thoughts by Sylvia Gunter Archives - Page 4 of 11

Published December 11, 2021

A Christ(mas) Meditation

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

You have prepared your gift list. You have begun preparing your house for the holidays. Take time to prepare your heart to make room for the One whose birthday we celebrate. My purpose in writing this devotional is to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).

Read Luke 2:1-20. Open your eyes anew to really see the Christmas story. Through these questions, meditate on its present-day personal applications. What does it say about God’s ways and your response? Ask God what he wants to reveal to you. You may want to do this meditation over a period of several days.

Luke 2:1-5 Examine the setting: Jesus came to a city. How would Jesus like to come to your city?

Luke 2:6 Compare this verse with Galatians 4:4-5, the Christmas story according to Paul. What does this say about God’s timing? Ask, What do I need to surrender to Your timing, Lord?

Luke 2:7 Reflect on the words “no room.” Where are your “no vacancy” signs?

Luke 2:8-9 Note that ordinary people were doing everyday things, and they saw the glory of God. Where do you need to see the glory of the Lord shine in your regular routine?

Luke 2:10 Fear not and joy no matter what! Ask yourself, How is this real for me?

Luke 2:11 Meditate on the third verse of “Silent Night.” How personal is the phrase “born for you?” Have you seen Him as Savior-babe as well as Christ the Lord?

Luke 2:7,12 Compare this description of Jesus with the one in Hebrews 1:2-3. What does this say about humility?

Luke 2:13 How can you praise God as a lifestyle?

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest and on earth- Have you ever seen the world vision in the Christmas story? What will it take for the glory of God to be seen in all the earth? What will it take for everything in your life to say “Glory in the highest?”

Luke 2:15,16a Instant obedience. The shepherds saw Jesus because they obeyed immediately. What has God shown you lately that calls for instant obedience?

Luke 2:16 Surrendered expectations. The King of the universe came into this world in a smelly stable! What expectations of how God is working do you need to surrender?

Luke 2:19 Do you have a “Mary heart“? Do you ponder God’s ways in your heart?
Let God prepare your heart with fresh joy, anticipation, renewed peace, vision… with whatever you need most.

As you sing “Joy to the World” this season, really hear the words. Don’t let the familiarity of this great carol lull you into neutral. Receive your King who has the right to rule in the hardest circumstances of your life. Submit, bow your knee to Him, and say,

“Yes, King of my life, I prepare You room and receive You. Reign in the midst of the world’s temporary insanity of the season and beyond. Rule in my heart and my family with truth, grace, righteousness, wondrous love, and glory.“

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

Blessing from Psalm 16

Psalm 16

You are kept and protected by God for He is your refuge. Choose to put your trust in God and hide yourself in Him.

Be blessed to rejoice in your Lord. You have no good beside or beyond Him.

You are one of the saints of God. You are excellent and glorious. You are the noble one in whom is all of God’s delight.

The Lord alone is your chosen and assigned portion and your cup. He holds and maintains your future. Be blessed to rest in His security.

The boundary lines have fallen for you in pleasant places. Surely you have a delightful inheritance.

Be blessed to praise the Lord, who counsels you. Let your spirit receive His instruction even in the night seasons

May you always keep your eyes on the Lord. With God at your right hand, you will not be shaken or moved.

Because of His greatness may your soul be glad and your spirit rejoice. May your body rest and confidently dwell in safety.

Be blessed with assurance that God will not abandon you nor will He let you see decay.

Be filled with the joy of God’s presence. He will make known to you the path of life. At His right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission
from: Blessings For Life: Words Of Hope And Healing.
© Sylvia Gunter, 2017

Trust

So let’s ask the question: “What must we do to do the work of God?” Jesus replied, “Trust...”

Recently I read again what Jesus said in answer to the question of the disciples, “What must we do to do the work of God?” Jesus replied, “Believe... ” (John 6:28-29). That is our work. Paul wrote, “God’s work, which is by faith”
(1 Timothy 1:4).

This is good news. My work for him is faith. I remembered that in the Complete Jewish Bible faith is always translated TRUST, for that’s what it means. That puts a different spin on it, doesn’t it? My work for him is TRUST.

Romans 1:17 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) “But the person who is righteous will live his life by trust.”

Hebrews 11:6 (CJB) And without trusting, it is impossible to be well pleasing to God, because whoever approaches him must trust that he does exist and that he becomes a rewarder to those who seek him out.

