Prayers

Prayer works. In time you will learn to listen and recognize answers.

Prayer: Finding Answers to Life’s Tough Questions – Day 61: Light the World, Build the Kingdom

If you need answers to tough questions in life, please pray and ask God for those answers. Prayer works. It is a power we can grow into using more effectively with time as we learn to listen and recognize answers.

  • Answers may come while reading scriptures.
  • They may come as sudden strokes of ideas that feel like truth and/or make you feel joyful or peaceful.
  • Answers might come through a dream or a thought that keeps coming to you in various times and/or ways.
  • Sometimes answers come as what appears to be coincidences.

There are so many ways that answers may come. But the secret is to ask and then expect an answer.

From there keep your heart open and your eyes peeled. Let go of the outcome and trust the answer will come in God’s time and way. Resist the need to control or make things happen the way you think they should. God is there and He answers prayers.

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day,“What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

angels on earth

Angels On Earth: Day 40 – Light the World, Build the Kingdom (Year 2)

As you ask God each day what one thing you can do to light the world and act upon the answer, you have the opportunity to be angels on earth – facilitating the answer to someone else’s prayers.
 
In 1 Corinthians 16:15-17, the Apostle Paul is closing up a letter to the Corinthians. He speaks of the house of Stephanas who were newer converts to Christianity. He says “they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” I love that word “addicted” in this context.
 
When we become converted to Jesus Christ, the desire of our hearts is to “strengthen our brethren.” That’s what Jesus told Peter: “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). It’s really not something you have to force. Once you’re converted, you naturally reach out to others. You can’t stand to watch them suffer or wander in darkness. You want to reach out to those in need and lift them upon your shoulders.
 
Upon conversion, our desire to be like the Savior increases. We’re filled with His love which makes us want to care for, teach and love those around us. It literally becomes a sweet addiction. The wonderful thing is that it is an addiction with no side-effects! Try finding that anywhere else in the modern world.
 
This kind of love not only enables us to help others in need, but it also allows us to let others shine. When filled with this love, we no longer feel less because someone else is more. We don’t feel inferior if someone else is better than we are at something. Rather this type of Christ-centered love rejoices in the triumphs and talents of another.
 
I cannot begin to enumerate the people who have touched my life and answered my prayers. When I lacked knowledge, these people shared theirs. When I lacked vision, these people helped me see. When darkness engulfed me, these people brought understanding and enlightenment. When I needed help, they’ve been there.
 
I feel like Paul as he described his friends Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus when he said, “for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.” (1 Corinthians 15:17)
Copyright: AntonioGuillem / BigStockPhoto.com
God's bread trails

God’s Bread Trails – Day 37: Light the World, Build the Kingdom (Year 2)

You’ve had those questions before … the ones that perplex you, nag at your mind, or have you wondering what to do next. You find yourself pondering on which path to take or trying to make sense of something important to you. Jesus said, “Ask and ye shall receive,” but the thing is we rarely ask and get an immediate answer … especially for the tough questions.

Those answers come a little at a time… in a bread trail. Do you know what I mean by God’s bread trails? It’s where answers come a bit at a time. How do you know when you’re on one of God’s bread trails? How do you know how to follow them and where do they lead? That’s what I’ll explore in this episode of the Light the World, Build the Kingdom Challenge.

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

Featured Image Copyright: k.samurkas / BigStockPhoto.com

power of praise

The Power of Praise – Day 24 – Light the World, Build the Kingdom (Year 2)

What do you do when facing something daunting? Do you pray, get a feeling of peace, but things still look overwhelming as you proceed forward? If so, take a cue from King Jehoshaphat! He’ll demonstrate what to do between the time of your peaceful answer and things working themselves out. The secret is found in the power of praise.

There is a difference between praise and gratitude. 2 Chronicles chapter 20 tells the story of King Jehosaphat and the Children of Israel as they came up against an insurmountable enemy. The king’s first instinct was to gather his people in prayer and fasting. As he did so, the answer came through a prophet of God that they would “not need to fight in this battle. Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord… Fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.” (verse 17)

To his credit Jehosaphat took God at His word. Listen to the video below to find out how Jehosaphat harnessed the power of praise to calm the people’s fears and trust God for His promised miracles. As we model the steps Jehosaphat took, we can reap miracles in our own lives as well.

How the Challenge Works

Step 1: Ask God each day, “What is one thing I can do to light the world and build the kingdom today?”

Step 2: ACT upon whatever He leads you to do. Go through the day EXPECTING for opportunities to arise.

