Prayer for peace is something we all want and need. And while we all crave different kinds of peace, perhaps one that we all struggle with most from time to time is inner peace–peace within. If so, today’s blog is for you. While I always encourage you to pray your own prayer, perhaps these thoughts will be helpful to you. It’s yet another one in a series of helpful prayers I’ve been sharing with you for a few weeks.

Is your heart troubled? Are you feeling like the psalmist, who asked his own soul, “Why are you in despair? And why have you become disturbed within me?” One of the hardest parts of knowing peace is understanding how it has nothing to do with control. If you’re having trouble with trust or finding the words to pray above the howling of the scary storms, feel free to offer up these words to the Lord now!

 

When Confusion Reigns

Oh Lord, sometimes my insides feel like a battle zone, where missiles are falling too close to home. Other times I’m caught in an endless storm, with thoughts flying out of control. Confusion reigns, and defeat creeps in to steal my joy. I need your peace—the deep-down-in-your-heart kind that stays with me day and night and speaks confidently into the wind. Calm my anxious spirit, Lord; all the attacking “if-onlys” and “what-ifs” fill me with needless worry.

I know that trust is a big part of experiencing peace and that fear has no place in my life. Most of the things I worry about or dread don’t even happen. So I’m declaring my trust in you. I’m releasing the reins of my life again and asking you to take control. I may need to pray this same prayer daily, but I’m tired of the frenzy of life that leaves my schedule and my thoughts without any margin. I need more of you, Lord, and less of me.

Finding Peace Within

I surrender and admit: I can’t control people, plans, or even all my circumstances, but I can yield those things to you, and focus on your goodness. Thank you today for every good gift you’ve given, every blessing you’ve sent, all the forgiveness I did not deserve, and, yes, for every trial you’ve allowed into my life. You bring good out of every circumstance if I’ll only let go and believe you. I know that when I pray and give thanks instead of worrying, you have promised that I can experience the kind of peace that passes all understanding. That’s your kind of peace, Lord. And it’s the kind I crave.

Whenever I’m stressed, anxious, or afraid, help me remember to run to you. You’re the only one that can calm my fears and end my fretful behavior. Whether in trivial or heavy matters, I know you will not only give me peace; Lord, you will be my peace. And when I draw close to you—in prayer, in reading your Word, in helping another, in taking my mind off myself—you will be there, up close and personal.

I can’t handle these times alone, Lord. Will you speak peace and calm my storms, or hold my hand while we walk through them together? Will you bring the reassuring wisdom of those who have come through similar times into my life? Thank you, Lord. I’m trusting you.

In the name of the One who makes the wind and the waves stand still, Amen.

© 2015, Rebecca Barlow Jordan

*  Crosswalk first published this prayer of mine and added the beautiful video above. Since adding the video, I wanted to share the prayer again with you in its entirety.

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If you are a mother or grandmother, you are deserving of blessing and honor for who you are and for all you do. No matter what your age, single or married, here is a prayer of blessing for you for every good work, every good word, and for every act of love you have ever offered on behalf of the ones you love:

Dear Lord,

Bless every mother and every grandmother with the finest of your spiritual blessings today. Confirm in her heart and spirit the work of her hands and the love that she has so freely given to those children under Your care. Validate her worth daily so she has no reason to doubt whether she is loved, valued, and cherished in the eyes of her Heavenly Father…

You can read the rest of this prayer on Crosswalk.

Happy Mother’s Day

As mothers or grandmothers, we all struggle with inadequacy, doubt, and fear in parenting or grandparenting. Are we/did we do enough for our children? Do they know we love them? What could we have done better?

Know that Jesus loves and cherishes you, and that your work is never in vain. While you may never receive all the appreciation you deserve here on earth, God knows, and He will applaud you as His Christ-one in eternity as you stand before Him and hear His “Well Done!” You bring pleasure to Him, just being His child and doing what you can as a mom or grandmom.

Happy Mother’s Day to every mother and grandmother. I hope this prayer for mothers and grandmothers will encourage your heart, not only on Mother’s Day, but on every day of your life.

