 8:29 NKJV

The reason Jesus lived the way He did was because He wanted to fully glorify and please His Father. He lived to please only His Father and have His approval.  Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 NKJV

The motivation of our hearts should be to please Him. There is nothing higher than that. When we live to do what is well pleasing in His sight we will know His smile of approval upon our lives.

The fifth thing is His empowering.

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free.” Luke 4:14, 18 NLT

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus lived each day in the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. All that He did in His public ministry was under the anointing and empowering of the Holy Spirit.

“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Ezekiel 36:27 NKJV

“Be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 KJV

Since His ascension to the right hand of the Father, Jesus has made it possible for each of us to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to have His power in our lives. It is by the Holy Spirit’s presence, fullness, and power that we can walk as Jesus walked and live as Jesus lived. Ask Him now to fill you, empower you, and lead you step by step into His plan and purpose for you.

by Roy Lessin
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Spiritual Oxygen: Are You Getting Enough?

How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Stepping Into a Personal Revival

The post Living Like Jesus can be found at Thoughts about God.

A Prayer of Thanks for the Blessing of God’s Favour

“I entreated Your favor with my whole heart.”  Psalm 119:58 (NKJV)

Father, thank You for the blessing of Your favor upon my life! Thank You that Your blessings come to me abundantly, unexpectedly, delightfully— like showers from heaven, like the dew upon dry ground, like rivers flowing through a thirsty land. Your blessings are mine through Your promises, by Your Spirit, and in Your Son, through whom I have become an heir of all that heaven has to give.

Thank You for all Your favors—the joys of Your holiness, the touch of Your gentleness, the sweetness of Your nearness, the care of Your kindness, the grace of Your loveliness. Thank You for opening doors that no one could shut, for saying “no” to pathways that would have led me away from Your will, for Your amazing timing, and for the people You brought into my life to pray, to help, and to encourage me in my walk with You.

Thank You for surrounding me with Your favor as a protection; with Your glory as an adornment; with Your wisdom as words of life; with Your generosity as a gift of goodness; with Your blessings as a downpour of joy.

Thank You for the way You influence my heart, draw my spirit, and delight my soul. Your gracious generosity will keep me forever grateful!

Scriptures: Psalm 5: 12, Psalm 102:13, Psalm 89:17, Proverbs 8:35, Proverbs 11:27, Proverbs 12:2, Proverbs 14:35, Proverbs 16:15, Luke 2:52

By Roy Lessin
Used by Permission

Further Reading

• Thanksgiving Day Sample Prayers
• I am Thankful for…
• Salvation Explained

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The post A Prayer of Thanks can be found at Thoughts about God.

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”  1 John 2:6 (NKJV)

If we had His walk how would we be living?

If we had His generosity how would we be giving?

If we had His ears how would we be listening?

If we had His heart how would be caring?

If we had His light how would we be seeing?

If we had His mind how would we be thinking?

If we had His words how would we be speaking?

If we had His wisdom how would we be planning?

If we had His grace how would we be serving?

If we had His mercy how would we be responding?

If we had His life how would we be changing?

By Roy Lessin
Used by Permission

RELATED READING

• Live Like Jesus
• BE LIKE ME
• More and More Like Him

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The post Walking as He Walked can be found at Thoughts about God.

Prayer from Psalm 46:10-11

BE—God, I say “yes” to You. I choose to allow Your way to shape me and Your will to direct me in what is best. I surrender instead of resist, I yield instead of fight, I believe instead of doubt.

STILL—Father, may Your rest abide and Your peace abound within me. Quiet all anxiety that troubles my thoughts and unsettles my emotions. I bring my soul under the control of the Holy Spirit; I stand steady upon the unmovable foundations of Your kingdom; I receive the sufficiency of Your grace and the encouragement of Your promises as you calm my soul.

AND KNOW— Lord, thank you that Your word is sure, unchanging, and indisputable. Your word is true. I am certain. You have saved me from guessing, wondering, wishing, or pretending. I know! I believe!

I AM GOD— You are who You say You are. You do what You say You do. There is no other! You are the highest, the greatest, the best. You have no weakness, no lack, and no equal. You are my God, and my Heavenly Father. I find comfort in Your nearness, security in Your voice, courage in Your strength, hope in Your promises. You are enough. More than enough! You are with me. You are my refuge. I am safe in Your care.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.”  Psalms 46:10-11 NKJV

By Roy Lessin
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• Be Still, My Daughter by Sylvia Gunter
• Be Still by Max Lucado
• Impatient Heart, Be Still

The post Pray This can be found at Thoughts about God.

“According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” 1 Timothy 1:11 (NKJV)

God, who is the author and giver of every blessing, is called the blessed God. Blessedness is a state of happiness. When we read that God is the blessed God, it means that He is a happy God and He wants to bring His happiness to us.

