And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

— James 2:23 (NIV)

Believing God is very important. I am not talking about simply believing that God exists but believing everything He says and being obedient to what He asks you to do. Abraham was even obedient when God asked him to sacrifice his son (see Genesis 22:2). Later, the Bible refers to him as God’s friend. In addition, the writer of Hebrews understood that believing is the key to entering the type of rest God offers us (see Hebrews 4:2–3, 9).

Jesus went to visit Mary and Martha because their brother, Lazarus, had died (see John 11:1–44). He had already been dead and in his tomb for four days, but Jesus commanded them to roll away the stone anyway. Martha expressed her unbelief by saying it was too late to do anything, and Jesus told her if she would only believe she would see the glory of God (see John 11:40).

God asks us to believe, and as we do, we will see His glory, enter His rest, and be called His friend. Abraham’s belief was credited to him as righteousness, and our belief in Jesus makes us the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for calling me Your friend. Help me to move beyond simply believing in You, to believing everything You say and do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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…I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

— John 10:10 (AMPC)

I think some people have a perception of Christianity as a stern, severe, and joyless lifestyle. That’s because many who call themselves Christians have sour attitudes and sad faces. They can be critical of others and quick to judge. Those of us who love and serve God and His Son, Jesus Christ, should be the happiest people on Earth. We should be able to enjoy everything we do, simply because we know God is present. God sent Jesus to ensure we would enjoy life. Our joy makes God happy!

Happiness is an emotion that fosters well-being, and it is contagious. One of the best ways to witness to others about Jesus is to be happy and enjoy all you do. Since everyone simply wants to be happy, if they see truly happy Christians, they will be open to learning about and receiving Jesus themselves.

Power Thought: I enjoy every moment of my life.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I want to be happy and to show others the joy only found in You. Thank You for helping me find my joy, amen.

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For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence.

— Psalm 71:5 (AMPC)

Trusting God allows us to enter His rest, and rest is a place of peace where we are able to enjoy our lives while being confident God is fighting our battles.

God cares for us; He will solve our problems and meet our needs, and thankfully, we can stop thinking and worrying about them. I realize this is easier said than done, but there is no time like the present to begin learning a new way to live—a way of living that is without worry, anxiety, and fear.

This is the time to begin believing and saying, “I trust God completely; there is no need to worry! I will not give in to fear or anxiety. God is the source of my confidence.” The more you think about this truth, the more you will find yourself choosing trust over worry.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You that I don’t have to worry! I trust You to take care of me and to always be with me, amen.

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The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.

— Romans 13:12 (AMPC)

Before your feet touch the floor in the morning, put on the full armor of God with which you can quench all the fiery darts of the enemy (See Ephesians 6:13–17). Put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the readiness of the gospel of peace.

Don’t let the devil steal your peace in the morning. Start talking to God before you even get out of bed. Tell Him, “I love You, Lord, and I need Your help today. Please strengthen me to walk in the fruit of the Spirit. Help me walk in love all day long. Help me to keep my thoughts on You, Lord.”

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for loving me and for helping me love others. Thank You for the way You guide and direct me as I go through my day and for the wonderful plan You have for my life.

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Whoever says he is in the Light and [yet] hates his brother [Christian, born-again child of God his Father] is in darkness even until now. Whoever loves his brother [believer] abides (lives) in the Light, and in It or in him there is no occasion for stumbling or cause for error or sin. But he who hates (detests, despises) his brother [in Christ] is in darkness and walking (living) in the dark; he is straying and does not perceive or know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

— 1 John 2:9–11 (AMPC)

Hate is an extremely strong and harsh word. Any discussion among believers about hating other Christians would lead most of them to say, “I don’t believe I have ever hated anyone.” If we think about these words of John, however, perhaps he didn’t mean hate as we think of it—feeling great hostility or animosity toward someone. Perhaps our form of hatred today is more like indifference. We don’t really dislike people, but we don’t care enough to help them when they have troubles and problems.

“Most of the loving I see today in the church is based on convenience,” someone told me recently. He went on to say that we will reach out to others as long as it’s convenient or doesn’t demand too much time or effort.

This opens a wide door of opportunity for Satan to separate us from those who most need our love. Jesus commanded us to love each other. In John 13:34–35, He said that people would recognize us as His disciples by our expressions of love toward one another. Perhaps one reason they don’t say that about many of today’s Christians is because too often we’re unwilling to go out of our way to meet the needs of others.

Love is an action verb. If you love others, you do things for them. To hate (in the biblical sense) is to do nothing or to turn away. To make it worse, you judge and criticize others and think, If they really loved God, they wouldn’t be in such a predicament.

