Category: christianity

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Morning Prayer – April 1st

Morning Prayer

Dear Lord,

This morning’s prayer hits a little different.

With all that you’ve brought me and my family through over the past few weeks, I can’t thank you enough. Your word says that you will supply all of our needs according to your riches in glory and that no good thing would be withheld from us. Thank you for remaining true to your word and just in your dealings. Thank you for the resurrecting power that you extend on a daily basis. Honestly we are a little bruised, but not broken. Help us to remain focused on the healing power of your word and in the right frame of mind to understand how you are repositioning us for greater purpose.

This is my prayer today in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

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The Seen & Unseen

So many women that I know are suffering right now.  Praying for a child to recover from sickness, praying for a lover to be healed, praying for strength after burying a spouse and praying for the courage to move forward after a marriage that abruptly fell apart.

There is a lot of grief and overwhelm circling.

As I was praying for these women, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 was presented to me. These two verses say, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Although nothing about their current afflictions seems light or momentary, I pray each of these women can find hope in God’s word and in his never-ending promises. I pray their hearts and minds can comprehend his overall plan of eternal glory for each of us.

As we enter into this new week, I pray that each of these women will Embrace Stillness, to receive a unique, customized message from God that will reignite their faith and belief in his goodness.

I pray that the people who are closely connected to these women will hold space for them by showing them grace and praying earnestly for their wellbeing.

I pray that they are able to Maintain a Peaceful Space by shutting out the excess noise that will try and keep them from hearing what God has to say.

In it all, I pray for God’s will to be done concerning each of these situations.

Dear Lord,

   Thank you for having a plan for our eternal glory. Because of this we can focus our attention on something greater than the troubles that try to overtake us.  I pray for your divine protection over all those who read this message. I pray their heart will be protected and their love will be elevated to acknowledge their blessings, past and present. In Jesus Name. Amen

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Morning Prayer-March 7th, 2024

Morning Prayer

Dear Lord,

I am grateful today for participation. Thank you for surrounding me with like-minded people who will encourage me, inspire me and hold me accountable. I am grateful for opportunities to refine my skills and to put forth the best effort that I can possibly give. Psalm 90:16-17 remind me that your favor rests upon me and you will establish the work of my hands. Thank you for making it clear to me, which path to follow and which direction to take. I am grateful for your guidance. In Jesus Name. Amen

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Morning Prayer-March 6, 2024

Morning Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this day. Thank you for new opportunities to exhibit love in all that I do. You make it possible for me to show up and use my talents and skills in the most authentic way to deliver good results. I am thankful for everyone that believes in me and pushes me to be great. Because of this, my belief in myself in amplified.  Hebrews 12:1 instructs me to lay aside every weight, so I confidently let go of things that do not serve me, and I embrace things that empower me to be successful. I am grateful for the ability to fully plan, implement and deliver with ease. Great is your mercy towards me. In Jesus Name. Amen

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Matthew 26:36 Using the James Method

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go & pray over there. NIV

I wrote my poem, A Prayer of Honesty based on the emotions that I felt one day after reading the 26th Chapter of Matthew. In 2011 when I originally wrote this poem, the words found in the 36th versus spoke to me differently from any of the previous times that I had read it. Fast forward to present day and this poem is soon to be published in my forthcoming book, From God with Love.

I thought it would be a good idea to dive deeper into the scripture and to provide context of how and why this poem was written.

Using The James Method (@the_james_method), I started by writing the verse and highlighting the key words.

This is what I found:

Keywords: The keywords from verse 36 that resonate with me are: went with & sit here

Context: As the time grew closer for Jesus to be crucified, he began to feel anxious and overwhelmed (completely human feelings) but regardless of those feelings, he prayed earnestly for God’s will to be done in the matter

Translations: I referenced the NKJV and the MSG translations and found them to be different. The NKJV says, Then Jesus came to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there. The MSG says, ” Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray”.

There’s a huge difference between the phrases, Jesus came to a place & Jesus went with them to a garden.

I found the wording of the NKJV version to be more representative of the feelings that I felt that day in 2011 after reading it. I felt heavy and overburdened, but optimistic and powerful. I can only imagine the emotions that Jesus felt were becoming louder and more prevalent in his mind, bringing him to a place of stress and overwhelm. Maybe he was scared, his heart could have possibly been beating heavily and just maybe constant thoughts of bearing the sins of mankind was becoming too much for him to handle.

