Author Archives: gthielges

About gthielges

Gwen Thielges resides in North Dakota where she is an author, blogger, and worship leader. Her devotional for athletes, All In For Him, was published in 2017. She and her husband, Darren, are blessed above and beyond with three sons, one daughter, three daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and three grandsons. Her heartfelt desire is to encourage readers to strive toward a deeper faith and a wider witness. Her inspiration comes from the Word of God, strong coffee, and the love of her amazing family.

New Song: Jesus, Here’s My Broken Heart 🎵

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I would love to share a new song with you. And I just have to share this too: I wrote it in less than two hours. (For me, that’s crazy! Songs usually take me much, much longer to finish.) I almost felt like God just dictated the words and the music, and I wrote it down! It was something I will never forget!!

If you listen to this song and it touches you, it would mean so much to hear from you! Maybe you can relate…I feel a little vulnerable after writing songs and blog posts and putting them on the internet for anyone to hear/see, so it is a huge encouragement to hear feedback!!

I truly hope you are blessed by this song and these facts: we are immeasurably loved by God and He wants to heal our broken hearts. He is just so good.

Lyrics: Another sunrise, another opportunity. But Lord, You know that lately it’s been hard to see Your light through the darkness and Your peace in the world’s mess. Oh, Jesus, won’t You help me

Jesus, here’s my broken heart. I place it in Your hands. And when I try to take it back from You, help me to trust Your flawless plans – even when I don’t understand.

This burden’s heavy and I am feeling weak. Seems like the world’s noise tries to drown out the words You speak. You promise comfort. You promise rest. Oh, Jesus, won’t You help me?

Jesus, here’s my broken heart. I place it in Your hands. And when I try to take it back from You, help me to trust Your flawless plans – even when I don’t understand.

You’re the only One who truly knows my soul. You knit me together – only You can make me whole again. Won’t You help me?

Jesus, here’s my broken heart. I place it in Your hands. And when I try to take it back from You, help me to trust Your flawless plans – even when I don’t understand.

Jesus, here’s my broken heart. I place it in Your hands.

Post 3 of 3: Praying through Galatians 5 and 6 with your spouse

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When it comes to marriage, I firmly believe praying for each other (and with each other) plays a vital part in strengthening the husband-wife bond!

The following prayers can be prayed as a couple or separately. I hope that you and your spouse will be blessed and encouraged through these prayers based on the book of Galatians!

Here is a link to the PDF of the following prayers.

Prayer #1 based on Galatians 5:1, 4-5, 7-8,13-18, 22-26

Dear Lord, we praise You for Your Holy Spirit. May we recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives and the incomparable freedom that a relationship with You promises. Please help us to realize that attempts to justify ourselves through legalism prevent Your grace from doing its beautiful work in our lives.

Lord, help us be vigilant in preventing anyone from hindering our obedience to You. We pray that the freedom we have in You compels us to serve others humbly and never as an excuse to make selfish choices that reflect poorly on You. We pray that we will never interfere with anyone else’s desire to live according to Your will. May we consistently follow Your command to love our neighbors as ourselves. May we be sure to pursue Your wisdom when we are in a situation where we do not know how to express that love in a Christlike manner.

Lord, we want to be led by Your Holy Spirit and walk confidently on the path You have laid out for us. There are numerous temptations in the world. We need Your help to discern between desires of the flesh and desires of the Spirit. Set our hearts on pleasing You and realizing the effects of choosing the flesh over Your Holy Spirit. Enable us to strive to display the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May we always give You the glory when others see Your Spirit in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer #2 based on Galatians 6: 1-2, 9-10, 14-15, 18

Dear Lord, we praise You for the gift of forgiveness offered to all Your children. Equip us with appropriate words and actions that will gently influence our brothers and sisters in Christ to repent of sin and reconcile with You. Empower us to inspire others to trust us to share their burdens. Please help us be confidantes, encouragers, and exhorters who honor Your name in all our interactions with others. Give us Your strength to diligently pursue holiness and avoid temptation. Please help us make wise decisions to steer clear of places and people that could lure us into sinful thoughts and behavior. Increase our desire to become more like You.

