Prayer

"...for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sometimes, their are needs and desires I place before God in prayer. Sometimes, I am really distressed and cry out to God.

There are times my prayer is simply worship and gratitude. And times when I come before the Lord feeling empty and lacking spiritually, and I don't know what to pray for. I ask Him to fill me with His presence.

In all these times, it's a comfort to remember this Word and truth from Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus

Our Great Light

“the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.“

Matthew 4:16 NIV

I just finished reading Matthew Chapter 4, about Jesus being tempted by Satan, followed by Jesus teaching "The Beatitudes."

So my initial response was..."I'm not living up to what Jesus is teaching; and I'm not a good example of a good Christian...I'll never get there. I got very negative and discouraged about myself. 

...but wait...reading Matthew 4:16, I see myself...I am living in the land of darkness. Things are definitely not looking good around here....and I am part of that darkness. 

Then I started to see this chapter in a different way. Jesus is the Great Light. No one else is...and no one else can be....no one can fill His shoes. Jesus is the one'll One.  He is my one and only Hero. He is the one who redeems me and saves me. And now, as a believer, I am His. I am accepted and cleaned. I represent Him, and I am not of this dark world anymore. This is only through Jesus. Know who I am, and give Him all due respect, all the credit, and all the glory to Him!