Tag: ask seek knock

Prayer

Silent Before the Lord

meghanewhite

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My soul waits in silence for God only; Psalm 62:1

I am a pro at giving God my laundry list of “to do’s”. I talk, and talk, and cry out to Him as I am supposed to as His daughter. We are to cast all our cares on Him. What an incredible blessing to give all of our concerns to God, knowing He will take care of whatever concerns us.

There are times when we need to stop talking and just rest in Him.

When was the last time you were silent before the Lord? I don’t mean not knowing how or what to pray. I mean sitting before the Lord in silence. Not asking, or pleading, or begging Him to do something. Just being in His presence and letting Him, through the Holy Spirit, do the talking.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26, NASB 

This may sound weird, or uncomfortable. After all, we are supposed to bring our requests before the Lord, and we absolutely need to do that. What if we hit the pause button on the requesting every now and then, and just sat at His feet, and waited for Him to talk to us. I am learning to do this more and more, and it’s quite remarkable what happens to me. I get more peace just being with the Lord.

Being silent before the Lord takes some discipline, and you can’t have distractions. Turn off the phone, or place it out of ear shot. No music, no noise, no screens. Allow nothing that will grab your attention. Close your eyes and ask the Holy Spirit to speak. Now, be still, wait, trust, and let Him speak to your soul.

As we sit in silence with the Lord our confidence in Him grows stronger. He already knows what we need before we ask Him, so ultimately, every problem we have He has an answer awaiting at just the perfect time. We can take this time to find refuge in Him, knowing He will take care of us.

My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. Psalm 62:1, NASB

God is our salvation. While we wait for His perfect answer to our prayers we can be confident in the God of the universe. Waiting in silence is placing our complete trust in Him. This is not passive. While we wait, God will refresh our souls, give us new strength, and new perspective.

He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:2, NASB  

We can trust God.

He will answer. He will come through. He is the Rock.

Love you all,

Meghan

Photo credit: Meghan E. White

Prayer

Pray Like Elijah

meghanewhite

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Prayer is one of the most powerful things we can do as Christians. Sometimes we make it our last resort, which I’ve been guilty of. Prayer can be treated like a task on a to do list. We sigh and pray because all of our other efforts have failed. 

Prayer should not be the last hopeless act for the Christian. Prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon. We are not praying to the air, or the clouds, or a mysterious god. We are coming to the Throne of Grace of Almighty God. He answers His children when we call. 

Pray like Elijah.

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:17-18, NIV 

Elijah was a prophet during a turbulent time in Israel’s history. God used him in an exceptional way. When he was sent into hiding by God the ravens fed him (1 Kings 17:2-6). God sent Elijah to stay with a widow, and her flour and oil miraculously never ran out. When the widow’s son was deathly ill, Elijah pleaded with God for the boy’s life, and God healed the child (1 Kings 17:7-24).

One of Elijah’s most famous moments is with the prophets of Baal. He called down fire from heaven which burned up the sacrifice and everything around it. All the people fell to the ground and cried, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!” (1 Kings 18:39). Then Elijah slaughtered the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:40). 

When Elijah prayed earnestly for rain. He climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. Elijah sent his servant six times to look toward the sea for signs of rain. On the seventh time the servant reported “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea” (1 Kings 18:44).

But Elijah was just a regular person like you and me. He got tired and discouraged, just like we all do at times. When Elijah fled in fear of Jezebel he begged God to take his life. That did not stop God from encouraging Elijah, and still using him greatly.

Elijah was a superstar prayer warrior who got to experience many miracles. Clearly he was gifted by God, but still just a human like us. Elijah was obedient and did what God asked of him time and time again. 

Elijah prayed according to God’s will.

Elijah prayed for rain and it did not rain for three and a half years. He asked God to change the weather and God did. This was all according to God’s plan. 

Elijah had to completely rely on God.

God sent Elijah to hide in a ravine with no food or water. He had to trust that God would do exactly as He told him by providing water from the brook and ravens to bring food. 

Elijah asked God for miracles.

God healed the widow’s son after Elijah pleaded for the boy’s life. He called fire down from heaven. These are no small feats. Only God could perform such miracles.

Elijah prayed earnestly.

He continued to pray and sent his servant seven times to look for rain. Elijah kept praying until there was rain. 

Elijah’s prayers resulted in God being glorified.

During the sacrifice he prayed to God. Elijah asked the Lord to answer him so the people will know that the Lord is God, and that they would turn their hearts back to Him. 

Our prayers can be as powerful as Elijah’s. 

What if we prayed bigger bolder prayers?

Not just prayers for our personal needs, which we should do. Prayers for salvation. Prayers for our country to turn to God. Prayers for the salvation of our unsaved friends and family. Prayers for healing, forgiveness, peace, miracles. Prayers for the impossible. What if? 

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16b, NIV 

When we pray we are calling on God Almighty. Our righteousness is from our faith in Jesus Christ. This means our prayers are powerful. This is an amazing gift from God. When we pray, God moves. We can pray just like Elijah did, and watch God do marvelous works that bring glory and honor to His name. 

Help us Lord, to want what You want.

Let’s pray like Elijah.

Love you all,

Meghan 

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the amazing gift of prayer. We can come to you at any time, any place. You will never turn us away. Teach us to pray big faith-filled prayers. May we ask according to Your will. Help us to clearly hear the Holy Spirit as we pray. All glory, honor, and praise to You!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Trials

Keep Believing

meghanewhite

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This beautiful wisteria climbs along my backyard fence. It was in full bloom a week ago. I love the contrast of these stunning purple flowers against my brown backyard. The historic winter storm in Texas killed off most of our plants. I was so happy to see this gorgeous plant thriving.

It’s a picture of my life right now. We are smack dab in the middle of some hard things. Still waiting for answers on my husband’s health. Still waiting for complete healing. Still waiting for the catheter to be removed so my husband is no longer in constant pain. Yet we are being blessed by God every day during this entire ordeal.

When I look around, everything is brown. Will there be new life again Lord? Will you really heal Tom? Is this our future?

Wednesday of this week was awful. Tom had an appointment with the kidney doctor. It did not go as well as I was hoping and praying for. We have nicknamed the nephrologist Dr. Doom and Gloom. I met him once in the hospital and he’s not my favorite doctor. He’s a brilliant doctor and speaks honestly and that’s important, but he is not an optimistic person, and that’s bad.

Tom’s kidney function is still not good. The improvement has slowed down, almost stopped. That was not news I was ready for. It broke my heart. All I could see was brown. No signs of life. My heart was ripped in two. My hope was stomped on.

But God reminded me that Tom’s story is not done.

I smelled something so lovely. Wisteria gives off the most delightful fragrance. Because we had so many flowers the smell was powerful. I could smell the wisteria flowers over smoke during a fire we had in our fire bowl one night. You just could not stop the fragrance or cover it up.

In the middle of the trial, God’s beauty and blessings abound.

The love that has been poured out on us is overwhelming. Our church small group is incredible. They have given us countless meals, prayers, words of encouragement, and the most amazing Easter basket with a generous cash gift. Tom’s co-workers took up a large cash donation and they all signed a beautiful card with well wishes. Friends and family are praying for us and checking on us. My in-laws have been so supportive and generous. Our church has blessed us with so many prayers and a gift card from one of our pastors and his wife.

I could go on, and on with the many blessings we have received. That’s just how good God is.

I got a text on Wednesday night from my friend, and prayer partner, Roger. He is 78 years old and leads the prayer ministry at my church. We have prayed together for many things, and many people as we serve on the prayer team side by side. I respect him like a father and in some ways he is like a spiritual father to me. He reminded me to persevere. God bless Roger for that.

God bless the many friends and family who have sent an encouraging text at just the right time. I love all of you!

Yes, there are still a lot of unknowns. Still lots of waiting. But God is not done, and new growth is coming. So I will look past the brown and lifeless looking things to the beautiful. That’s where my Father resides.

I still believe in miracles. I will continue to trust God for complete healing of Tom. I will persevere by the power of the Holy Spirit in me. I will follow Jesus out of this. He is a way maker where there seems to be no way.

I am a very visual person and many times God speaks to me with pictures. When Tom was in the hospital I kept seeing Jesus walking on a tight rope over a huge jungle ravine. I could only see His back because He leads. I am to follow Him out and keep my eyes fixed on Him. Jesus is the way out.

I don’t always understand how God works but I trust Him. God is completely trustworthy.

Thank you for your prayers and love. It means so much to me!

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1, KJV

Love you all,

Meghan

Please send me your prayer requests anytime meghanewhiteauthor@gmail.com

Family, Prayer

I’ve Got a Praise Report!

meghanewhite

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My husband is home! Tom walked out of the hospital Tuesday night. Praise God!

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read my previous post.

