PrayingThyWill

A prayerful space dedicated to seeking and embracing God’s will through life’s daily journey.

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  • Giving the Credit to God

    Bible Passage
    Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.” — Daniel 2:27–28 (NIV)

    Truth to Remember
    God is the source of all the good we have and all that we are able to do. We honour Him by acknowledging His goodness and faithfully using what He has given us.

    Devotional Reflection

    King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to execute all the wise men of Babylon because none could tell him his dream and interpret it. Daniel and his three friends were among the wise men facing this threat. They sought the Lord for mercy, and that night, God revealed the mystery to Daniel. When the king asked whether he could reveal the dream, Daniel made it clear that no human wisdom could uncover such a mystery. Only God could do that. Rather than taking credit, Daniel pointed the king to the God of heaven as the source of the revelation.

    Daniel’s example reminds me that God is the source of what I have and what I am able to do. Even my ability to make an effort depends on Him, yet I am responsible for how I use what He has given me. When others recognize my gifts or accomplishments, I want to acknowledge God as the source and look for opportunities to make His goodness known.

    Application: Walking in Humility 

    Have you had opportunities to give God the credit for what He has enabled you to do? When others recognize something good in you, how can you acknowledge God as the source of your ability? You might share how He helped you or recognize Him as the One who enabled you to accomplish what you did. The goal is not to draw attention to your spirituality, but to make God known.

    Prayer
    Dear Father God, thank You for Your Word and Daniel’s example of seeking You and giving You credit for what You revealed. Help me to remember my dependence on You and to use faithfully what You have given me. Give me discernment to recognize opportunities to make You known. May my words and actions bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

    Claiming God’s Promise
    I will acknowledge God as my source and faithfully use what He has given me for His glory.

    Image credit: Pexels | Scripture quotations used with permission – See details

  • Following Jesus

    Bible Passage
    Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” — Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

    Truth to Remember
    Jesus is our example of surrendering to God’s will, helping us to understand what it means to follow Him.

    Devotional Reflection

    Jesus was teaching His disciples that following Him would require surrender. It meant being willing to set aside their own desires, plans, and ideas when they conflicted with God’s will, and remaining faithful even when it became difficult or costly. Jesus Himself demonstrated this. He knew the purpose for which the Father had sent Him and surrendered His own will, continuing even when it led to suffering and the cross. He showed His disciples what it means to put God’s will above their own.

    As I reflect on Jesus’ words, I am reminded that following Him means submitting my life to God’s will. I can lose sight of this when my own desires and plans become more important to me than His purposes for my life. I have learned that being in God’s will, even when it involves sacrifice and suffering, is better than pursuing my own way. There is peace in knowing that I am where He wants me to be.

    Application: Walking in Jesus’ Example

    Take time to reflect on Jesus’ words in this verse. Consider your desires, plans, and decisions, and ask God to show you where you may be putting your own will before His. Be willing to let go of what He is asking you to surrender.

    Prayer
    Father God, keep my focus on You and remind me that following You means surrendering my will to Yours. Let me recognize when my desires, plans, or expectations are taking me away from Your will, and redirect me to Your way. When You ask me to surrender something, give me the willingness to let it go. When following You is difficult or costly, help me to remain faithful and trust Your direction. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

    Claiming God’s Promise
    I will follow Jesus, trusting God to help me surrender my will to His.

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  • Stop Kicking Against the Goads

    Bible Passage
    ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ — Acts 26:14b (NIV)

    Truth to Remember
    God sees when I am going in the wrong direction. He lovingly corrects me, redirects me, and shows me His will.

    Devotional Reflection

    Saul was convinced that he was doing the right thing by opposing the followers of Jesus. But on the road to Damascus, Jesus confronted him and revealed that Saul was actually persecuting Him. Jesus used the picture of an ox kicking against the goads. A goad was a pointed stick used by a farmer to guide an ox. When the ox kicked against the stick instead of going where the farmer was leading it, the ox ended up hurting itself. Saul did not realize that his actions could not stop God’s purposes and were only hurting him. Jesus then showed Saul who He was and redirected his life toward a new purpose (Acts 26:15–18).