NOTE: My website is now a secure https site. Some may have been unnecessarily concerned about it, but I made the transition recently, just to help my readers know it is definitely a secure website.

What About You?

Send me your thoughts. How has the Lord blessed you as a mom or grandmom? Please leave a comment below. Your words might encourage someone today.

Our Policy

You won’t be hounded, prodded, or automatically added to my mailing list if you leave a comment. Feel free to email this Christian blog to someone or to re-post on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media, using the buttons below, or to “like” it below or on my Facebook networked blog. And you can now also follow me on Pinterest.

If you want to re-post any of my blogs on your own blog or website, please contact me for permission first. And I’d love for you to sign up for my blog/newsletter and updates at the top of this website page/sidebar if you’ve not already done so. That way, I can drop this encouraging blog into your e-mail box weekly, as well as notify you occasionally of any new updates, new books, specials, contests or book giveaways.

Now when you sign up, you will automatically receive a download of “20 Day-votional Truths To Live By,” some of my original quotes to inspire you. Your e-mail address will never be sold or given to anyone!

The post A Prayer for Mothers and Grandmothers appeared first on Rebecca Barlow Jordan.

      

Wondering what you could say or give to a mother to express your thanks and your love to her–on Mother’s Day or any day? For those of you whose moms are still living, here’s one simple suggestion.

What Can You Give to a Mother?

By

Rebecca Barlow Jordan

What can you give to a mother

whose love outweighs what you could do?

What can you say to a mother

whose life has been devoted to you?

How can you say thanks for prayers

that have made you what you are?

How can you tell a mother

what’s really in your heart?

You start by saying, “Thank you,”

“I love you,” and then,

You listen to her timely words

and hide them deep within.

You give her back the honor

that she deserves, too;

and then you bless the Lord for her—

Thank Him for blessing you!

• This poem first appeared on my blog on April 28, 2014.

Want to Do More for Mom? (Or Grandmom)?

For those who still need an idea for Mom or Grandmom, check out the Day-votions® for Mothers or Day-votions® for Grandmothers.

What About You?

Send me your thoughts. What would you say to or about your mom to express your love for her? Please leave a comment below. Your words might encourage someone today.

Our Policy

You won’t be hounded, prodded, or automatically added to my mailing list if you leave a comment. Feel free to email this Christian blog to someone or to re-post on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media, using the buttons below, or to “like” it below or on my Facebook networked blog. And you can now also follow me on Pinterest.

If you want to re-post any of my blogs on your own blog or website, please contact me for permission first. And I’d love for you to sign up for my blog/newsletter and updates at the top of this website page/sidebar if you’ve not already done so. That way, I can drop this encouraging blog into your e-mail box weekly, as well as notify you occasionally of any new updates, new books, specials, contests or book giveaways.

Now when you sign up, you will automatically receive a download of “20 Day-votional Truths To Live By,” some of my original quotes to inspire you. Your e-mail address will never be sold or given to anyone!

The post What Can You Give to a Mother? appeared first on Rebecca Barlow Jordan.

      

Drooping. Lifeless. Abandoned. Destined for the trash. Appropriate word choices for the plant sitting on the bargain rack of our local home improvement garden section.

But you wouldn’t describe these flowering petunias with those same words, would you?

Yet that pathetic description fit this hanging plant perfectly when I bought it a couple of weeks ago. Could it bloom again? Would it form soft, lilac petals again on its tired, worn stems?

It did, and it is…now a beautiful, restored blooming plant in my home garden. Amazing what a little water, sunshine, TLC, and the Master Creator’s touch did for that ailing creation.

God Restores and Revives

What we abandon and label as Useless and Dying, God restores, revives, and calls Beautiful. That’s a principle in Scripture that applies to all of us repeatedly.

I love the quote from the movie Seabiscuit that says, “You don’t throw a whole life away just ’cause it’s banged up a little bit.” Haven’t we all been “a little banged up” at times?

