joe soap truths

A Prayer for Aju

joesoaptruths — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 10:28:14 +0000

“Heavenly Father,

I pray for Aju today. I pray that Your will be done in his life. I pray that You will reveal Your plans for him, and that he will will be still enough to hear when You speak to him. I pray that he will find joy and peace, that he will bear witness of what You have done, and are doing, in his life. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen”

Are you looking up or down?

joesoaptruths — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:57:32 +0000

“As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”

C.S. Lewis

Appreciate what you have

joesoaptruths — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:14:09 +0000

Why do we first need to lose what we have before we realise how much it actually meant to us?

My simple prayer for today is that I will really appreciate what I have, whilst I still have it.

God’s plans and promises

joesoaptruths — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:23:26 +0000

” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ’They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,’ says the Lord. ‘I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. ‘ “

Jeremiah 29:11-14a
NLT

God at work

joesoaptruths — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:47:21 +0000

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Romans 8:28
NLT

A prayer for my wife

joesoaptruths — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:44:18 +0000

“Father in heaven, I come to You today praying for my wife. I pray that Your Holy Spirit touch her today, helping her to get clarity and peace on the decision she needs to make regarding her work today. I pray that You will answer her prayers. That You will draw close to her, that she will feel Your presence.

I ask that she will see me through Your eyes, and that she will love me regardless of all my imperfections. I ask that I will be the man that she wants me to be. That our love for each other be built on the foundation of Your love for us.

I pray that Your will be done in her life. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Prayer: power prayers vs ceiling prayers

joesoaptruths — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:23:12 +0000

In praying over the last two odd months, I felt as though I could place every prayer in one of the following two distinct categories:

1) Power prayers

I could sense these prayers carried weight and power, were aligned with God’s will and were really heard.

2) Ceiling prayers

These prayers felt empty and void, without conviction, leaving me restless and with questions as to their alignment with God’s will. It felt as though they never got beyond my ceiling on their way to God.

My ceiling prayers occurred almost exclusively when I prayed for myself and my personal circumstances. It did not happen every time I prayed for myself, I prayed some wonderful personal power prayers too, but I was baffled about why it sometimes just did not “feel” right.

After considerable searching the answer was very simple. Every time I started my prayer time by getting still before God, allowing Him to show me the areas of sin that I need to repent on, asking forgiveness for everything revealed to me, and thanking Him for cleansing me, a power prayer followed. And yes, whenever I prayed without performing this exercise my prayers felt like ceiling prayers.

To summarise, I need God to wash away my sins at the commencement of my prayers, for me to feel that the remainder of my prayer is a powerful one. It works for me.

Joy amongst the angels

joesoaptruths — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:25:43 +0000

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

Luke 15:8-10
NLT

Through the eyes of my 5-year old…

joesoaptruths — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:46:04 +0000

A week ago, after saying a prayer with my 5-year old son, he asked me: “Daddy, how many people have you told about Jesus?” It took me totally by surprise, and I grappled to find an appropriate response. Afterwards, I realised two things:

1) I am not doing enough to tell (and show) people about Jesus, and his role in my life.

2) Imagine the day of judgement, and God, Creator of all (not a 5-year old), asking you: “What have you done for Me?”

My simple prayer for today is inspired by my eldest son:

“God, help me to do more for You. Help me to be a witness to You in the small things I do every day. Help me to talk about You when I get the chance. In the name of Jesus. Amen.”

Praise the Lord!

joesoaptruths — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:39:34 +0000

“Praise the Lord, all you nations.

Praise him, all you people of the earth.

For he loves us with unfailing love:

the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever.

Praise the Lord!”

Psalm 117:1-2