Encourage and Equip . com | Tag Archive

Archives For Prayer

Pray for Success, Part 2

October 29, 2018

In Jeff Goins’ bestseller, Real Artists Don’t Starve, he set out to dispel the myth of the “starving artist”. Likewise, in my last post, I began exposing the lies that many people who seek to wholeheartedly follow Jesus Christ may have treasures in Heaven but will probably never enjoy much success here on earth.

DepositPhotos.com Image ID: 212529114 Copyright: Sewcream

Passivity and Complacency Are Not Necessarily Spiritual

I assure you, I am NOT crossing over to the Health & Wealth Gospel. I have no delusions that God owes me anything! Nor do I believe that God has to provide something just because I “Name it”.

However, I am concerned that while rejecting the excesses of one extreme, we can drift, ever so spiritually, to the other extreme. We can focus so much being humble and on not appearing proud, manipulative, or materialistic, that we limit the blessings God may long to give.

Success and Spirituality Are Not Mutually Exclusive

I am concerned that sometimes, Christ-followers can make the mistake of equating success with impure motives or tactics and a lack of success as being spiritual. I understand if you have trouble believing that statement. I had to read it again myself. But, I assure you, I have seen it over and over. Continue Reading…

In Character Development, Encouraging Bible Verses, Prayer, Productivity Confidence in God, Focus on God, Prayer, Step out in faith, Trust God, Tyranny of the urgent

Honoring a Life, Part 2: Passing the Mantle

July 3, 2017

Shortly after his ninetieth birthday, my father-in-law was given a few months to live. What would you do? Let me tell you what Joe did.

My father-in-law had the rare blessing of getting a “two-minute warning” so to speak. Shortly after his ninetieth birthday, he began experiencing unusual health complications that made treating one problem impossible without creating or escalating other problems. Long story short, the prognosis was a few months left to live. What would you do? Let me tell you what Joe DeRuvo did.

Among other things, he made the most of the opportunity to contact and say goodbye to friends and family–a rare blessing indeed. He also planned out his own memorial service with the help of long-time friends and pastors.

In the memorial service that he planned, my wife (his daughter) shared some of her personal recollections and a note that he left behind. Continue Reading…

In Character Development, Encouragers Honor Encouragers, Leave a legacy, Prayer, Prayer Warriors

Praying for Our Roles and Relationships

March 29, 2013

This is part 2 in a series on helps for personal prayer. In Part 1, we looked at a helpful pattern for prayer and at turning our Bible reading into prayers. Today’s focus is on praying for other people. Let’s look at suggestions for praying the roles and relationships in our lives. Let’s face it, when most of us pray for other people, we usually tell God what”s wrong with someone else (just in case God didn’t already know) and then ask God to fix THEM.

Somewhere, I read something that encouraged me to think a little differently when I pray for other people. Instead of complaining about somebody to God, it might be better to thank God for putting that person in my life in the first place. Then I pray for me to be a good ____ (whatever my role is in the other person’s life). Continue Reading…

In Equip, Prayer Prayer

How’s Your Prayer Life? Need Help?

March 28, 2013

Along with words to encourage you or help you to encourage others, I hope to provide resources or training to help us live out our faith. This is the first in a series on helps for your personal prayer life. Coming tomorrow, helpful resources to pray for all the relationships in your life, for missionaries and your pastor. Today’s focus will be on a helpful pattern for prayer and using the Bible to help pray for friends who already know God and for friends who need to know God better.

Many people have found prayer particularly challenging. They muster up all their self-discipline and courage. They get on their knees and then say, “What do I do now?!” Personally, I have often found it helpful to have a variety of resources available to help me stay focused during prayer. I share this not because I am a spiritual giant with much to offer. I share these because I often find it such a struggle to get started in prayer and even after getting started to then stay focused.

Perhaps the most helpful resource I have ever found for prayer is God’s Word itself. Sometimes we pray way too mildly because we may not be sure that something is God’s will. When we turn Bible verses that we are reading into actual prayers for ourselves and others, we can be pretty sure we are praying in God’s will. Keep reading for some helpful examples.

I may be a little unusual, but I have often found a countdown timer extremely helpful. If I have set aside a certain span of time for prayer, I found that I would be checking the clock way too often to make sure I didn’t go overtime—like that’s a real worry! I found that if I set a countdown timer, my mind is no longer distracted by the clock.

Finally, I have often found a pattern of prayer has helped me to stay focused and balanced in my prayers. Continue Reading…

In Equip, Prayer Prayer

As Christ-followers, our main task is to love God and to love people. I have learned that when we seek God first, we can trust Him to care for our needs, then we can focus on building into the lives of those God puts around us.

I live to help people live out that goal. My focus, here, is to encourage and equip as God gives opportunity.

If this is your first visit, you could start here for some key posts and resources. When you’re ready, please subscribe so I can let you know when new posts are available.