I am excited to share that thanks to Steve Aho Music, two of my three piano solo compositions are now transcribed. (Stay tuned…I’ll let you know when the third one “Return to the Promise” is ready!)
“Glimpses of Light” and “Hope Restored” are for sale on Musicnotes Marketplace for $5.99 each. You can go directly to the links below to purchase them!
Glimpses of Light – https://www.musicnotes.com/l/7crh8
Hope Restored – https://www.musicnotes.com/l/2crhQ
I’d like to share a song I wrote this week.
Sometimes it seems like there is a pervasive hopelessness in our world today. Hopelessness tries to convince us that we are insignificant – that we don’t have purpose or value.
But the Bible says we are God’s masterpiece. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians‬ â€2‬:â€10‬ â€NLT‬‬
We were born on purpose for a purpose.
I pray you hear something in this song that speaks to you.
Dear Lord, thank You for faithfully listening to our prayers. You care about every single one of our requests and heart cries. Your Word says we can confidently bring our burdens to Your throne and that You will equip us with Your mercy and grace. Enable us to release bitterness, unbelief, or anything else that might prevent Your mercy and grace from having their full impact. Help us remember that You are ceaselessly concerned about our lives and that while You might intervene in an entirely conspicuous manner, there will also be times when Your work will be behind the scenes and, therefore, not as visible. When we can’t see Your hand and the wheels You are setting in motion, may we still have an unwavering belief that You are actively moving. Open our hearts to what You are teaching us in the midst of trials.
In our world today, confusion and chaos can sometimes threaten to overwhelm us. When we find ourselves in that position, Lord, help us to set our minds on You, the Prince of Peace, instead of the problems. Remind us that You have given us access to Your matchless, perfect peace. Empower us to wait expectantly for Your peace to wash over us and to protect us from strife in even the most difficult circumstances.
Help us to rest in the promise that You always cause all things to work together for our good. Remind us that what we think is good might be different from what You know is good and that Your definition of good supersedes our definition. Assure us that You are sovereign, have everything under control, and are for us, not against us.Â
Lord, thank You for Your unfailing love for us. Help us surrender to Your will, way, and wisdom.Â
In Your holy name we pray, Amen.
Hebrews 4:16, Philippians 4:7, Romans 8:28
In today’s world, it seems there is a push to “find our happiness.” To put on a happy face and pursue our happy place! If I could say something about the “Do whatever makes you happy” trend, I would shout from the rooftops that what we should be seeking is joy – not happiness!
Happiness is a feeling. Feelings are fleeting and fickle. Happiness is contingent upon things that are out of our control. But joy? Joy is a knowing. It is steadfast and sure. It is a decision to focus on Jesus instead of on difficult circumstances.
Joy can be our rock no matter what situation we face. When things are going well, our joy comes from knowing our blessings are from God. When things aren’t going so well, our joy comes from knowing He has us in the palm of His hand and that He has a good plan for us no matter what things look like in the moment.
Happiness will come and go, but clinging to joy helps us tackle adversity with a fresh and positive outlook. We can only ride the wave of happiness as long as the waters stay relatively calm. But when we pursue joy, it gives us an anchor in the rough waters.
Will some experiences try to shake us or shift our perspective? Yep, we live in a world full of circumstances that can potentially stretch, strain, and stress us on a regular basis. And there will always be people who are capable of causing unhappy circumstances. Sometimes it is because they intentionally attempt to rob us of our joy (often because of their own unhappiness.) And, of course, sometimes it is unintentional because we are people, and people are imperfect. But no thing and no person has the power to take our joy from us. We are the ones with the choice to let go of our joy willingly or to hold firmly to it.
Go ahead and “find your joy!” You will find it in the rock-solid foundation of Jesus!
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.
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.
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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.Â
“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!
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.
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.
I framed these Bible verse printables and they are now on a wall in the toy room in my home. I want to share them with you and would love to hear from you if you print them out! click here: https://gwenthielges.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/i-am.pdf
gwenthielges.com 