    There are times when I am focused on what I believe is right, while God may be gently leading me in another direction. I pray that I will remain in tune with Him and recognize what He is revealing to me, because continuing in my own way can only hurt me. My ways may look good from a worldly perspective or even seem right to others, but what matters most is what God desires. I want to recognize His voice, follow Him, and trust that His way is where I need to be.

    Application: Walking in Alignment with God’s Way

    Take time to bring an area of your life before God and ask Him to help you see it from His perspective. Be willing to examine what you believe and be open to His correction. If He brings something to your attention, pause and listen rather than continuing in your own way. Be willing to change and follow where He leads.

    Prayer
    Lord, help me to be receptive to Your voice, even when I do not realize I am going in the wrong direction. Give me a humble heart that listens when You correct me and the willingness to change. Keep my life aligned with Your ways, and help me trust Your wisdom above my own. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Claiming God’s Promise
    God is gracious and loving; even when I am going the wrong way, He corrects and redirects me. I trust Him to lead me in His ways.

    Image credit: Pexels | Scripture quotations used with permission – See details

  • Can These Bones Live?

    Bible Passage

    This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord. —Ezekiel 37:5–6 (NLT)

    Truth to Remember

    God is omnipotent and sovereign. Nothing is impossible for Him, and His purposes will be accomplished according to His will.

    Devotional Reflection

    In Ezekiel 37, God gives Ezekiel a vision of a valley filled with very dry bones. God asked Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” The bones represented the people of Israel, who had lost hope and felt that their situation was beyond restoration. God then showed Ezekiel that He had the power to bring life to what appeared completely dead and restore what seemed beyond hope. Ezekiel answered, “You know, God.” He did not know what God would do, but he trusted that God knew what He was doing. 

    This reminds me that God is all-knowing. There will be situations where I cannot see how anything can change, but God knows what I do not know. I must not look at a situation and conclude that it is hopeless. What appears dead or beyond restoration to me is not beyond God’s power. I need to be careful not to let what I see cause me to doubt Him. When I cannot see a way forward, I can trust that God is sovereign and knows what to do. Like Ezekiel, I may not know what God will do, but I can trust Him, knowing that He is in control.

    Application: Walking in Faith

    Believe in the supernatural and sovereign power of God. When a situation seems hopeless, do not allow what you see to determine what you believe God is able to do. Instead, bring the situation to God in prayer and remind yourself of who He is and what His Word says about His power. When doubt causes you to question what God can do, reject unbelief and choose to trust Him.

    Continue abiding in God and allow Him to guide you. Spend time in His Word, meditate on His promises, and pray about your situation. Remember His faithfulness and how He has worked in the past. You may not know how God will work, but you can trust that He knows what to do. When you cannot see a way forward, remember that God is sovereign and your situation is not hopeless.

    Prayer

    Sovereign Lord, help me to trust You when my situation seems hopeless. Keep me from doubting Your power or allowing unbelief to take hold.

    Remind me that You know what I do not know. Help me trust Your Word, remember Your faithfulness, and have confidence in Your power and sovereignty.

    Help me continue abiding in You and allowing You to guide me. When I cannot see a way forward, help me remember that You are in control and can do what I cannot do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Claiming God’s Promises

    God is sovereign and can do what I cannot do. I will trust Him.

    Image credit: Pexels | Scripture quotations used with permission – See details

  • The Word of Our Testimony

    Bible Passage:
    They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. — Revelation 12:11 (NIV)

    Truth to Remember:
    God has equipped us through Christ to triumph over the enemy, and our testimony declares our faith in the truth of His Word.

    Devotional Reflection

    Revelation 12:11 tells us that God’s people triumphed over the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Their victory was rooted in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished through His sacrifice. Through His blood, we have been redeemed and brought back to God. We do not overcome the enemy in our own strength. We stand in the victory Christ has made possible for us.

    The passage also speaks about the word of their testimony. These believers were witnesses to the truth of Christ, and they remained faithful to that truth even when they faced opposition. Our testimony is more than telling people what happened to us. It is declaring that God’s Word is true and bearing witness to His faithfulness. God says He will never leave us or forsake us, and when we have experienced His faithfulness, we can say, “God said it, and I have seen it to be true.” We can remember the times He carried us, provided for us, lifted us when we were discouraged, or made a way when we did not know how things would work out.