You need to see that if you practice God’s “love walk,” you not only grow yourself, but you enable others to grow. The devil can’t do you much harm if you truly walk in loving relationship with others.

In my book Battlefield of the Mind, I shared the story of how I was extremely sick during my fourth pregnancy. When I prayed for healing, God reminded me that I had criticized another woman in our church who was always tired and sick during her pregnancy. Now, here I was in the same circumstances. I realized how wrong I had been and repented. But it took more than repenting—it also became a time of learning for me. God forced me to realize how often I had judged or criticized others because they didn’t measure up to the standards I thought they ought to live by.

All of us make mistakes. All of us have weaknesses. God didn’t call us to point out those weaknesses to the person (or worse, to someone else), but He did call us to care—to show Christ’s love in any way we can. The Bible tells us to be tenderhearted, understanding, and forgiving. That’s how we can win over satanic attacks. Paul says it this way: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:30–32 AMPC).

God used these verses to help me see that being Jesus’ disciple means being kind to others, tenderhearted, and forgiving. I also realized it meant overlooking their weaknesses and shortcomings. If we truly love others as Christ loves us, it isn’t difficult at all.

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, I want to love others, and I want to be kind and caring. I also know that I fail at times. In Your name, I ask You to forgive me, and enable me to forgive others who hurt me or don’t live up to my standards, amen.

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But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

— Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

Yesterday, in a moment of hot temper, I said something I should not have said, and of course, once I calmed down, I felt bad that I had behaved foolishly. I immediately asked God for forgiveness and apologized to Him. Today, I am rejoicing in the fact that God does not demand perfection from us in order to receive His love.

A person who pressures him or herself to be perfect is properly referred to as a “perfectionist,” and they usually live under a great deal of pressure and disappointment simply because reaching perfection while here on earth is an unattainable goal. Our loving Father knows this, so He sent Christ to die for our sins (imperfections). The truth is that our sins are paid for before we ever commit them!

I urge you to believe that God loves you unconditionally at all times and your fellowship with Him does not need to be interrupted by your imperfections (sins). When you make mistakes, admit them, talk openly with the Lord about them, be willing to turn from them, and remember that it was for people just like you and me that Jesus died!

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You that I don’t need to live under the pressure to be perfect. I want to do everything right, but when I fail, help me remember that Your love for me does not diminish.

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But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

— Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

Yesterday, in a moment of hot temper, I said something I should not have said, and of course, once I calmed down, I felt bad that I had behaved foolishly. I immediately asked God for forgiveness and apologized to Him. Today, I am rejoicing in the fact that God does not demand perfection from us in order to receive His love.

A person who pressures him or herself to be perfect is properly referred to as a “perfectionist,” and they usually live under a great deal of pressure and disappointment simply because reaching perfection while here on earth is an unattainable goal. Our loving Father knows this, so He sent Christ to die for our sins (imperfections). The truth is that our sins are paid for before we ever commit them!

I urge you to believe that God loves you unconditionally at all times and your fellowship with Him does not need to be interrupted by your imperfections (sins). When you make mistakes, admit them, talk openly with the Lord about them, be willing to turn from them, and remember that it was for people just like you and me that Jesus died!

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You that I don’t need to live under the pressure to be perfect. I want to do everything right, but when I fail, help me remember that Your love for me does not diminish.

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Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

— 1 Peter 5:8 (AMPC)

Listening to the Holy Spirit will keep us balanced in every area of our life. The Spirit will tell us when we’re spending too much money or not spending enough, when we’re talking too much or not talking enough, or even when we’re resting too much or not resting enough. Any time we are doing too much or too little of something, we are out of balance.

The verse for today states that we are to be well-balanced so Satan cannot take advantage of us. For years, he took advantage of me because I was not balanced in my approach to work. I felt that my whole life should be arranged around work. As long as I was working and accomplishing something, I didn’t feel the guilt that the devil used against me. But that urge to work all the time was not from God; it did not push me toward godly balance in my life. Work is a good thing, but I also needed to rest and have enjoyment.

Each day as you seek to hear from God, ask Him to show you any area in your life that is out of balance and work with Him to make adjustments. We have many things in life to juggle and therefore it is easy to get out of balance, but God is always available to help us in this area. Simply ask Him if you are doing much or too little of anything and make the changes He recommends.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I rejoice today that you will give me all the tools I need to stay balanced in every area of my life. I worship You, and I receive from You all the grace that I need for this day, amen.

