Posts with the tag “pray”
Praying with Power
by Curt Dodd on April 8th, 2024
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. – John 16:23-24 Yesterday, we started a discussion about what it looks like to pray in alignment with the will and heart of God. If you missed yesterday’s devotiona... Read More
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Aligned Prayers
by Curt Dodd on April 7th, 2024
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. – John 14:13-14 My job as a pastor is to make sure that God's people are equipped to do the work of ministry. One of the things that I am charged with doing is teaching people how to pray. With many of us, we wonder why our prayers don't get answered... Read More
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Fighting Self-Sufficiency With Prayer
by Curt Dodd on April 6th, 2024
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:23-24. One of the things that keeps us from getting through to God is prayerful inactivity. We think things like, “I got myself into this mess and it's my r... Read More
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It’s Only Jesus
by Curt Dodd on February 25th, 2024
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6Many people think that the way you get to heaven is just to go to church, be a good person, and love your brother as yourself. All of that is important, but you don't have the power to do that consistently without having a relationship with Jesus.Do you know why? Sin! We were born wit... Read More
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Pray, Just Pray
by Curt Dodd on February 20th, 2024
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. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:18-2... Read More
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Praying with Power
by Curt Dodd on January 29th, 2024
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. – John 16:23-24Yesterday, we started a discussion about what it looks like to pray in alignment with the will and heart of God. If you missed yesterday’s devotional,... Read More
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Building Men Over Memberships
by Curt Dodd on January 1st, 2024
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey eve... Read More
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God, Fix It
by Curt Dodd on December 29th, 2023
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (Galatians 6:7) When your heart gets heavy and there is pain in your life, we pray, “Oh God, take away the pain. Take away the pain, now.” Sometimes, the answer to that prayer is different from how we want it. I really believe there are people who are reading this today, who are going through a desperate situation. They ar... Read More
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It Is as You Will
by Curt Dodd on December 7th, 2023
“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:35) Years ago, a little boy had captured a small, helpless bird. He went to an old wise man in his village and he put the bird behind his back. He looked at the man and said, “Old man, tell me, Is the bird I hold in my hand, is it alive, or is it dead?” The wise... Read More
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Delight Yourself in Jesus
by Curt Dodd on October 21st, 2023
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) Many of us think that finding God’s will is extremely difficult, a never-ending mystery that often seems impossible to solve. In reality, that is not the case at all. God makes His will for us clear in His Word. We just have to be willing to look for it. As C. S. Lewis says, “The deep things of God are no... Read More
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Broken over Sin
by Curt Dodd on September 27th, 2023
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) Many people today (in the younger generation) don't have any idea about a “Revival.” It is a series of protracted meetings where a church meets every night for an extended period of t... Read More
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His Strength In Our Weakness
by Curt Dodd on September 25th, 2023
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9 I’ll never forget my first time preaching at a revival, specifically, the second night, which was a Thursday. I preached on the Second Coming of Christ. It was probably the wor... Read More
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In Your Pain, God Is Near
by Curt Dodd on September 20th, 2023
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18) C.S. Lewis once said, “Pain is the megaphone of God, where He whispers to us in our pleasures, He shouts to us in our pain.” There is much truth in this statement. Have you noticed that it only takes the smallest amount of pain for God to get our attention? All you have to do is have a problem with one... Read More
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Weep Now!
by Curt Dodd on July 19th, 2023
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15) When was the last time your heart was broken? Maybe, it is because you are not being asked the right question. Maybe, it is because you are a casual observer. You see, tears are part of the walk with Christ. Unfortunately, many of us just want to be self-contained. We don't want to let someone in on what we are feeling. If... Read More
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Paying Attention to God
by Curt Dodd on July 11th, 2023
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (Hebrews 2:1) The other day at our Men's Prayer Breakfast, I had to start the gathering and lead the men in a word of prayer. All the guys were talking, and scurrying around visiting with one another. To silence their conversations, I had to say, “Let me have your attention.” I don't mind raising my v... Read More
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Abiding and Resting
by Curt Dodd on June 29th, 2023
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) If you are going through difficult times in your life right now, you need to learn the spiritual practice of abiding. What does it mean to abide?... Read More
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Falling at Jesus’ Feet
by Curt Dodd on June 7th, 2023
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” (Revelation 1:17) This verse describes a personal encounter that John had with Jesus. When John saw Jesus, he fell at His feet like dead. It completely overpowered him. Think about that for a minute. Have you ever had an experience like that with the ... Read More
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Feed Your Faith
by Curt Dodd on May 23rd, 2023
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:16) I love the story of an old Indian chief. He was introduced to Jesus Christ as Lord of his life by a missionary on his reservation. He turned from sin and placed his faith in Christ. M... Read More
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Submitting to God’s Will
by Curt Dodd on May 15th, 2023
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38) If there was ever an example of complete submission to God’s will, it is the story of Mary in the Gospel of Luke. Mary was only a teenager and was engaged to be married. She was ready to start a new and exciting chapter in her life, when an angel told her that she would be the m... Read More
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Powerful Prayers and a Burden
by Curt Dodd on March 26th, 2023
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. (James 5:16-17)Have you ever listened to someone pray and thought, “Wow, that was a power-packed pray... Read More
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The End Is Near
by Curt Dodd on March 21st, 2023
Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:32-35)... Read More
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Immeasurably More
by Curt Dodd on March 14th, 2023
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)God is not a god of mediocrity or a god of solely meeting our expectations. Instead, He is a God who is more than capable of exceeding expectations. Let... Read More
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Don’t Stay on the Sidelines
by Curt Dodd on February 22nd, 2023
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24)If you have ever played sports, you know how frustrating and almost painful it can be to be stuck on the sidelines when you want to be playing in the game. No one wants to get benched; everyone wants a piece of the action. They want to be contributing to aid the t... Read More
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Encouraging One Another
by Curt Dodd on February 8th, 2023
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17) We know it is important to show up for the people you love. While that is important and necessary if you want to love others well, there is more to building strong relationships than just being present for people. Let’s look at a few ways you can show love and encouragement to those closest to you.1. Use WordsLove i... Read More
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Honor the Lord
by Curt Dodd on January 28th, 2023
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)One of the greatest lessons you can grasp is that you are to live to honor the Lord, and not for the applause of others. We don't live for men; we live for Jesus. As children of God, the church of God needs to listen to a diff... Read More
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Seeking the Presence of God
by Curt Dodd on January 4th, 2023
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. (Mark 13:26)Clouds are symbolic of the presence of God. Sometimes, when things are so clouded that you cannot see, that is exactly where God is. Clouds are symbolic of His presence.When Moses was dealing with the children of Israel in the wilderness, he experienced the Cloud of God's presence on Mount Sinai. Often ... Read More
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Before the Throne of God
by Curt Dodd on November 29th, 2022
Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God... Read More
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Wait in Silence
by Curt Dodd on November 23rd, 2022
Be still and know that I am God.(Psalm 46:10) We don't like silence and we don't do very well with silence. Have you noticed that we try to fill silence with activity? It is important for us to realize that there are times when we need to be quiet. This happens to many of us. When there is silence and God doesn't move, we do something. When in doubt, do something. Like Simon Peter, when there is s... Read More
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Praying in God’s Will
by Curt Dodd on November 12th, 2022
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)There is a well-known passage of Scripture in the Book of Matthew that says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ... Read More
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Distraction-Free Time
by Curt Dodd on October 27th, 2022
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6) The world we live in is filled with distractions. Everywhere we look, something or someone is begging for our attention. Our phones are constantly buzzing. The TV is chattering in the background. Our desks at work are covered in “To-Do” ... Read More
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Forgive Like Jesus
by Curt Dodd on October 25th, 2022
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19-20)When Jesus first appeared to His disciples after the resurrection, they technic... Read More
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In Your Pain, God Is Near
by Curt Dodd on September 20th, 2022
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)C.S. Lewis once said, “Pain is the megaphone of God, where He whispers to us in our pleasures, He shouts to us in our pain.” There is much truth in this statement. Have you noticed that it only takes the smallest amount of pain for God to get our attention? All you have to do is have a problem with one o... Read More
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Remember the Moment
by Curt Dodd on September 18th, 2022
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Romans 8:16) Your name was not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life when you were baptized, or when you took your first communion. When did it happen? Your name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life the moment you acknowledged your sin, and saw yourself separated from God because of that sin, and you threw yourself helpl... Read More
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Listen to God
by Curt Dodd on September 15th, 2022
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) Do you realize that any time there is political unrest, a country has a coup or goes to war, people are more open to the Gospel than at any other time? Have you noticed something in your own life? Are you seeking God when He is blessing you? Conversely, when you are flat on your back with no hope, are you more like... Read More
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Real Friends
by Curt Dodd on September 6th, 2022
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Proverbs 27:6)If our world becomes unstable, we need the kind of friendship that is found in stability. With every one of us, there will be multiple times when the only solid tree to lean against (other than the Lord of All) is the one He planted many years ago in our life. A true friend does make it all the way through with us ... Read More
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2024
January
Building Men Over MembershipsActions and WordsPraying in God’s WillA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouAre You Encouraging Others?Strengthening BelieversSalvation Is SimpleCounterfeit TeachingBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardCommitting Others To ChristSharing Your StoryTaking the Time To BlessPraying for UnbelieversA Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementAre You Confessed Up To Date?Fighting Self-Sufficiency With PrayerBe Responsible for Your ChildrenJesus Is Standing with You The Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentAligned PrayersPraying with PowerDealing with ProblemsHandling Stress
February
Come and SeeA Childlike FaithDon’t Miss OutWhy Support Israel?Praying For IsraelHow To Honor GodResisting EvilThe Lord Encourages UsJesus Is the AuthorityGod ProvidesLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureA Heart of RepentanceSharing Your FaithSubmitting to God’s WillSecure in Your IdentityHow Are You Filled?God Is All-SufficientJesus Is The Only WayPray, Just PrayNo Sin Is Too BigThe Purpose in PainFeed Your FaithStay in Love with JesusIt’s Only JesusRemember Who God IsGifts from the Holy SpiritThis World Is Not Your HomeBe Different
March
Admitting You Are WrongMoney Can’t Buy HappinessMy ConfidenceChanged by Christ Faith and UnderstandingDo Angels Exist?Falling at Jesus’ FeetBorn AgainThe Fullness of JesusExperiencing Christ’s FullnessThe Lord’s ProtectionPraying FriendsA Hand of BlessingBe StillYour Heavenly FatherBlessing Your ChildrenGod Is Our ProviderTime To StopSimply Follow ChristFathers Loving MothersEvery Knee Will BowWhen God Repeats HimselfThe Seven ChurchesTaking Up Your CrossMake Peace With GodGod Gives Free WillGod’s Healing PowerGo All in for ChristAbiding and RestingBelieving God’s WordWhat Hangs In The Balance Of Evangelism?