    The believers in Revelation did not love their lives more than they loved Christ. They remained faithful to their testimony even when it came at a great cost. Their example reminds me that my purpose is not to control every outcome, but to know God, believe His truth, and trust Him with my life. Sometimes I will not know what God will do or when He will do it, but I can trust that He sees what I cannot see and knows what I do not know. I can believe His promise, wait on Him, and trust Him with the outcome.

    Application: Remember and Declare God’s Faithfulness

    Choose one promise of God that you need to remember. Write down what God said and a specific time when you saw His faithfulness in your own life.

    When discouragement or doubt comes, return to that testimony. Remember what God has done and thank Him for His faithfulness. Then look for an opportunity to share what God has done with someone who may need to hear it.

    Reflection Question
    When the enemy’s lies challenge what you believe about God, what truth from His Word will you stand on?

    Prayer
    Heavenly Father, thank You for the blood of Jesus Christ and for redeeming us through Him. Help us to know Your Word, believe Your truth, and remember Your faithfulness. When we are discouraged or tempted to believe that we are alone, remind us of what You have said and what You have already done. Help us trust You even when we do not know how things will work out. Give us the courage to remain faithful to You and to be a witness to Your truth, although it comes at a cost. Let our testimony point others to You. May we never forget Your faithfulness or be afraid to declare what You have done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Claiming God’s Promise
    Because I belong to Christ, I will believe God’s Word, remember His faithfulness, and remain a faithful witness.

    Image credit: Pexels | Scripture quotations used with permission – See details

  • Honoring God With Our Bodies

    Bible Passage:
    Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. — 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NIV)

    Truth to Remember:
    God is our loving Redeemer who calls His people to holiness and faithfully strengthens them to obey His Word.

    Devotional Reflection:

    Paul reminds believers that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. In the context of this passage, he is addressing sexual immorality and calling God’s people to flee from sin because our bodies were never meant to be used in ways that dishonor Him. We were purchased at a great price through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because we belong to God, we are no longer free to live according to our own desires or standards. Instead, our lives should reflect our gratitude for the sacrifice Christ made to redeem us.

    This passage also reminds me that God’s commands are never meant to burden or restrict me. They flow from His holiness, wisdom, and love. Left to myself, I will often choose my own way, but God lovingly calls me to follow His. He knows what is best for me and desires to protect me from the consequences of sin. I cannot live the Christian life in my own strength. I need to depend on the Holy Spirit daily, allowing Him to reveal areas that need to change, helping me flee temptation, and giving me the strength to walk in obedience. Honoring God with my body is ultimately an expression of love, worship, and gratitude to the One who gave everything for me.

    Application: Honoring God with My Body

    Because your body belongs to God, choose to live in a way that honors Him. Recognize the situations, habits, or influences that lead you toward temptation, and intentionally flee from them rather than entertain them.

    Rely on God’s strength instead of your own by spending time in prayer, abiding in His Word, and seeking encouragement from mature believers. As you do, God will strengthen you to live a life that reflects His holiness and brings Him glory.

    Reflection Question:
    In what area of your life is God asking you to begin honoring Him more fully with your body?

    Prayer:
    Heavenly Father, thank You for redeeming me through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and for making my body the temple of Your Holy Spirit. Forgive me for the times I have chosen my own way instead of Yours. Help me to honor You with my body, my thoughts, and my actions. Give me the wisdom to recognize temptation, the courage to flee from it, and the strength to live according to Your Word. Continue transforming me into the person You have called me to be so that my life will bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Claiming God’s Promise:
    Because I belong to Christ, I choose to honor God with my body, trusting the Holy Spirit to strengthen me to walk in holiness and obedience each day.

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  • Giving Thanks for God’s Provision

    Bible Passage:
    For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. — 1 Timothy 4:4–5 (NIV)

    Truth to Remember:
    God is our gracious Provider who gives good gifts to His children, and through His Word and prayer He assures us we may receive them with thanksgiving.

    Devotional Reflection

    In this passage, Paul is correcting false teachers who were telling believers to reject things that God had created to be received with thanksgiving. Instead of trusting God’s Word, they imposed human rules that forbade what God had declared good.