I failed to take a picture of the plant above when I first bought it. But I’m glad I didn’t. Just like my life and yours–wouldn’t you rather forget what you looked like before God breathed new life into your tired, worn limbs? What a joy to know that God restores!

God Makes All Things Beautiful

Whoever you are, no matter what “labels” you’ve endured, or how you or others have described you, Jesus offers new hope. He is indeed the God who restores and revives. He is the One who makes all things beautiful when we abandon ourselves to His tender, loving care.

And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him (2 Corinthians 3:18, MSG.).

He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory (Isaiah 61:3, NLT).

He… rescues the wretched who’ve been thrown out with the trash (Psalm 113:7, MSG).

Another post of mine, God the Great Recycler, offers an additional perspective on how God brings life and joy from the trash heaps of life. You might like to check it out here.

It’s Your Turn to Share

What about you? Have you ever felt abandoned or useless? How have you experienced God’s restoration? Would you share your comments below?

Our Policy

Your words might encourage someone today. You won’t be hounded, prodded, or automatically added to my mailing list if you leave a comment. Feel free to email this Christian blog to someone or to re-post on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media, using the buttons below, or to “like” it below or on my Facebook networked blog. And you can now also follow me on Pinterest.

If you want to re-post any of my blogs on your own blog or website, please contact me for permission first. And I’d love for you to sign up for my blog/newsletter and updates at the top of this website page/sidebar if you’ve not already done so. That way, I can drop this encouraging blog into your e-mail box weekly, as well as notify you occasionally of any new updates, new books, specials, contests or book giveaways.

Now when you sign up, you will automatically receive a download of “20 Day-votional Truths To Live By,” some of my original quotes to inspire you. Your e-mail address will never be sold or given to anyone!

The post God Restores What We Abandon appeared first on Rebecca Barlow Jordan.

      

Some of us may feel like Thomas, who questioned the Lord after His resurrection appearance. At times, we too, need to know that Jesus is truly real. Circumstances leave us discouraged, and we soon forget God’s work in our lives.

You don’t need to feel the nail prints in His hands or see His footprints in the sand to know that Jesus loves you. His actions speak just as loud as His words. But just in case you were allowed one glimpse of the scars He bore for you, you would see in those hands your own name written in red. Just like the Father said, He died and rose from the grave.

And if we listen closely, I can only imagine that we might hear His sweet whisper, “My child, if you had been the only one, I still would have died for you.”

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29 NIV)

An Easter Prayer for You

Lord Jesus, by faith we “see” the nail prints in your hands and feet and believe that you rose from the dead. And though our eyes can’t physically recognize you, our spirits can’t contain the emotion we feel. This Easter–and every day–we join in with scores of others shouting, “He is risen! He is risen indeed!” Thank you for your faithfulness to us, to carry out your Father’s plan. Because you live, we can face each day–each tomorrow–with joy, purpose, and hope!

Day-votedly Yours,

Rebecca

NOTE: On Easter Sunday, try greeting those you meet in the same way the new believers did after Jesus’ resurrection. Instead of saying, “Hi, how are you?” greet them with, “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”

It’s Your Turn to Share

Is Jesus real to you? What does Easter mean to you? Would you share your comments below?

Our Policy

Your words might encourage someone today. You won’t be hounded, prodded, or automatically added to my mailing list if you leave a comment. Feel free to email this Christian blog to someone or to re-post on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media, using the buttons below, or to “like” it below or on my Facebook networked blog. And you can now also follow me on Pinterest.

If you want to re-post any of my blogs on your own blog or website, please contact me for permission first. And I’d love for you to sign up for my blog/newsletter and updates at the top of this website page/sidebar if you’ve not already done so. That way, I can drop this encouraging blog into your e-mail box weekly, as well as notify you occasionally of any new updates, new books, specials, contests or book giveaways.

Now when you sign up, you will automatically receive a download of “20 Day-votional Truths To Live By,” some of my original quotes to inspire you. Your e-mail address will never be sold or given to anyone!

The post Is Jesus Real? An Easter Prayer for You appeared first on Rebecca Barlow Jordan.

      

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