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Life is Messy: How to Restore Order in Your Heart

What a mess!

We often find ourselves saying that—whether it’s about the massive clutter in your bedroom closet, the breakfast spills from a toddler, or an emotional mess from a breakup or divorce.

Then there are the “big messes,” like the horrific damage—physically and emotionally—to Lahaina, a community in Maui, Hawaii that was recently obliterated by devastating fires.

Many lives lost. People missing. Hearts broken. Homes and businesses burned to the ground.

My heart breaks for them.

Whether the messes in your life are big, small, or somewhere in between, how do you clean them up and move forward.

What do you do when you feel sad or overwhelmed—or just plain numb?

The Good News? God is all about fixing broken things and restoring people.

Restoring order to your heart
God is willing and able to restore your life. He is more than able! God can help you to:

Order your heart to make room for God and to connect with Him on deeper levels.

Order your emotions and clear out lingering anger, bitterness, pride or other things to increase your joy and contentment.

Order your thoughts and get rid of mental clutter so you can focus on your priorities—and realign your life.

Clearing the clutter from your heart is the focus for today—asking God to change your inner life so you can be transformed from the inside out.

And when you do, you become better equipped for ordering the other areas of life.

It’s a process.

And it starts with prayer.

Prayer is vital to making significant life changes.

As you talk with God in prayer, ask Him to cleanse, heal and restore every area of your life.

Cleanse Me
We get hurt, or we hurt others, so our hearts needs to be cleansed of any wrong-doing.
Ask God, What do I need to release?

Maybe you need to let go of resentment, offense, bitterness, or a judgmental attitude.

Whatever it is, ask God for forgiveness and cleansing in your own life.

When we are repentant and ask, God forgives us. Freely and with grace—and our parched weary hearts feel clean again, like clear, pure water washing away the dirt, shame, or pain.

Heal Me
What areas need healing in your life? You may already know, but you may not.

Ask God, Lord, what needs healing? Please heal me. Restoration and healing may come suddenly or over time. God works differently at different times. But He is always at work. And our great God has the power—and the willingness—to help us and heal us.

Fill Me
As you are cleansed and healed, ask God to fill you.
Ask God, What do I need to add or bring into to my life?

You’ve taken off or released things that have hindered you, like pride for example, and now “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).

Being OK with the process
Remember, change is a process. Going from emotional mess to heart order doesn’t happen overnight.

Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. But that’s part of healing. Hang in there, it will get better!

It’s like road construction. You often have to deal with cracked concrete and bothersome detours first before a smooth, new road is built.

Likewise, clearing the clutter from your heart takes time—and sometimes a few bumps along the way.

As you pray and take action, you will find more peace and freedom. You’ll feel lighter—as if a weight has been lifted from you.

In addition, you’ll be making room for new perspective and better days ahead.

And when you do, you never know what surprises our great God may have in store for you.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
–Jesus, in John 16:33

By Jackie M. Johnson

IT’S NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER IN AMERICA 2023!

Today is the annual National Day of Prayer in America!

What a blessing that every year millions of people across our nation on the first Thursday in May to join together in prayer for the land—and the people—we love.

Whether they gather at one of the hundreds of prayer events around the country, or watch the livestream (on Thursday evening, May 4, 2023 at 8 p.m. Eastern on the NDP website and on many Christian radio and TV stations), or pray in small groups or alone, it is a time to call upon our great God to help and heal our nation.

The National Day of Prayer website provides a wealth of information about the event.

Here are some suggestions they provide for why we pray for America—with added practical lists on what to pray for specifically.

WHY PRAY FOR AMERICA?

God is sovereign and nothing comes as a surprise to Him. Whether we face fluctuating economics, threats from abroad, unrest at home, or other troubling circumstances, our Heavenly Father is not caught unaware.

Through prayer, we are able to tap into His wisdom, strength, protection, and peace. He stands ready to respond to our needs when we humbly ask for divine intervention in the affairs of men.

