Somebody's Knocking at Your Door

The latch on the door is on the inside.

~~Catherine Marshall

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Women Writers of All Time.

It’s an undeniable truth—the doors of our heart can only be opened by us. Our friends can’t open them. Our pastor cannot. And Jesus chooses not to force them open, either. Instead, he waits patiently—and knocks. We may have opened the salvation door to Christ, but what about the door that holds back our fears? Or the door that closes off our deepest hurts? Catherine Marshall compels us to open those doors too. She assures us that Jesus is a trusted houseguest.

If you want peace—unlatch the door.

If you want joy—unlatch the door.

If you want blessings—unlatch the door.

If you want fulfillment in your life beyond what you can imagine—unlatch the door.

Jesus wants to come in and be a part of your whole life. But only you can unlatch the door.

Prayer for Meditation

Heavenly houseguest, you are welcome in all the rooms of my heart.

Scripture for Meditation

Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. Revelations 3:20

Music for Meditation

Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door

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Sing for the Love of God

Joy is God in the marrow of our bones. And His joy never changes.

~~Eugenia Price

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Women Writers of All Time.

“I just want to be happy,” we say, as if saying it will help us understand exactly what that means, or keep happiness from escaping us when the winds of life change. The Declaration of Independence proclaims that we have the right to “the pursuit of happiness,” but what a difficult pursuit it is.

The Bible tells us that God promises us something quite different than the external, fleeting emotion of happiness. He promises us joy so much a part of us that it is in the marrow of our bones. It is an internal state of contentment that is the result of communion with him. God alone is our source of joy. Because of that, it never changes. It runs deep, unaffected by circumstances on the surface.

It’s just what we’ve been searching for.

Prayer for Meditation

Lord, in your presence alone will I discover joy in the marrow of my bones.

Scripture for Meditation

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Psalm 90:14

Music for Meditation

The Love of God

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A Good Future

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Moments of Peace for the Morning: Inspirational Thoughts and Prayers to Begin Your Day

It wasn’t in the midst of a peaceful time that God spoke these words to Jeremiah—It was as the nation of Judah faced a seventy-year captivity in Babylon. Yet God faithfully fulfilled his promise to bring them back to their homeland and to give them a good future.

Though unfortunate things will happen in your life, God is with you, and his plans for you are filled with hope. You don’t have to fear the future or worry that you’ll be stuck in your situation forever.

God used those years to teach Judah to trust him. He is teaching you, too. Believe him. He is faithful to help you with whatever happens today.

Prayer for Meditation

Thank you, God, for giving me a wonderful future and for teaching me to trust you more. I look forward to your excellent plans. Amen.

Scripture for Meditation

I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord . . . “plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Don’t let your eyes fill with tears. You will be rewarded for your work!” says the Lord . . ..”There is hope for you in the future.” Jeremiah 31:16

Music for Meditation

Give Thanks 

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An Excellent Guide

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Moments of Peace for the Morning: Inspirational Thoughts and Prayers to Begin Your Day.

If you desire to be taught this morning—you are willing to accept God’s counsel and acknowledge it as superior to your own—then you fulfill the requirements for him to lead you.

As chaplain Thomas Goodwin wrote, “The Lord will teach the humble his secrets, he will not teach proud scholars.”

God speaks to your listening soul, showing you his ways step by step. He leads you in an adventure of discovery and understanding, and he sets a purposeful course that brings him glory and you satisfaction.

It is good that you have humbled yourself to God this morning. Listen to him, and he will share his most excellent secrets with you.  

Prayer for Meditation

Dear God, I want your counsel and acknowledge that your wisdom is far greater than my own. Teach me your magnificent ways. Amen.

Scripture for Meditation

He leads the humble in what is right, and the humble He teaches His way. Psalm 25:9

Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:5

Music for Meditation

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Word of God Speak 

Even Under Siege

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Moments of Peace for the Morning: Inspirational Thoughts and Prayers to Begin Your Day.

These are the difficult places—where the soul feels stifled and confined. You cannot find true safety there, but neither can you leave because to do so would expose you to more danger.

There is only one place to turn, and that is to your God. It is even in the times when you feel under siege that God’s loving favor comforts you and makes you brave. That is when his voice is most powerful and encouraging, and his presence is most dear.