    Although Paul is specifically speaking about food and other gifts of God’s creation, the principle extends beyond those examples. Whenever God graciously provides for us, our first response should be thankful acceptance rather than allowing human expectations, unnecessary rules, or misplaced priorities to shape how we view His gifts.

    We can easily lose sight of God’s goodness when our attention shifts from thanking Him for what He has provided to worrying about what others think of His provision. Instead of responding with gratitude, we may begin measuring God’s gifts by human standards rather than receiving them as blessings from His hand.

    This passage calls us to begin with thanksgiving. There may be times when we choose to care for, improve, or wisely use what God has entrusted to us, but those decisions should be motivated by faithful stewardship rather than a desire to satisfy the expectations or approval of others.

    Gratitude and the fear of people cannot rule the heart at the same time. As thankfulness for God’s provision grows, the influence of others’ opinions diminishes, allowing us to receive His gifts with the freedom and joy He intended.

    Application: Walking in God’s Truth

    Today, intentionally thank God for the blessings He has already given you. As you make decisions throughout the day, ask yourself, “Is my heart responding with gratitude for God’s provision, or am I being driven by comparison, fear, or the desire for approval?” Choose to receive God’s gifts with thanksgiving and steward them faithfully, trusting that His goodness is enough.

    Reflection Question:
    Are my decisions being shaped more by gratitude for God’s provision or by the desire to meet other people’s expectations?

    Prayer:
    Father, thank You for Your faithful provision and for every good gift You graciously give. Forgive us when we allow comparison or the opinions of others to overshadow gratitude. Teach us to receive Your blessings with thankful hearts and to steward them wisely. Free us from seeking the approval of people, and help us to live in a way that honors You above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Claiming God’s Promise:
    Because God is my faithful Provider, I will gratefully receive His provision and rest in His approval.

    Image credit: Pexels | Scripture quotations used with permission – See details

  • Why Did You Doubt?

    Bible Passage:
    Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” — Matthew 14:31 (NIV)

    Truth to Remember:
    Jesus is always with us. Because of His presence, we can face life’s storms with hope.

    Devotional Reflection

    When I read Jesus’ question, “Why did you doubt?” I don’t hear condemnation. I hear the voice of a loving Savior inviting Peter—and us—to remember something we easily forget.

    Peter had stepped out of the boat because Jesus called him. As long as his eyes were fixed on Jesus, he was doing the impossible. Then he noticed the wind, became afraid, and began to sink.

    I’ve often thought Peter’s answer would have been, “Because I saw the wind.” But the more I reflected on this passage, the more I realized something: the wind had been there all along. Peter stepped into the storm knowing it was raging around him. What changed wasn’t the storm—it was where Peter placed his attention.

    Yet what stands out to me even more isn’t Peter’s sinking. It’s what happened next.

    The moment Peter cried, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him. Jesus had not walked away. He hadn’t abandoned Peter because his faith faltered. He was right there.

    That is the truth I need to remember.

    So often I can become overwhelmed by life’s challenges. I see circumstances that seem too difficult, uncertainty about the future, or situations beyond my control. Like Peter, I can begin to sink under the weight of fear and doubt.

    But the answer is not to pretend the storm doesn’t exist. The answer is to remember that Jesus is with me in the middle of it.

    His presence doesn’t mean life will always be smooth. It doesn’t mean there won’t be painful seasons, unanswered questions, or moments when I feel weak. It means I never walk through those moments alone. My heavenly Father is with me. He guides me, strengthens me, lifts me up when I fall, and continues to lead me one step at a time.

    That is where my hope is found.

    When I remember that God is with me, doubt begins to lose its grip because I know I am never facing life’s storms by myself.

    Application: Walking in Hope

    The next time you find yourself overwhelmed by the storms of life, pause and remind yourself that Jesus is with you. Speak His promises over your heart. Call out to Him as Peter did, knowing He hears you. Whether you are standing firm or struggling to keep your footing, you are never alone. Let His presence be the foundation of your hope each day.

    Reflection Question:
    How would your perspective change today if you truly believed that Jesus is with you in every moment and will never leave you to face life’s storms alone?