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

— Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)

Stress is one of the biggest problems we face in our society today. Everything is so fast-paced, loud, and excessive that our mental, emotional, and physical systems stay on overload. We are inundated with information. We have newspapers, magazines, and twenty-four-hour news networks that don’t just reach us through our television but through our cell phones and other mobile devices. At one time, a popular web search engine indexed more than 3,307,998,701 web pages! It’s hard enough to think about that number, let alone the content that goes with it. We have information overload, and it is no wonder we have trouble calming our minds down so we can rest.

In addition to what the world throws at us, we have schedules that are insane. There are never enough hours in any day to get everything done we are trying to do. We hurry and rush, we feel frustrated and tired, and we’re the first to say, “I’m under so much stress that I feel I am going to explode.” And stress takes its toll on our confidence.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I can’t change the world around me, but I can bring my life and requests to You. May Your peace guard my heart and mind today. Thank You that I can rest in You, amen.

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Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.

— Psalm 51:12 (AMP)

One of the most valuable things I have learned in my life is that I don’t have to wait to feel like doing something before I can do it…and neither do you. You can actually create opportunities for laughter.

• Plan to laugh…and then do it. Take a few minutes away from the busyness of the day and focus on something funny that a friend said or something enjoyable you’re looking forward to.

• Hang around funny and encouraging people. Spend time with people who are lighthearted and encouraging. Their humor and their positive nature are infectious.

• Change your perspective. You can be joyful if you begin each day with a think session. Think about some happy, joyful things on purpose.

Learn to enjoy yourself rather than being so intense about your imperfections. I can promise it will add laughter to your life.

David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” We can pray the same thing. If you feel life has sapped you of your joy and taken away your laughter, ask God for His help and take every opportunity you can to laugh.

Prayer Starter: Lord, restore to me the joy of Your salvation. Please help me to seek out and take every opportunity to laugh, amen.

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And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

— Revelation 12:10–11 (ESV)

Sometimes the devil complicates the healing process because he bombards your mind with negative thoughts and accusations. He will whisper to your mind accusations such as, “You are so wounded you can never be healed.” Or “You aren’t worth having a better life than you have right now.” Or “You deserve the pain you’re going through.” The devil is a liar, and he wants you to feel guilty and condemned. He can put thoughts in your mind, but that doesn’t mean that they are true.

The mind is part of the soul, and for your soul to be healed, your mind also needs to be healed and renewed. The devil often comes against God’s people on the battlefield of the mind, and he will try to influence your thoughts and use them to stop or slow down your healing journey.

The way to overcome and conquer the accuser is to believe God’s promises more than we believe the lies the enemy puts in our minds. It is so important to remember that all of the thoughts that enter our minds are not necessarily true. Only God’s Word is truth.

Revelation 12:11 tells us how to conquer the accuser—with the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and the word of our testimony, which means knowing God’s Word and letting it be your guide for life. It is also good to tell others what God has done for you. As a person whose soul is in the process of healing, part of your testimony is still being crafted. But part of it is already settled: You are a beloved, redeemed child of God, filled with potential! You are a miracle in the making, a masterpiece of God’s handiwork. While you were still in sin, Jesus died for you (see Romans 5:8), so just imagine what He wants to do for you now that you have been forgiven and desire to grow in relationship with Him. No matter what you think or how things seem right now in your life, God’s plans for your future will astound you!

God’s great plans for your life will unfold day by day as you continue to live by His Word and let Him lead you. Remember this when the devil hurls accusations against you in your mind. Remind him of the blood of Jesus and the word of your testimony, which is that God is healing you and strengthening you more and more each day. Open the Word of God and read all the wonderful things God says about you instead of listening to the enemy’s lies.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for all the wonderful things You say about me in Your Word. In Your name, I will overcome every accusation of the enemy, by the blood of Jesus and the word of my testimony!

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But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah)….

— 2 Peter 3:18 (AMPC)

When we receive Christ as our Savior, our spirit is saved, and we are born again. Our spirit is made holy, and God comes to dwell in us. The Word of God, when it is received and becomes rooted in our hearts, has the power to change us from the inside out. As we study God’s Word and meditate on His promises, spiritual growth happens.

Spiritual maturity doesn’t develop from mere church attendance, giving large sums of money, or serving on a committee—it develops from learning and applying the Word of God in your everyday life.

While it is good to attend church, give, and serve, it is your personal relationship with God and following the Holy Spirit that brings about maturity. True spiritual growth comes when you apply God’s Word in every situation and step beyond your comfort zone and trust Him in all things, especially the ones you cannot control.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for Your Word and for walking with me as I grow in my faith and my relationship with You. I love You, amen.

