Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 21
March 15, 2022
Are You Waiting for Scary Test Results?
What should we do while we wait for scary test results?
No woman ever wants (or expects) to receive a call back after a mammogram. No man wants to get called back in after a colonoscopy or a prostate exam.
Like many, I treat annual tests like my home’s yearly termite inspection – something necessary and responsible, but not worth much thought.
And when it’s done? Check off the box and move on.
Until I get the phone call.
“The radiologist would like you to return for additional scans. Your mammogram shows some changes that are concerning . . .”
In God’s mercy, the facility schedules call back mammograms within five days of the dreaded phone call. But those were five very long days.
When women get calls like this, some cry. Some pray. Some update their wills and healthcare powers of attorney. All try to keep busy. Activity pushes the fearful thoughts back into the closet.
As I waited, the Lord led me to do several things that helped. If you’re in a waiting time, perhaps you’ll find them helpful too.
1. I prayed.
“Lord, my life is yours to use however you see fit. I don’t want to have breast cancer. In your mercy, spare me. But if this isn’t your will, help me trust you. Give me your peace, and help me not be afraid. In the strong name of Jesus I ask, Amen.”
Like a child running into the safety of her father’s arms, I flung myself on Jesus. “There’s a monster chasing me,” I admitted, “and I’m scared.” Praying reminded me it didn’t matter how big the monster was, my Father was bigger. After I prayed, I asked God to speak to me through his Word. I found precious comfort there.
2. I asked others to pray.
Not everyone – yet. There’d be time later to sound the alarm if the second scan was also suspicious. Part of me wanted to keep the news to myself completely, not wanting to bother anyone, but I knew I needed prayer. Corporate prayer is powerful.
I shared my situation with a few women who knew how to approach the throne of grace with confidence. One friend shared a similar experience, reassuring me that ninety out of one hundred suspicious mammograms show no cancer. Another prayed with me immediately, strengthening me with her faith. Yet another offered to go to the imaging center with me. During my wait and on the morning of my scan, several texted reminders that they were praying.
Sharing my need with others brought the monster out of the closet. It helped me realize that while my future was uncertain, I wasn’t facing it alone. If the outcome was favorable, my friends would rejoice with me. If the outcome was concerning, they’d walk with me on the journey.
3. I limited what I read about mammograms and breast cancer.
I accessed a few online articles on reputable sites, but then I made a deliberate choice not to read anything else. Every mammogram website linked to a breast cancer site, which fueled the flames of fear. There’d be time to research later if I needed to.
4. I captured (almost) every thought.
Second Corinthians encouraged me. “We demolish every argument and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” We can’t prevent fear from knocking on our door, but we don’t have to invite it in.
For me, fear knocked often during those five days of waiting. Some days it would manifest itself as scary thoughts that led me from diagnosis to death in three days or less. Other times I imagined dreadful treatment options. It was easy to become a faith amnesiac in the quick sand of panic. To escape, I forced myself to swim toward solid ground. This meant redirecting my thoughts, not allowing myself to fret, and reminding myself that no matter what happened, God would be with me.
On the morning of the fifth day, as my husband and I prayed one more time, a thought occurred to me: Maybe this isn’t about me at all. Maybe, instead of me needing the folks at the imaging center, they needed me.
Pray with the technologist before she does your mammogram, the Spirit of the Lord whispered to me.
I was so sure the prompting came from God that as soon as the technician called me into the room, I blurted out, “May I pray for you before you do my scans?”
Her eyebrows shot up, then scrunched into a puzzled frown. “Pray for me?” she asked.
I suspect many patients pray for themselves, but perhaps no one had ever offered to pray for her. She shrugged her shoulders. “Okay.”
So I did.
“Father, thank you for Sheila. Bless her today. Enable her to do her job to the best of her ability. Use her skills to help the radiologist make an accurate diagnosis, not just for me, but for every person she cares for today. In Jesus’ name I ask, Amen.”
When I looked up, shiny tears sparkled in her brown eyes.
Twenty minutes later, Sheila spoke the words I’d hoped to hear. “You can go now. The doctor says everything’s normal.”
I may never know the reason for my anxious five days. Maybe I needed to strengthen my resolve to trust God no matter what. Perhaps I needed a greater understanding and empathy for those whose life has been impacted by cancer. I realize not everyone gets an all clear like I did. Maybe I needed to be reminded of how faithful God is to his children, especially in times of crisis.