We pray that You will develop the character trait of perseverance in both of us. Lord, help us be steadfast in displaying it, especially when sorrow and difficulty cause us to become weary. May we be on the lookout for opportunities to do good works in obedience to Your will. Sometimes, our good works will not produce the response we are hoping for, and frustration may start to set in. In those moments, please reenergize us, Lord. Give us a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit. We pray that we can be depended upon to treat others in a loving, Christlike manner despite any adverse reactions we may receive.

Lord, may we only ever boast about the life-changing power of Your love and salvation, for nothing we do on our own achieves anything lasting. May our spirits be saturated and strengthened by Your amazing grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The God of Hope (Romans 15:13 Free Printable)

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Romans 15:13 is a beautiful verse that can be a brief, heartfelt prayer for your loved ones. Often when a specific person comes to mind, or I see a particular person in a hallway or grocery store, I feel compelled to say a prayer for them. It may be as simple as “Lord, help her to feel Your presence today,” or “Lord, remind him that You are in control and can always be trusted.” 

I’m praying Romans 15:13 for you today, Friends! Would you agree we could all benefit from being filled with more joy, peace, and hope? The Holy Spirit is ready to fill all of us with all of that when we ask Him! I pray you will be encouraged when you think of the joy, peace, and hope God has in store for us. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

Click here for the printable!

Post 2 of 3: Praying through Galatians 3 and 4 with your spouse

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When it comes to marriage, I firmly believe praying for each other (and with each other) plays a vital part in strengthening the husband-wife bond!

The following prayers can be prayed as a couple or separately. I hope that you and your spouse will be blessed and encouraged through these prayers based on the book of Galatians!

Here is a link to the PDF of the following prayers.

Prayer #1 based on Galatians 3: 1-3, 5, 10-14, 23-29

Dear Lord, we praise You for being a miracle-working God. Broaden our belief in who You are and what You can do. Let our confidence in the gospel be unwavering, especially in challenging times. May we be known as people who continually exalt You. Help us always be thankful that You died for us and redeemed us from the requirements of the law. Remind us that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not something we earn – it is a gift of grace directly from You.

May we be eternally grateful for Your sacrifice on the cross and for making a close, personal relationship with You possible. Your Word reminds us that Your Law provided protection, but when Christ came, He made it possible to be saved from punishment because we place our trust in Him. I pray that we will trust Your guidance as You show us the path to avoid temptation and sin. May we clearly discern Your voice and have the wisdom to respond obediently.

Thank You for being a promise-keeping God. Your Word affirms that we are one in Christ regardless of differences. Please give us the ability to see people through Your eyes and enable us to act with dignity, sincerity, and respect toward everyone we encounter. May people catch a glimpse of You in us as we help our family hold firmly to the truth that all Your children are precious in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer #2 based on Galatians 4: 3-7, 9-14

Lord, we thank You for being our Heavenly Father. May we fully embrace the sacred magnitude of being known as Your child. Remind us that freedom is only found in You and prevent us from embarking on a futile search for any substitute. Fill us with a genuine appreciation for the generous gift of Your redemption. May gratitude naturally exude from us and assist in creating an atmosphere in which people praise Your name openly. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to reside in our hearts.

Lord, we pray we will enjoy a renewed thankfulness for no longer being a slave to rules and regulations. Please generously impart Your wisdom to us as we navigate our faith journey. Grant us Your insight when worldly temptations entice us. Help us to rely on Your lead as we make decisions. May we always strive to honor You with our choices. May we rest confidently in our relationship with You.

Bestow on us a natural tendency to display Your life-changing love to everyone we meet. Disclose to us the physical and spiritual needs of people around us and the numerous ways we can be Your hands and feet in each situation. Help us be obedient to Your call and refresh us with Your strength and fortitude when we are fatigued. Sustain us and spur us on. Bless our efforts and allow others to recognize an authentic representation of You through our words and actions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Praying Through Galatians 1 and 2 with Your Spouse

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When it comes to marriage, I firmly believe praying for each other (and with each other) plays a vital part in strengthening the husband-wife bond!

The following prayers can be prayed as a couple or separately. I hope that you and your spouse will be blessed and encouraged through these prayers based on the book of Galatians!

Here is a link to the PDF of the following prayers.