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So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God….

— Romans 14:22 (NIV)

I try to eat reasonably healthy meals, and I have studied nutrition and its effects on the body. Consequently, I have strong opinions about how we should take care of ourselves. I do eat sweets, but only small amounts, and I am usually concerned when I see anyone regularly consuming large amounts of sweets and other foods that I know to be unhealthy.

I have tried to inform people when I see them eating poorly, and they have not received my advice well, to say the least. I even had one person say, “If we are going to spend time together, I don’t want you telling me what to eat all the time and making me feel guilty when I eat something you don’t approve of.”

The person went on to say, “I know I don’t eat right, but I am just not at the place yet in my life where I am ready to do anything about it. I have lots of things wrong with me that I feel are more urgent than my appetite. So, I am concentrating on what I feel God is dealing with me about, and I have no time to also pay attention to what you are dealing with me about.”

We all tend to put our convictions on others; we think if they are priorities for us, they must be priorities for everyone.

Romans 14 shares examples of how people were in a quandary about whether or not they should eat meat that had been offered to idols. Some thought it would be a sin, and others said the idols were nothing any way and therefore could not harm the meat. Some could not eat because of their weak faith, and others ate because of their strong faith. Paul told them to each be convinced in their own hearts, and not try to force their personal convictions on others.

God seems to meet each of us right where we are in our faith. He begins with us at that point and helps us grow gradually and continually. Be led by the Holy Spirit yourself, and let others do the same thing.

Prayer Starter: God, please help me to accept where I am right now, as You do, and I trust You to take me to a new level of living that is right for me and not for someone else, amen.

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But I have trusted, leaned on, and been confident in Your mercy and loving-kindness; my heart shall rejoice and be in high spirits in Your salvation.

— Psalm 13:5 (AMPC)

God is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy (see Psalm 103:8). It is impossible to deserve mercy, and that is why it is such a waste of time to try to pay for our mistakes with good works or guilt. We don’t deserve mercy, but God gives it freely. This free gift is something to be thankful for!

Mercy overrides “the rules.” You may have grown up in a home that had lots of rules, and if you broke any of them, you got into trouble. Although God does intend for us to keep His commands, He understands our nature and is ready to extend mercy to anyone who will ask for and receive it.

When we learn to receive mercy, then we will also be able to give it to others—and mercy is something many people seriously need.

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for the way You extend mercy to me each and every day. I desire to please You in everything I do, but I thank You that when I fall short, You never fail to bless me with the free gift of Your love and mercy.

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And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

— 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)

My definition of “get” is to obtain by struggle and effort and “receive” is to act like a receptacle and simply take in what is offered. We can receive mercy, grace, strength, forgiveness, and love from the Lord. It is a new day—and God’s mercy is new every morning (see Lamentations 3:22–23).

You can have a brand-new start today. Allow God’s mercy to strengthen and heal you before starting your routine activities. Receive His healing power and let its grace work in you. Today can be effortless as you depend on God’s grace to do what He has called you to do.

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to be strong in You and keep showing up and doing what is right, no matter how I feel or what my circumstances are like. Thank You.

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…Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

— Matthew 5:44 (KJV)

One of the most powerful prayers you can pray is a prayer for your enemies. If you want to see someone who is mighty in prayer, look for the person who will intercede for an enemy.

I believe that God blesses us tremendously when we intercede for those who have offended or betrayed us. Remember Job? He had to pray for his friends after they had really hurt and disappointed him. But immediately after he prayed, God began to restore his life. In fact, God gave him back twice as much as he had lost (see Job 42:10)!

Praying for someone who has hurt us is so powerful because, when we do, we are walking in love toward that person, and we are obeying the Word of God. We can hear God’s voice in the verse for today. What does Jesus tell us to do in this verse? He instructs us to pray for our enemies.

When you think about the people who have used you, abused you, harassed you, and spoken evil of you, bless them; do not curse them. Pray for them. God knows that blessing your enemies is not easy and that you may not feel like doing it. But you don’t do it because you feel like it; you do it as unto the Lord. Choosing to pray and bless instead of curse is very powerful in the spiritual realm, and God will do great things in your life as a result.

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, in Your name, I pray for and bless those who have used me, abused me, harassed or spoken against me. I ask You to shower them with blessings, rather than cursing them. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

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Be kind and helpful to one another, tenderhearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

— Ephesians 4:32 (AMP)

Learning to forgive quickly and completely is one of the most important keys to maintaining joy in our lives. Because God has forgiven us, He expects us to forgive others for their injustices against us.