Or maybe Sheila just needed someone to pray for her.
My experience was a powerful reminder that God uses all things for good if we trust him.
Now it’s your turn. Have you experienced a trial when you had to battle fear with faith? I’d love to hear your story. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. And if you’re waiting for scary test results, leave a comment. I’d love to pray for you.
Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?
We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.
Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.
If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise
Available now at Amazon.com.
Have you subscribed to Refresh?
If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.
The post Are You Waiting for Scary Test Results? appeared first on Lori Hatcher.
Related Stories10 Truths to Teach Your Children and Grandchildren about PrayerToday’s the Day! Two Very Special BirthdaysToday’s the Day! Two Very Special Birthdays - Enclosure
March 8, 2022
God Loves Me, But Do I Love Him? A Guest Post on ODB’s God Hears Her Blog (and Launch Party Info)
I apologize for the previous post with broken links. Apparently Crosswalk.com is having trouble.
Instead, I’ll share my guest post on Our Daily Bread’s God Hears Her blog, “God Loves Me, But Do I Love Him?” (Hopefully the link will work :). ALSO, don’t miss the details about the In-Person Launch Party for Refresh Your Prayers next week. I’d hate for you to miss it!
God Loves Me, But Do I Love Him?
For many years I squirmed whenever people talked about how much they loved God. It was uncomfortable because I wasn’t sure I did.
Sounds heretical, doesn’t it? Especially for a Christian—someone who’d confessed her sin, repented, and vowed to follow God all the days of her life. Isn’t loving God what Christianity’s all about?
Yet when I compared my feelings toward God to my feelings toward the people I loved, there was a distinct difference.
I thought about the warm, affectionate, and sometimes almost painful intensity of emotion I feel toward my husband and children, and I had to admit that I didn’t feel this type of love toward God.
What was wrong with me? The very thought that I didn’t love God like I loved my husband and children hurt my heart. Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment was to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37 NIV).
All my soul. All my mind. All my heart.
So I set out to discover what was wrong with my heart.
I’m blogging today over at Our Daily Bread’s God Hears Her blog. To read the rest of this post, click HERE.
Refresh Your Prayers Book Launch Continues!
Thank you so much to all who purchased copies of Refresh Your Prayers on Launch Day, March 1. You’re the best! I’d love it if you’d share your honest review on Amazon, Christianbook, or Goodreads. Reviews are better than chocolate for authors and help readers find great books.
If you live within driving distance of Columbia, South Carolina, please join us at an in-person Launch Party for Refresh Your Prayer on March 14, from 6-8 pm at Trinity Baptist Church (Solomon’s Porch youth building). The image below has all the details. Be sure to scroll down to see the amazing pile of goodies we’ll be giving away. If the images don’t show (iPhones are having trouble with email images these days), click HERE to view the details.
I wonder who will walk away with one of these prizes?
My boss, a dentist, donated a GENIUS Oral B electric toothbrush to give away! Some lucky reader will be SMILING!Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?
We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.
Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.
If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise
Available now at Amazon.com.
Have you subscribed to Refresh?
If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.
The post God Loves Me, But Do I Love Him? A Guest Post on ODB’s God Hears Her Blog (and Launch Party Info) appeared first on Lori Hatcher.
Related Stories10 Truths to Teach Your Children and Grandchildren about PrayerToday’s the Day! Two Very Special BirthdaysToday’s the Day! Two Very Special Birthdays - Enclosure
March 1, 2022
Today’s the Day! Two Very Special Birthdays
Today, March 1, 2022, marks two very special birthdays. First, it’s my sweet daddy’s 86th birthday. Second, it’s Refresh Your Prayer’s birthday and launch day. How cool is that?
My daddy. Isn’t he CUTE?Thank you, dear, kind friends and encouraging readers for your faithfulness and prayers to help make Refresh Your Prayers a reality. You’re the best!
Here’s a one-minute video sharing all the glorious details:
If you can’t see the video box above, click HERE.
If you’ve been waiting to order a copy of Refresh Your Prayers, today’s the day! Several sites are offering Launch Day prices. I love a good bargain, don’t you?
Would you help Refresh Your Prayers become the Amazon #1 New Release by ordering a copy today?
