Category: Prayer (Page 1 of 4)

Turning It Over to God Is Not Trite—It’s Trust

October 23, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Sometimes, it sounds trite to say, “JUST TURN IT OVER TO GOD,” but this is where our trust in God, faith, and belief come into play. When Christians strive to follow Christ with obedient faith, we are striving towards righteousness. In (Mark 11:24) we are told, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” So, how do we turn it over to God? Well, we pray, we believe, and we trust in God’s answer, which allows us to let it go.

I once became so consumed by my concern for a loved one that it affected everything I did, including my marital relationship, until the day I realized that all my attempts to help this person were nothing more than temporary fading patches. Both I and my loved one needed to know that God was the answer, NOT ME or anything else. I asked myself, who would be there for them if I was gone? As I thought about my question, I realized God was the only answer! So, that night, I got on my knees and fervently prayed through heartfelt tears. I begged and pleaded in anguish and fear, asking God to help them, asking God to put people in their lives who could help them. I know that God’s will is the best will for all of us, so I took my cue from Christ’s example in the garden, and I asked that God’s will be done. I turned my cares over to Jesus.

My prayer that night wasn’t me giving up on that person in any way. I just realized, as never before, that God has complete control, and mine is extremely limited. That night, I literally felt a great invisible weight removed from my shoulders, replaced by a trusting calm.

After this prayer, when I heard from this person about self-inflicted difficulties, I limited my involvement and encouraged them to seek God’s will and pray; I offered to pray with them. To this day, I still pray for this person every day, and they have come a long way from those days and now include God in all that they do.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” In 1 Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you.”
In summary, don’t allow yourself to be consumed by things you can’t control. Turn them over to God! Pray and seek help from the one who can help when no one else can, the one who created everything you see and know, the one who created you and loves you like no other – The God of Love, who is Love.

When Christians strive to follow Christ with obedient faith, we are striving towards righteousness. When we turn that which we cannot control over to God, it’s not trite; it’s where our trust, faith, and belief come into play and substantiate our trust in God. God is love and will carry us through. For Christians, this world is not our home. Christians look forward to the fact that there will be no tears in heaven. By putting God First in our lives, we make this world a better place by our loving actions.

God’s word tells us to hear, believe, repent, and confess the name of Jesus and be immersed in the watery grave of baptism for the forgiveness of our sins. In (Acts 2:38) we find in doing so, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Only by doing so and living righteously theirafter, can live knowing that heaven is now our eternal home.

Hearing: – Romans 10:17, John 8:32
Belief/Faith: – Hebrews 11:1, John 8:24, Romans 10:17, Acts 3:19
Repentance: – 2 Cor. 7:9-10, Luke 13:3-5, Acts 17:30
Confess: – Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 10:32-33, Luke 12:8-9
Baptism by immersion for the forgiveness of sin: – Matthew 16:15-16, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, John 3:5, Matt 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:5, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39, Mark 1:9-10, John 3:23

God First!

Pray, Vote, and Share the Gospel

October 20, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Our USA election is no surprise to God. He knows all and sees all. At the same time, our prayers are important to Him. We are to pray without ceasing, for understanding, for wisdom, with faith, for our leaders, and for peace. Scripture tells us that the prayers of the righteous have great power. We are also given examples of times when failing to seek God’s counsel or remaining passive was not pleasing to Him (Joshua 9, the Parable of the Talents, Esther).

So let’s pray for our country now. Let’s pray that our choices will not hinder our ability to share the Gospel of Christ, but will help and encourage it. Let’s pray that we vote for candidates who use their voice, policies, and actions to stand against the acceptance of evil as the norm, and whose leadership best aligns with God’s will.

I pray that, during and after this election, all of us who consider ourselves Christians will do a better job of spreading the gospel to the world—especially to the leaders of our own country. God desires that everyone hear the gospel, including politicians. The closer they draw to God, the better they understand His principles and standards, and the better they can discern what is right.

“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). This promise describes the close fellowship God’s people will enjoy in the new heavens and new earth. Even now, He hears the prayers of the righteous, so we can pray with confidence while we wait for that perfect day.

I urge anyone reading this to pray. Pray now and pray often.

See: 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 1:5–6; 1 Timothy 2:1–2; James 5:16; Joshua 9:14–15; Esther 4:14; Matthew 25:14–30; Mark 16:15; Isaiah 65:24; Romans 13:1; Proverbs 14:34; 1 John 5:14.

God First!

But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.

Problems Come and Go, God Remains

October 9, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Problems sometimes seem insurmountable, but so did several of our past problems if you think about it. Many issues that once daunted our thoughts are now no more than distant memories. With God’s help and our trust in Him, we can endure what we cannot yet remove, and we can count it all joy when we meet trials, because the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. God tells us to ask for help and to cast our anxieties on Him, for He cares for us. We have been given the avenue to pray in Jesus’ name. As disciples of Christ, we are told to ask in faith, without doubting, and without asking amiss so that we may spend it on our pleasures. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working, and if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Sometimes the answer is grace to endure, as it was for Paul, rather than the removal of the thorn.

God wants us to accept His grace through obedient faith, so we can look forward to an eternal existence with Him—one without hardship, without pain, where there are no tears, full of joy and song. What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, God has prepared for those who love Him.

Our short span of life on earth is not even like a speck of sand in outer space, yet a speck God deemed worthy of Christ, His only begotten Son, who died that we might be forgiven and live forever with God.

Whatever we do, we should include God and seek to pursue those things He asks of us in Scripture—not adding to or taking away from His Word.

see: James 1:1–8; James 4:3; James 5:16; Matthew 6:34; Matthew 11:28–30; Matthew 19:26; Matthew 21:22; John 3:16; John 14:13–14; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 12:8–9; Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 13:14; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 John 5:14–15; Revelation 21:4; Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18–19

GOD FIRST!

Write It Down, Cast It on Him

September 26, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

I once found myself extremely stressed as multiple concerns snuck up, combined, and weighed me down. I remember feeling so distraught and so overwhelmed I knew not what to do. Then I decided to write down my thoughts. Not for the purpose of sharing them with others, but to take those muddy thoughts in my mind, organize them, and put them somewhere else—like on paper. For some reason, this helped me think more clearly in the following days. It helped me prioritize my thoughts and clear away the mud in my mind.

I still do this from time to time. In fact, if you’re reading this, you see that I share some thoughts on social media and web platforms, but certainly not all.

I have also found that it’s just as important to read those thoughts back later as it is to write them down, even if what I wrote looks like incoherent Babel. That can be embarrassing if I have shared it publicly, but that doesn’t matter.

What matters is this: writing my thoughts down and rereading them helped clear my mind. It helped me identify the issues and separate what I could control from what I could not.

If you’re struggling in some way, writing might help. Take a little time and write for yourself, even if no one else ever reads it. Writing may help you think more clearly, as it did for me. But remember, writing is only a tool. Paper holds words. Jesus carries the burden if we will pray, turn those cares over to Him, and trust Him to help.

Scripture tells us to humble ourselves by casting our anxieties on God. So pray first, or pray as you write. You may even write out the prayer itself, telling God what is on your mind. That helps you recognize the anxieties you cannot control so you can turn them over to the One who can: Jesus. Then trust Him to carry that load.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6–7

See also: 1 Samuel 1:10–18; Psalm 13:1–6; Psalm 42:5; Psalm 55:22; Psalm 62:8; Proverbs 3:5–6; Lamentations 3:19–24; Matthew 6:25–34; Matthew 11:28–30; Luke 12:22–31; Philippians 4:4–7; Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 Peter 5:5–9.

God First!

Worry changes nothing!

September 12, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:27, ESV) While we need to prepare and be as prepared as possible, it does us “no good” to worry. WORRY CHANGES NOTHING (and it may harm our health). Worry cannot add an hour to life. The Father’s care, not our anxiety, sustains us. With or without worry, we still have to meet each day’s trouble on that day. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34, ESV)

While this seems easier said than done, God is able to guard what we cannot control. The key is to be “in Christ” and allow the God of all comfort to be with us in every trial. Pray without ceasing.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7, ESV)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7, with 5:6)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)

Blessed be “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction.” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4, ESV)

Jesus’ answer is not merely “stop worrying.” It is to put God first:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

The peace that surpasses understanding is promised to those who are in Christ Jesus. Peace is God’s gift, not something we manufacture.

The following Scripture tells us how we become “in Christ.”

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the Glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:3–11) We are saved by grace through faith, we can’t earn God’s peace.

The gospel does call us to respond:

Hear the Gospel: Romans 10:17; John 8:32
Belief/Faith: Hebrews 11:1; John 8:24; Romans 10:17
Repentance: 2 Corinthians 7:9–10; Luke 13:3–5; Acts 17:30; Acts 3:19
Confess: Romans 10:9–10; Matthew 10:32–33; Luke 12:8–9
Baptism by immersion for the forgiveness of sins: 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38; John 3:5; Matthew 28:18–20; Ephesians 4:5; Romans 6:3–4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36–39; Mark 1:9–10; John 3:23

Additional references: Matthew 6:25–34; Luke 12:22–32; Philippians 4:4–7; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 55:22; Psalm 56:3–4; Psalm 94:19; Proverbs 3:5–6; Proverbs 12:25; John 14:27; John 16:33; Colossians 3:15; Hebrews 13:5–6; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:31–32; Ephesians 2:8–9.

God First!

The Smile That Hides the Battle

July 29, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

It’s not always the person who looks depressed that needs a listening ear; it could very well be the one with the biggest smile. Scripture tells us to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and to love one another as Jesus loved us (John 15:12)

If you’re dealing with a difficult struggle, you don’t need to carry it alone; in fact, let God’s word encourage you to share it with a trusted brother or sister in Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:11,14) It’s Obvious: Jesus wants His servants to be there for one another, while Evil wants to separate us from each other, to bring us down so that we might feel lonely and search for answers in worldly things, far away from focusing on Jesus.

Jesus is the answer. He wants us to be prepared to defend ourselves from the spiritual darts of Satan’s worldly “solutions” with the whole armor of God that we may fight the internal spiritual fight against our unseen enemy and win.

Let’s lean on our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us don, mend, or replace our armor. This is a spiritual battle – Lean on Jesus and let his servants help.

“… If God is with us, who can be against us!“

“humble ourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you,”

” And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
James 4:10, Romans 8:31, Ecclesiastes 4:12

Galatians 6:2 (Share burdens)
Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus’ invitation)
1st Thessalonians 5:11 (encourage/build-up)
John 15:12 (Command to love)
1st Peter 5:8 (satan)
Ephesians 6:10-20 (armor of God)
1 Peter 5:7 (Cast your anxieties)
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (God’s Comfort that we may Comfort)
Hebrews 10:24-25 (Spur one another)

God First!

The most valuable time of the day is the time we take to pray!

Include God; He offers so much!

July 15, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

We know from scripture that we are made in the image of God; we know that God has feelings, God loves, He hates sin, He is righteously jealous, etc., So, here’s a couple of questions to ponder:

How do you feel when the only time someone thinks of you is when they need or want something?

How do you think God feels when we treat him that way?

Why treat him this way?

It’s obvious from Scripture that God wants to be included in our lives; He wants us to love Him as He loves us. This said, why would we not want to include God in all that we do?. After all, Jesus told us to: ask, seek, and knock.

Our very breath is dependent on our creator! By embracing God’s love and keeping his commandments, we secure God’s promise of eternal life. In other words, we can obtain the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. If we are truly In Christ, serving Christ, our hearts are filled with joy and the comfort of God.

Therefore, it seems unwise to exclude God when he offers so much to our lives both in this world and for eternity.

John 1:1-18 (The Word is Jesus, with God from the beginning)
John 14:15 – How to show our love to Jesus
Ephesians 6:18 – pray often.
Matthew 7:7-11 – Ask, Seek, Knock
James 4:8 – How to get God to grow closer to you
James 5:16 – Prayers of the righteous avail much
Philippians 4:7 – Peace beyond understanding
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 – God of all comfort
John 15:1-16 – Joy

God First!

Praying and drawing closer to God

July 4, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 1 Comment

Pretty much every night before I go to sleep. I thank God for our blessings, both seen and unseen; I humbly pray for family, friends, and any specific needs I’m aware of; I often pray for forgiveness and mercy and ask for help with my understanding and faith. I pray for those who don’t know God and the dangers many face, especially children in harm’s way. I pray for fellow Christians and God’s help in their struggles and sicknesses. I pray for the Eldership, Deacons, Teachers, and Preachers in our congregation and worldwide that the truth is taught according to God’s Word.

I pray for my wife and God’s help with our situation. I often pray for help in my efforts to bring Glory to God through what I write and share in hopes of planting the seeds of eternal salvation.

As a child, I learned memorized prayers to help me learn to pray. Today’s Prayers are not memorized or rattled off as if I’m in a hurry because I truly relish this time with God and want to demonstrate respect for His Holiness.

Admittedly, there are times when my eyes are extra heavy so that I may shorten my prayers. But prayers are not about their length or eloquent words but about our hearts, and for those who are in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit to intercede for us. (Romans 8:26–27)

When possible, I like to pray on my knees, as this practice helps me stay focused in the moment. Once my prayer is over, I may do other things before sleep, but it’s not uncommon for me to say, “Goodnight, Heavenly Father,” just before sleep or “Good morning, Father,” when I awake. To improve my prayer life, I have also worked on the practice of morning prayer with coffee. It’s a great way to start the day.

Prayer life is truly something that brings us closer to God, and Scripture tells us the closer we draw to God, the closer God draws to us. I LOVE THE IDEA OF BEING CLOSER TO GOD

James 4:7-10
John 15:7
1 John 5:14
James 5:13-16
John 14:13-14
Matthew 7:7
Ephesians 2:18

God First!

Prayer and the hearts of children

June 21, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

The heart of a child is so pure, and hearing them pray is such a great blessing, as those little but enormous hearts shine with their words of love. Every parent who believes in Jesus should take time each day to teach, listen, and encourage their children to pray.

It’s a true gift to experience the thoughts and words of the pure heart as our children pray for people, topics, and concerns that come to those little minds. While they repeat what you taught about approaching God in Jesus’ name, encourage them to add their own thoughts rather than a cut-and-paste memorized prayer, and you will find these moments are both precious and informative. Just listen, learn, and absorb as they share their hearts with our Heavenly Father. Listening to them pray can easily become some of the best memories you ever experience as you share the love of Jesus with them; it is downright inspirational.

We can learn so much from the hearts of children. Make and prioritize this time, and you’ll never regret it!

Matthew 19:14
Matthew 18:3
Mark 10:15
Luke 18:17
Matthew 18:4

God First!

In Christ, we have access to the power of God

June 16, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

In Christ, we have access to the power of God

God: Unseen by the human eye, yet His power and love are evident in all of creation. Through Jesus, we are encouraged to tap into God’s power. Scripture tells us that if we draw closer to God, He draws closer to us, that we should work toward righteousness and demonstrate our love by keeping the commandments of Jesus. Although we live in the world, we should not be of the world, so far as it depends on us, we are to live peaceably with all.

If God is with us, who can be against us!

IN Christ, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who intercedes with our prayers.
IN Christ and through Christ, we can petition God in faithful, fervent prayer.
IN Christ, we have God’s ear; we can turn those” out of our control” burdens over to Him and trust in Him.
IN Christ, the God of all comfort, helps us in times of suffering.
IN Christ, we can have peace that surpasses understanding.

Scripture tells us how to be” IN Christ,”

“for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29)

They were cut to the heart, and they asked, what do we do? (Acts 2:38-41)

Grace: – Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:24, Titus 2:11, Acts 15:11
Hear: – Romans 10:17, John 8:32
Belief/Faith: – Hebrews 11:1, John 8:24, Romans 10:17, Acts 3:19
Repentance: – 2 Cor. 7:9-10, Lu ke 13:3-5, Acts 17:30
Confess: – Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 10:32-33, Luke 12:8-9
Baptism by immersion for forgiveness of sin: – Matthew 16:15-16, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, John 3:5, Matt 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:5, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39, Mark 1:9-10, John 3:23
Live peaceably – (Romans 12:18)

Other Referenced Scripture: Romans 8:26, James 5:16, James 4:8, John 14:15, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, John 17:14-23, Genesis 1:1, Acts 17:24

Study, Verify, and believe God’s Word!

God First!

Category: Prayer (Page 1 of 4)

Turning It Over to God Is Not Trite—It’s Trust

Pray, Vote, and Share the Gospel

Problems Come and Go, God Remains

Write It Down, Cast It on Him

Worry changes nothing!

Include God; He offers so much!

Praying and drawing closer to God

In Christ, we have access to the power of God

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Categories

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

ADVOCATE FOR CHRIST

Archives

Contact us:

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Categories

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

ADVOCATE FOR CHRIST

Sign up now

Archives

Contact us: