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Speak, Lord; I'm listening

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The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." And the Lord said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle." (1 Samuel 3:10-11) Lord of Heaven, You are standing here, right next to me,  waiting for me to recognize you. Speak, Lord, I'm listening now. I won't argue with you. I will obey whatever you tell me to do, no matter how frightening or impossible it seems. I'm listening . You are about to do something new that will make everyone stop and take notice . And for some reason,  you've invited me into the process. You want to use me. How can I say 'no' to that? You have all power and authority in my life. So tell me what you want from me. I'll do it. In Jesus' name, Amen. How is God speaking to you? What is he saying?
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Lament and confession over gun violence

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Oh. Lord, There's been another mass shooting. I can't imagine how your heart hurts to see your creation turn on itself. End the violence in our country. I intercede, Lord, for the victims and the victimizers that live in this country and call themselves Americans. I am sick of the violence, shamed by it, grieved by it, astonished by the normalization of mass shootings. We have blood on our hands. We may not have personally committed these atrocities, but many times we have shaken our heads, cast judgment, and gone about our day anyway. Lord, show each of us how we can help change this problem. Massage our hearts toward compassion, justice, and care. Give us discernment about the gun-violence problem, the sin-problem, and the mental-health problem that must be addressed and corrected. We are a country--and a world--filled with desperate people  who cannot find a way to solve their own heart and mind issues except to lash out against one another. We gossip, we malign, we injure,
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20 things you should pray for

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  On March 17, I posted a blog " What you should pray against ." This is a response to that blog: 20 Things you should pray FOR.  1. For believers . "Be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." ( Ephesians 6:18) 2. For salvation . "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." ( Romans 10:13) 3. For wisdom . "For  any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,  who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ( James 1:5 ) 4. For humility. " Seek righteousness, seek  humility ; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the  Lord ’s anger." ( Zephaniah 2:3 ) 5. For grace. " The  grace  of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters." ( Galatians 6:18) 6. For love. " And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love." ( 1 Corinthians 13:13) 7.  For bold and truthful words . "Pr ay also for me, that
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I messed up again

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                       Dear Lord, I messed up again . I let someone's words and attitude anger me, make me defensive, and feel upset. I didn't lose my temper or act rudely-- but I wasn't gracious, either. I  said things  that were unnecessary--and who's to say that I wasn't offensive? I wasn't kind because I didn't put myself in their shoes. I didn't  empathize . I didn't ask questions. I just challenged, argued my point, and decided to view them as  arrogant, stubborn, or at best, difficult. But I was all those things. I see that now, and I regret it. Sin is so subtle and tricky-- it seeps in through insecurity and pain  and defends my right to feel offended by another person's words or actions. Sin makes me guard myself and defend myself even when I'm not in danger. It makes me feel misunderstood, alone,  abandoned, and discouraged. Probably like this person felt. Being  wounded  in the past makes me feel wounded all the time. That's wh
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