Amazon ($14.99)
Christianbook.com ($10.99 & free shipping over $35)
Our Daily Bread Publishing ($13)
Would you help me get the word out to others who might be struggling in their prayer life or simply desire a deeper, richer communication with our precious Savior?
And would you pray? Please join me in asking God to connect Refresh Your Prayers with everyone who wants to experience power and refreshment in their prayers.
If you live in the Columbia, South Carolina area, watch here and on social media for an invitation to my book launch party.
Meanwhile, I’m taking my sweet daddy out to dinner to celebrate BOTH birthdays. Want to see some pics? Visit my Facebook page later this evening.
Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?
We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.
Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.
If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise
Available now at Amazon.com.
Have you subscribed to Refresh?
If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.
The post Today’s the Day! Two Very Special Birthdays appeared first on Lori Hatcher.
Click the icon below to watch.
Related StoriesToday’s the Day! Two Very Special Birthdays - EnclosureCan Prayer Change God’s Mind?How to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised Orphan
February 22, 2022
Can Prayer Change God’s Mind?
For the next few Tuesdays I’ll be sharing sneak previews from my soon-to-be-released book, Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise, with you, my faithful readers. Thank you for your love, support, and PRAYERS as we send this book out into the world on March 1.
Sharing God’s Heart
I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
I used to think the purpose of prayer was to change God’s mind—to persuade Him to do what I wanted Him to do. I assumed if I had to pray about something, it was because God wasn’t doing what needed to be done.
Oh, how wrong I was.
When we pray, something transformative happens. As we share our hearts with God and listen for Him to respond to us through His Word and the Holy Spirit, God opens the channel between our minds and His. When we confess our sin, we remove the debris that blocks the unhindered flow of thought, and we’re better able to understand Him and His ways. Oswald Chambers wrote in Christian Disciplines, “Prayer is . . . the means whereby we assimilate more and more of His mind.”
Instead of eavesdropping on God’s thinking, the Holy Spirit within us helps bring our thinking in line with God’s. This may seem improbable, but 1 Corinthians 2:16 affirms it. If we are God’s children, “we have the mind of Christ.”
But we don’t just have His mind; we have His heart. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you,” God said through the prophet Ezekiel. “I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). The more we get to know God, the more He transforms our hearts, thoughts, and desires.
Jennifer Kennedy Dean, in Live a Praying Life, describes the process this way: “It is through the ongoing and increasingly intimate communion with Him that our participation in the divine nature becomes solid and real. Through prayer, He is reproducing His heart in us.”
Most miraculous of all, as we become conformed to the image of God’s Son, our prayers become more powerful, because we pray according to His will and desires. We pray the prayers God is pleased to answer. We ask for what He wants to give us.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14–15).
How do we know what His will is? We get to know His mind and heart through prayer and God’s Word. Only Christians have the privilege of interacting with the God who not only created us but wants a relationship with us.
As we seek God in prayer, the Holy Spirit, who knows God’s mind, will be our teacher. He’ll shape and direct our prayers. He’ll transform them into petitions God delights to answer because they reflect His will.
In my early days of prayer, I approached God to change His mind. Now I come to Him so He can change mine.
Uncommon Power
Prayer transforms us and makes our hearts and minds more like God’s.
Praise Prompt
Heavenly Father, thank you for being a God who delights to share your thoughts, desires, and plans with us. What an amazing concept—that we can speak with the God of the universe, and you speak back. Thank you for inviting us into your heart and mind and making us more and more like yourself.
Live It Out
As you pray and read your Bible today, invite God to transform your heart and mind and make it more like His. Ask Him to help you love what He loves and hate what He hates. As you move through your day, filter your thoughts through the truth of God’s Word and adjust accordingly.
This devotion is an excerpt taken from Refresh Your Prayers: Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise by Lori Hatcher© 2022. Used by permission of Our Daily Bread Publishing®, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. All rights reserved. Further distribution is prohibited without written permission from Our Daily Bread Publishing® at permissionsdept@odb.org.
Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?
We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.
Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.
If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise
Available now at Amazon.com.
Have you subscribed to Refresh?
If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.
The post Can Prayer Change God’s Mind? appeared first on Lori Hatcher.