Prayer #1 Based on 1: 6-17, 22-24

Dear Lord, we praise You for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In a world moving further away from the truth, may we refuse to allow our faith to falter or fade. Place in us a sincere longing to make You known. Help us display the unmatched hope found in living for You. Embolden us to consistently convey the meaning of the gospel through our words and actions. Please help us be concerned only with Your approval and unfazed by the opinions of others.

Lord, show us witnessing opportunities and help us to be passionate about telling others about Your love. Enlighten us and provide Your divine revelation as we strive to become more devoted and dedicated to You. As our faith in You deepens, may we powerfully sense Your presence. Thank You for lovingly forgiving our transgressions. Reassure us that You do not define us or anyone else by sins we have committed. Inspire us to cling tightly to the identity You have given us.

Draw us continually closer to You. Reveal how we can proclaim the incomparable power and peace found in having a relationship with You. We pray that others will see Your light shining through in how we conduct ourselves. Broaden our influence and expand our impact as we live lives that courageously honor You. Lord, may our lives inspire many people to learn more about You, become more like You, and follow You fearlessly. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer #2 Based on Galatians 2: 4-5, 10, 16, 19-21

Dear Lord, we are so grateful that You gave Your life for all of us. Guard our hearts against falling into the bondage of sin. May we be genuinely thankful for the freedom You offer in a life lived for You. Let our generosity toward others be an admirable example for our family and friends to follow.

We pray to become progressively more sensitive to the promptings of Your Holy Spirit. Enable us to discern Your voice above all others. When we hear and acknowledge You, compel us to respond with immediate obedience.

Your Word clearly states that justification comes by faith and not works. Remind us that Your grace is a gift that You offer to all of us. It is our choice to accept it or not. We cannot earn grace by accumulating works or by checking items off a list. May we be completely confident that we are justified in Your sight simply because of our faith in You. Please help us spread that message to others.

May we be alert to opportunities to share our faith openly with a hurting world. Reveal how we can be ambassadors for the freedom we gain when we put our trust in You. Help us grasp the life-changing impact we will have on others when we choose to live for You and love others in a Christlike manner. May we continue to be aware of and amazed by Your extravagant grace. Empower us to offer it to others generously. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Let’s Be Radiant!

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When we become stressed, it can be easy to forget where to place our focus…we unfortunately look inward and attempt to figure life out on our own instead of looking to Jesus for the help He lovingly offers us.

Psalm 34:5 says those who look to Him are radiant and that their faces will never be ashamed.

May we look to Jesus and pursue complete obedience to His way. May our trust and hope in Jesus cause an unmistakable glow to radiate from our lives! 

Dear Lord, may Your Holy Spirit nudge us when it is time to change our perspective. Open our eyes to You and Your way, Lord. We desire to lovingly serve You and reflect Your light. Amen.

Prayers for Your Children (2 of 3)

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Friends, I would like to share some prayers with you.

  1. A prayer for parents of adult children.
  2. Three prayers for adult children based on Colossians 1-3.

As a mom of four children who are all in their twenties, there are some specific things that I pray about for them. The first prayer below covers some of those…the desire to be there for my children, but to not interfere. It’s a fine line, isn’t it? I’ve crossed it, straddled it, and avoided it etc. at various times. 😀

The next three prayers are based on Colossians 1-3. Of course, these can be prayed for your children no matter their ages, but they are geared toward a little bit older age group.

I have also included printables…so please feel free to download, print, post etc. these prayers and/or share them. Thank you!

Prayer for Parents of Adult Children

Dear Lord, please give me the wisdom to know how much and when to offer assistance to my adult children. Help me discover ways to express and demonstrate that they can call on me for advice and support and that they can also count on me to know when to step back, even when there is potential for them to fail. Stop me from picking up pieces from situations they are assigned to learn from. Please do not allow me to interfere in their maturation process. May they always know that I trust them, pray for them, cheer for them, and love them dearly.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer for Adult Children Based on Colossians 1-3

Dear Lord, I pray that my children will seek Your wisdom in their lives diligently. May they consistently pursue and display that wisdom in their decisions. Strengthen them with Your power. Please help them to be bold and confident in their faith. Reassure them that with Your help, they can endure and even thrive when they face challenging circumstances. I pray their actions and words will radiate joy to everyone they encounter. Deliver them from the darkness of sins that have led them astray, and instill in them the desire to walk in Your glorious light. May the forgiveness and redemption You have granted them be an inspiration to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Based on Colossians 1:9-14)

Dear Lord, I pray you will remind my children of Your presence and Your faithfulness through every obstacle and hardship they will undoubtedly face. Inspire their hearts to be firmly rooted in their faith. May Your Word saturate their minds, give them clear discernment, and prepare them to guard against deceptive teachings. Reveal Yourself to them and grant them an overflowing thankfulness to You for Your countless blessings.