Are you besieged today? Then think of yourself closed in with God, and receive all the tender favor he desires to show you.

Prayer for Meditation

Dear God, you are powerful, kind, and good. Protect me on my way so that I might find my true safety and freedom in you. Amen.

Scripture for Meditation

Blessed be the Lord! For He has shown me His marvelous loving favor when I was beset as in a besieged city. Psalm 31:21

Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

Music for Meditation

Lead Me Lord , Lead Me By The Hand

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With You to the End

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Moments of Peace for the Morning: Inspirational Thoughts and Prayers to Begin Your Day.

This was the comforting promise Jesus gave to the disciples when he sent them out to tell the good news of salvation. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus would help them wherever they went.

This is God’s promise to you as well. He knows that life can get lonely—especially when you deal with personal issues that are difficult to share with others. Yet you are never alone. God is right there for you—always caring for the deep issues of your heart.

This morning, pray to your constant friend and allow him to fill you with his comfort. He loves you and is with you to the end.

Prayer for Meditation

Dear God, thank you for being with me in the issues I can’t share with others. Thank you for never leaving me alone. Amen.

Scripture for Meditation

I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. John 14:16-17

Music for Meditation

Jesus Messiah 

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Steadfast Trust

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Moments of Peace for the morning: Inspirational Thoughts and Prayers to begin Your Day.

There is a confidence that goes beyond whatever has happened in the past or what may come to pass in the future. That confidence comes from trusting in God.

Thomas Manton wrote, “If a man would lead a happy life, let him but seek a sure object for his trust, and he shall be safe.”

Nothing in this world is certain, but the person who trusts in God is never disappointed. Every obstacle is an opportunity for God to show his power, every difficulty a way to learn from him and know his comfort.

Do not fear what is ahead. Instead, exercise your steadfast trust in God.

Prayer for Meditation

Dear God, even in this world of uncertainties, I will trust in you—the unfaltering and sure focus of my hope and affection. Amen.

Scripture for Meditation

He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, resting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7

Light arises in the darkness for the upright. . . His heart is established and steady, he will not be afraid while he waits to see his desire established. Psalm 112:4, 8

Music for Meditation

With All I Am

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Jesus Will Meet You There

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Moments of Peace for the morning: Inspirational Thoughts and Prayers to begin Your Day.

Last night you may have had issues that weighed your heart down with sorrow. Yet this morning, God is working to bring you joy.

Mourning and dancing—two responses that are staggeringly different. But God easily alters circumstances that seem hopeless into great reasons for rejoicing

As quickly as God turns night into day, he can change your situation. He can transform your sorrow into jubilation and your cries of pain into hoots of happiness.

What is it that looks dark to you at this moment? Fear not. In just a little while, you will be praising him for turning your wailing into dancing.

Prayer for Meditation

Dear God, Oh, God—let it be so. You know why I cry, and what would make me dance. May your wonderful, transforming favor shine on me. Amen.

Scripture for Meditation

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy. Psalm 30:11

Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:4-5

Music for Meditation

Jesus Will Meet You There 

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Come Home to the Present Moment

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young.

Sit quietly with me, letting all your fears and worries bubble up to the surface of your consciousness. There, in the Light of My Presence, the bubbles pop and disappear. However, some fears surface over and over again, especially fear of the future. You tend to project yourself mentally into the next day, week, month, year, decade; and you visualize yourself coping badly in those times. What you are seeing is a false image, because it doesn’t include Me. Those gloomy times that you imagine will not come to pass, since My Presence will be with you at all times.

When a future-oriented worry assails you, capture it and disarm it by suffusing the Light of My Presence into that mental image. Say to yourself, “Jesus will be with me then and there. With His help, I can cope!” Then, come home to the present moment, where you can enjoy Peace in My Presence.

Scripture for Meditation

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “that is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? Luke 12:22-26

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:6

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

Music for Meditation

Through it All 

 If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com.

Whispering Hope

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Moments of Peace for the morning: Inspirational Thoughts and Prayers to begin Your Day.

Thus morning, what is the main thing you pray for—the desire that you most hope to receive?

It may seem far away and impossible However, when you pray with faith, you acknowledge that God can solve any dilemma and that you fully trust him to help you.

As he answers, you follow his instructions with a humble spirit of hope. If your request is God’s will, he will provide it. If it is not, he will change your desires to something better.