CommentsCan Prayer Change God’s Mind? by LoriAHatcherHow to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised Orphan by LoriAHatcherLearning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives Us by LoriAHatcherDo You Feel Frustrated with Your Prayer Life? by LoriAHatcher“Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesHow to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised OrphanLearning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives UsLINK INCLUDED “Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left
February 15, 2022
How to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised Orphan
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
In a scene from Charles Dickens’s novel, Oliver Twist, dozens of orphaned boys sleep side by side in a long barrack. One boy, however, isn’t sleeping. He paces the rows between the beds, clutching his growling belly.
“Lie down,” one of his bunkmates grumbles. “You’re keeping us all awake.”
“I can’t,” he says. “I’m so hungry I’m afraid I might eat the boy beside me.”
All the boys are hungry, so they devise a plan—one will ask for an additional serving of gruel at the end of the next meal. If he receives a favorable reply, the rest will also ask for additional food to satisfy their gnawing stomachs.
Oliver draws the short thread. At the next meal, he gobbles his meager ration and gathers his courage. The room grows silent as he makes the long walk to the head of the table. His spoon clatters in his bowl, betraying his trembling hands.
He feels the dining-room monitor’s angry glare before he sees it. Who would dare break ranks and approach unsummoned?
“Please, sir,” Oliver says, raising his beseeching eyes and his empty bowl, “I’d like some more.”
The man’s eyes widen at the audacity of his request.
“What?! What?!”
He lifts his cane and brings it down hard on the boy’s back. Oliver flees, reprimanded for daring to ask for more than the minimum.
I’ve never been a starving, neglected child, but some days I pray like one.
I confidently approach my heavenly Father to ask for food, clothing, and necessities on the basis of Matthew 6:31–32: “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
I assume, rightly so, that it’s okay to ask for what I need. First Timothy 6:8 tells us, “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
But because this verse encourages me to be content with what God supplies, I feel guilty about asking Him for anything more. I don’t expect a cane to fly out of heaven and beat me, but I do fear God’s disapproving gaze.
“What?! What?! You ungrateful wretch. I’ve given you so much, and you dare to ask for more?”
I’ve come to realize, however, that this view of God is as warped as the philosophy that teaches the other extreme—that God wants to give everyone a Hummer, a mansion, and a million dollars. One view portrays God as a genie in a bottle who exists to fulfill my every wish.
The other view portrays God as a miser who grudgingly dispenses only what I need to survive.
Both views are unbiblical and dangerous.
As I’ve learned more about God’s heart and His nature, my tendency to pray minimalistic prayers has changed. The Bible reveals God as a Father who loves to give good gifts (not just gruel) to His children (James 1:17). He’s a God who created all things for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17) and who encourages us to “open wide your mouth and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10).
God delights to give gifts that bring His children joy. He invites us to ask Him to provide what we yearn for. Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
This doesn’t mean God will give us everything our hearts selfishly desire, as if we have a charge card with no limit. Instead, as we seek to know Him, learn His ways, follow His precepts, and find our deepest satisfaction in Him, we’ll begin to desire the things He desires. Moreover,
He’ll strengthen and confirm the godly desires He planted in our hearts when He created us.
Because He knows us best, we can trust Him with our needs and wants. We can come to God in prayer as a beloved child, finding confidence and fullness of joy.
Uncommon Power
We can bring all our needs and wants to God in prayer, knowing we are beloved children with a lavish Father.
Praise Prompt
Oh, Father, thank you for the freedom you have granted me to come boldly before your throne to ask you to meet my needs. And then, Father, you’ve also given me the freedom to ask you for more than just my needs. I can bring my hopes, dreams, and longings to you, knowing you will filter my requests through your fingers of love and give me exactly what I need to be in the center of your will. Thank you for allowing me to approach you in prayer as your beloved child. I love you. Amen.
Live It Out
Think about how you approach God in prayer. Do you feel free to bring your needs to God but hesitant to ask for your wants? Do you view Him as a miser who doles out the bare minimum or as a generous Father who loves to give good gifts to His children? Look up the verses referenced in this devotion and ask God to show you His heart toward you.
Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?
We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.
Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.
If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise
Available now at Amazon.com.
Have you subscribed to Refresh?
If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.
The post How to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised Orphan appeared first on Lori Hatcher.
CommentsCan Prayer Change God’s Mind? by LoriAHatcherHow to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised Orphan by LoriAHatcherLearning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives Us by LoriAHatcherDo You Feel Frustrated with Your Prayer Life? by LoriAHatcher“Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesCan Prayer Change God’s Mind?Learning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives UsDo You Feel Frustrated with Your Prayer Life?
