Shirlee Abbott

Bible-Based Getting

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

What do you get out of praying?

Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Oswald Chambers, prayer | Comments Off

Bible-Based Leadership

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

God moved Joseph from prison to #2 in Egypt.

Genesis 41:39-41 (ESV)
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

Let’s pray for our own nation:

Lord, raise up godly leaders who are as wise and discerning as Joseph.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Genesis 41:39-41, Joseph, prayer | Comments Off

Bible-Based Restitution

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

You may remember the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector who had a life-changing encounter with Jesus.

Luke 19:8-9 (ESV)
Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house.”

Can you think of some folks who have misused their power to enrich their bank accounts?

Lord God, may they be like Zacchaeus: sharing their wealth, restoring any ill-gotten gains and — most importantly — finding salvation in Christ.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Luke 19:8-9, prayer, restitution, Zacchaeus | 2 Comments

Bible-Based Service

Posted on May 10, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Let’s look at Priscilla and Aquila.

Acts 18:24-26 (CEV)
A Jewish man named Apollos came to Ephesus . . . He was a very good speaker and knew a lot about the Scriptures
. . . but all he knew was John’s message about baptism. Apollos started speaking bravely in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him to their home and helped him understand God’s Way even better.

Pray for Christian couples you know:

Lord God, equip them to serve together like Priscilla and Aquila. Empower them to meet whatever need they encounter, in Jesus’ name.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Acts 18:24-26, prayer, Priscilla and Aquila | Comments Off

Bible-Based Prayer

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

The people whose stories are told in Scripture can be inspiration for our prayers. We can pray that others react to their situations in the spirit of the giants of our faith.

Let’s start with Paul’s advice to Timothy.

1 Timothy 4:12 (CEV)
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, set an example for the believers through your speech, behavior, love, faith, and by being sexually pure.

Pray for children you know.

May they be like Timothy, Lord, and set an example through their speech, actions, love, faith and purity.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged 1 Timothy 4:12, children, prayer, Timothy | Comments Off

Pray Like an Eagle

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

The eagle soars high and sees the big picture. Its sharp eyes miss nothing.

The eagle face of prayer looks beyond the horizon.

Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged eagle, four faces of prayer, Matthew 6:10, The Lord's Prayer | Comments Off

Pray Like a Man

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

The man-face of prayer is filled with compassion and empathy. The man-heart grieves over broken souls. Man-prayer focuses on relationships (with God, with others). Restoration is the goal.

Matthew 6:12 (AMP)
And forgive us our debts,
as we have forgiven our debtors
[letting go of both the wrong
and the resentment].

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged four faces of prayer, man, Matthew 6:12, prayer, The Lord's Prayer | Comments Off

Pray Like an Ox

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Consider the ox. It does the day-to-day hard work: plowing the fields, carrying the water, turning the grindstone.

Those dear saints with the ox-face work their way through their prayer lists daily. They cover the routine needs. They’re quick to respond when the load is heavy. When they promise to pray, they don’t forget. They pray till the crisis is over.

Matthew 6:11 (ESV)
Give us this day our daily bread.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Matthew 6:11, ox, prayer, The Lord's Prayer | Comments Off

Pray Like a Lion

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

What does the lion face of prayer look like?

Imagine a lion resting on a hill, watching all that happens in the space between him and the horizon. He notices every bit of movement. He evaluates — is it friend, is it foe, is it food? And he decides what, if anything, to do about it.

The lion-prayer is part watchman, part protector, part provider.

Matthew 6:13 (ESV)
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged four faces of prayer, lion, Matthew 6:13, prayer, The Lord's Prayer | Comments Off

Four Faces of Prayer

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

The book of Revelation offers an intriguing peek into the action in heaven:

Revelation 4:6-7 (ESV)
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

Is there a prayer lesson in these four faces?

Maybe. Do you pray like a lion? An ox? A man? An eagle?

Teach us new ways to pray, Lord.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged four creatures, prayer, Revelation 4:6-7 | Comments Off