Step 3: Document somewhere — in your private journal or on your favorite social media platform.

Step 4: Share! If you share publicly, please use our hash tags: #BuildTheKingdom and #LightTheWorldNow so I can cheer you on! If you’re going to be documenting privately, I recommend sharing your experience with a close friend or accountability partner. There is power in the sharing.

For ongoing support and a place to share, please join our Facebook group.

 

Featured Image Copyright: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek / BigStockPhoto.com

receiving

Day 41: Receiving – Ask and Ye Shall Receive

Are there things you want to be different in your life? Have you taken the time to ask God for them specifically? Do you set clear intentions? Sometimes we feel dissatisfaction with situations, but never get clear enough to ask for a solution.

Today’s thought comes from Luke 11:9-13

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 70

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written
therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
(Joshua 1:8)

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for your Word, for the blessing it is in my life. As I meditate upon it and live according to it You have promised to make my way prosperous and bring me good success.

Father, please connect me to my life purpose. Give me clarity in my creativity that I may move forward and live the divine design You have for my life. I trust that You will guide me to the right knowledge, people, and resources to live out my purpose as Your child.

I trust that you are bringing prosperity and success to me as promised and as I do according to Your will.

I thank you for the seeds of creativity You have placed within me. Thank You for making me in your image… a creator in the image of THE Creator. Please guide my creativity, make it flourish and grow. And may everything You and I create together bring honor and glory to You.

I pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 69

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for the dream, the vision You have placed in my heart and mind. Thank You for the desire to reach out and serve others with the talents and gifts which You have given me.

Father, You know every piece, part and person that is needed to bring this vision into reality. You placed the dream in me and I know that Your plans can never be frustrated.

I trust that in the perfect time and way You will lead to me the individuals who have the knowledge, commitment, passion and talent to work alongside me. I trust that people I don’t even know and may never meet will be prompted to take actions that would facilitate the fulfillment of my vision.

I know that just as we do not see the swelling and sprouting of a seed in the ground and yet growth is happening, the same thing is happening for my dream. Beneath the surface it is
swelling, sprouting and beginning to grow. Everything it needs by way of nourishment is being brought to it.

Thank You, Father for Your mercy. Thank You for Your miraculous and tremendous capabilities of creation. I put my trust in You. I will not force or micromanage the creative process. I will
keep my heart and mind fixed on the vision and accept Your direction to act when prompted to do so.

And in the meantime I will continue to praise You for Your matchless power, love, mercy and miracles that are happening all around me.

In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 68

Dear Father in Heaven,

I put my trust in You. I know that alone I am nothing, but with You, all things are possible.

I am confident because I have confidence in You. I am successful because everything You set your hand to prospers and thrives.

Father, you do nothing small. You fed the 5,000 with a few loaves of bread and fish. You parted the Red Sea with a breath of your nostrils. You brought down the walls of Jericho and parted the waters of Jordan.

You are a God of miracles, taking the meager efforts of humanity — an outstretched hand, a few loaves, or walking around a city — and transform them into miraculous deliverance.

Thank you that as Your child, I am an heir of everything that is Yours. I am a joint-heir with Christ, of great worth to my God and King. Help me to feel your love today in my life. Help me to feel my worth and value in Your eyes. I accept your love and receive your deliverance.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 67

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for the talents and gifts which You have bestowed upon me. I acknowledge that they come from You and that I am nothing without You. I offer myself willingly as Your servant. Please use my talents, hands and feet to heal the minds, bodies and souls of those in need.

Please use my talents and abilities to bless, enrich and bring joy to those with whom I come in contact. Use me as your vessel, for I know that in serving others, I am serving You. Your abundance always blesses me as I allow Your divine light and love to flow through me out to others.

I receive those blessings and accept your abundance, Father.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 66

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for the many ideas and possibilities that lie before me. I ask that You would give me Your focus, Your ability to see the big picture. Let the clarity of heaven guide my steps that I may remain focused on making the highest and best impact in my business and my life.

I know that You see all things. I trust the things that I feel prompted to do will weave together to guide me to the resources, people and knowledge I need to create the
divinely designed outcome.

Please help me to easily distinguish between the things that are part of Your plan and those things that would take me away from it. Please guide and order my steps that everything I do would move me toward the vision you have for my life and business.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 65

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for the ideas and insights which You have shared with me. Thank You for the projects, programs and products which I have begun to develop.

Father, please give me focus and wisdom that I may complete my projects in a way that is for Your highest glory and for maximum benefit to those You serve through me.