In spite of it all, Jesus prayed 3 times for God’s will to be done.

This consistent act of reverence to God and his plan signified that Jesus was determined not to allow his individual emotions to overrule God’s overall plan. His prayers were honest and transparent, not hiding the fact that he had trepidation about the mission he was being asked to complete.

As the name Gethsemane symbolically is made of two root words (Press & Oil), Jesus was being pressed during this time and by staying with the mission he was able to produce the oil necessary to save mankind from sin.

Here’s the link to my poem, A Prayer of Honesty and here is the link to sign up for notifications about my book, From God with Love.

I am so excited about this opportunity to partner with @the_james_method to demonstrate the Verse Map Journal in action and I look forward to diving deeper into this tool and reclaiming my colored pencils.

You can click here to get your Verse Map Journal from The James Method. If you’re on Instagram, click the link in my bio and find the link under Affiliate Marketing.

Disclaimer: I am simply a woman who is inspired by the God’s word. I am not a preacher, pastor or biblical scholar. I am a life and business coach who helps individuals leverage their values and strengths to create more peaceful moments in their everyday life. Visit my website for more information.

 

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much love & many blessings,

Melissa A. Rivers

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Morning Prayer – February 29th, 2024

A Prayer of HonestyMy Dearest Heavenly Father,
I hope I am not a bother but
From you I need to hear, just to know that you are near
I need to feel your love, and strengthened from above
My issues have me weary Lord and I need to see more clearly
Your word to me revealed, in your presence I am healed
I am in my sacred place, lying prostrate on my face
I am putting aside the weight that you promised me you would take
I am casting my cares on you because your instruction tells me to
Lean not to my own understanding although my life can be demanding
I will have faith to trust and believe that your promises will be achieved
Amen

This is an original poem by Melissa A. Rivers, All Rights Reserved.

Click here to receive notifications regarding the book, From God with Love

much love & many blessings,

Melissa

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Well-Able

Dear Lord,

Thank you for a new day. Thank you, Lord, for resilience. Thank you for filling me with confidence to show up as my best self and to deliver on time. Thank you for removing any fear or doubt that might try to hinder me from following through on my tasks. Thank you for calming any negative thoughts that might try to take over my mind. Your word says that I am strong, mighty and well-able. I believe you Lord and I know that you have prepared me to be victorious in all things. Help me to walk in these truths, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

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Good Soil

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this day. Thank you for going before me to make the crocked paths straight for me.  I thank you for teaching me the difference between fertile soil and rocky clay. Thank you for the people and opportunities that you place in my path that make it easy and accessible for me to flourish and use my gifts, skills and talent for positive progression. Lord, I appreciate your guidance which surrounds me with supportive mentors and affirming relationships. I thank you for showing up for me like you do and for allowing me to bloom in this season.

Lord, I thank you! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Well-Able

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this day. Thank you for another chance to rise and go in the direction of purpose and intention. On this day Lord, you have filled me with your spirit of compassion, discernment and creativity. Understanding all of these things, I know that I am the co-creator of my opportunities. Help me to show up in this truth. Give me an extra push where needed. Your word reminds me that I am chosen, unique and well-able. I believe your word Lord and I will walk in these truths. I love you and I thank you.

Please bless everyone that you’ve placed in my circle. Bless them Lord from head to toe. Bless their comings and goings and let no good thing be withheld from them.

In Jesus’ Name.

Amen

 

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Grow My Faith

Psalm 94.19 NASB – When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your comfort delights my soul.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for another opportunity to grow in faith. Thank you for your new mercies, your support and your grace as I rise and enter this day. Lord it is only because of you that I am here. This morning, I ask you to touch my mind and my heart so that I may be still and rest in your love. Help me to see that your timing is perfect for me and more than enough. Help me to be confident within myself, knowing that you have put me together with everything that is good and perfect. Thank you for the opportunity to be bold, to be sure, to be intentional and most of all, thank you for providing opportunities for me to be dependent on you. Not by my might or strength Lord, but only because of you. My faith is fully in tune with your will for my life. Help me to see it through. I love you and I thank you. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen

~When we water anxious thoughts and give them life by clinging to them, we allow them to take root in our minds and grow.

“Be still and know that God is God!”