Prayer in times of trials and temptations

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My Lord, this is by no means an easy battle for me. I am taken deep within my soul to places I’ve never been. I am forced to face my worse fears, to confront my darkest demons. But I do feel your presence even as I walk through these valleys of shadows. And even when I don’t, I know you are with me, holding my hand through it all, and I am safe.

Dear Lord, do not withdraw your light from me. Do not let the winds and the rains put out my flickering candle. All my life I have been trying to guard it as the most precious treasure I could ever have. Let your Holy Spirit be the flame of my candle, so that no storm can put it out.

I know this path I’m walking is not one of happiness, but one of trials, temptations and suffering. I also know it is for my own evil deeds I have to go through this. Let me pay whatever I’ve got to pay and learn whatever I’ve got to learn, but don’t leave me alone in this battle. Be with me all the way to guide me and comfort me through the grace of your son Jesus Christ.

AMEN

Prayer for the Sick

Lord God, our light and our hope, to you we run when our body and our soul hurts, for you are our doctor and our healer, and the comforter of those in heavy grief. You know the depths of our being and with a single word you can heal us. 

Have mercy, Lord, on those afflicted by illness and infirmity, on those who cannot live their life with joy because of the evil in the flesh that's tearing them like a worm day and night. Examine each of them and pour your blessings out of your never-ending spring of love. 

Heal them and alleviate their suffering. Open a gate for them, so that they can enjoy the life they have received as a gift. Show them how great you are, as you have shown Job, so that their hearts can soar with joy, and they can find a new purpose and a new meaning. 

Hold them by the hand every moment of their journey and when the pain is too strong, carry them in your arms as a shepherd carries a sick lamb. Give them the faith to move mountains, so that, by their faith, they can be healed and saved. 

Lord, do not forget thy sick. Bring to them the people they need, so that they are never short of support in their misery. Teach them to love and to offer help and support even when they themselves need them, thus discovering the way of wisdom and love. 

Give them the power to fulfill their dreams or to shape new dreams in spite of their pain. Teach them to rise above the circumstances and, through faith and spiritual strength, with the support of your love, to come out victorious in the struggle with disease and suffering.

THE STRANGER

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Revelation, 3:20, King James Version

He's standing in front of her door,
He climbed the stairs to the sixth floor 
The staircase is dark and cold
The air is stale; the silence old. 

Burned ends of smoky cigarettes 
Give him a mocking smile. 
"Give up", they say. "There is no way 
You can go there tonight.

She's doesn't need a sermon. 
And God is miles away.
She's got a bad hangover
She doesn't want to pray."

He sighs and pushes on again
His tired feet are sore. 
"She is my child. She needs a friend.
I will knock at her door." 

The shadows casting off the light
Start mocking at him too.  
"Just go away, get out of sight!
She hates the likes of you!"

He sighs and pushes on again,
His eyes conceal a tear. 
"She's still a child. I know her well. 
Her heart is full of fear."

A step or two and he is there
His hand knocks at the door. 
A gentle sound of steps he hears
His heart begins to soar. 

She's standing there on her tiptoes. 
She peeps through the spy hole.
Her eyes are red and in her head
She tries to gain control. 

"It's just another beggar", 
She says and walks away. 
Her eyes are red, she goes to bed
And pain kicks in again. 

He knocks and knocks, with stubborn hope, 
And love tears off his chest. 
"I've come to you to help you cope, 
To give you peace and rest."

His voice is covered by the noise
Of music playing loud.
A song she no longer enjoys
Enfolds her like a shroud. 

"There must be more to life than this, 
There's too much grey, where is the blue
That can turn life into a bliss
And make our dreams come true?"

He longs to hold her trembling hand. 
His fiery eyes are burning. 
"Your heart - that is the Holy Land,
And Love your secret yearning."

Then something moves her very core,
A flicker turns to flame, 
She runs like frantic to the door. 
"Who are you? What's your name?"

He smiles and joy shines in his eyes
"I'm Hope without an end. 
I'm Faith and Love that never dies. 
And you can call me 'Friend'."

Prayer for Strength

It wasn’t until I was crushed in the middle of despair that I knew how sweet Your comfort was and how warm Your embrace. It wasn’t until my heart broke in agony that I knew how strong I was in You. But now I know and this knowledge makes my heart soar. I also know that my tears burn You and my pain makes You cry, because You want the best for me. You made me for victory, not for failure. And Your victory is love. Through love, You hold me tight and warm me and fill my heart with joy even when I’m sad.

Give me strength in the knowledge that with You I can move mountains. Give me strength in the belief that Your love is stronger than anything. Evil stands no chance against a force so great and so wonderful. When I was a kid, my mother’s arms would hold me tight and her kind hands would dry my tears. Now You are my mother and my father. To You I talk, to You I confess, to You I seek help in times of trouble. You answer me every time and every time Your answer is so special.

