Praying Encouragement

Do you know someone who is going through a season of discouragement? Sometimes it is so hard to know what to say, and how to be supportive... day after day. I find that the role of encourager can be one of the most challenging for me. How much harder is it for the one who is living in discouragement? Sometimes, all I can do is pray.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ~Ephesians 6:12

I have been learning that praying scripture is one of the most effective ways to pray and engage in spiritual battle. If I am praying God's Word back to Him, chances are pretty good that I am praying His will. As I pray scripture, I personalize the verses, praying them as my words, and inserting the names of those for whom I am praying. I find it to be a powerful, incredible experience... definitely not a rote or ritualistic recitation. At different times, I have prayed different scriptures. Currently, I am praying the following verses of encouragement. Ask the Lord to show you the scriptures you can pray over your situation, need, or loved one!

Psalm 143
A psalm of David.

O LORD, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.

The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.

So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.

I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.

I spread out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Selah

Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.

Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.

Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Isaiah 41:9-10
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, 'You are my servant';
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 43:1-4a
But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,

Isaiah 43:10
"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,
"and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.

Isaiah 43:18-19
"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

Ephesians 1:17-21
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Traveling Man

Not only did Zac go on his first mission trip this summer, he has also taken a trip to Arizona to stay with my mom! She has wanted to have him come out for the last several summers; this year it worked out. My mom came out for two weeks, and had a ticket for Zac to fly home with her.

I have to admit is was a little strange to drop my oldest son at the airport and just let him go. He is 13.5, and growing up so quickly.

Arizona is obviously a lot different than North Carolina! I think it is great for him to see life from another perspective for a while.

I loved what my mom wrote on Facebook today... {of course it is also remarkable that my mom is actually, finally on Facebook!}:

Have had grandson Zac with me for the past couple of weeks and one more week to go!! We have been to the movies, shopping, eating out, quading, swimming a lot and just hanging out. Plus..........he helped with this dumb facebook, how to work the dvd player and even showed me things on my tv remote that I didn't know about. I will again be in the dark when he leaves.

It has been really strange at home with only two kids instead of three. It feels like Zachary has been gone forever! And looking at this picture of Zac with my mom... it looks like he has grown in the past couple of weeks. If not taller, then for sure in confidence and independence and perspective. He, of course, is most excited about his return flight... all alone!

Don't forget to pack...

I know summer is quickly coming to a close... but some of my friends are still planning to head out on vacation in the next week or two. We think we will always recall the details, but I know my mind is not what it used to be.... Here is a tip that can make such a difference in how you remember all those precious stories and special moments! Journal as you go. Don't forget to pack your journaling supplies!

You may want to use a simple little notebook like this one that I picked up in a $1 bin at the craft store. It is just 5"x7", so it is easy to tuck into my bag and carry with me. I can easily grab it to write my thoughts, or the kids' cute reactions and conversations! Whether you scrapbook or not, don't you really want to remember all those things?

If you are a traditional scrapbooker, you might not want to have to journal twice by copying everything from your notebook. If so, you can take a set of journaling cards and a good pen with you so that the stories you write on your trip can be added right into your album along with your pictures. How easy is that?!

Here is a fun idea for a Disney trip! This photo album kit gives you bunches of cute cards on which to journal your stories. You can can also collect character autographs right on the appropriate cards! All of the pieces of this album kit are designed to slip right into our PicFolio albums, so once you print your pictures, you can slide them into the pockets, along with your cards and mats, and enjoy! Of course, you can also use these cards and mats in a traditional scrapbook.

So whether you are packing for vacation, or a playdate, don't forget your journaling supplies!

I am linking up this post at We Are That Family's Works-For-Me Wednesday!