Tag: The Prayers of Black Women

Day Six – You’re Not Alone

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Good day! I hope to convey the essence of this blog in just two to three brief paragraphs, focusing on God’s omnipresence. He exists in the past, present, and future.

Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to catch up with a dear friend who means so much to me. Even though she looked a bit pale, I initially thought she had a tough week. Imagine my surprise when she revealed that her week was actually fantastic! I couldn’t help but feel concerned about what might be stressing this gentle soul.

As I shared stories about my oldest and his children, she listened intently. Then, when I touched on an issue I hadn’t realized she was dealing with, her tears unexpectedly flowed. At that moment, I quietly shifted my focus, understanding it was her turn to open up and share her troubles.

She quickly shared her “shameful” feelings regarding something she’d done. I listened, stunned, thinking, “Oh wow!” Given her character, it was hard to believe what I was hearing. My mind immediately drifted to my blog post about “Bad Advice.” I certainly didn’t want to give my friend poor counsel, nor did I wish to hear all the messy details. Yet, she revealed them through her tears and her seeking relief from pain. As her friend, I suggested we find a solution together. We talked about what led to her current situation and began plotting a plan of action despite the heavy atmosphere of her stress!

To lighten the mood, I shared one of my most embarrassing moments. Her expression turned goofy as she was surprised I could be so silly! I believe we both began laughing at once. Then she exhaled! Following that, it was clear to see her emotions of hopelessness making way to let God assist her in overcoming her feelings of shame as she and He work to address and fix the issues that imprisoned her. Over time, her shame will fade away, becoming less and less of a burden each day. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, you are not the source of confusion but the great deliverer. Please spiritually liberate those who are trapped in emotional prisons due to shameful moments. Grant them the capacity to forgive themselves. Help them fix the problem and learn from these experiences to enhance their lives and become better individuals. Amen

Day Five – Bad Advice

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. James 1:13-14

I’m here, shaking my head at people who give terrible advice. Recently, I was talking with a long-time friend about my mortgage. He told me I couldn’t find a one-bedroom apartment for my current mortgage payment. His comment reminded me of a long-ago experience when I sought help with a utility bill. A customer service representative suggested I sell my house because I couldn’t afford the utilities. I found her suggestion offensive then and now. I’m grateful I persevered through my high mortgage payments. Now! I can live comfortably in a state and city I cherish.

At that time, I aspired to afford living in Colorado. My eagerness to pay my bills punctually might have lent unwarranted credibility to bad advice. Consequently, I could have sold my house and pursued apartment living as suggested by that woman. Wow! I’m really glad I didn’t take that route!

Not everyone who speaks freely and offers unsolicited advice truly has others’ best interests at heart. Therefore, prioritizing self-love should guide your life-changing decisions. With that said, it’s time for me to end this blog and go outside to work in my yard. Have a great weekend!

PRAYER

Lord, it’s the weekend; let us strive to be fruitful in our efforts. Amen.

Day Four – Harvesting Money

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Proverbs 10:4

The other day, I planted a bush that I bought last summer. Honestly, I was so amazed it survived! Before I could plant the bush in its new home, I needed to remove the low-voltage landscaping lights and their wiring. Typically, I just toss everything away, but this time I had a different idea. I saved the wire my husband bought decades ago for $50. I sat outside at a table and started harvesting the copper. It was quite a challenge! So, I called my sister, who’s an expert at this, but she wasn’t very helpful, other than telling me how copper is priced. As a result, my determination became my best ally, and I managed to get it done! Now, I need to harvest more copper to make my efforts fruitful when I sell my copper wire. I have already spent the money. I have my eyes on a beautiful new bush I spotted at Lowe’s for $200. I can’t help but wonder how many others might throw money away like I did! Later, hoping for a bit of financial luck to splurge on something desired. Well, I found more copper wire that needs to be stripped! And! I need to get going in the yard. Wish me luck on both!  Cha-Ching!

PRAYER

Father God, guide me today and every day to enhance my life and prosperity.  Amen

Day Three – Working In Pain

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. ~Lance Armstrong

I reinjured myself on Mother’s Day. The tears did not come until I spoke to a close family member. I experienced distress for various reasons. I was injured and in pain, rendering me unable to work in my yard temporarily. Yesterday has come and gone. Despite this, I found myself laboring in discomfort to clear and clean a small section of the yard. I struggled to raise my left arm to dispose of trash in the bin, but my right arm came to the rescue! It exhibited strength comparable to Hercules. Ultimately, my mind, soul, and body found peace after working in the yard—peace of happiness, peace of mind, and a sense of accomplishment. Life is good!

SIDE NOTE: This photo is of the area I’m working in. My husband and I call it section three. See how I cleared and cleaned the area filled with weeds. One of my main challenges outside of working with a hurt arm was removing all the roots of the Bermuda grass. Personally, I dislike Bermuda grass. It’s invasive and a gardener’s nightmare when trying to establish planting beds. Sigh. Oh! Well! Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, help us achieve our goals and reach our greatest potential, even in painful moments. Amen

Where the Spirit Is

“SEEK MY FACE, and you will find not only My Presence but also My Peace. To receive My Peace, you must change your grasping, controlling stance to one of openness and trust. The only thing you can grasp without damaging your soul is My hand. Ask My Spirit within you to order your day and control your thoughts, for the mind controlled by the Spirit is Life and Peace.