Just as we can receive forgiveness from God and confidently trust that He is not angry with us, we can forgive others and not be angry with them. Anger and unforgiveness will quickly dilute your joy. It is impossible to be bitter and better at the same time.

Learning to be forgiving and merciful toward the faults of others is a sign of growing spiritual maturity—it is being obedient to God’s Word. When we obey God, especially when it is difficult to do so, He will always reward us with peace and joy.

Prayer Starter: Lord, please help to let go of bitterness or unforgiveness toward anyone that has hurt me, either intentionally or unintentionally. You are my Vindicator, and I am so thankful for that, amen.

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In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor.

— Ephesians 1:7 (AMPC)

Say aloud to yourself, “I was bought and cleansed from sin with a price; purchased with a preciousness; paid for and made God’s own.” You are delivered from sin and all the “death” it brings with it.

Worry, anxiety, and fear are forms of death. Strife, bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness are forms of death. The blood of Jesus is the only antidote for death. Jesus’ blood is precious before the Father and should be precious to us. A precious thing is something we protect, something we are careful with, and something we don’t want to part with. The blood of Jesus is precious, and it allows us to be close to our heavenly Father. His sacrifice lifted the veil between God and man, and now we have free access and an opportunity for closeness and intimacy with God (see Hebrews 10:18–22).

The blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin and will continuously cleanse us (see 1 John 1:9). His blood is like a powerful cleansing agent. Just as our blood works to keep our bodies cleansed of all poison, the blood of Jesus continuously cleanses us from sin in all its forms and manifestations.

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your blood, shed for me. Thank You for the forgiveness that Your blood gives me from all sin and all its forms.

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When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

— Mark 10:47 (NIV)

Mark 10:46–52 tells us the story of a man sitting beside a road begging. The man, named Bartimaeus, was blind, so we might assume he was unable to work and had to depend on people’s kindness to meet his needs.

One day, Jesus was walking down the road near Bartimaeus and heard him shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (see Mark 10:47). The crowd around Bartimaeus told him to be quiet and stop bothering Jesus. But Bartimaeus ignored them and kept crying out anyway. I believe he was determined to have an encounter with God.

Jesus had a choice to make. He could have pretended not to hear Bartimaeus, or He could have simply kept moving without saying anything. But Jesus was merciful, and His mercy was on full display toward Bartimaeus that day. He stopped and asked some of His disciples to bring Bartimaeus to Him. When Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted Him to do for him and Bartimaeus responded that he wanted his sight restored, Jesus healed him.

I have said many times that mercy precedes healing. Many of us do not cry out for God’s mercy enough. There may be various reasons for this, such as feeling unworthy or spending our time trying to earn it, when we can never do so.

When people in the Scriptures found out Jesus was nearby, they went to Him and asked for mercy. Always remember that Jesus is near to you, too. You can ask Him for mercy at any time, under any circumstances, and He will hear your cry. A father whose son was terribly tormented, to the point of hurting himself, asked Jesus for mercy for the young man, and Jesus healed him (see Matt. 17:15–18). A woman whose daughter needed deliverance from demonic oppression cried out for mercy (see Matt. 15:22–28), and Jesus set her free. Ten men afflicted with the horrible disease of leprosy asked for His mercy, and He healed them all (see Luke 17:12–19). As you can imagine, they were so excited, but only one of them thought to go back to Jesus to thank Him.

A word that is similar in meaning to mercy is compassion. The King James Version of Matthew 9:36 says that as Jesus traveled and ministered, He was moved with compassion toward people. In other words, His awareness of people’s needs touched His heart. He cared about each one, and His mercy and compassion moved Him to action. His mercy is available for you today.

The Bible says that His mercies are new every morning (see Lamentations 3:22–23). When you need mercy from God, all you have to do is ask. And when He gives it to you, remember to thank Him!

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for your mercy available to me, every single day.

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And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.

— Mark 11:25 (AMPC)

“Why me, God?” was the cry of my heart for many years. Because of my wounded emotions from a lifetime of suffering, I lived in a wilderness of self-pity and unforgiveness. It was a huge problem that kept me from fulfilling the plan of God for my life.

Many people are hurting terribly and are crying out for help, but they aren’t willing to receive the help God has to offer. It is amazing how often we want things our way. When someone hurts you, you feel they owe you something, yet Jesus wants you to let it go. No matter how much you may want His help, you will receive only when you become willing to do things God’s way.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I know that Your way is forgiveness, so please help me to forgive others, forgive myself, and receive Your forgiveness once and for all.

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