Ephesians 6:16 (CJB) Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (CJB) But for now, three things last – trust, hope, love...

So let’s return to the question: “What must we do to do the work of God?” Jesus replied, “Trust...”

God asks us to trust
that He loves us…
that He is with us this moment…
that He rewards those who seek Him…
that He will provide in the future as He has in the past…
that He is working all things together for our good…
that He is directing us and living His life through us…
that He continually gives the wisdom we need…
that He hears and answers our prayers.

Easy to say, harder sometimes for the heart to fully do.

Father, we want to trust you with all things today.

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

The Only Question that needs to be Asked

Who Is A God Like Ours? Who is a God like me, says the Lord.

As you hear the daily news, it can sound rather hopeless. There are wars and rumors of more wars, global warming, major elections that could change everything, a failing economy, soaring gas prices, hurricanes, wildfires, the list could go. For some of you it is not the big global issues that have struck your heart with fear. It is the family member facing a disease, the broken relationship that seems irreconcilable, or the problem at work that seems too big to handle.

There is something nourishing about gazing into the night sky to enjoy the stars in their full splendor. But like many of you often I get wrapped up in the business of daily life and I forget. I forget that God is so mighty that he spoke this complex universe into existence. At the same time he is so intimate that he calls each star by name and not one of them is missing. If he knows and cares for the stars so well, how much more so does he care about what concerns us today? When was the last time you stopped to gaze up into the heavens and allow yourself to be struck with awe and ask the one question that you need to be asking. All of our other “Why? How come? and What if?” questions are answered in this one question.

Who Is A God Like Ours?

Who is a God like me, says the Lord.

Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one. Isaiah 44:8

There is none like me, says the Lord.

Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but Me. I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:21-22, Acts 4:12

Who is a God like me, says the Holy One.

To whom will you compare Me? Who is My equal? Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? I bring out the starry host one by one and call them each by name. Because of My great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:25-2 6

I AM God and there is no other.

I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. Isaiah 46:9-10

Read this out loud as way of declaring your resolve to trust in the Rock who was before time began and the One who has the final say.

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

How do We Wait?

Nothing tries our faith like waiting on God for answers to prayer. What do we learn while we are waiting?

Waiting on God was one of David’s secrets of being a man after God’s own heart. David went in and sat before the Lord (2 Samuel 7:18). God was his confidence, and he trusted Him in every aspect of his life: for guidance and instruction (Psalm 25:5), for help and defense (Psalm 33:20), for victory over his enemies and vindication (Psalm 37:7,9,34; 52:9), for deliverance from trouble and destruction (Psalm 40:1, 59:9), for His refuge from treachery and oppression (Psalm 62:1,5), for His forgiving love (Psalm 130:5-6), and much more.

Nothing tries our faith like waiting on God for answers to prayer. Waiting tests our submission to Him as our trustworthy Authority. Waiting is not necessarily resignation from all activity; it is submission to God’s better idea. Waiting on God means that all of our life is brought under God’s umbrella of authority and direction. If we run ahead of God, we will be painfully chastened by turmoil, exhaustion, and failure. Taking matters in our own hands has ample instructive precedent in God’s Word. Think of Abraham with Ishmael, Saul’s usurping the role of a priest, Israel looking to Egypt for help (Isaiah 30:1-3), or walking in the light of our own fire (Isaiah. 50:11.)

What do we learn while we are waiting? We learn God Himself. God is revealing His perfections, His impeccable ability to be in charge of every detail. His timing is split-second. He is omniscient, omnipresent, and omni-caring. He works all and in all. He gives confirmations of His ever-presentness. He gives us assurances of His real power over the enemy that is not seen. His Holy Spirit focuses us. We want proof, but faith is the substance (not the evidence) of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). The Holy Spirit says, “I am giving you the substance of faith.” He gives the grace to await His purposes until the precise moment when He gives evidence that He was working all along. Without this faith, it is impossible to please Him, for all who come to God must believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

In community with other believers, as we humble ourselves and open up to receive from the body of Christ, we will be strengthened to see the full kaleidoscope of His plan and be encouraged in the grace of waiting.

How Do We Wait?