February 8, 2022
Learning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives Us
For the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing excerpts from my newest book, Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise, with you, my beloved readers. Enjoy! And please pray as I prepare to launch this book on March 1.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Mark 4:40
Our dog Winston was the biggest scaredy cat in the canine world. We credit his timidity to his time in “The Big House.” The runt of the litter, seven-week-old Winston was malnourished and mangy when someone dropped him off at the animal shelter.
Thankfully the animal control officer was married to Grace, the president of the animal rescue league. He told her about the tiny, freckle-faced puppy, and she saw potential in him. Eying his patchy fur and protruding ribs, she announced, “I can cure his mange and fatten him up. He’ll make someone a great pet.”
Until his mange cured, Grace kept Winston isolated. By the time we adopted him, he’d spent a large portion of his life alone. We weren’t surprised to discover he had trust issues.
Imagine what it would be like to go from an isolated crate in the corner of a room to a big wide world bustling with sights, sounds, and smells. Falling leaves sent him running for cover. Sudden noises caused him to hide under the nearest piece of furniture. One day we were playing in an open field when a plastic grocery bag blew his way. He bolted like Sasquatch was chasing him.
Winston reminds me of myself in the early days of my faith. God didn’t rescue me from The Big House, but He did rescue me from a dark and hopeless future. He cured my sin sickness and promised to take care of me all the days of my life.
But I had trust issues. At the first rustle of change or clatter of trouble, I ran for cover.
Like the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee, I cried out, “Teacher, don’t you care about me?”
I was convinced—God was sleeping, and I was going to drown.
I had to extend lots of love and patience to persuade Winston to trust me. When scary things frightened him, I called his name, dropped to my knees, and opened my arms wide. “Come, Winston,” I said. “Come to me. I’ll protect you.”
Before long he learned to run to me instead of away from me. One day I walked him on a busy street to condition him not to fear traffic noises. In the distance a fire truck roared our way. Seeing the threat, I dropped to my knees, wrapped my arms around him, and covered him with my body until the truck howled past.
“Don’t be afraid,” I whispered into his trembling ear. “I’ve got you.”
God did the same for me. As I prayed and He answered, I learned to run to Him whenever anything frightening entered my world. When I brought financial needs, sickness, and relationship troubles to Him in prayer, I saw Him respond. When the leaves of uncertainty rustled, I shared my fears with Him. When unemployment, a wayward child, or a troubling situation roared into my life, I sought protection in His mighty arms and found comfort and help.
As He answered my prayers and responded to my needs, my trust grew.
“Don’t be afraid,” God whispered to my trembling heart. “I’ve got you.”
Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to pray about everything. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if God met my needs; kept me free from sickness, pain, and sorrow; and intercepted every problem before it touched my life?
If He did, though, I’d never learn to trust Him. My faith would be as malnourished as Winston when Grace rescued him. I’d take every good gift for granted and never recognize that it came from the generous hand of my heavenly Father.
In heaven, nothing will make me afraid, and my faith will become sight. Until then, my fear drives me to pray, and God’s answers grow my faith.
As Winston learned to trust me, our relationship grew sweeter. No longer plagued by fear and distrust, he could freely enjoy the life we shared.
As I’ve learned to trust God, our relationship has grown sweeter too. I’ve learned He’s not asleep on the job. He’s aware of all my needs and is fully able to meet them. This knowledge frees me to face life with confidence.
Jesus asked His disciples two questions in the middle of the storm. He asks us the same: “Why are you so afraid?” and “Do you still have no faith?” Because faith pleases God, I’m learning to embrace every need that sends me running into His arms. No matter what threatens, I find them always open.
Uncommon Power
God calls me to pray so I can learn to trust Him.
Praise Prompt
Father, thank you for patiently teaching me to love and trust you. I praise you for being trustworthy, faithful, and good. Grow my faith, Lord. When trials and trouble enter my life, help me run to you first. In the strong name of Jesus I ask, amen.
Live It Out
List all the ways God has provided for you in the last week. In the last month. In the last year. List everything from the air in your lungs, to the clothes on your back, to the roof over your head. Think also of the nonmaterial gifts. Has God been faithful? Remember this the next time you feel afraid. Run to Him and grow in faith and trust.
Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?
We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.
Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.
If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise
Available now at Amazon.com.
Have you subscribed to Refresh?
If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.
The post Learning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives Us appeared first on Lori Hatcher.
CommentsCan Prayer Change God’s Mind? by LoriAHatcherHow to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised Orphan by LoriAHatcherLearning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives Us by LoriAHatcherDo You Feel Frustrated with Your Prayer Life? by LoriAHatcher“Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesHow to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised OrphanLINK INCLUDED “Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left“Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left
February 1, 2022
Do You Feel Frustrated with Your Prayer Life?
Dear Friends,
In less than a month, my latest book, Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise will release with Our Daily Bread Publishing! I couldn’t have reached this point without your love, prayers, and support. As loyal subscribers, you deserve something special!
Over the next few weeks, I’ll share a sneak preview of the book — four chapters the rest of the world must wait to read until after the book launches. Today’s post, “Why I Wrote (and You Might Need) Refresh Your Prayers,” sets the stage for the rest of the book. I hope you enjoy it.
~Blessings,
Lori
Pastor and former US Senate chaplain Peter Marshall once said,
“The whole field of prayer, and praying as laying hold on unlimited power, is unexplored, with the result that spiritual laws still lie undiscovered by the average believer.”
Another time he observed,
“Sometimes, in our desperation, we hit upon the right way to pray, and things happen—our prayers are gloriously answered. But for the most part, our praying is very haphazard, and the results are often disappointing.”
For years, my prayer life was haphazard and disappointing. I felt like one of the squirrels that visited the bird feeder that hung from the eaves outside my dining room window.
Each fall I’d fill it with black oil sunflower seeds. The birds loved them, and I loved watching the birds. One day I noticed a squirrel sitting on the window ledge watching the chickadees, tufted titmice, and finches fill their bellies with the seeds I’d provided.
Mr. Squirrel knew those seeds were tasty, and he wanted some. He wanted to feast at the feeder like his feathered friends, but he couldn’t reach it. He didn’t know what the birds knew— he didn’t know how to fly.
I watched him scamper back and forth on the window ledge trying to get to the feeder. He could see the shiny black seeds through the glass. I suspect he could smell their oily goodness. He certainly could hear the birds chattering about how wonderful the seeds tasted and how satisfying it felt to eat from the bounty I’d supplied.
In his first attempt to reach the feeder, the squirrel climbed up the side of the window frame. Then he dangled upside down from the top of it. He even jumped into the bushes, trying to use the branches as a ladder to reach the feeder. All with no success.
Finally, in a desperate attempt, he launched himself off the window ledge onto the top of the feeder. It spun like a merry-go-round. He held on for a few turns, then sailed off, landing in the grass with a plop.
For the rest of the day, he remained on the ground, scavenging for seeds the birds dropped.
My hungry squirrel’s frustration and ultimate defeat resembled my prayer life more than I’d like to admit. I assumed prayer was a supernatural mystery that some believers understood but I didn’t.
I read amazing promises in the Bible but saw few fulfilled in my life. I heard believers talk about dramatic answers to prayer, but I never experienced any. Some would even say God spoke to them during their prayer times. When I talked to God, I heard words coming from my mouth but nothing in response. I’d pray and pray and pray about things that weighed heavily on my heart, but nothing ever changed. What did others know that I didn’t?
I felt like the squirrel who longed to eat from the feeder but didn’t know how to reach it.
Thankfully, our heavenly Father invites us to eat at His table. Like the disciples who watched Jesus pray miracles into existence, we can come to Him and ask Him to be our teacher.
Luke 11:1 says,
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’”
As we explore what the Bible teaches about prayer, we can be assured that Jesus, our gentle guide, will enlighten us. We’ll draw closer to God, grow more confident and effective in our prayer lives, and experience the joy of feasting from God’s bountiful table.
Now it’s your turn. How would you describe your prayer experience? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
This post is an excerpt from Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, and is used with permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Available for Pre-Order now on Amazon.com.
Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?
We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.
Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.
If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise
Available now at Amazon.com.
Have you subscribed to Refresh?
If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.
The post Do You Feel Frustrated with Your Prayer Life? appeared first on Lori Hatcher.