As we Pray for America whose pledge of allegiance recounts that we are “one nation under God”… and we want Americans to encounter the God who rules over their country.

“He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man, He who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth—the LORD God Almighty is His name.”
—Amos 4:13 NIV

He is the One who gave us this promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by My name, will 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 will heal their land.”

As we humbly and diligently seek Him, we’ll be changed, and we’ll see transformation in America through prayer!

HOW TO PRAY FOR AMERICA
PRAY FOR SEVEN (7) CENTERS OF INFLUENCE IN OUR NATION

1. GOVERNMENT
Pray for your leaders, as well as the judges in our courts. Ask God to grant them wisdom to act with integrity. (I Kings 3:28; I Timothy 2:1-2; Exodus 18:21; Proverbs 11:3; Romans 13:1-2)

Federal Government
Consider praying for our President, Vice President, Cabinet Members, Congressional Leaders, Supreme Court Justices

State Government
Consider praying for your Governor, Executive Leaders, Legislative Leaders, Judicial Leaders

Local Government
Consider praying for your Mayor, City Counsel, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Judges, County Officials

Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• Provide leaders with wise and godly counselors who will provide honest wisdom and encouragement
• Well up humility in the hearts of leaders to make apologies or adjustments when these things are necessary
• Lord, pour out a spirit of cooperation between elected leaders
• Break down the barriers that are built up by selfish ambition for personal power

2. MILITARY
Perseverance to endure hardship (Isaiah 43:2; Deuteronomy 31:6)

Wise leaders who inspire respect from those under their command (Romans 13:1)

Protection and support for the families they have left behind (Romans 1:8-10)

Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• Pray for the leaders to make wise and righteous decisions based on biblical principles rather than personal career gains
• Lord, help all military personnel see You working in their daily lives, that You are with them, whether they are in the field, at home, or abroad
• Remove stigmas for seeking medical attention for mental and physical needs
• God, hold the families of service members close, and may they look to You for the strength and peace that only You can give
• Comfort the spouses who are separated due to military jobs—keep these marriages strong

3. MEDIA

Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• Lord, encourage the believers who are called to use their creative gifts to glorify You and cultivate a culture of concern for one another
• Teach us to use the news as prayer prompts and ideas for how to serve our local community
• Pour out wisdom for people who bring funding to entertainment media to fund things that are wholesome and speak the truth of God
• Send creativity for artists to create thought-provoking works of art and entertainment that point towards Your redemptive plan for humanity
• Strengthen the Christians in these spheres to boldly stand for Biblical truth in the writer’s rooms, board meetings and creative processes

4. BUSINESS
For areas that need an economic boost (Psalm 132:15).

For Christian workers to display Christ-like humility and service to their co-workers.

Suggestions for WHAT to pray

• May each business leader be of great character: of integrity, humbleness of spirit and heart, honest in speech and actions, empathetic and vulnerable.
• Lord, raise up a workforce that is filled with a spirit of excellence and unity in all they do

5. EDUCATION
For a safe atmosphere conductive to learning

Excellence in educators (Exodus 18:20-21)

Equal opportunities for every student to achieve their full potential (Philippians 1:9)

Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• To stir the hearts of parents to take an active role in the academic, spiritual, and emotional formation of their children
• Guide school boards to be wise in choosing curriculums that uphold the truth of the Word
• Set young people free from the hopelessness, despair, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and substance abuse
• Bless teachers with an outpouring of grace and endurance of such magnitude it overflows onto their students, their schools, and their communities

6. CHURCH

For the church would find a new zeal and commitment to the mission and purpose of Jesus Christ (Matt 22:37)

Unity with and among churches that reveal God’s love to the world (John 17:23)

Integrity–that God’s people look and act differently from the world (I Peter 2:11; 1 Corinthians 13:6)

Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• God, use Your Church as a beacon of light and joy to a world that is searching for answers
• Jesus, give your pastors keen wisdom and insight that is in tune with your Spirit so they would never lose sight of the mission of Your Church
• Lord, open hearts in the church to care for people outside the church, to be praying for them and to become visibly and tangibly concerned and helping them in needs and struggles
• Remind us to eagerly look for ways to use our time, talents, and treasures to build up the Body of Christ

7. FAMILY
Unity and love in individual families that reach out in hospitality toward others (Romans 12:9-13)

Establish healthy relationships between parents and children (Malachi 4:5-6)

Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• Wisdom in choosing a spouse; to be equally yoked together in faith
• Grant us humility, and with that humility bring stability and peace to families
• Give husbands and wives the grace to consider each other before self
• Endurance for single parents or grandparents stepping in as parents
• Comfort for families moving forward through grief
• Strengthen families who also serve as caretakers for medically fragile family members
• Give empty-nest parents comfort in transition and the vision to grasp their new role as full-time intercessors for adult kids
• Harmony in blended families
• Create a means of escape and healing from harmful family dynamics

Finally, from the National Day of Prayer website, here is the 2023 Prayer for America:

2023 National Prayer For America

We come with fervent hearts to praise You Lord.
You are The Word, the Way, Truth and Life.

The Alpha and Omega, Lion of Judah, Almighty God
who was, and is, and is to come.

You clothed Yourself in flesh and dwelt among us, to remove
our sin and clothe us in Your righteousness that
we might dwell with You forever and ever.

With broken, humbled hearts we repent of our
sins. Confessing to You our faithlessness,
prayerlessness, and disobedience.

Forgive us for our doubt, our prideful and quarrelsome words
that reveal our unclean hearts.

Cleanse us and renew a right and steadfast spirit within us we
pray.

With grateful hearts we thank You fervently for
the blessings in our life and throughout
America; they are more than we are able to
count.

We will remember Your grace and testify
to Your goodness in all generations.

Help us to refrain from complaining, but instead be
prompted to pray faithfully in every
circumstance. Teach us to have a content heart
knowing You are always enough for our every
need.

As the Church we commit to pray and love our
neighbor and nation as You loved us, that our
reputation in this world would be rooted in Your
love.

Holy Spirit work and overflow through us
in every prayer, thought, word, and deed. May
our character, conversations, and conduct
reflect the righteousness in which You clothed
us and command us to live.

With an obedient heart we put on the full armor
of God; Your breastplate of righteousness
guards our heart from which flows the springs of
life.

We pray fervently for our communities and
country; the people who are in the Church,
Family, Education, Business and Workplace,
Military, Government, Arts, Entertainment and
Media.

Every person is Your workmanship,
fearfully and wonderfully created and loved.
With hopeful hearts we pray that all would
choose to receive Your love and follow You.

We pray that America would confess, “Jesus is
Lord” and reflect Your righteousness in every
sphere of influence, and every aspect of our
lives. We ask that heavenly hope would flood
our hearts, silence hate, and that You will heal
our land.

Believing You; all You are, all You said, and all
You have promised, we pray fervently in
righteousness and avail much. In Jesus Name
we pray, Amen!

–Kathy Branzell, President, National Day of Prayer Task Force

Prayer changes things! And it changes us.

Remember, “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16).

We choose to trust God, and pray on!

PRAYER RESOURCES by Jackie M. Johnson

Power Prayers for Women

Praying with Power When Life Gets Tough

Prayers With Purpose for Women

60-Second Refreshment: Power Prayers for Women

Photo credit: Aaron Burden, Unsplash

By Jackie M. Johnson

Discovering the HOPE and JOY of Easter All Year Long

When I was a kid, Easter was all about the candy—and how much my siblings and I could consume before our parents pulled the plug on our holiday sugar fix.

Of course, we dyed eggs in various pastel colors. And I looked forward to wearing a pretty new dress on Easter Sunday. I enjoyed the festivities and the food (especially the lamb-shaped coconut cake my Grandma always served).