Prayerfully – Psalm 25:4-5
With strength and courage – Psalm 27:14, 31:24
Rejoicing and trusting in His holy name – Psalm 33:21
Based on the fear of the Lord and His unfailing love – Psalm 33:18,22
With hope – Psalm 33:20, 39:7
Patiently – Psalm 37:7, 40:1; Habakkuk 3:16, Romans 8:25, Hebrews 6:15
Obediently – Psalm 37:34, 119:166; Isaiah 26:8-9;
Desiring Him – Isaiah 26:8-9
Single-mindedly – Psalm 62:5
Expectantly – Psalm 123:2, Micah 7:7
Believing His Word – Psalm 130:5
Assured He is all we need, He is our portion – Lamentations 3:24
Quietly – Lamentations 3:26
Always – Hosea 12:6
In anticipation of joy – John 3:29
Eagerly – Romans 8:19,23

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

Your Worth and Glory

You have something to give your world that no other person has. Your family and your community need the deposit of Himself that God has placed in your life…

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” 2 Corinthians.. 3:8

God called you by name and created you to be a reflection of His glory. Be blessed as Jesus is reflected in your life. You are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory.

God created you for a purpose. You are an oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor (Isaiah 61:3). You were created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Listen to your Father’s voice as He speaks your purpose as He sees it. Trust that He will provide all that is needed for you to fulfill His purposes. He has more resources than you can begin to imagine. He has connections to people you haven’t met yet.

Be true to the masterpiece that you are. The Lord your Maker crowns you with glory and honor (Isaiah 54:5; Psalms 8:5). Never apologize for being who God created you to be. Shine forth your unique display of His image in you.

You have something to give your world that no other person has. Your family and your community need the deposit of Himself that God has placed in your life…”Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27b).

You are of great worth.

You are a champion, a treasure.

Be blessed as you live from a heart fully alive, being who He made you to be and doing what you were born to do from the inside out.

By Sylvia and Elizabeth Gunter
Used by Permission

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thoughts by Elizabeth Guner thoughts by Sylvia Gunter Thoughts by Women

Seeking God

Published October 20, 2021

Seeking God

Be blessed in his name Rewarder of those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Listen to the Word of God and be blessed with the passionate cry of the psalmist in Psalm 63:1.

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you.”

And in Psalm 42:1.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”

Be blessed to live from that deep cry of seeking God in your innermost being, longing for more of him, digging in to know him more intimately. Your Father desires constant communion of your spirit with his Spirit. Be blessed with directing the thirst of your soul to communion with him. Be blessed with getting out of your head and into your spirit, meeting God personally and profoundly.

Be blessed to know that God is who he said he is, and he can do and will do what he says he can do and will do, and he can presently do it in your life. He is the I Am to do it in you today. He is personal and powerful, and he alone satisfies. Jesus is standing and knocking at your heart’s door, waiting for you to open up to him for satisfying fellowship (Revelations 3:20). Jesus invites you to a table set for two. He wants your love, and he will be satisfied when you fulfill his heart by opening up to him.

Be blessed with knowing your covenant-keeping God of promise as you seek him and keep company with him in Spirit and in truth. Be blessed with more of his Spirit, not more how-to’s to make you feel guilty or more religious. Be blessed to discover him more as his Spirit lives in you to fulfill your deepest cries. Be blessed to encounter him in such dimensions that you feel as if you have never breathed spiritually before.

Be blessed in his name Rewarder of those who earnestly seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6).

by Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission
From: You Are Blessed In The Names Of God

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Those Who Mourn

Published October 16, 2021

Those Who Mourn

“Bring Him your grief and pain as often as you need to and receive His crown of beauty and oil of gladness. Allow Him to heal all your wounded places and restore you with His love. He is more than enough for your every need.”

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me… He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted … to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” Isaiah 61:1-3

Your Heavenly Father is faithful to comfort you in your grief.

These days may not feel like His goodness or His faithfulness. Be blessed to trust that God is good and kind even if it doesn’t feel like it in this moment. Hear His gentle invitation to come to Him and receive His love, comfort, and guidance. The indwelling Christ is anointed in your life to bring good news to you, to bind up your broken heart.

He hears your prayers and your tears when there are no words. He counts them as liquid intercession, which is precious to Him (Psalm 56:8a). Be blessed to know Him as your Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts you in all your troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Receive the covering of His sweet presence and peace that passes all understanding. Be blessed with strength and courage as you face the days ahead. You are not alone. He is your Mighty Warrior and contends with those forces that are contending with you (Isaiah 42:13; Psalm 35:1). May you be at peace with a still heart, while He fights for you (Exodus 14:14; Psalm 46:10).