CommentsCan Prayer Change God’s Mind? by LoriAHatcherHow to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised Orphan by LoriAHatcherLearning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives Us by LoriAHatcherDo You Feel Frustrated with Your Prayer Life? by LoriAHatcher“Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesHow to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised OrphanLearning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives UsLINK INCLUDED “Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left
January 28, 2022
“Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left
“Don’t throw ‘em away. You can make baby plants from them.”
“Really?” I said, eyeing the leaves skeptically. “How? Plant them? Stick ‘em in water, or what?”
“No, just toss them on top of the dirt. Roots will grow from the stem side, and then a baby plant will appear.”
I followed her instructions, and sure enough, each leaf produced a miniature replica of the parent plant. The baby plant drew nutrients from the leaf until it had developed enough of a root system to sustain itself. As the baby thrived, the mother leaf withered until it vanished into the soil.
Some days, I feel like that mother leaf.
I give in ministry. I give in work. I give in relationships, parenting, and grandparenting. I love, and serve, and pray, and spend myself until, some days, I feel like there’s nothing left. I am empty.
Then I get up the next day and do it all over again. . .
Today I’m guest blogging on God Hears Her, Our Daily Bread’s blog for women. To read the rest of this post, CLICK HEREhttps://www.godhearsher.org/blog/give-out-for-jesus. And if you like what you see, please subscribe. You’ll be blessed!
Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?
We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.
Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.
If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise
Available for preorder now at Amazon.com.
Have you subscribed to Refresh?
If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.
The post “Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left appeared first on Lori Hatcher.
Related Stories“Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left4 Simple Clues to Know It’s God’s Voice You’re HearingCreative Ways to Honor Your Missing Loved Ones at Christmas
January 25, 2022
Caroline’s Snow — Do You Have Childlike Faith?
“First you scoop up a BIG handful of snow, then you pack it together.” I ran my hand across the surface of the bathwater and gathered a handful of bubbles. I pantomimed packing it into a ball.
“After that,” I continued, “you rolllll it along the ground until it gets bigger and bigger. That’s the bottom ball. You do it two more times, and you have a snowman.”
I glanced at six-year-old Caroline, whose smiling eyes danced at the picture I pantomimed. My grandchildren are growing up in the South Carolina Midlands, where it snows about once a decade.
“Oh, Caroline!” I paused. “You’ve never seen snow in South Carolina! I hope we get snow this winter so you can make a snowman.”
“Yes!” she said. “Let’s pray.”
Let’s pray, indeed.
So there in the bathtub, surrounded by soap bubbles, she closed her eyes, and I prayed.
“Dear God, please send snow this winter so Caroline can make a snowman. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”
We opened our eyes, and she gave a nod of assurance. It was settled. Snow was on the way.
I wasn’t so sure, oh me of little faith, so I added a silent prayer.
Father, please reward this little girl’s faith and make it grow. Send us snow this winter.
November became December, which turned into January. One weekend the forecast looked promising, but only freezing rain materialized. Caroline and I continued to pray.
This past Saturday, we awoke to two inches of the most beautiful snow I’ve ever seen. It was beautiful in its own right, but Caroline’s snow prayer made the fluffy white stuff even more special. I knew it was a love gift straight from heaven to a tiny girl who had faith enough to ask her heavenly Father for what her heart desired.
Thank you, Father, for hearing Caroline’s prayer and answering it in such a special way. Thank you for using her childlike faith to grow mine. Remind me, every day, that you love to hear the prayers of your children, and you delight to give us good gifts. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16
Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?
We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.
Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.
If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise
Available now at Amazon.com.
Have you subscribed to Refresh?
If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.
The post Caroline’s Snow — Do You Have Childlike Faith? appeared first on Lori Hatcher.
CommentsCan Prayer Change God’s Mind? by LoriAHatcherHow to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised Orphan by LoriAHatcherLearning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives Us by LoriAHatcherDo You Feel Frustrated with Your Prayer Life? by LoriAHatcher“Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesHow to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised OrphanLearning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives UsDo You Feel Frustrated with Your Prayer Life?
January 18, 2022
4 Simple Clues to Know It’s God’s Voice You’re Hearing
Have you ever wondered if the voice you heard in your head is God’s or yours? Me too. A recent argument with my husband raised the question yet again.
When I went to bed that night, I knew who was right—I was. And there was no need to ask God about it.