Back then, I had no idea there was more to this springtime celebration.

Infinitely more.

When I was in high school, I learned about the true and deeper meaning of Easter—the amazing grace and unconditional love and forgiveness available to each of us through Jesus Christ.

Amazing Love
I don’t know if we will ever fully comprehend God’s amazing love for us.

Think about someone you love. Maybe it’s your boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife, best friend, or a child. As much as you love that person, God loves you infinitely more. Always and all the time. No matter who you are or what you’ve done.

God’s love is mind-blowing love. Love that changes everything.

In fact, God loved you and me—and all people—so much that He demonstrated it in a way the world would never forget. John 3:16 tells us,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

That, my friend, is very good news.

Because of what Jesus Christ accomplished—overcoming death on a Cross and rising again victorious and alive—we can live forever, forgiven and free!

That is the hope and joy of Easter. Let’s celebrate!

So, how can we live out the joy of Easter every day?

Here are four (4) key ideas I’ve been pondering:

1. There is no resurrection without first a death.
There is no glorious Easter Sunday without a Good Friday.

Likewise, some things in our own lives need to “die,” they need to go. Like pride, resentment, out of control anger, or bad habits.
How do we get rid of them? By surrender. Giving our mistakes and messes to God in prayer—releasing the bad in exchange for the good—so we can become all we’re intended to be.

2. There’s a time of waiting.
After Christ was buried in a tomb, silence. Then waiting. And on the third day He rose out of that grave—alive!

In our own lives, after we have surrendered different areas of our lives to God, we often have to wait days, years or even decades for things to change.

But it is in the quiet and dark seasons of life that our character is tested.

How will we respond while we wait—with patience and faith, or with pouting and fear?

Galatians 6:9 reminds us to trust God’s timing: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

3. Believe for the day things will “arise.”
At the first break of dawn, on the third day after He was buried, a group of people went to the tomb to check on the body of Jesus. Here’s what happened:

“As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'” (Mark 16:5-7)

Easter means ultimate victory!

Christ powerfully arose from the dead. And today, He resurrects hopes and dreams in our lives, too.

Like a tender green shoot that erupts from the cool, dark earth, something worthy and wonderful happens in our own lives. To our joyful surprise, we arise to:

Joy after sorrow.

Peace after pain.

Forgiveness after an argument.

Dormant dreams springing to life.

Hope for the days ahead.

4. Live like you believe.
Easter is only one day of the year. But we can live the joy of the holiday every day.

Do you have dreams that seem dead?

A desire for a healthy dating relationship, a great marriage, a loving family?

A new business or ministry idea?

Perhaps you want to lose weight or end a bad habit.

As believers, we have “incomparably great power…that power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead.” (see Ephesians 1:19-20).

That’s some kind of power!

God’s strength in you, in me, today—and every day.

Prepare for Easter
As you anticipate the upcoming Easter season, you may want to try some of these ideas to prepare your heart for Resurrection Sunday:

• Read the Easter story. Sure, this story is familiar to many of us. But read it again (or even read it aloud) and find some new insights this year. If the story is new, turn to the book of Mark or any of the Gospels in your Bible and read about the astonishing things God has done.

• Reflect. In your prayer time, ask God what you need to surrender, to let go of—and what needs to arise to in your life. Ask Him for the strength to help you.

• Gather with other believers at church on Easter morning. Or find a sunrise service in your area held outdoors, which can be inspiring in new ways.

Because the tomb is empty, our lives can be full.

May the JOY of Easter be with you this season, and always. He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

By Jackie M. Johnson

The Wonder of Christmas: Experience His Love Anew

Imagine a night with a million stars in the sky.

It is cold and dark. You are a young shepherd sitting on a hillside tending the flock. It is quiet, except for the occasional bleating of the sheep. And a few words with your fellow shepherds.

It is an ordinary night.

Then suddenly, a bright light bursts open the darkness! And there’s an angel.

