Shirlee Abbott

Gone for Good

Posted on August 7, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Last week, I was praying about some of my bad habits (yes, I have more than a few!). God brought to mind two passages of Scripture.

First, “binding and loosing” from Matthew 16:19 (what’s prohibited and permitted).

Second, an unclean spirit is removed from the house and decides to return.

Luke 11:26
Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there.

This is the message I got from God.

Don’t just get rid of the bad. Replace it with good.

It’s time for some spiritual housecleaning. Are you ready?

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged binding and loosing, Luke 11:26, Matthew 16:19 | Comments Off

Four Faces of Prayer

Posted on August 4, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Each believer has a unique prayer voice, usually favoring one of the four faces of prayer:

- - - Protection (lion)
    - Daily needs (ox)
    - Relationships (man)
    - Future (eagle)

It can all be folded into one well-rounded prayer style. Jesus set the example:

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come [eagle],
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread [ox],
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors [man].
And lead us not into temptation [lion],
but deliver us from evil.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged four faces, Matthew 6:9-13, prayer, The Lord's Prayer | Comments Off

Pray Like an Eagle

Posted on August 3, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Today’s thought is wrapped around the fourth face of Revelation’s heavenly beings.

Revelation 4:7 (ESV)
. . . and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

The eagle in flight sees beyond the earthly horizon. The eagle prayer-face looks beyond the here and now and prays into the future.

What’s the plan for next year, Lord, for the next decade? Your kingdom come.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged eagle, four faces, prayer, Revelation 4:7 | Comments Off

Pray Like a Man

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Man — prayer face three of four (based on the heavenly creatures of Revelation) —

Revelation 4:7 (ESV)
. . . the third living creature with the face of a man.

The prayers of the man-face are all about other people: those who are broken and without hope, angry and bitter, overwhelmed and burned out. Human-faced prayers cover broken relationships (with others and with God).

Teach them to forgive each other, Lord, as You have forgiven us. Restore their souls, restore their relationships.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged four faces, man, prayer, Revelation 4:7 | Comments Off

Pray Like an Ox

Posted on August 1, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

This week, we’re focusing on the four faces of prayer, based on the faces of the heavenly beings described in Revelation.

Revelation 4:7 (ESV)
. . . the second living creature like an ox.

Oxen do the heavy labor: plowing the fields, hauling the loads, threshing the grain. The faithful saint who prays like an ox carries the day-to-day needs to the throne of grace.

Give us this day our daily bread. Supply our needs.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged four faces, ox, prayer, Revelation 4:7 | Comments Off

Pray Like a Lion

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

I don’t remember exactly who and when, but years ago I learned about four faces of prayer–based on the four faces of the Revelation’s heavenly creatures.

Revelation 4:7 (ESV)
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.

If you pray like a lion, you’re a watcher–that is, you keep an eye on what’s happening between us and the horizon.

Deliver us from evil, Lord. Protect us, in Jesus’ name.