Give me strength in the knowledge that You are always with me, that I’m never going to go through life alone. Give me strength to know You and seek You even more. Give me strength in the awareness that, although Evil seems overwhelming at the moment, the storm won’t last forever and the sky won’t be always covered by clouds. Give me strength in the faith that Your hand keeps my candle burning and no wind can blow it off. As long as the candle is burning, my eyes can find the way and I can’t get lost.

I know, my Lord, that I am not the only one who needs strength. There are so many people in this world who are struggling in fear, pain and uncertainty. There are so many people who, right at this moment, are surfing the Internet, hoping to find a word of encouragement or a glimpse of inspiration. It is not only for me I pray, but also for them. Look at each of them individually, hold their hand and give them comfort. See their problems, see their struggles and help them find the strength to raise above them, to see beyond the 'here and now' into something deeper and more meaningful. Let each of them draw inspiration and encouragement from the very source of life and show them how great and wonderful You are.

I’m praying for all those who ask „Why?”, „Why me?”, „Why the one I love?”, „What’s the point?”, „Where are You now, when I need You most?”, „Why have You abandoned me?” Turn their questions into prayers and let their anguish cry pierce the sky. Open a new channel of communication with each of them. Build a bridge. Build a relationship. Turn their doubts into faith and their pain into victory. Soothe and comfort. Touch and heal.

Let Your love be like a warm blanket on a cold winter night, like a friendly hand on a weary shoulder, like a fresh breath of wind in a room that has had its windows shut for too long. Please, Lord, make Your presence felt in the lives of all those who need You today and give them strength by the very change Your love can bring into their own hearts.

AMEN

Related Posts
Prayer for God's Strength
Short Prayers for Strength
Prayer for Strength, Hope and Faith

Life-Changing Books:

"The Shack" by William P. Young

How can a man forgive his father who has abused him as a child? How can a father forgive the serial killer who murdered his 6-year-old little daughter? What revelation can turn the bitterness of a broken heart into joy and peace with the world, God and the self? What amazing experience can heal such painful wounds and replace the horror by faith and love? It must have been something great, something deep, with a huge impact, something coming from far beyond the boundaries of this world. You can find the answer in William P. Young's novel "The Shack", a book that combines a skillfully woven plot with such depth and wisdom that it can't but make its way to the most intimate part of the reader's soul. 

Unconventional and fascinating, captivating and profound, straightforward but subtle and delicate, this novel has all the attributes of a life-changing book. It deals with an old controversial topic and attempts to provide answers to the most burning questions of humanity. But it does it in such an original and charming way that, whether you are a convinced Christian or not, you feel you are taken one step forward on your spiritual journey. 

"The Shack" attempts to reveal the secret face of the true living God and the Holy Trinity. God is not what people have made of Him in their attempt to control their own destiny and protect their vulnerabilities. His image is built gradually around His own words "I am Who I am". Suddenly God appears to us surprising, fresh and new. Ideas we've been used to, things we've been taught to believe for such a long time lose their grip, and other things we've never thought of come into the equation to bring new light to the matter. 

Is God a male or a female? Is God really the stern master portrayed in the Old Testament? Does God have the sense of humour? Does God intervene in human existence? What is the truth about heaven and hell? Why does God allow evil? Can the Holy Spirit alter the dimensions of time and space? These are just a few of the questions that are dealt with in this novel. 

"The Shack" is much more than a best seller or an enjoyable read. It is a living book, one of those inspirational writings you remember and treasure for a long time. There is nothing rigid in it, nothing ostentatious or preaching-like. It teaches without sounding like a sermon. Nothing near. It is a book that opens hearts and minds by challenging the very prejudices that stand in the way of our relationship with God and with one another. 

Links: 

The Shack Book Website

Author's Blog

How To Cope With The Challenges of Life

Every day brings new struggles and every struggle seems to make us smaller. People have to deal with illnesses, poverty and stress and all the consequences they bring. Frustration and regrets are silent killers that destroy bits of our soul, leaving us exposed and vulnerable. How can we find peace in adverse circumstances? How can we cope with the rodents of the spirit? It is a question that people have been asking since the beginning of all times and many haven't found the answer yet.

Think of your life as a room. A room can be dark and cluttered, musty and sad. A room can be a confining space where you feel a prisoner and where everything seems to work against you. In fact, a room can shape your own personality in the way a recipient can constrain water to its own shape. You are how you feel.

First of all, it is good to remember that you, like water, are free. You also have to remember that rooms have windows and doors. If you keep them closed, the air will get musty and hard to breathe and it will end up choking you. You might have the feeling that you are in a tight, closed environment but God had put many windows in your room. All you have to do is slow down, open your eyes wide and look for them. There might be a window right in front of you but you can't see it, because you are too oppressed by the atmosphere of the room itself.

Once you have found the window, you can draw the curtains, open it wide, and let the light and the fresh air in. You will see that the whole atmosphere changes. Our small room is surrounded by windows; that is a truth that should fill you with hope.