An angel!

And the angel is speaking to you in your own language. What would you do?

Here’s the true story:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them,

‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. –Luke 2:8-19

Long ago, ordinary shepherds were astonished that an angel had chosen them to hear the extraordinary good news:

He’s here!

He came! Just like the prophets of old said He would hundreds of years before. Messiah. Jesus Christ. Deliverer has come!

What else could they do but go to see—and fall on their knees in awe and worship.

And now, we celebrate again the wonder of night Christ was born.

And we, too, fall on our knees and worship in awe.

Grateful for the Love that changed everything.

God loved the people of this world so much

that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who has faith in him

will have eternal life and never really die.

John 3:16 (CEV)

For more Christmas and Advent posts by Jackie M. Johnson:

Preparing Your Heart for Christmas (Part 1)

Preparing Your Heart for Christmas (Part 2)

Preparing Your Heart for Christmas (Part 3)

Photo credit: Kailash Kumar, pexels

By Jackie M. Johnson

PREPARING YOUR HEART FOR CHRISTMAS (WEEK 3) Awe + Wonder

Welcome to week 3 of the series, “Preparing Your Heart for Christmas.” Our Advent journey continues as we look to the Christmas story and our response to it.

The Advent season is a “holy awakening” of sorts.

Take a moment—away from the noise and clutter and demands of the season—to look anew at all that Christmas means, and let it change you all year through.

First, let’s read the Christmas story, about the birth of Jesus, in Luke 2:1-20. Then read inspiring words about God’s peace and love—and our response in awe and wonder.

The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Wow! What a beautiful story of Jesus coming to earth in such a humble way. For you. For me.

And the baby Jesus grew up.

And taught us how to love each other, and how to live forgiven and free. And how to have a relationship with Him so we could be with God forever in Heaven. Forever.

To help you reflect on this amazing gift, here are a few inspiring excerpts for preparing our hearts for Christmas—by remembering God’s peace and love, and then being moved in our response in awe and wonder. Because of His love, we are forever changed.

(Excerpts from Ruth Chou Simons’ book, Emmanuel.)

PEACE
Peace on earth…the peace we all say we want at Christmas, and year ‘round, is a gift that comes through trusting Jesus to provide what we cannot. True peace with God is the good news of the gospel, but continuing peace of mind—the peace that surpasses understanding—is the byproduct of trusting God through prayer and thanksgiving.

LOVE
As we continue in this Advent season…we encounter a love that is greater than any…love is the character of God, and this is the love that changes everything for a believer.

When the love of God, cradled in a lowly manger, becomes our greatest gift of the Christmas season and throughout the year, we can’t help buy lavish such love onto others…and declare His love with our actions before a watching world.

AWE + WONDER.

The miracle of Christmas is this: that a holy God made a way for all who believe to come to Him…by first coming to us.

Let that sink in.

God’s promises, fulfilled by God Himself, are more than remarkable; they merit a response—not to get busy, but to fall down in reverence and awe for our great God.

PONDER
What stirs up awe and wonder in your soul?

PRAYER
Father, You are worthy of our praise.
When we consider Your faithfulness
through the works of Your hands,
through the gift of Your Son, and
through the ways You care for us day by day,
we’re humbled and we remember once again:
You are God and we are not.
Lord, forgive us for the ways we try to steal Your glory
and trust in ourselves. You draw near to us each day
and put on display the ways
You are still sovereign and good.
May we give You the adoration and praise You deserve—
not just this Christmas season, but each and every day.
Amen.

Resources from Jackie M. Johnson

If you are feeling lonely this holiday season.

If you are dealing with a loss or tragedy.

If you are feeling discouraged or down, and need to get your joy back.

If you need to find peace.

–Excerpts from Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always. By Ruth Chou Simons
(Harvest House Publishers, 2022)

Photo credit: Alain Gehri, Unsplash

By Jackie M. Johnson

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