Prayer “demands”

Here there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. For this post, because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post.

Podcast highlights:

  • I was taught that when interacting with my parents, or authority figures, you answered and spoke with respect.
  • Demanding how and when we wanted something done in a loud tone was grounds for serious physical correction.
  • I saw a post from a friend of mine, who was pondering how we often “order God around” when we pray.
  • Are we authorized to tell God when and how we want things done?

KJV Scripture Reference

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Acts 17:28

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Psalms 100:3

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

BCUFam, after pondering Dr. Sue’s post, while the Lord knows “what we mean” or the heart behind what we are telling Him, I thought about how much I dislike someone demanding something from me, without a hello, please or thank you. Moreover, with the help of the Lord, I like to make sure that when I ask for someone to do something for me, I treat that person with respect——with the proper manners, tone and gratitude. So, if we, who are made in God’s image do this amongst ourselves, then how MUCH MORE should we extend proper requests to the Lord who made the heavens and the Earth? The Everlasting Father whose breath He gives us every day? Our Lord and Savior, Jesus who lifts our heads and dries our tears? I could go on and on about how awesome Jesus is——but when we think of who He is, we should make our requests known to Him with the reverence and honor that the King of Kings deserves. Amen? Amen. Let’s pray about it!

Father in the name of Jesus, as we come before You, we want to start off with “thank You”. Thank You, Jesus, for Your provision, protection, Your loving-kindness, which is better than life! We bless and praise Your Holy Name and for the love You have for us, that will let us know when we are in error. And Lord, as we reflect on the podcast and are reminded of the times where we told You what to do, or demanded that You do something now, please forgive us, Lord Jesus.

For some of us who have had these “demands” sometimes we were angry, sad, frustrated, tired, stressed, agitated, desperate, or worried. Other times, though, we did feel like we “deserved” our request and wanted it now. In any case, once again, we thank You for forgiving us, and going forward, please help us, Jesus, to be mindful of how we approach and ask things of You. Please help us to remember it is You that have made us, and not we ourselves (Psalm 100:4). It is You, Jesus, who died and rose again for us! It is You Jesus, who gave many of us the gift of the Holy Ghost! It is in You Jesus, that we live, move and have our being——we cannot do anything without You! So we certainly have no claim to tell You what to do and how we want it done.

Instead, we will make our requests known unto You, through prayer, supplication and thanksgiving, and Your peace, which passes all understanding, will guide our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Thank You for helping us to come to You correctly, and help us to approach one another correctly as well, with our speech seasoned with salt, so that the people who are hearing us, see and hear You, Jesus. We thank You for this and all things, in Jesus Name, Amen!

As a reminder, if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, X,and Instagram. Also, if you so inclined, join us Thursday nights––we are LIVE on YouTube 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify!

Thank you SO much for stopping by! God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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Haste, waste, stress & mess.

Here there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. For this post, because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post.

Podcast highlights:

  • Blogging/podcasting is such wonderful blessing to me—–the Lord has truly brought BCU a LONG way!
  • Experience has taught me that I need to break my podcast production into two parts.
  • One particular week, I leaned to my own faulty understanding and did not follow that teaching.🤦🏽‍♀️
  • Listen in to what happened, and what the Lord taught me about haste, waste and prayer.

KJV Scripture Reference

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalm 63:1

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

I Thessalonians 5:17

 Pray without ceasing.

BCU Fam, we live in a society where it is almost a badge of honor to be busy, running, stressed and tired. There is no biblical evidence of that being a requirement for salvation, or living the Christian life. In order to combat this worldly mindset, with the help of the Lord, we should acknowledge Him regarding ALL our tasks, even the things we know we have to take care of routinely. I am not saying that we need to ask the Lord if we should brush our teeth or clean up the spilled milk before we leave for work. Rather, if we make it a habit to start our day with prayer (Psalm 63:1), and pray throughout the day, asking the Lord for the wisdom, knowledge and understanding on how to carry out our assignments, and which ones take priority for the day, He will help us. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You, thank You so much for the reminder, as always to acknowledge You in all of our ways. Whether we are going to work, school, at home, taking care of family, whatever it is, please help us to ask You, Jesus, in what sequence things should go in for the day.

Help us, Jesus to hear You and follow that sequence, so that we are not walking around tired, stressed, angry, agitated, irritated, or any of those things that are not of You. Thank You for giving us the grace to follow what You tell us to do, as we look forward to being more productive and doing things in the kairos time zone, according to Your will and way! In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

As a reminder, if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, X,and Instagram. Also, if you so inclined, join us Thursday nights––we are LIVE on YouTube 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify!

Thank you SO much for stopping by! God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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Need a pick-me-up? Let’s read Psalm 91!

Here there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. For this post, because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post.

Podcast highlights:

  • While many of us know the Lord, there are times when we feel afraid, lonely, defeated, attacked or just depleted.
  • At the time of this podcast, I am having a bit of a valley experience (yes, it happens to me, too).
  • A dear sister encouraged me to read Psalm 91—which happens to be a favorite of mine!
  • By the time the Lord took me through His Word, I felt SO much lighter and refreshed–glory to God! I pray you are encouraged as well!

