Shirlee Abbott

Full-Hearted Prayer

Posted on May 19, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Pour out your heart in prayer.

Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Frances Havergal, heart, prayer, Take My Life and Let It Be | Comments Off

Tender-Hearted Prayer

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Ezekiel 11:19 (NLT)
I will remove the hearts of stone
from their bodies and I will give
them tender hearts.

Yep, I admit it. I can be hard-hearted. Stone faced. Stiff-necked. Self righteous.

It’s hard to pray when my heart is hard. I need help.

Have at it, Lord. Chip away my hard edges.
Break up my stony attitude. Give me a
tender heart, in Jesus’ name.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Ezekiel 11:19, prayer, stony heart, tender heart | Comments Off

Half-Hearted Prayer

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Do your prayers feel half-hearted?

This word from God might explain why.

Revelation 2:4 (NLT)
I have this complaint against you.
You don’t love me or each other
as you did at first!

Let us love.

Posted in Constructive Thought, other | Tagged first love, prayer, Revelation 2:4 | Comments Off

Whole-Hearted Prayer

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Mark 12:30 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and
with all your soul and
with all your mind and
with all your strength.
[also Deuteronomy 6:5]

Whole-hearted prayer is filled with love for God.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30, prayer, whole heart | Comments Off

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