Give me the ability to do things I currently do not have the skills or abilities to do. Bring to me people, resources, education, and angels to assist me in anything that overwhelms me about my projects. Still my heart. Give me confidence. Help me step out of my comfort zone knowing YOU ARE THERE!

I put my trust in Thee. I see my project completed in my mind’s eye and I know that You shall bring it to pass. For this I give You all the glory and all the honor. For I know it is only
in and through You that all things are possible.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 64

Dear Father in Heaven,

I ask for breakthrough in my life and in my business. I ask for an increased ability to maximize the use of my time to fulfill my goals and obligations.

Father, I bring my priorities to you. Please give me miracles in the use of my time that I may find ways to accomplish the things that lie before me in new and heavenly ways.

Please send Your angels to assist me, to be around me, to facilitate speed and efficiency in the tasks at hand.

Help me to do all things in a relaxed, trusting way. Help me to relax into your peace, collapse into your rest, and trust Your timing and Your grand design. Help me to proceed at a pace that
would be in my highest good. Help me run and not be weary and walk and not faint.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 63

Dear Father in Heaven,

“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me!

Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress strong!

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are He who took me from my mother’s womb.

My praise is continually of you.” (Psalm 71:1-6)

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 62

Dear Father in Heaven,

I thank Thee for Thy mercy and grace. I thank Thee for my blessings. I pray that I might continue to find favor with Thee.

As you showed favor to Joseph of old. Even though he was sold into Egypt and found himself in prison, yet still he found favor in Thy sight. I pray that whatever circumstances that I may be in that I will prosper and that I might be favored of Thee. I pray that even in things that are difficult, I may be Thy servant, positioned to bless and utilize my gifts to lift others.

As the Psalmist acknowledged, “For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” (Psalms 5:12)

Encompass me now with Thy shield. Extend it around my business and out to my customers and clients that they too may find favor in Thy sight.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 61

Dear Father in Heaven,

I pray today that the things I have created would reach the correct audience who needs them. And especially, I pray dear Father, that the things I offer would give hope to others in this troubling time in which we live.

The storms rage around us, but Your light is shining through each of us who put our trust in Thee. Lord, use me as an instrument today. May Your light, Your wisdom, Your mercy and Your hope, shine through all I do and throughout every product, service or interaction I have and make in my business.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 60

Dear Father in Heaven,

“My prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of Your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.

Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.

Answer me, O Lord, for Your steadfast love is good; according to Your abundant mercy, turn to me.

Hide not your face from Your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul, redeem me! (Psalm 69:14-18)

I ask and pray this, Father in the blessed name of Jesus Christ.

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 59

Dear Father in Heaven,

I am so blessed. There are so many in this world who are suffering, who are dealing with challenges far more difficult than I. I pray that You would lift them, bless them, heal their lives, their bodies, their homes, and their countries.

Let Your peace that passes all understanding be poured out over this planet, let it seep into the parched lives, the barren lands, the suffering people. Let it water their crops, sustain their energy, nurture their bodies and bring new life to everything it touches.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 58

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for Your forgiveness, Your unconditional love and daily blessings. Your abundance surrounds me in the beautiful world which You have created for me to live in. I thank You for all the blessings that money could never buy… for the sun, the stars, the moon and the mountains. Thank You for my life, my breath, my body and my liberty.

Help me use them wisely to glorify You in all I do.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 57

Dear Father in Heaven,

Open my eyes, soften my heart, that I may see through YOUR eyes and understand with my heart. Let me be converted that YOU may heal me. (John 12:40)

Make your ways, my ways and your light, my light. Give me strength to follow Your path and share Your light with others in my personal and professional life.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 56

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for blessing me in my life and business. I thank You for the things that are going well and even the things that appear to be problems. I trust that all things are working together for my good.

If one good opportunity becomes unavailable to me, I trust that the next one will be even better.

I am ready and willing to work, Lord. Please send me the clients and customers who need what I have to offer, who need my expertise and the gifts You’ve given me to share.

I release to you “who” will be my clients and customers. I let go of it having to be any one specific person or company and allow you to bring new clients and revenues to me from anywhere You see fit.

In Jesus’ name, I pray,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 55

Dear Father in Heaven,

Jesus said whatever things we desires when we pray, we should believe that we receive them, and that we shall have them. (Mark 11:24)

Father, I ask Thee now for the things that I need and desire in my life, for my family and in my business. I trust that I receive them now. I know that all things that are for my highest good are mine and on my way to me now.