KJV Scripture Reference

Psalm 91

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

So BCU Fam, I feel like GOING ON! What about you? Let’s pray about it!

Father in the Name of Jesus, as we come before You today, we thank You that we dwell in the secret place of the Most High, so that means we abide under Your shadow. We thank You that we can confidently say You are our refuge, fortress and our God and we trust in You. We thank You for delivering us from the snare of the fowler and the noisome pestilence! We thank you that a thousand may fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, but it doesn’t come near us.

We thank You, Lord Jesus, that you are our habitation, no plague comes nigh our dwelling and for giving Your angels charge over us. We thank you for setting Your love upon us, delivering us and that we call on You and You answer us. You will be with us in trouble and You will deliver, honor and show us Your salvation and give us long life! Thank You, Jesus for everything in Psalm 91 and how it applies to us.

Thank You for speaking to someone’s troubled heart and mind, for calming and settling us down and for the victory In Jesus Name, we pray, Amen!

As a reminder, if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, X,and Instagram. Also, if you so inclined, join us Thursday nights––we are LIVE on YouTube 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify!

Thank you SO much for stopping by! God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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Cut-off Culture | Michele L. Perry

Hey there BCU Fam!

Because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording (click here or on the BCU avatar below) and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Podcast highlights:

  • “Cut-off culture” is a relatively new phrase, but not a new phenomenon.
  • Basically, when someone offends you, cut-off culture says stop dealing with the person immediately and permanently.
  • This mindset is contrary to the Word of God and should be avoided as a way to handle all offenses.
  • A friend of mine, Michele L. Perry, spoke about this attitude in a post about a conversation she had with her late father.

Scripture references:

Matthew 5:43-48

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

BCUFam, we thank the Lord for Michele and sharing her story so that we can stay away from participating in this cut-off culture that is so prevalent right now. The Lord knew that we would be offended by people, so He gave us the blueprint as to how to handle it—we go to the person and talk to them about it (see Matthew 18:15). By doing things God’s way, we will get perfect [however God works it out] results. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You today, we thank You for coming by with a Word to encourage us to examine ourselves. We thank You for helping us to see any lack of forgiveness, or patterns of cancelling people, in any relationships that we have, and helping us to choose to walk out Ephesians 4:32, where we are commanded to be kind, forgiving and tender-hearted toward one another.

Bless us to remember that You have forgiven us, so we want to continue forgive others. Thank You for the victory in this area, so we are without spot, wrinkle or blemish, and You are glorified in our lives, in Jesus name, we pray, Amen.

As a reminder, if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Also, if you so inclined, join us for our Thursday Night Bible Study––we are LIVE on YouTube 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform BCU is available on. Some of those platforms are Amazon Music, AnchorFm, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify,  Stitcher Radio , and many more of your favorite podcast platforms!

Thank you SO much for stopping by! May God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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But God…

Hey there BCU Fam!

Because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording (click here or on the BCU avatar below) and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Podcast highlights:

  • A while back, a close acquaintance reached out to me about a family needing some godly counsel.
  • The family gets along well most of time, but when they do not, things escalate in an enormous way.
  • The last family incident led to a heated verbal skirmish, and no matter how we counseled, things got WORSE!
  • As my heart began to sink in defeat, the Lord reminded me that He was in control.

Scripture references:

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Matthew 19:26

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Philippians 4:6-8

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things

Isaiah 26:3

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.

BCUFam, the Lord wants us to know He heard our cry and that we do not have to keep worrying and putting worse case scenarios together in our minds. With His help, we want to let God be God and allow Him to take care of the situation, rather than us trying to control the outcome (which we cannot do anyway——-it’s futile!) So let’s take our “but God” to Jesus and cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You, as always, we thank You for the Word, and for letting us know we can turn whatever we are concerned about over to You. We are asking You to calm our minds and spirits down, Jesus. Help us to hear Your comforting voice, and relax knowing You are able to do exceedingly, abundantly above ALL we can ask or think according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20)——and we thank You for that. Thank You that we don’t need to be anxious or full of care about anything, but in everything, with prayer, thanksgiving and supplication we make our requests known unto You and Your peace, that passes all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6). So we thank You that we can walk around care-free and confident, knowing You will take care of everything.

We commit the family in the podcast to You, Jesus——thank You for moving in a super-natural way on their behalf. We ask that You remember any and everyone else that has a situation, care, concern, worry, or request before You, Jesus, and we thank You for working it out according to Your excellent greatness. Thank You in advance for the victory, good report and testimony You will provide. And in the meantime and in between time, we thank You for covering and keeping us as we continue to serve You. And when the enemy comes in with the ifs, ands, buts or suppose, we know we can refer to and rely on Your Word to sustain our minds in perfect peace, as we keep out minds stayed on You because we trust You! Thank You for helping our thoughts to glorify You at all times, in Jesus name we pray, Amen!

As a reminder, if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Also, if you so inclined, join us for our Thursday Night Bible Study––we are LIVE on YouTube 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform BCU is available on. Some of those platforms are Amazon Music, AnchorFm, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify,  Stitcher Radio , and many more of your favorite podcast platforms!

Thank you SO much for stopping by! May God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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