Now how can you find the windows? If you are so tensed and oppressed that you are most likely to miss them, you can start by praying. In the middle of all your troubles and worries, stop, take a break, close your eyes and let go. Then pray to the One who knows you and loves you deeply. Talk to Him like you talk to a dear friend and say,

"My God, the troubles in my life are choking me and stopping me from growing. I am confined to a small room with no view and no perspective. But you are great. The universe you have created is great and full of wonders. I know you have put many windows in my little room. Help me discover them. Take my hand and lead me to them. Let me feel the soft breeze on my face and smell the freshness of spring flowers. Let me discover the magic of the stars and the beauty of the rainbow. Help me let the light in and fill my black and white universe with color. Show me a world I've never seen, take me to new dimensions and unexplored frequencies. Give perspective to my life, so I don't waste it in pettiness and darkness. Let me discover the hidden magic of every day, the untold beauty of every moment. For you can do that. Amen."

Indeed, God can do that. This is where the fascinating faith journey begins.

Look More, See Deeper

A life can change in an instant. One moment we are walking on our cosy, familiar ways, where we take everything for granted, the next we find ourselves in a strange and alien realm without even comprehending how we got there. We can never tell where life is going to take us. Our small universe can grow or become even smaller over night and we can get robbed of everything we hold dear.

What can we take with us over the threshold of pain, losses and fear? What can we cling to when the crazy waves tear us away from the comfortable shore and throw us into a world of chaos and distress? Where can we find our refuge when all our fortresses crumble to the ground?

The answer is not as far as we imagine. It is, in fact, very close to us. We live in a big world, in the middle of a huge universe, full of surprises and unexpected turns. Yet this universe has a Master. The one who created it knows every single corner and every single step. He can go as deep or as high as he wishes, he can see beyond time and space, through darkness or opacity. Nothing is hidden from his eyes and nothing will ever be. The huge waves don't make him hide nor the tough winds make him tremble.

The God in whom we trust and to whom we entrust ourselves is always there, eternal and true, unchanging and unaffraid, forever faithful to the ones who reach out to him. God is not bound by anything but by his own word. The same word that once said: "Let it be light." He created rules and boundaries but he also created the magic world "beyond". He created the "law" but he also gave an alternative to it, an alternative called "grace".

To God nothing is impossible. He put the mountains in their place and ordered them to stay still but he also created the faith that can move mountains. He created the cycle of life but he also created the spirit that can defy the shadows of death. He created everything and he re-created himself, the one who had never been created, in each of ourselves. And in everything he created, he put a little of the love that surrounds him, the love that defines him.

So how can we be oppressed by time when times bows down in front of our friend and our father? How can the circumstances of this life knock us down when we walk hand in hand with the one beyond life and circumstances? How can we be scared of death when the one stronger than death promised he'd be with us forever?

It is all a question of perspective. If we see only here and now, we let ourselves be swallowed by here and now. If we set our mind on earthly things, we cling to them and make them our treasure. And 'Where thy heart is, there shall thy treasure be also.'

So look above and seek beyond, and see God in all. Where there is trust, there is no worry. Where there is faith, there is no fear. Where there is love, there is no falling.

Don't save it all for Christmas Day

www.christianphotos.net

There isn't enough love in the world. As Victor Hugo said, we never pray and never love too much. One single smile could make miracles and yet sometimes we grudge even that. Let the lights and the magic of Christmas change your heart this year. Smile more, even to the people you don't know. Bring a smile on sad faces by a kind word. Touch the hand of a lonely man. Pray for those who have no hope. Visit someone who's dying. Give a piece of bread to a hungry person. Make a surprise to a sick child. Give a present to someone who's forgotten. Make a woman feel loved. Make a man feel special. If you do any one of these things, you make the world a better place and you honour Jesus, who's coming into the world once again as a little baby, to live and die for us, to comfort and counsel us, to give us a creed and a meaning, to be our our Lord, our friend and our brother.

YouTube - Celine Dion - Don't save it all for christmas Day

For Those Who Have Prayed for Me

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Dear Lord, holy spring of life and light of divine love, thank you for all the people who have prayed for me along the years and for those who are still praying, for those who are close and for those who are far away, for those whom I’ve met and for those whom I haven’t met, for those without whom my path would have sunken into darkness so many times. Thank you for in the moments of spiritual crisis, they lifted me up and gave me strength to go on. Don’t leave any of their prayers unrewarded, nor any of their kind acts unpaid. Touch them with your rich mercy and fill their life with blessings. Surround them with love and people who are willing to pray for them with an honest heart, just like they prayed for me. Never leave them alone in times of trial, nor without help in danger. Never leave them without comfort in times of suffering. Give them a healthy body and a peaceful mind. Guide them with your right hand and when the way seems too long and too hard, carry them in your arms like a kind loving father. Don’t let a single day pass without them being in somebody’s thoughts and prayers, without them getting a sign of love and kindness from someone. And no matter how far they were, don’t let me ever forget what they have done for me. Let me stand by their side whenever they need my help and share their sadness and joy until the end of time.

AMEN