Be blessed in His covenant of love that can never be taken from you (Romans 8:35, 38-39). He will never leave you. His promises can never be broken. He never loses sight of who He created you uniquely to be.

Bring Him your grief and pain as often as you need to and receive His crown of beauty and oil of gladness. Allow Him to heal all your wounded places and restore you with His love. He is more than enough for your every need.

By Sylvia Gunter and Elizabeth Gunter
Used by Permission

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Fruit of Goodness

Published October 8, 2021

Fruit of Goodness

Be blessed with active goodness that does not think to repay evil with evil but considers how to leave a blessing from the goodness of Jesus in you. Be energized with your Father’s kindness and goodness for others.

Beloved child of God, listen to your Father’s heart and his ways for you in Galatians 5:22-23,25. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Listen to Exodus 33:19. “The LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence.”

God is perfectly good. He forever linked his goodness, his name, and his presence. He invites you to taste and see that he is good (Psalm 35:8, 34:8) and that his name is good (Psalm 52:9). What he does is good and what he gives is good because it flows out of who he is (Psalm 65:4). Out of his goodness he created you and redeemed you. His enduring goodness showered on you his covenant mercy and forgiveness and compassion. Be blessed as you enjoy the unmerited goodness of God in caring for you (Nehemiah 1:7).

Because he is good, he is your merciful and forgiving Father who welcomes a prodigal with a hug, a feast, and a party with music and dancing. Because he is good, he wants good things for you. He is giving and generous and enjoys blessing you. He cannot change, his goodness is constant, never wavering or failing (James 3:17). When you receive his goodness, you receive something of himself.

He is good when he allows tests to refine you into purest gold, and he is good to display his quick sympathy and his tender heart to you when you fall or fail. He is good as he picks you up and holds you in the palm of his hands and will not let you go. His faithful goodness continues through all generations.

Celebrate his goodness with thanksgiving (Jeremiah 33:11). Thank him for being good and for loving you with his abounding love that endures forever (Psalm 118:1,29). Be specific in thanking him for his goodness in everyday things: a sunset, a beautiful fountain, a child’s hug, answered prayers, the kindness of a stranger, a tear of empathy. His goodness is always in evidence, if you are looking, for he is good.

See the acts of goodness in the parable of the Good Samaritan. His pity on the man who had fallen among thieves was the fruit of goodness and nobility of character. He was touched by the helplessness and the distress of another. He reached out to do something about the consequences of sin that were causing the man to suffer. Be blessed as you, too, bind up the wounds of others, minister to their hurts, and bring them to the house of your good Father for his care.

The angels at the birth of Jesus connected the highest glory of God with his good will to men. They announced God’s goodness at the entrance of Jesus to earth. Jesus went about doing good, and he imparts many expressions of his goodness into your being. Be blessed with the virtue of the goodness of Jesus worked into your life. Be blessed to feel the zeal of Jesus for goodness and be energized with his kindness and goodness for others. Be blessed with active goodness that does not think to repay evil with evil but considers how to leave a blessing from the goodness of Jesus in you.

Be blessed with the fruit of the goodness of God that the Holy Spirit produces in you, your empowered response from his goodness (Galatians 5:22).

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

Shield of Trust Prayer

When you don’t understand, God invites you to lean into Him and to trust. The following prayer guides you how to pray holding up your shield of trust, regardless of what is going on around you.

Father, when things are shaky or dark and I don’t understand, I redirect my focus to Your great heart of love for me and Your power and presence.

When I don’t know what to pray,

I trust Your goodness. Psalm 31:19, 34:8, 100:5, 119:68, 136:1, 145:7

I trust that You are sovereign. You have all authority and all power. Matthew 28:18

I trust that nothing takes You by surprise. You know the end from the beginning.
Isaiah 46:9-10

I trust that Your Word is forever settled in heaven. All things serve you. Psalm 119:89,91

I trust that there is no circumstance, person, place, or time that the blood of Jesus does not cover. I trust that You who spared not Your own Son will freely give me Your best. Romans 8:31-32

I trust that You are for me, and nothing can separate me from Your love. That was settled on the cross of Jesus. Romans 8:35-39

I trust that Your loving kindness never ceases. Your compassions never fail. They are new every morning. I trust Your great faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