As I was praying for Tom during his hospital stay one of my prayers was that he would walk out of the hospital, and God answered my prayer. God has answered so many of our prayers. Tom left with the catheter still in, and is not fully recovered yet, but we believe Tom will fully recover.

So many of you have been praying for Tom and we are so grateful. We cannot thank you enough. God is listening and answering according to His perfect will in His perfect time.

Last week I had some really rough days and rough nights. I fell sound asleep one night out of exhaustion and woke up in the middle of the night completely overwhelmed and fearful. The next morning I woke up heavy hearted. Jesus encouraged me.

I sat on the couch getting ready to do what I always do each morning, read my Bible, pray and spend time with Jesus. I couldn’t start. I was discouraged. The Voice of the Martyrs magazine was sitting in front of me so I grabbed it. I flipped open the front page and read the following quote from the founder of this incredible ministry.

“In the year 1948, on a Sunday while I went to church I was kidnapped by the Communists. I knew that even in the van of the secret police I am in the hands of the Almighty God, and this gave quiet to my heart.” -Richard Wurmbrand

Richard was imprisoned and tortured for fourteen years for preaching the Gospel which went against the policy of state atheism under the communist regime in Romania. This man survived what is unimaginable to me and trusted God completely. I can trust God completely too.

It was like an arrow shot right through my heart. Tom and I were in the hands of Almighty God. No matter the outcome, no matter the path, no matter what doctors say. God has the final say.

There are still many unknowns with Tom’s health. The doctors still do not have an answer for the anemia or for the kidney failure. We have weeks and weeks of doctors appointments, and labs. But we trust God. Our Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for Tom. He has carried us through this storm and He will carry us all the way out.

Thank you so very much for praying for Tom. We welcome any continued prayers for total healing. May God bless you for blessing us. Praise God for His faithfulness and goodness!

Ask, Seek, Knock

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:7-12, NIV

Love you all,

Meghan

Please send me your prayer requests anytime meghanewhiteauthor@gmail.com

God, Jesus

Birds Don’t Worry

meghanewhite

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Photo by Tina Nord on Pexels.com

If there was a contest for the best worrier I would have been in the running. I may have even won. The old me was a worry wart. I like to say that I was a born worrier. I was very good at it. The champion of worriers. This is not the kind of accomplishment to be proud of.

These days I worry much less. Worry still tries to rear its ugly head and take over my thoughts, but now it doesn’t have me captive. When worry threatens to take over, I know how to fight back. I did not learn this overnight. This has taken many years by the grace and mercy of God.

Jesus is quite clear that we are not to worry. He does not suggest or recommend that we do not worry, Jesus commands us not to worry. He uses the illustration of birds to show the importance of trusting God to take care of us.

Birds are beautiful, majestic creatures. I love bird watching. The lovely songs they sing, and their extraordinary colors are awe inspiring. With all their flying and forging they aren’t worrying. Birds don’t have barns or warehouses for their food, yet they are always fed because their creator, Father God, feeds them.

You and I are much more valuable than birds. We are made in the image of God, the pinnacle of His creation. If God takes care of the birds, won’t He take care of us?

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:25-27, NIV

I love this passage in Matthew. I have read it so many times over the years that the page is falling out of my Bible. These incredible words from Jesus have penetrated my heart and my mind to set me free from worry. That’s how much our Heavenly Father loves us. He does not want us worrying. He cares for our every need and we do not have to worry.

Worry does no good, only harm.

Worry changes absolutely nothing.

Worry places our focus on our problems, or potential problems.

Worry cannot take care of our needs.

Worry takes our eyes off of Jesus.

God loves all of His creation. He cares for the birds He made by providing food and shelter for them. We are much more precious to God then birds. God knows what we need.

God will take care of you.

There is a key component to trusting God for all of our needs. We must seek His kingdom and His righteousness first.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33, NIV

We must seek God first and foremost. If we are earnestly seeking God, we must expect to find Him.

God is sovereign over everything. He rules over all creation, including us. He is our provider and we need to look to Him and trust Him, because He is trustworthy. God loves us and will take care of our needs.

What are you worrying about today?

You can give every single worry over to your Heavenly Father. He is able to take care of your every need. Seek Him, and His Kingdom, and He will take care of your needs. He will replace your worry with peace.

Love you all,

Meghan

Father God,

You are worthy of all our praise. Forgive us when we don’t trust You and we worry. Replace our worry with faith, peace, and complete trust in You. Thank You for loving us and providing our every need.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Read the entire passage in Matthew at the link below.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A25-34&version=NIV