When I awakened the next morning, I wasn’t so sure.
The conversation with my husband went over the cliff before I even realized it had changed direction. One minute my husband and I were brainstorming ways to fix a problem, and the next minute we were exchanging angry words. He stomped off to bed, and I stayed up and stewed.
Horizontal or vertical, I’m confident we were both rehearsing how right we were and how wrong the other was.
Why didn’t she just look up the information when I asked her to? She doesn’t listen, just goes off and does what she wants to do without listening to me.
Why couldn’t he just wait patiently? I was on to something. Just a few more clicks, and I’d have had the information we needed.
I considered sleeping in the guest bedroom, but wasn’t willing to give up my comfy bed to make a point. But you’d better believe I stayed waaaaay over on my side when I did come to bed.
Lord, I prayed silently as I clung to the edge of the mattress, pride is an ugly thing. Please help him realize he was wrong, and make him apologize for his unkind words. I don’t want us to spend tomorrow at odds with each other. Then I finished with a sincere but skeptical request: And if I was at fault in any way, please reveal this to me. Amen.
The next morning, the strangest thing happened. When the alarm sounded on my iPhone, I heard God’s voice. And it didn’t sound like Siri.
I’ve always loved the story in 1 Samuel 3, where God awakened the boy Samuel out of a sound sleep by audibly calling his name. But that’s not what happened to me. Instead, God spoke two sentences into my barely-awake consciousness: I’m sorry I was slow to look up the information you asked for. Will you please forgive me?
As the words echoed in my mind, I knew the Lord had given me the words to speak. How did I know?
4 Simple Clues to Know It’s God’s Voice You’re Hearing
The words were true. While I wasn’t totally at fault in the argument, I did have a part in it.
The words were a direct answer to the prayer I’d prayed before I fell asleep.
The words did not originate with me. When I’d gone to bed the night before, I was still convinced that I was all right, and he was all wrong. Those two sentences had to have come from God.
To say those words to my husband, I’d have to humble myself and take the first step toward reconciliation. Since this was the last thing my sinful flesh wanted to do, I was confident it was God’s idea, not mine.
Two Choices
Once I realized I’d heard from God, I knew I had two choices: obey or disobey.
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
James 4:17
I’d like to say I always obey, but I’d be lying. That day, however, I did what the Lord told me to do. As soon as my husband opened his eyes, I said the words God had planted into my brain.
“I’m sorry I was slow to look up the information you asked for. Will you forgive me?”
“I’m sorry I was grumpy with you. I was sleepy and impatient.”
Kiss. Kiss. Hug. Hug. All was well again.
I Don’t Always Obey
Not all our arguments end so peacefully. Sometimes I hold on to my stubborn, sinful, self-righteousness and refuse to invite God into the strife. I fail to ask God to show me where I was wrong and focus instead on someone else’s sin or my own perceived innocence.
But when I do pray and ask God to glorify himself, even in our arguments, I give him permission to work. Sometimes he speaks to me through his Word, sometimes through wise counsel, and sometimes, if I’m willing to listen, he speaks through the still, small voice of his Holy Spirit.
If you’re in the middle of a conflict with someone, I invite you to pray about it. Watch to see how he answers. Be quick to obey what he tells you to do. You won’t regret it.
What about you? How has the Lord spoken to you during times of conflict? I’d love to hear your story. Leave a comment below, or, if you’re reading by email, click here to leave a comment online.
Have you subscribed to Refresh?
If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.
Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?
That’s in the Bible? I’ve never noticed that before!
It’s probably been too long since you’ve newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that’s about to change!
Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible is here!
When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it’s time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori’s conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you’ve never thought about before.
“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman, commenting on Lori Hatcher’s devotional style
The post 4 Simple Clues to Know It’s God’s Voice You’re Hearing appeared first on Lori Hatcher.
CommentsCan Prayer Change God’s Mind? by LoriAHatcherHow to Pray as a Beloved Child, Not a Despised Orphan by LoriAHatcherLearning to Trust — The Amazing Gift Prayer Gives Us by LoriAHatcherDo You Feel Frustrated with Your Prayer Life? by LoriAHatcher“Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesCreative Ways to Honor Your Missing Loved Ones at ChristmasLINK INCLUDED “Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left“Give Out” for Jesus — One Thing to Remember When You Feel Like You Have Nothing Left
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