Fight for Each Other

This morning's Designed for Devotion Bible reading was from Numbers 32 where two tribes ask to have land on the east side of the Jordan rather than crossing over the river.  Moses is worried they will cause others to want to stay there, too, and not want to take the land of inheritance God has prepared for them.  The tribes then tell Moses that they will lead the fight for their fellow Israelites as they take possession of the land.

In the devotional section, the author reminds us that it is our responsibility as believers to fight for each other in prayer.  We are in a spiritual battle here on earth and when we pray for each other, God's kingdom can be advanced.  What an awesome promise and responsibility!

When I get self-absorbed in my prayers, I get tired and lose my focus.  Praying for others along with myself helps me to stay focused on God and the battle at hand.  

When others pray for me, I feel strengthened for the fight and supported in battle.  I am so grateful for the many people who fight with me in this battle.  

Thank you for praying with me.  Thank you for allowing me to pray with you.  May we continue to work together for God's glory and strengthen each other through our prayers.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. (Ephesians 6:18)

One Step

Yesterday I pulled out a Bible study book I used when I lived in Texas.  The study made a great impact on me and so I have saved the workbook all these years.  I am preparing a new study with one of my Bible students and we have decided to do the same study.  I am excited to share it with her!

Because of time constraints, we won't be able to do the whole workbook cover to cover.  Therefore, I am sort of rewriting a less intense version for us to use for the next few months.

I pulled out my workbook to review and start thinking about the first lesson.  In the back of the book is the covenant we signed with our group as we started the study.  Twenty years ago, today, I signed that covenant!  As I read through the prayer I wrote when we started the study, I see God had been working in my heart to bring the possibility of going to Japan to the front of my mind.  It would still be two years before I left for Japan, but this study helped me find focus in my life and strengthen my faith in Him and His word.

I am looking forward to what God is going to do in my and my student's heart as we study together!

Oh, may my heart be as open as it was the first time I went through the study!

Thanks to being an elementary school teacher, I have school pictures from my adulthood!  This is from my first year of teaching, 23 years ago!