So pray expectantly, knowing that God loves to answer you. His response may not happen immediately, but be certain that he is moving mountains for you.

Prayer for Meditation

Dear God, I praise you for answering my prayers. I believe that you will either grant my request or provide something infinitely better. Amen.

Scripture for Meditation

Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will (get it). Mark 11:24

If you have faith in God and don’t doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. Mark 11:23

Music for Meditation

Whispering Hope

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You Came to My Rescue

I thought I had lost my way: Actually, I did lose my way—in order to follow God’s way.

~Jan Dravecky

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart of God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

Picture yourself in a rowboat in the middle of a large lake. The sun is setting. You see your destination on the shore, so you grab your oars and paddle toward it. Suddenly fog feathers around you, getting denser as dusk settles. You can no longer see the shore. You paddle in what you think is the right direction. You should have reached the shore by now! Panic rises in your throat.

Then you hear a voice calling from a distance behind you. The shore is the other way! You turn and paddle toward the voice, the only way home.

Sometimes we have to lose our way in order to find God’s way. Sometimes we need him to call us from the fog and turn us around.

God has a plan for you, a place for you, and a journey for you.

Listen. Can you hear him calling?

Prayer for Meditation

Show me the way, Lord. I’m looking forward to going where you lead!

Scripture for Meditation

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10

Music for Meditation

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Came to My Rescue 

Lean on Me

The special people God gives us along the way

make us stronger to face the trials of an ugly world.

~Gracia Burnham

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart of God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

We are never alone. Even when it might feel that way, God puts people in our lives at strategic moments to comfort us, to give us encouragement, and to help us find strength to face the next trial. The Bible has many examples: Adam had Eve. Moses had Aaron, David had Jonathan, Mary had Elizabeth, Paul had Timothy.

When times are tough, God will be there. He’ll send messengers at the moments when we need them most. They may be strangers, trusted friends, or unexpected acquaintances. They may not be what we expect.

Be open, dear sister, to the words and touch of those around you. In this sometimes ugly world, they may just be exactly who—and what—you need.

And be open to how God may use you. You may be that special person in someone else’s life, providing them strength to make it through their day.

Prayer for Meditation

Make me receptive, Father,

to the people you send into my life.

Scripture for Meditation

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Music for Meditation

Lean on Me

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com.

As Soon As You Prayed

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Moments of Peace for the morning: Inspirational Thoughts and Prayers to Begin Your Day.

Often it is in the early morning hours when you are reminded of your most cherished, private prayers. The thought flickers in your mind. Is today the day that God answers me? Will I see my deepest longing fulfilled?

God’s response to you is the same as the angel reported to Daniel—at the very moment you started praying, he began to answer.

You may see God’s answer today, but be encouraged even if you don’t. Be assured that God has heard your prayer and has sent his mighty power and provision in response to it. His help is on the way. Trust him—his answers are always right.

Prayer for Meditation

Dear God, thank you so much for answering my prayer. Though I may not see your provision today, I praise you that it is definitely coming. Amen.

Scripture for Meditation

God thinks highly of you, and at the very moment you started praying, I was sent to give you the answer. Daniel 9:23

God answered their prayers because they trusted him. 1 Chronicles 5:20  

Music for Meditation

Prayer by Haley Westerna 

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Glory of the Cross

Suffering opens our eyes to the centrality of the cross in the Christian life, enables us to lift up the crucified Savior to the rest of the world.

~Elisabeth Elliott

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take My Heart Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

Few of us would voluntarily ask for a cup of suffering. Most of us get one anyway.

We are not alone. The cup of suffering has been drunk by generations of saints before us. Suffering is the very cup Jesus willingly accepted in life and in death. When we drink from the cup, we can allow the bitter aftertaste of suffering to overwhelm us or we can have faith that God can use that suffering to transform us.

Take the cup of suffering you hold in your hands today and bring it to God. Sit at the foot of the cross. Think of your Savior there, willingly dying so that you could be saved.

Through your pain and the faith you show in the midst of it, you are lifting up your crucified Savior to the rest of the world. Others see in you the glory of Christ’s cross.

Prayer for Meditation

Help me, God, to show Christ to the world in my suffering.

Scripture for Meditation

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. Isaiah 53:10-12

Music for Meditation

Abide With Me

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