Bible Thoughts on Prayer:

Prayer is like breathing.

Prayer is like spiritual breathing as we commune with God. For many of us, it's time to breathe new breath into our prayer life! Face it, we are creatures of habit and easily fall into the rut of rote. What I mean by that is we may know how to pray and even the church lingo that goes with it, but have our hearts grown cold?

We speak of "prayer life" because prayer is to be a constant part of our daily lives. Think about the times that most us do pray - at church, during our quiet times, before meals, before bed, in times of crisis.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "pray continually" (NIV), "without ceasing" (KJV and NAS), "at all times" (Message).

Throughout our website we've compared Bible study to eating - which brings about nourishment and growth to our spirit. Let's think of prayer as "breathing." It's essential!

Just as breathing is essential to our physical lives so our prayer life is essential to our spiritual lives.

Breathing consists of both inhaling and exhaling. Likewise, prayer is to be not only a process of talking to God, but also listening or receiving from God. It's even more than mere communication; it's communion with our Maker.

God initiates.

God invites us to call to Him. He initiates relationship.

What a beautiful thought that God first "called" to us. The very first recorded conversation between God and man is found in Genesis 3:9 -

"Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

God calls to us to join Him in a relationship even when we are hiding from Him in sin. He initiates it all!

Prayer is linked with thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to: 1)Rejoice, 2)Pray, 3)Give thanks.

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:4-6 also links these three together:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

For creative ways to keep your payer life fresh, take a look at our Creative Prayer Life page or this free Prayer Bible Lesson.

Mother's Day Encouragement

If you've ever felt invisible as a mom or taken for granted, you're not alone. This "Invisible Woman" monologue and God's Word can bring us so much encouragement as moms!

My favorite part is:

"As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women."

As an "Empty-Nester" now, it is a beautiful sight to be on this side of raising four kids and able to see them as grown adults loving God & loving others. All credit goes to God for sure!

And that's just it...we are not alone in raising our kids; God is with us and at work both in us and in our kids. That's why it is so important for us as parents to keep seeking & knowing Jesus as our first priority.

I hope this "Invisible Mom" monologue will encourage you as much as it did me!

Continue reading "Building Cathedrals - Encouragement for Moms" @ Invisible-Mom.

We pray you, your family, and your church family have an amazing May filled with God's Word and His presence!

Sincerely in Christ,

Susan <><