Good Morning Surrendered, Focused on God, Followers of THE Way! Pronounce that over you and our Body! We were one way and now another! PTL! We are supple in His hands! Amen! We are focused on Jesus and His Spirit leads us to God's best! PTL! Be still and know as you turn off all the noise and sit at His feet receiving love, healing, hope, forgiveness, strength and direction. You are made for today and he is with you transforming you from what was and what is to what will be by His grace. Step out focused, surrendered and in faith! He is working all things together for good and you are being held and loved and molded by Him to be ready for all to come! Rejoice!
Maybe some of us need a reminder of Whose we are? Maybe some of us need some affirmation that we are being surrendered to His molding and that His plans are best? Some of us need to remember that God is with us and has teammates for us to work through whatever and pray and be accountable to. Some are struggling right now. Someday we will all face trials, struggles, corrections and stretching's that require focus, surrender and help. God is always with us! Amen! God is love and all he does for His beloved (us) is done in love, even if it hurts for a season. Rest in Him. Allow Him to nourish you. Watch for Hs assignments that will lead you from where you are to what will be in Christ! Get out those gratitude lists if needed and lift some refocusing praise and worship. Abide then thrive! He is up to something new and better as he leads you and us from glory to glory. Amen! Check out the flow through our devos below that speak to us with a thread through this. God is whispering His love to your spirit. Turn off whatever the noise is and be still, listen and receive. he will lead you today and everyday to His best for you, even if once in awhile that path takes you through a dark valley. remember He is with you. He knows, cares and loves you. Your name is engraved on His palm and your picture is on His fridge. Rejoice. And choose to let go and let God! I'm praying for you and me. Restoration and revival are at hand! Amen!
God is with you and He is speaking! PTL! Can you hear the whisper? Are you receiving His love and direction and willing to step out in faith? Try it! Share what you are hearing with someone and process together. he does have a great day ahead! Smile!
Chuck Swindoll
ODB
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In the early twentieth century, New York City had become a noisy place. With an overhead train, cars, trolleys, newsboys yelling, and people rushing around—life was loud! Yet, one day at Broadway and 34th Street, a man named Charles Kellogg declared to his friend, “Listen, I hear a cricket.”
“Impossible,” his friend answered. “With all this racket, you couldn’t hear a tiny sound like that.” Yet Mr. Kellogg insisted and eventually found the cricket, chirping in the window of a bakery. “What astonishing hearing you have,” his friend proclaimed. “Not at all,” Mr. Kellogg replied. “It’s a matter of where you focus your attention.”
Elijah was a prophet of God who’d just seen Him perform an amazing display of His power, but now the prophet was hiding in a cave for fear of the pagan queen (1 Kings 19:1-9). This time, however, God didn’t want to communicate in a powerful way. Even though He had sent a great wind, an earthquake, and even a roaring fire (vv. 11-12), it was time now for Elijah to commune with God personally and quietly. God wanted to speak to the prophet in “a gentle whisper” (v. 12).
Today, there’s a surplus of noise in our lives, yet God still speaks in a quiet voice through the Scriptures and by His Spirit. Taking time to prayerfully focus our attention on God will help us tune in to His comforting, guiding voice.
By Brent Hackett
REFLECT & PRAY
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What noises are crowding in on your life? How can you listen for God’s voice in your busy world?
Dear Father, I thank You that I can listen for Your Spirit to speak to me quietly.
Learn how prayer helps us tune into to God's voice and focuses our thoughts on Him.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Some scholars believe that in 1 Kings 19, Elijah was suffering from depression. He was weary after three and a half hard years of ministry, the events on Mount Carmel, and his flight from the wrath of Jezebel. But notice how kindly God cares for his discouraged servant. He gives Elijah rest to compensate for his fatigue and then provides him with food to restore his strength (vv. 5-7). Later, God would continue His care for him by assigning him new tasks to focus on—anointing kings and training Elisha (vv. 15-18). Today, as we serve God, we can listen for His voice and receive His compassionate care.
Bill Crowder |
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UR: Every Season
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. - Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
When my friend Ginny came to visit me in New England, she delighted in the fall foliage. She had never before experienced leaves with such vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange. The brilliant swamp maple leaves especially caught her eye, so she gathered a few and preserved them to show her students back home.
While Ginny appreciated the spectacular colors as one of God’s treasured gifts, often I have a different reaction. At times I miss the beauty of autumn because I’m focused on what comes next — winter. Where I live, winter means blustery winds, ice, and nor’easters — strong storms that can deposit more than a foot of snow. Rather than investing in fully living in the present season, I tend to live with a heart and an eye turned toward the next season.
Today’s scripture reminds us that seasons change, and each is valuable and purposeful in God’s sight. Seasons can be physical, like fall and winter. Or seasons can be spiritual like those described in Ecclesiastes. Each season has its own merit and carries God’s tender touch. Whatever the season, may we be fully present and alive to God’s presence and love.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for each season. Help us to pause in the present and be attentive to you this day. Amen.
TWFYT
Joyce Meyer
Sarah Young
Connections:
May 1 - Kingdom-Vision for Passionate Prayer
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“While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill - while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed” (Daniel 9:20-23a).
Daniel’s fervency incited some stunning responses from the Lord. When Daniel prayed for “X,” instead of receiving a simple answer (like “X”), God entrusted to him spectacular truths that went beyond a mere “answer.” God’s replies were more like “XYZ” overload-type responses! The Daniel model verifies that passion in prayer does not just get results; it totally slants our perspective on life. Such a personal revolution prays from a particular angle: a kingdom-angle.
Passion in prayer evokes kingdom-based requests. God’s “answers” were always kingdom related; they seem to spotlight His kingdom reign over His people. God’s view of us kingdom people is not one of millions of personal mandates; according to Daniel’s revelations, kingdom people must embrace one big prophetic kingdom mandate. Our passion in prayer must fit into the King’s prophetic game plan: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10). Passion in prayer intensifies because God’s kingdom is all about something that actually happens within space and time right here in our neighborhood.
Lord, I confess that so often my prayers are passionless and routine. My mind struggles to stay focused and my heart sometimes wanders off into meaningless places instead of staying focused upon Your kingdom. Help me to see with Daniel’s eyes, the glory of Your presence as I connect with You in intimate conversation. Precious Redeemer and King, please pour out a spirit of fervent zeal within me, so that my prayers are filled with continual expectation that You will respond with power.
--Adapted from Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry (Chapter 22, A Biblical Role Model of Personal Passion in Prayer by Gloria J. Wiese). This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God for his holiness (Ex. 15:11).
- Thank him for calling you to live a life of holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Confess contentment with areas of your life that do not reflect God’s holiness.
- Commit yourself to avoiding anything that “contaminates body and spirit” (2 Cor. 7:1).
- Ask God to give you a daily desire to obey his command to “be holy, because I am holy” (Lev. 11:45).
- Thank God for the leaders in your congregation. Ask that they would be committed to personal holiness. Pray also for their marriages and families.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com |
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