Shirlee Abbott

Skip the Details

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

I believe that God is all-knowing.

So why, when I pray for others, do I include all the details?

I’m not telling God anything he doesn’t already know.

Posted in other | Tagged prayer | 6 Comments

God Changes My Mind, Not His

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

I can’t make God change his mind.

James 1:17 (ERV))
These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.

He isn’t a God of compromise. I won’t wear him down with my whining,

Not that I can’t argue with God. I do. But in the end, he wins me over with his better logic, infinite wisdom and unending love.

Posted in other | Tagged Change, James 1:17, prayer | 4 Comments

Simple Prayer

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

God doesn’t listen better or answer faster because you use fancy words.

Just talk. He’s listening.

Posted in other | Tagged Keep it short and simple, prayer | 2 Comments

Captured Prayers

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Smoke rising from burning incense–that’s how God sees our prayers.

Revelation 5:8 (NIV)
They were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

To us, smoke is here one moment, gone the next. But God captures the fragrant smoke of our prayers and keeps it in golden bowls.

If you could peek over the rim, what would you see in your heavenly golden bowl?

Prayers of panic
A bowl of blessing
Not much, I’m afraid

God treasures our prayers. That is how much he loves us.

Posted in other | Tagged golden bowls, prayer, Revelation 5:8, smoke | 2 Comments

God’s Wordless Answer

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

God doesn’t always answer us with words.

Our keys were missing. We searched everywhere. And I prayed.

In my mind’s eye, I saw our toddler pushing those keys through the grid of the laundry basket. I checked, and Praise God! There they were, nestled beside the folded clothes.

Much later, I realized that the little movie playing in my head didn’t come from my eye-level, about five feet from the floor. No, the viewpoint was somewhere above the ceiling, looking at the top of his little head and straight into the basket. A God’s-eye view.

Posted in other | Tagged answered prayer, prayer | Comments Off

Unexpected Answers

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Jeremiah 33:3 (GW)
Call to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you great and mysterious things that you do not know.

You asked. You expect an answer.

The answer can be even greater and more mysterious than you expect.

Posted in other | Tagged answered prayer, Jeremiah 33:3, prayer | 2 Comments

No Answer? The Answer’s No

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged Deuteronomy 3:26, prayer | 2 Comments

Every Word Counts

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Many readers can’t scan. They have to read every word.

Let’s make every word worth their effort.

Posted in other | Tagged K.I.S.S., Keep it short and simple | 2 Comments

And God Answers . . .

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?

Yep, I say that a lot
Maybe I’m asking all wrong
Maybe I’m not listening

Or maybe I already have his answer. In my Bible.

When I wasn’t sure how to spell a word, I’d ask my mother. Dad would scold from the next room, “Look it up!” And he had a point. When my mom spelled it for me, the letters went from her mouth to my paper, bypassing my brain. If I used the dictionary, I remembered.

Imagine this: you ask, and God answers, “Look it up!”

Posted in other | Tagged Bible study, prayer | 2 Comments

Where? What?

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.

If you’re somewhere doing something,
and you just can’t make yourself pray–
maybe you shouldn’t be there, doing that.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5:17, prayer | Comments Off