Why is God called the “happy God”? He is happy because He is holy. The joys we draw from the wells of salvation come to us from a pure fountain. If the Scriptures said, “God is unholy” then He would be without happiness, for there is no happiness to be found in darkness, in evil, or in sin.

Some people have painted a false image of holiness. They portray holiness as something associated with gloom, legalism, and grimness. They think of the fruits of holiness as unhappiness, meanness, and a sour disposition. However, it is important for us to remember that heaven, the holiest place of all, is also the happiest place of all.

It is also possible to have a wrong image of happiness. Happiness is not defined by someone who has a great sense of humor, is fun-loving, or has a bubbly personality. Happiness is a state of someone’s heart and sense of wellbeing, not a characteristic of someone’s temperament or a certain personality trait.

Who are the happiest people on earth? The Scriptures tell us, “Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!” Matthew 5:8 AMP. (Note that this happiness of heart is true even in the midst of hardships and difficulties.)

True happiness comes to us as a fruit of our relationship with God through Christ. The blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin, not only removes our guilt and condemnation, but opens the doorway for our happiness (blessedness) by bringing us into a right relationship with God and allowing us to be partakers of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10).

I love the words spoken long ago by a new believer in Christ while giving his testimony of salvation during a church service, “Sometin’ in me got released for good. I swallowed sunshine! He has given me a mighty faith that has made me feel clean inside.”

How good it is to belong to a happy (blessed) God who brings happiness (blessedness) to His children.

by Roy Lessin
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• Delight in God
• Blessed is the Nation Whose God is The Lord
• Be Blessed, Beloved Child

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The post Blessedness can be found at Thoughts about God.

In this moment…there is only one voice for you to hear, only one choice for you to make, only one step for you to take, only one Master for you to serve, and only One heart for you to please that really, truly matters!

Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” John 8:28-29 (NKJV)

by Roy Lessin
used by permission

FURTHER READING

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The post This One Thing! can be found at Thoughts about God.

There is…

For every hectic work day there is a quiet rest…

For every painful experience there is a healing touch…

For every negative feeling there is an abiding joy…

For every disappointment there is a certain hope…

For every turbulent storm there is a sure foundation…

For every doubting thought there is a calm assurance…

For every hurtful action there is a forgiving love.

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37

by Roy Lessin
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• More POEMS
• A Poem of Hope …”I feel the arms of God around me”
• God’s Deliverance by Colin Haitt
• When I say… “I am a Christian” – by Carol Wimmer

Homepage for Devotionals

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The post There is… can be found at Thoughts about God.

Lord, We Are Needy

Jesus, You spoke the word and the storm became still.
Lord, I need a word like that. Mark 4:39

Jesus, those who touched the hem of Your garment were made whole.
Lord, I need a healing like that. Mark 6:56

Jesus, You gave the spiritually hungry living Bread.
Lord, I need to be fed like that. John 6:48-51

Jesus, You placed Your hands upon the children and blessed them.
Lord, I need a touch like that. Mark 10:16

Jesus, You blessed the bread and the wine as You communed with Your disciples.
Lord, I need fellowship like that. Mark 14:22-24

Jesus, You said You go before Your sheep and they follow You.
Lord, I need guidance like that. John 10:1-4

Jesus, You sent the fullness of Your Holy Spirit to those who gathered in the upper room.
Lord, I need a filling like that. Acts 1 and Acts 2

Jesus, You promised a place in Your Father’s house to those with troubled hearts.
Lord, I need assurance like that. John 14:1-3, 27

By Roy Lessin
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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The post Lord, We Are Needy can be found at Thoughts about God.

“My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.” Psalm 62:5  (AMP)

One thing you can say about the world we live in is that it’s a noisy place. Silence is not always easy to find. Most of us have to make an effort to seek out a quiet place from the noise around us. But what about the noise within us? How do we get away and find a quiet place from that clatter?

In Psalm 62:5 we find the Hebrew word “Damam.” This word helps us to understand that our waiting upon God is to be a silent waiting—no fussing, but faith; no clamoring, but calm; no panicking, but peace; no striving, but stillness; no restlessness, but rest.

Silent waiting upon God is only possible through the power of God’s grace working in us, however, we need to allow His grace to have its way in us. Psalm 62:5 also reveals our part in silent waiting. We enter in through the doorway of submission.

Submission to Him means that we have stopped fighting against His will and resisting His ways. It means that we acknowledge Him as the One who is in charge of every detail of our lives. Through submission we carry a prayer in our hearts that says, “Your will, not mine; Your agenda, not mine; Your purpose, not mine; Your timing, not mine.”  Thankfully, God will keep you in perfect peace as you fully lean upon Him with complete trust and total submission (Isaiah 26:3).

In her moving hymn, Be Still My Soul, Kathrina von Schlegel calls out to every trusting heart to find its stillness in their “heavenly Friend”…

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

By Roy Lessin
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Be Still by Max Lucado

Impatient Heart, Be Still

Be Still and Know

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The post The Silent Waiting can be found at Thoughts about God.