Find Hope @ The Hem
  • Home
  • About Me & At the Hem
  • Category: prayer

    • Persistence gets us everywhere!!!

      Posted at 8:00 am by sneuhofer, on September 30, 2020

      Luke 18:1-8 (MSG) Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’ He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.  Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”

      I love the way God chooses to reveal Himself to us when we “sit still” and truly listen for His voice. As I draw closer to God, He has really given me a burden to pray for (intercede on the behalf of) others. Typically when God wants me to pray for someone He puts their face in front of me. What I mean by this is, I see a picture of them in my mind. He (God) will do this throughout my day or even in the middle of the night.

      Have you ever had God wake you up in the middle of the night to pray?

      To be honest, the first few times He woke me up with a burden to pray for someone in the middle of the night I really questioned if it was Him or just me having some sort of dream. Let me just tell you that I have been blown away when I find out that my prayers came just at the right time (yes – even in the middle of the night) for the person I was called to pray for.

      I love the story told in Luke 18 of the persistent widow. In this story, a widow consistently – persistently – comes before this judge (day after day) asking him to grant her justice because her rights had been violated. Because of her persistence, take a look at how the judge responds:

      “But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.” (MSG Luke 18:5)

      This woman was not going to give up until something happened. I believe she would have gone back to this judge until her feet couldn’t carry her anymore…and the judge knew that.

      In this same passage of scripture, Jesus ensures all of us that if we are persistent, God will hear our plea as well

      “So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will.”

      If an unfair judge responds after constant pressure…how much more will our loving heavenly Father respond to us?

      As I continue to walk out my faith, I must constantly keep my requests before God and believe that He will answer (when His timing is right…not mine). Furthermore, when I am persistent in my prayer life, I know I grow character, faith, hope, and most importantly…closer to Him.

      Share this:

      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Email
      Posted in persistence, persistent widow, prayer | 0 Comments
    • Created with a Warrior’s heart

      Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on January 24, 2018

      Proverbs 24: 3 – 5 (NCV) “It takes wisdom to have a good family, and it takes understanding to make it strong. It takes knowledge to fill a home with rare and beautiful treasures. Wise people have great power, and those with knowledge have great strength.”

      A few years back our Senior Pastor presented a series he title “Warrior.” His point for the series was simply God is a Warrior (Ex. 15:3) and He created us with a warrior’s heart. Each week in this series, he talked about the righteous cause that each and every one of us has in our life and how we have been called to fight for that cause. Reading through Proverbs 24, I was reminded of my righteous cause…my family – my husband and son. I had to stop and think about the progress I’ve made, if any, towards my righteous cause.

      As difficult as this battle I’m fighting is, I know in my head I haven’t lost the war. It’s tough to be reminded of the “battle” when everything in me wants to head for the hills…because it’s hard. It’s hard to pray when you don’t know how to pray…or what to pray for. But life is hard. Jesus never told us this life would be easy, in fact John 16:33 tells us we will have trouble. But we are to be courageous because He overcame the world.

      As I grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I continue to fill our home with rare and beautiful treasures whether I realize it or not. According to Proverbs 24:5, those with knowledge have great strength. “Great strength??” humph Some days I feel like cowering in the corner and crying “UNCLE” at the top of my lungs. I even told two friends yesterday that I just wanted to get in my car and keep driving. But that’s just not realistic. God doesn’t want us running away…He wants me to engage in the battle knowing that as I grow in grace and knowledge He will give me great strength to face every battle I face. In fact, He will even go before me in battle (Isaiah 45:2).

      After reading Proverbs 24, I was encouraged to hang in there and continue to fight for my righteous cause. It’s not that I’ve given up, I think I’ve just grown weary…. REALLY WEARY! Now it’s time to re-engage. It’s up to me to continue to gain wisdom and understanding (read my Bible and pray), then search for truth and knowledge (read my Bible and pray) and finally don’t give up. Why? Because there is a harvest ahead if I stand and fight! (Gal. 6:9)

      So, what righteous cause are you fighting for? Or do you have a righteous cause you need to re-engage in?

      Here are a few things to keep in mind during the thick of the fight:

      1. Keep P-U-S-H-ing. (Keep Praying Until Something Happens)
      2. You are not alone, Jesus is always beside you!
      3. Stay in the Bible. Find truths, promises by reading your Bible every day…yes even if you don’t feel like it! God will give you truth for that day.
      4. Put your thoughts and prayers on paper. Keeping a journal is a great way to get all the “stuff” inside of you out on paper. It will also allow you to look back and see how God has been working in your situation.
      5. Remember you are not fighting in your own strength! God is fighting for you.

      Related reading: Eph. 6:10 – 18; Psalm 37:4 – 7

      Share this:

      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Email
      Posted in prayer, righteous cause | 0 Comments
    • Well, it is a simple question…

      Posted at 8:45 am by sneuhofer, on September 12, 2017
      Matthew 7:7 (NIV) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

      I love it how my son reminds me of the fun way my Dad taught us (me and my sister) the words to Matthew 7:7. The “lesson” started when I was 6 or 7 years old and still continues to this day… 43 years later.

      This past winter we were “snowed” in by a winter storm that hit the entire east coast . My area got between 9 and 10 inches of snow…VERY uncommon for this area. Anyway, on this particular morning my son was getting in some target practice with his Nerf gun. He’d take aim at the refrigerator, the oven, the microwave, etc. and then pull the trigger letting the Nerf bullet rip. When the cartridge holding about 15 of these little Nerf bullets was empty, he called out “Mom, where are my bullets?” I hadn’t even been in the kitchen where he was shooting. How should I know where his bullets had flown off to? This question triggered the memory of my childhood and my search for shoes, books, brushes, etc.

      When I was younger, whenever I’d say “Dad, where are my shoes?” His response would almost always be “Matthew 7:7.” Now I have to tell you that being in church nearly every Sunday and Wednesday since I was 7 days old, I recognized right away that Matthew was one of the Bible’s New Testament books and the 7:7 referenced the chapter number and verse location. Needless to say this answer from my father would send me huffing and puffing back into my room to sulk. I look back on it all now and have to laugh.

      When the words “Mom, where are my bullets?” came out of my son’s mouth, I really wanted to say “Matthew 7:7.” But I savored the memory of those moments with my Dad. Just to let you in on a little secret…I have started shouting out “Matthew 7:7” more and more lately as I’m asked “Where is my notebook?” or “Where is my iPad?” Funny how he gives me the same exact response I gave my dad all those years ago.

      In my quiet moments with the Lord this morning, I went back to Matthew 7:7. These words were spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. My study this morning focused on the word “seek.”

      The Greek word for seek is zēteō which means:  to seek or strive after, endeavor, to desire

      The question I asked myself this morning was: “Do I desire or strive after seeking God and his plan for my life on a daily basis?”

      Tough question for me to answer. I’d like to say I do…but sometimes I get overwhelmed by the stuff of my day and my quiet moments with the Lord get pushed to the side. If my desire is to wholeheartedly seeking Him, He should be the ONE thing I am not allowing to slip.

      This year, I’ve made a commitment to wholeheartedly SEEK first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). I can’t wait to see what see what God will do in my life as I earnestly seek Him in everything I do.

      Will you join me on this journey of SEEKING God first? Commit to give God the first and best of your day. Read your Bible, pray throughout the day about everything, and journal what you are feeling the Lord is saying to you.

      “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!” (Psalm 70:4)

      Related reading:
      Psalm 27:8, Psalm 69:32, Psalm 105:4, Proverbs 8:17, Romans 2:7,

       

      Share this:

      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Email
      Posted in prayer, seeking God | 0 Comments
    ← Older posts
    • Categories

    • Enter your email address to follow my blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

A WordPress.com Website.

Find Hope @ The Hem
A WordPress.com Website.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Cancel