I trust that You know and care about me. The very hairs of my head are numbered. I trust that You supply all my needs through Your riches in Christ Jesus. Matthew 10:30, Philippians 4:19

I trust that You supply Your abundant grace to me in this situation, so that in all things, at all times, I have all Your sufficient grace I need. I trust You to show Your perfect power in my weakness. 2 Corinthians 9:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I trust that You are my shield, my strong tower, my refuge, my hope, my joy, my peace, my everything, my all. Psalm 18:1-3, Colossians 3:11b

I trust that You renew my strength as I wait on You. Isaiah 40:31

I trust that You never leave me or forsake me. You are with me, a very present help. You never go back on a promise. Hebrews 13:5-6, Joshua 21:45

I trust that You guard what I have entrusted to You. 2 Timothy 1:12

I trust that You are God of all comfort, Father of mercies. I trust that You have a heart that tears can touch. You invite me to climb up in Your lap and cry. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Hebrews 4:15, Psalm 56:8

I trust that You give gladness instead of mourning and praise instead of fainting. Weeping may endure for a night, but You give joy in the morning. Isaiah 61:3, Psalm 30:5

I trust that You do all things for my good and Your glory, to make me like Jesus.
Romans 8:28-29

You are enthroned on the praises of Your children. When I lift You up in a sacrifice of praise, I glorify You in this situation in the here-and-now. Psalm 22:3 NASB,
Hebrews 13:15

Father, glorify Yourself this hour. John 12:28a

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

Praying the 23rd Psalm

To enter the sheepfolds of the Middle East, a shepherd’s sheep had to pass under his rod for him to inspect their condition up close. The shepherd would tend to any obvious needs one by one. Then when all the sheep were in the fold, he lay down across the opening with his own body. Through the 23rd Psalm we better understand our Good Shepherd in a personal way. Ask God to show you about himself in this classic psalm, which unfortunately is so familiar that we can recite it without receiving its revelation deep in our spirits. Listen for what God wants you to know about who he is, what he does, and what you have in your Shepherd.

As you cultivate your personal communion with God in prayer, let him lead you to pray this psalm for others.

The Lord is my Shepherd.
Jehovah-Rohi: God my Shepherd
Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd who knows my own sheep by name” (John 10:11). The Lord of the universe knows you personally! Thank Him for your relationship with Him.

Pray it for others: Jesus is the great Shepherd of all His sheep. Pray for someone who is discouraged and thinks God has forgotten them. Pray for them to know God as their Shepherd.

I shall lack nothing.
Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord my Provider
If God provided so much in Jesus to meet your spiritual needs, will He not also take care of your daily practical needs? Pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” (Matthew 6: 11) and name specific needs you are trusting him for. Thank him he is your provider.

Pray for others: Pray for those who have real financial needs and for those who are discontent with what they have. Pray they will know Jehovah-Jireh.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside quiet waters.
Jehovah-Shalom: God my Peace
Pray about anything that is disquieting your peace. Affirm that God is your peace. Pray about God’s leading in His work and decisions.

Pray for others: Ask God how to pray for someone in a hard place. Pray for Him to calm all fear, doubt, worry, inadequacy, and anxiety with the Prince of peace in their heart.

He restores my soul.
Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord my Healer
Where do you need the healing and restoration of Jesus the Healer?

Pray for others: Pray for God to heal the hurts, bitterness, control, judgments, differences, separation, wrong priorities, apathy, etc., of someone else.

He guides me in paths of righteousness…
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord my Righteousness
Pray for God’s guidance as you dedicate yourself to follow Him as Lord.

Pray for others: Jesus declares us to be righteous, not for what we have done, but because of his perfect righteousness. Pray for salvation for somebody who has not received Jesus as God’s perfect sacrifice for their sin.

For His name’s sake.
Jehovah-M’Kaddesh: God’s name is holy.
He says, “I the Lord alone am holy, and I make you holy because you are called by my holy name.” Pray that you will not dishonor his name.

Pray for others: Pray that someone away from God will desire to bring glory and honor to his name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Jehovah-Shammah: God who is there
Jesus promised his disciples, “I have all authority, and I am always there for you.” (Matthew 28:19, 20) Affirm his presence with you that dispels fears and unbelief.

Pray for others: God promised his presence in Exodus 3:12 for leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. In Exodus 33:14 reaffirmed his presence to finish what he began. Ask God to reveal himself to your family and friends in powerful new ways.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You can depend on the rod of His protection and the staff of His correction and rescue. Receive the protection and correction of your Good Shepherd.

Pray for others: His comfort is as warm and tender as that of a mother for her child (Isaiah 66:13, 49:13, 52:9). Who needs you to pray God’s comfort for them?

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord my Banner of victory
Praise God that He gives victory over your enemies and sins, as you depend on the authority of your crucified, resurrected, victorious Redeemer.

Pray for others: Pray the same prayer for your family and friends.

You anoint my head with oil.
Oil was used for medicine, sanctification, appointment to office, and as a sign of fellowship. Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit, who is all these things. Thank God for the power of the Holy Spirit to heal, restore, soothe, cleanse, appoint to His work, and give a sign of your fellowship with the Father and his Son.

Pray for others: Pray that your family and friends will walk in the Spirit.

My cup overflows.
Exercise your attitude of gratitude.

Pray for others: Pray that your family and friends will praise God continually as their Source.

Surely goodness and love with follow me all the days of my life.
Thank God for a specific evidence of His goodness and love He has shown you daily.

Pray for others: Thank God for people who have shown His goodness and love to you. Tell them so at your first opportunity. Pray that they will see God’s goodness to them.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Ask God to show you how to practice His presence with you continually.

Pray for others: Ask God for the body of Christ to worship Him with their whole heart and be committed to living in His presence daily.

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

Wholehearted Trust

Recently I read again what Jesus said in answer to the question of the disciples,

“What must we do to do the work of God?” Jesus replied, “Believe… “

(John 6:28-29). That is our work. Paul wrote, “God’s work, which is by faith” (1 Timothy 1:4).

This is good news. My work for Him is faith. I remembered that in the Complete Jewish Bible faith is always translated TRUST, for that’s what it means. That puts a different spin on it, doesn’t it? My work for him is TRUST.

Romans 1:17 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) “But the person who is righteous will live his life by trust.”

Hebrews 11:6 (CJB) And without trusting, it is impossible to be well pleasing to God, because whoever approaches him must trust that he does exist and that he becomes a Rewarder to those who seek him out.

Ephesians 6:16 (CJB) Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (CJB) But for now, three things last – trust, hope, love...

So let’s return to the question:

“What must we do to do the work of God?” Jesus replied, “Trust…”

God asks us to trust
that He loves us.
that He is with us this moment.
that He rewards those who seek Him.
that He will provide in the future as He has in the past.
that He is working all things together for our good.
that He is directing us and living His life through us.
that He continually gives the wisdom we need.
that He hears and answers our prayers.

Easy to say, harder sometimes for the heart to fully do. Father, we want to trust you with all things today.

By Sylvia Gunter and Elizabeth Gunter
Used by Permission
From: Finding The Love You Have Always Wanted

A Prayer For The Nations

Through prayer we can have partner with God to impact the nations without leaving home. Use this prayer as a guide to pray for your own nation as well as others.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are Yours. You have complete rule, authority and sovereignty. You reign over all nations. You are seated on Your holy throne (Psalm 47:8). Your dominion endures forever (Psalm 145:11-13). You are King of kings and Lord of lords.

In Your powerful name and by Your power, we stand against all spiritual forces that are operating in our nation. Everything is subject to You (Ephesians 1:21-22). To all opposing powers we say “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 1:9). Your name is the name above all names. At Your name every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

Holy Spirit come. Rend the heavens and come down to make Your name known to Your enemies and cause the nations to quake before You (Isaiah 64:1-2). Create in each of us a clean heart. Search our hearts and cleanse us of all unrighteousness (Psalm 51).

Awaken Your church. Awaken our hearts to call out to You in humility and seek Your face. Only You can heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Empower Your church to move in unity and love by Your Spirit (John 17:23, 24, 26).

We pray for our pastors and Christian leaders to be in tune with Your heartbeat for the people You have given them to shepherd. May they demolish every argument and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

We pray for our political leaders to know You. May they govern righteously according to Your will. We ask for You to call forth just men to rule in the fear of the Lord (2 Samuel 23:3).

Draw all people to Yourself. (John 12:32). Call forth your sons and daughters. Awaken the slumbering spirits in our nation so that they might find everything they are searching for in You.

Father, glorify yourself in all the earth

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

From: Prayer Portions, page 306

Finding the Love You Have Always Wanted

A.W. Tozer said “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Pain and disappointment have a way of distorting in our minds what is true about Heavenly Father. When life gets hard, the temptation is to believe that God is uninterested and uninvolved. Yet, He is near and He cares. Regardless of what your current or past circumstances try to tell you, take a moment to meditate on this portrait of your Heavenly Father.

Your Father is perfectly faithful.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Your Father is a generous provider.

Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!

Your Father is loving and compassionate.

John 17:23 (Jesus speaking to His Father) “You have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on His children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

Your Father is forgiving and accepting.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Your Father is a patient teacher.

Isaiah 30:20-21 Your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. (NASB)

Your Father is an understanding counselor.

Isaiah 9:6 He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Your Father is a wise communicator.

James 1:5 If 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 3:17 The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Your Father gives good gifts.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Your Father is attentive to your needs.

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Your Father is strong yet personal.

Isaiah 40:26 He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing

Matthew 10:30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

And so much more. He is more wonderful than our mind can comprehend. He is there, even if we feel that He has left or that He ought to leave, and even when we turn our backs on Him. Our Father is love, pure love, and He does not change.

By Sylvia and Elizabeth Gunter
Used by permission
From Safe In The Father’s Heart

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The Fathers Beloved

Published August 2, 2021

The Fathers Beloved

Listen to God’s Word with your spirit.

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders” (Deuteronomy 33:12).

You can rest in the truth that you are your Father’s beloved. Taste deeply of the love of God. Know the treasure you are to him. You are a chosen one, a special person, noticed in your uniqueness, eternally valued. You are priceless and irreplaceable, safe in his everlasting embrace, at rest in his non-comparing love. Be increasingly aware of your belovedness.

You are precious in your Father’s eyes. Receive this so that you live with a stable, settled sense of true belonging. Your real gift is not so much what you can DO; it is who you ARE. The good things you DO reveal what a beautiful person you ARE.

Your beloved Father provides a safe, secure environment, and you don’t have to test him continually, fearfully asking questions, such as “Are you still with me?” “Will you still be with me if...?” “Prove it by...” Be blessed to choose against the accuser’s lies about your adequacy, identity, legitimacy, your past, present, and future. Be blessed to know that you can never be rejected or abandoned by your Father. He never leaves you alone. His love is your companion every step of the way.

Be blessed with knowing his heart that nurtures belonging, inclusion, and worth. Be blessed with healing of your soul’s rejection wounds and the abandonment wound that is deeper.

Discover more fully who God is and whose child you are. Your life is an opportunity to become who you are, to affirm your own true spiritual nature and to say “Yes” to the One who calls you the beloved. Your legitimacy is settled in him. Trust what he wants you to see and hear. He gives you great gifts of inner peace, joy of living, sense of well-being, solidness and strength inside, and healing. Share your life in encouragement, hope, and trust. When you are secure, your presence is a joy to those who know you.

Get quiet and listen to the voice of love saying good things to you. Trust God’s voice of affirmation; it is persistent, strong, and deep. It will never let you go. Don’t be pulled out of your center in your belovedness.

Be blessed to be attentively present to him to see his fingerprints and feel his closeness. Drive a stake in this blessing as the truth that shapes your daily life. Synchronize with the voice calling you the beloved, and continually align yourself with your belovedness.

Be blessed in the life of the Chosen One (Luke 23:35).

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission
From: You Are Blessed In The Name Of God

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Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

Further Reading

Further Reading

Father, we want to trust you with all things today.

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Who Is A God Like Ours? Who is a God like me, says the Lord.

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Nothing tries our faith like waiting on God for answers to prayer. What do we learn while we are waiting?

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You have something to give your world that no other person has. Your family and your community need the deposit of Himself that God has placed in your life…

You are of great worth.

You are a champion, a treasure.

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Be blessed in his name Rewarder of those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

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“Bring Him your grief and pain as often as you need to and receive His crown of beauty and oil of gladness. Allow Him to heal all your wounded places and restore you with His love. He is more than enough for your every need.”

Your Heavenly Father is faithful to comfort you in your grief.

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Be blessed with active goodness that does not think to repay evil with evil but considers how to leave a blessing from the goodness of Jesus in you. Be energized with your Father’s kindness and goodness for others.

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“What must we do to do the work of God?” Jesus replied, “Believe… “

“What must we do to do the work of God?” Jesus replied, “Trust…”

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