Help my children see that You are all they truly need. Give them the courage to walk the path You have set before them. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Based on Colossians 2:6-10)

Dear Lord, help my children focus on You above all else. Teach them to filter their thoughts through Your grace, mercy, and love. As Your Word says, may they “put to death” anything that belongs to “their earthly nature” and rid themselves of “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.” Give them the desire to lead truthful lives, potentially influencing others to know more about You. May their characters be defined by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, and may forgiveness come naturally. Lord, I pray the love of Christ will be evident in all that they say and do. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Based on 3:1-14)

***For printables of the prayers: Click here

 

 

Far Beyond Our Comprehension

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God doesn’t think like us. (Thank God😉)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)

His ways and thoughts are far beyond our comprehension. Sometimes that can be frustrating and cause us to wonder, “What in the world is going on in my life right now?” But it’s good to remember that His love for us is far beyond our comprehension also – which means even when we don’t understand His ways, His deep love for us guarantees He is doing what is best for us. 

Sometimes what God says is best doesn’t make sense in our human way of thinking, but if I know one thing, it’s that God knows what He is doing. 

Let’s choose to trust Him more and more each day.

Prayers For Your Children (1 of 3)

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Friends, I would like to share some prayers with you.

  1. A prayer for parents of adult children.
  2. Three prayers for adult children based on Romans 12.

As a mom of four children who are all in their twenties, there are some specific things that I pray about. The first prayer below covers those…the desire to be there for my children, but to not interfere. It’s a fine line, isn’t it? I’ve crossed it, straddled it, and avoided it etc. at various times.😀

The next three prayers found below are based on Romans 12, which is a passage that summarizes how to live a Christ-like life, which is something my husband and I long for regarding our kids. Of course, these can be prayed for your children no matter their ages, but they are geared toward a little bit older age group.

I have also included printables…so please feel free to download, print, post etc. these prayers and/or share them. Thank you!

Prayer for Parents of Adult Children

Dear Lord, please give me the wisdom to know how much and when to offer assistance to my adult children. Help me discover ways to express and demonstrate that they can call on me for advice and support and that they can also count on me to know when to step back, even when there is potential for them to fail. Stop me from picking up pieces from situations they are assigned to learn from. Please do not allow me to interfere in their maturation process. May they always know that I trust them, pray for them, cheer for them, and love them dearly.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayers for Adult Children Based on Romans 12

Dear Lord, inspire them to become transformed by You. Help them to grow in their relationship with You consistently. Enlighten them as they strive to understand Your will. May they be unwavering in their belief in You and remain undeterred by worldly influences. Move them to live out their faith boldly. May they realize the incredible worth You have placed in all people as they humbly serve others in Your name. Thank You for the wonderful talents and unique personality traits You have given them. Give them a longing to use those talents and traits to demonstrate Your character confidently. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Based on Romans 12:2-8)

Dear Lord, may they understand the meaning of Your genuine love. I pray they will reject the world’s definition of love and truth and instead diligently cling to all that is good. May they show love and respect in all they say and do. Equip them with a servant’s heart as they enthusiastically represent Your characteristics to all those they encounter. May they be hopeful and faithful in praying for Your blessing to be upon everyone – even those who have hurt them. Empower them to empathize when people are hurting.  Please give them the ability to bring harmony to divisive situations. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Based on Romans 12:9-16)

Dear Lord, teach them to treat people with grace and humility consistently. Give them a desire to be honorable when dealing with others. May they realize how necessary it is to have a teachable spirit, which will spur them on to pursue Your wisdom and apply it. May they radiate Christlike peace even when they are taken advantage of, and may they depend on You to make everything right, instead of defaulting to the natural response of repaying evil for evil. Instruct them how to model generosity in even the most challenging of circumstances. Aid them in displaying Your love to a hurting world. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Based on Romans 12:17-21)

***For printables of the prayers: Click here