Keeping a Prayer Journal

As the close of another year approaches, I have been doing some thinking about how this year has gone and habits that I would like to implement or improve upon for next year.  One thing that I would like to get back to is keeping a prayer journal.  In my prayer journal, I write down the things that I am need of (both spiritual and physical). I write things that I am always in need of (such as surrender, and diligence) and specific things that I need at that time (such as an issue with my car).  I write prayers for my husband as well as my children and other family members.  If I talk to a friend that has an issue or if I meet someone, I write down the things that they ask me to pray for.  Otherwise, it becomes a habit to say “I’ll pray about it”.  I do pray at that moment and maybe even sometime later, but if I don’t write it down, it’s not likely that I will remember.  I ask them to let me know when their request is answered and then make a note of that next to the prayer request.

Here are a couple of my favorite Bible verses and a couple of quotes related to prayer:

Pray without ceasing.  (Thessalonians 5:17)

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.  Phillipians 4:6

  Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted, and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the Well-spring of life, and strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious experience.  {HP 83.5} 

 “For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; and the promise is ‘Ye shall receive’.” AA 564

These verses and quotes are written in the inside and back cover of my journal.  I add others as I come across this for easy reference and motivation.

Do you keep a prayer journal? Please share your system/method.

The School of Christ

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

As I think of the School of Christ, I think of college courses and the how the average college student takes 15-18 hours per semester. What deep Bible students we would be if we spent this amount of time in Bible study and prayer!
Some of the classes could include Prayer 101-a class that teaches the basics of prayer and considers how Jesus prayed and how He taught His disciples to pray. Scripture Memory 101 which teaches how to memorize/meditate on scripture and looks at key scriptures every Christian should know. A more advanced class on Scripture memory could cover how to use scripture when attacked by the enemy. One of my favorite advanced classes is finding Christ in all the Scriptures. This is especially exciting when dealing with the Old Testament.

If we studied 3 hours a day for 6 days a week, this would equal a full course load of 18 hours. You may be thinking you don't have 3 hours a day to study. Chances are you have more time than you think you do. Even if you did only one hour in the morning and one hour before going to bed, you could easily get in 2 hours which would still put you at 12 hours a week. Twelve hours a week is still full time at most colleges and universities. Consider spending a few minutes throughout the day to commit scripture to memory and you could easily be back up to 15 hours a week or more and that is assuming that you only did six days a week.

So, are you enrolled in the School of Christ? Are you part time or full time? Do you skip class? I must admit that I have been taking a pretty light load lately, but am ready to get back to my full time schedule. With Christ and the Holy Spirit as my professors, I know that I am destined for greatness, if not in this life then surely in the life eternal that awaits me.

I Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. As I was reading this verse last night, I could not help but think of pregnancy. As mothers, we love and connect with our babies even before they are born. We believe, through evidences shown in our body that there is life growing inside of us and we "rejoice with joy unspeakable". My prayer today is that Christ may be formed within me and that I might love Him with that same boundless love that I have for my own children.

We Have Moved!

We have moved back to Florida.  It has been nearly 20 years since I've lived here. We move enough that people think we are a military family. :-). I'm  glad to be closer to my Family. I can visit for the weekend or just to say hello.

One of my favorite things about our new house is our wood stove.It's electric and uses wood chips. It even has a thermostat! Who knew?

A Winter Wonderland

Ice at the trunk of the tree

                                          

Ice on the bush in front of the house

                                   

The backyard

My windshield

Top of the car

Ice hanging from the tree

The front yard

More ice hanging from the tree

	I was born and raised in Pensacola and I can't ever remember it looking like this here.  The schools are shut down, and most people are home from work.  Thank God I work from home Many residents are without power, which is really bad considering it's 25 degrees outside.  We  lost power for a few hours last night.  I'm thankful that we have a gas stove that provides some much needed heat. Stay warm friends.  It's crazy out there.