Just as if I’d ordered a package off Amazon and know it’s on my way to me, so surely your blessings are on their way to me and will arrive in the perfect time and way.

I give Thee all the honor and the praise.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 54

Dear Father in Heaven,

Fill me with Thy perfect love that all fear may be cast out of me (1 John 4:8). Deliver me, Father, from any fear of failure and from any fear of success. Eradicate all fear of loss, for I know that in Thee, all my losses are made up.

Go through the years of my life and remove any trauma from my mistakes or times when I have suffered loss in any degree. Remove the grief and replace it with rejoicing. Remove the doubt and replace it with faith. Remove the despair and replace it with hope.

For in Thee and in my Savior, I have hope.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 53

Dear Father in Heaven,

Please guide me to the people who need the products and services that I offer. Assist those whom I can help to be led to my web site, to my products and services, to my social media pages or my place of business. Make me a blessing to those with whom I come in contact. Help me always to provide increase and enlightenment.

Please bless those who need the products and services I offer to have the funds necessary to purchase from me. Help them to make full use of the items they purchase from me to receive maximum benefit and improvement in their lives.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 52

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for the desires and dreams that You have planted in my heart. I know that where there is desire, there is power. You always qualifies those You call.

Thank You for the gifts, talents and life experiences I’ve been given.

Father, please make me an instrument in Thy hands that I may bless Your children. I put my fears and cares in Your hands and trust You to fill me with hope, faith and love for others.

Show me the way to go, and I will roll up my sleeves and serve.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 51

Dear Father in Heaven,

I know you are a God who makes blind men see.
You make the lame to walk.
And lift the burdens of the poor, weak and the sick.
There is nothing that is impossible to Thee.

Help me to see opportunities that I have been blind to in the past. Give me the ability to recognize the people I need to work with and the resources that lie dormant at my feet.

Heal whatever is broken in me. Help me run and not be weary and walk and not faint.

I put my trust in Thee forever.

In Jesus’ name

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 50

Dear Father in Heaven,

Open my eyes that I may see.
Give me the clarity and perspective of heaven and the wisdom of God.
Show me the truth in my experiences.
Reveal the opportunities that surround me.
Show me the next step to take.
Order my steps in righteousness.
Give me the courage to move forward and trust that your light will shine ahead as I do.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 49

Dear Father in Heaven,

Thank You for all You provide for me and for the opportunity to create wealth in my business. I remember Thee, my LORD my God, for the Bible tells me that “it is God who is giving me power to make wealth.” (Deuteronomy 8:18)

I pray that You would fill me with wisdom and understanding as Solomon of old (1 Kings 4:29) and Thy “Spirit, light, understanding and excellent wisdom” as Daniel. (Daniel 5:14) For it is through thy Spirit, light, understanding and wisdom that we gain wealth and succeed.

Father, please prosper me that those around me may prosper as well — that I may bring honor and glory unto Thee.

I ask and pray these things in Jesus’ name,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 48

Dear Father in Heaven,

I thank Thee for forgiving me for my past mistakes. I bring before Thee now anyone who has harmed me in any way. I forgive them for what they have done.

Wherever forgiveness is lacking in me, I ask that You would purge out the pain, the hurt, the grief, the loss, the shame, and the trauma. Fill me with sweet forgiveness and divine freedom. 

I give it all to Thee and ask for Thy comfort and peace to fill my heart in place of any hard feelings. Bless those that curse me, shower blessings on those who have used me or persecuted me in any way. Forgive them and forgive me too.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 47

Dear Father in Heaven,

You fed the 5,000 with a few loaves and fish. Baskets were taken up in excess. You parted the Red Sea with one breath. You brought down the walls of Jericho and made the sun stand still.

You are a God of miracles who seeks to give good things to His children.

I pray that you would take my resources, time, talents and money. I give them to you as the people gave what they had to Jesus to bless and multiply.

I ask Thee, Father, to bless what I give you and multiply it that my family and I and anyone I know may be provided for with plenty and to spare.

I thank you for multiplying these resources. I know that you will.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Ignite Your Biz with Prayer – Day 46

Dear Father in Heaven,

Father, let me abide in Thy Son that I may bring forth good fruit in my life and business, bringing glory to Thee.

Live in me. Speak through me. Teach through me. Let my hands and feet be Thine.

I know that without Thee I am nothing, but with Thee all things are possible. (See John 15:4-5,8)

Lord, help me always to abide in Thee.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen