Advocate for Christ

The best life is a God First life

Category: Prayer (Page 1 of 4)

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

Include God; He offers so much!

July 15, 2026 / / 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 / / 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 / / 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!

Breath-Giving Love of God

In Christ, we have access to the power of God

June 16, 2026 / / 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!

Pray- Then Choose Pray Continually

Praying without ceasing

June 10, 2026 / / 0 Comments

According to Thessalonians 5:17, we are to “Pray without ceasing.” What does this mean? If we think about it, praying without ceasing or continually would mean that in all things, our minds stay focused on pleasing God. If this is where we focus, then we instinctively include God in our thoughts and decisions. Praying “prior” to making decisions (big or small), seeking “God’s will” to be done rather than just doing “our will” and then praying God’s ok with it.

When we make decisions, do we pray for wisdom, help, and discernment beforehand, or only afterward, when we realize we need help with the results of our decision?

Is God’s will, our will? Or do we treat our will as if it should be God’s will, and pray that He will help us with the repercussions of our decision?

For example, we buy a new car without praying God will help us find the best car for our needs, then, after the fact, we find ourselves going to God, praying for help with payments or repairs. Of course, this is hypothetical, but maybe including God beforehand would put us into a vehicle we could afford without repairs we can’t afford.

God wants to hear from us. Pray often and pray for those things that would align with the heart of God.

  • Ephesians 6:18
  • James 4:15

God First!

Prayer Request

Prayer request – why would you not ask?

May 30, 2026 / / 0 Comments

I see many prayer requests on social media. Although it’s sad to see so many people dealing with sickness, death, fears, and concerns, I truly appreciate those who recognize the power of praying in Jesus’ name and asking for prayers from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus is our avenue to God’s help, so if we truly believe, why would we abstain from asking others to join us in prayer and praying for us?

When encountering prayer requests, it’s standard for me to pause and pray before moving forward. I don’t always know the recipients of my prayers personally. However, I know that, by their request, they believe in God’s power to help and in Him, as they have asked for prayers. Scripture shows God wants us to pray; God wants to be included in our daily lives. More than that, and with good reason, God wants to be the front and center of our lives. Scripture clearly demonstrates God’s desire to be included in our daily lives, which consists of prayer before action. As those in Christ, we have confidence that when we pray and ask anything according to God’s will, He hears us.

Praying and asking others to pray demonstrate our belief, and belief is vital to having our request granted according to Scripture. So let us pray with thanksgiving, expectations, and humble hearts that show our love, trust, dependence, and desire for God’s help.

What does it say to God about our belief, our trust in Him, when we don’t include Him in our lives until things are dire?  How would you feel if the only time you hear from a loved one is when they need dire help?  God has feelings, too!

  • John 15:7 (Notice conditions)
  • 1 John 5:14
  • James 5:14-16
  • 2 Corinthians 1:11
  • Matthew 7:7
  • Luke 11:9
  • John 16:24
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
  • James 1:5
  • Romans 12:2
  • Romans 12:12
  • Isaiah 63:9
  • Ephesians 6:18

God First!

Just say no to grumpy

Just say no to Grumpy

May 27, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Starting each day with a houseful of smiles and laughter is far better than a houseful of grumpy, coffee or not. Why not start your day with a prayer, then bless others with compassion, kind words, smiles, and goodness from the heart? Attitude is a choice!

Why not spread an attitude of love? Share your best, brighten each other’s day, and make an effort to be chipper and kind no matter the time? Laughter and kindness are good for the soul from start to finish.

Attitude is contagious! Spread the love and just say no to the grumpy.

Hebrews 10:24
Colossians 3:17
Galatians 6:10

God First!

Mom's Advice

Mom’s advice

April 29, 2026 / / 0 Comments

My mom’s been in Paradise for years now, but her memories are instilled in me. One such memory was some advice. I’ve not always held true to it, but I have grown to recognize its enormous value.

”Don’t go to bed mad.” Why?

When we harbor anger, it festers and can easily turn into sin, and sin separates us from God. Sometimes we just can’t fix a problem before bed, but we all have access to God’s Word and to God through prayer. We can seek help in scripture and pray about the problem; insomuch as it is within our power, we can take action on our part. We can pray for wisdom and understanding, and be willing to forgive those involved. If the problem is beyond our control, we can turn it over to God, the one who can do anything, and let go, trusting in God.

Although anger (in itself) is not wrong, God knows what’s best for us and tells us in the following scripture.

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians‬ ‭4:26-32‬

  • Isaiah 59:2,
  • Hebrews 10:26-31
  • James 1:14-15
  • James 5:16
  • Matthew 5:24

‭‭God First!

Rather than whine PRAY

Pray and do – Draw closer to God

April 25, 2026 / / 0 Comments

  • Rather than worry, draw closer to God (Philippians 4:6-7)
  • Rather than whine, pray (James 4:8)
  • Rather than following your desires, follow God’s for you (Titus 2:11-14)
  • God is waiting for you to follow His Word as He intended. (John 6:40)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16

“Then Jesus told His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24 ESV

  • Romans 10:17 – The Word of Christ
  • John 8:32 – know the Truth
  • Hebrews 11:6– He rewards those who seek Him
  • John 20:30-31 – Written that we may believe
  • Luke 13:3 – we must repent
  • Acts 17:30 – Ignorance is no excuse
  • Romans 10:10 – believe in the heart and confess
  • Matthew 10:32 – Tit for tat
  • Galatians 3:27 – Baptism is to put on Christ
  • Mark 16:16 – Believe and be baptized equals being saved.
  • Acts 2:38 – For the forgiveness of your sins
  • Revelation 2:10 – The Crown of Life
  • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God’s word, Not Some of it!

God First!

Comfort in little things by knowing God’s Word

March 29, 2026 / / 1 Comment

We were gifted with the morning light as it cast these rainbow colors across our tile floor. As I pointed it out to my wife, I thought, how cool! Its presence then sent my mind down a pathway of thoughts to carry.

Like the rainbow in the sky, this simple patch of colors reminded me of God’s promises. That God cannot lie and will always be with those who love Him. How Jesus said: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

While sipping my morning coffee, my mind kept highlighting snippets of God’s Word, “God is the God of All Comfort”, “the closer we draw to God, the closer God will draw towards us”, “Ask, and it will be given, Seek and you will find, Knock and the door will open”, “Pray without Ceasing!”

It is comforting to remember how much Jesus cares for us and to be reminded to be humble and to cast all our anxieties on Him.

This little patch of light reminded me that Faith includes Trust. “Never give up on doing good.” Lean on Jesus, especially in times of trial when the challenges of life are heavy, and things don’t make any sense.

So much was brought to mind in this little patch of rainbow light.

Jesus has prepared for those who love Him a place with many rooms where tears, death, mourning, crying, and pain will be no more. It gives me peace to remember this world is but a temporary home; our forever home is, as a song states, “Beyond the azure blue.” Scripture tells us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” All this world and its desires are passing away, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

  • Hebrews 6:18 (God’s Promises)
  • Titus 1:2 (Eternal life promise)
  • Proverbs 8:17 (Love and seeking)
  • John 14:15 (love means keeping commandments)
  • James 4:8 (let God to draw near)
  • Romans 8:28 (of those who love Him)
  • Galatians 6:9 (always do good)
  • 1 Peter 5:7 (Cast Anxieties on God)
  • Galatians 6:2 (Bear each other’s burdens)
  • 1 John 2:15-17 (question your desires)
  • John 14:1-3 (A heavenly home)
  • Revelation 21:4 ( no more mourning, tears, or pain)
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (God of all Comfort)

God First!

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