You can have as much of Me and My Peace as you want through thousands of correct choices each day. The most persistent choice you face is whether to trust Me or to worry. You will never run out of things to worry about, but you can choose to trust Me no matter what. I am an ever-present help in trouble. Trust Me, though the earth give way and the mountains full into the heart of the sea.” Romans 8:6 Psalm 46:1-2 taken from Jesus is Calling

Over the past two to three weeks, I have experienced significant stress, particularly due to the extensive media coverage and private conversations regarding President Trump’s actions. Usually, once our new president is sworn in, I go about my life and let things unfold as they may. However, the private conversations about his actions and their potential impact on Black America have been exhausting. Those discussions have greatly affected me because many in the Black community have turned away from God. Instead of seeking divine guidance, they look for the loudest and most self-serving voices to represent us when we, as a community, should first seek God’s presence and then address the issues at hand.  Sigh.  Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. I ask for Your spirit to surround the United States and its people. I implore that peace be granted to all, regardless of our leadership. I pray that when our President makes decisions, his actions reflect Your will. Amen.

Day Four – Removing Mental Clutter

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

A few days ago, life felt intense! Two close friends shared their concerns about what is happening on Capitol Hill and how it could impact Black America. Each discussion ventured into unfamiliar territory. While I can put a face to what’s going on, I don’t fully understand the internal workings and couldn’t offer any comfort regarding our nation’s instability, except for giving personal advice urging them to keep striving for their dreams. That’s something I recommend everyone do in uncertain times. Let’s pray for positive outcomes in every situation.


PRAYER

Heavenly Father, a spirit of discontent looms over America, wreaking havoc both within and beyond our borders. This spirit sows seeds of doubt, strife, envy, hatred, and self-righteousness, leading to reckless and abusive behavior among people. As a result, it robs us of dignity in our interactions, both publicly and privately. Lord, I ask you to bind this spirit and release the spirit of love—love for oneself, love for family, love for humanity, love for our country, and most importantly, love for you. Amen.   

Day Forty – Removing Clutter

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13

Let’s pray!

Today, Lord, I’m praying a worldwide Valentine’s prayer of love.  I ask the following of you because all people deserve to live a fulfilling life.  I pray for people in power that think and act and like children.  Their immaturity has a negative impact on those they lead and the world.  I pray that you will show them the level of their thinking in such a way that it gives them the desire and ability to change. Amen 

Day Thirty Nine – Removing Clutter

Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.

Psalm 54:4

PRAYER

Father God, gathering up the fragments of our lives when they’ve been shattered can be hard.  Please help us on our journey as we clear the clutter from our homes and our lives.  Amen 

Day Thirty Eight – Removing Clutter

When they were filled, he said unto his disciple, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

John 6:12 KJV

Learning to stay steadfast on your decluttering journey during times of uncertainty is truly hard. You’ll find yourself falling off the wagon many times when it comes to keeping your home neat and tidy. And, as a result you’ll wrestle with discouragement from time to time. But keep going! The prize you’ll win at the end of your decluttering journey is discovering the love of self.    

Over the weekend I called a contentious cousin. Why? I don’t know! I guess I love punishing myself. If I say the sky is blue she will say it’s black. The funny thing about her is that she’s always talking smack about one of her sister’s she feels does the same to her. Yet, she treats me like her sister treats her as she feels she’s being positive.  People like her is why I love the song by Michael Jackson “Man In The Mirror.” And I’m sure we all have one or two people in our circle that are negative and extremely delusional that their positive.

As I fought being overwhelmed I found my mindset was somewhat different.  Instead of letting her put a damper on my good intentions and or zap me of my energy, I said to her, “Wow! You can’t hear me gasping for air trying to sort through items. I’m trying to figure out who gets what because it was meant for me to buy all this stuff to be a blessing to others. Yes, my home is overrun with stuff but I can be a blessing to others because of it!” [Silence]

So! If it takes you a day, days, a week, weeks and even months to sort through your clutter, then it takes you that long because healing starts over and over with everything you touch.  Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for the power of healing.  Help us gather the fragments of our lives as we let go of things that we don’t use nor need.  Let the things we give be a blessing to the new owners.  Amen 

P.S.

On Friday I started with cleaning my food pantry. I was able to salvage some items to keep and some I donated to a senior citizen complex but I had to throw a ton of canned goods away. I feel bad about having to put food in the trash when so many people go hungry but they are two years past their expiration date.

Day Thirty Six – Removing Clutter

I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. 

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.

I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me. 

Psalm 142

I began writing a post that made my soul feel uneasy. It was clear it didn’t want to share the content I found noteworthy, therefore, I deleted what I wrote. And, I asked God to give me a prayer for today. He gave me Psalm 142:3, “When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way.” That verse is so profound. I read the entire Psalm to see what the author was writing about.

Ah! Awh! Psalm 142 is David praying when he was in the cave! I love that moment! I’m sorry David had to endure such. But! OMG! That moment has been my benchmark for dealing with enemies. Really! Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, someone is under great stress. They are being heavily pursued by their enemy/enemies. Hide them under the breastplate of righteousness. Shelter them under your protection. Let them enter into your rest and dance in the rain. Amen