    Prayer:
    Heavenly Father, thank You that You never leave us nor forsake us. When fear and doubt begin to overwhelm us, remind us that Your presence is greater than any storm we face. Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus and to remember that even when we stumble, You are there to lift us up. Teach us to place our hope in You, not because life will always be easy, but because You faithfully walk with us through every season. Thank You for guiding us, strengthening us, and holding us securely in Your loving hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Claiming God’s Promise:
    I will not lose hope because Jesus is always with me, faithfully guiding and strengthening me every step of the way.

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  • Setting Our Hope on God

    Bible Passage:
    On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. — 2 Corinthians 1:10b–11a (NIV)


    Truth to Remember:
    God is faithful. As we set our hope on Him, He continually sustains and delivers us according to His will, often through the prayers of His people.

    Devotional Reflection

    There have been times when I faced situations that seemed impossible to overcome. The burden felt heavier than I could carry, and I did not know how everything would work out. I found myself wrestling with worry and uncertainty, wondering how my family would make it through that difficult season.

    As I prayed to God for help, He met us in our need. He opened doors I could not have opened myself, provided in ways I never expected, and carried us through one step at a time. Looking back, I can clearly see His faithfulness. Remembering how He answered those prayers strengthens my hope today and reminds me that my confidence belongs in Him, not in my circumstances.

    Application: Walking in Hope

    Whatever challenge you are facing today, take time to remember how God has been faithful to you in the past. Let those memories strengthen your hope in Him. Continue to pray, invite others to pray with you, and trust that God. who has sustained you before, is still at work even when you cannot yet see what He is doing.

    Reflection Question:
    What past experience reminds you that God is faithful and worthy of your hope today?

    Prayer:
    Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness toward us. Help us to always place our hope in You, trusting that You will help us through every situation we encounter. When we face difficulties, remind us of the many times You have faithfully carried us through and reassure us that You will never leave nor forsake us.

    Teach us to make prayer our first response, knowing that You hear the desires of our hearts and will answer according to Your perfect will. Help us never to forget the many ways You have already worked in our lives. May those reminders strengthen our hope, deepen our trust, and bring You glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Claiming God’s Promise:
    I set my hope on God, knowing that He has delivered me, and He will continue to sustain me according to His will.

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  • Seeing Through God’s Eyes

    Bible Passage:
    People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.  —  1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)

    Truth to Remember:
    God is a wise Father who sees our hearts and invites us to trust His opinion above all others.

    Devotional Reflection

    There was a time when I felt nervous during a situation and discouraged afterward because it did not go as I had hoped. As I replayed it in my mind, I became focused on my perceived shortcomings and what others might think of me. My attention was fixed on outward appearance rather than God’s perspective.

    As I reflected on this verse, God reminded me that His evaluation is different from human evaluation. While I was focused on how I appeared, God was looking at my heart. He saw my desire to obey Him and honor Him despite my fears. This helped me shift my focus from seeking the approval of others to seeking His approval. Rather than focusing on my own assessment or the opinions of others, I could trust God’s perspective. While others may have only seen someone struggling, God saw a heart that was relying on Him, pressing through fear, and choosing obedience.

    Application: Walking in God’s Perspective

    When you find yourself worrying about what others think, remember that people can only see what is happening on the outside. They may see your mistakes or struggles, but they cannot see the faith, prayers, and desire to obey God that lie beneath them.

    Rather than measuring yourself by how you think you appeared to others, ask whether you were faithful to what God was asking you to do. Trust your wise Heavenly Father, whose opinion matters most because He looks at the heart. As you walk with Him, He is using every circumstance to grow your faith and trust in Him.

    Reflection Question:
    Am I more focused on how I appear to others, or on being faithful to what God is asking me to do?

    Prayer:
    Lord, thank You that You look at the heart and not outward appearance. Forgive us for the times we place too much weight on the opinions of others. Help us to seek Your approval above all else and to trust Your perspective when we feel insecure or discouraged. Teach us to walk in faithful obedience, knowing that You are at work within us, accomplishing Your will. Amen.

    Claiming God’s Promise:
    I will trust God’s view of me more than my own or others’ opinions, because He sees the heart He is shaping for His purposes.

    Image credit: Pexels | Scripture quotations used with permission – See details