Tag: Authentic

Prayer for Confidence

- JaclynPalmer Leave a comment

Surrounded by trees. Overlooking a lake. Days on a beach. Nights around a fire. These are a few of my favorite things.

Yes, I wear makeup. Yes, I wear jewelry. Yes, I shave. Yes, my nails are painted. Yes, this is how I camp, and I love it. In the city or in the mountains, I am Jaclyn. It’s who I am.

How refreshing to learn who we are. Truly. That no matter what we are doing, we do it as who we are. No thought as to what is expected or what we “should be.”

Simply you. Pure, true, comfortable, confident.

Father, I love freedom. I love that freedom matters to you. That it is a concept designed by you. A gift deep within us that our souls desire.

Freedom from the reign of another.

Freedom from sin.

Freedom from chains.

Freedom from expectations.

Freedom from past.

Freedom from shame.

Freedom from lies.

Freedom from fear.

Freedom from all things that weigh us down, that lead us away from you, that stumble before us as traps daring us to fall.

We have a confidence in You! That confidence allows us the strength to stand in freedom.

Father, thank you for the gift of freedom.

Freedom is vulnerable sometimes. Or is this thought just mine?

I don’t think I’m alone in this. To stand in freedom is a bold proclamation on which we proudly stand. That’s vulnerable. Arms raised in exhalation – free of hindrances. That’s confident. Oh, that we see freedom as a gift, and that we stand confidently in that freedom! May our confidence bring honor to God and to the ones who gave us the very freedom in which we stand.

Confidence in our Father’s love.

Confidence in our Savior’s resurrection.

Confidence in the Spirit’s leading.

Confidence in your nation’s heritage.

Confidence in your spouse.

Confidence in your parenting styles.

Confidence in your ability.

Confidence in your smile.

Confidence in your You.

You are free to be confident. In the city or the mountains. 😉 Be you.

Philippians 1:6

Jaclyn

God knows the heart of our work.

- JaclynPalmer Leave a comment

One act. Two hearts. God knows the heart of our work.

In our work, we are personally responsible for how we build with the resources we choose to use. The catchy part is, God knows our hearts. He knows when we serve with a heart of Gold. He knows when our pretentious heart of Silver is an act of flammable hay. He knows when we feel like all we have to offer is straw, yet he beholds your heart as a Precious Stone.

Friend be honest with yourself. For God knows your heart.

I am personally responsible for the materials I use to build me.

You are personally responsible for the materials you use to build you.

You and I personally create the church of God. You and I are the church, individually and corporately. Do you see the big picture? Do you see your impact? Do you see the power that you have to construct the church of God with the right materials?

Gold. Silver. Precious Stones. In the Old Testament, these three materials were used to construct the physical temple of God. Solomon’s construction is detailed in Scripture5 . Throughout its descriptive construction, gold, silver and precious stones were gifted to the craftsmen to embellish the building process of the temple. Oh, to see how richly it glittered the evidence of being God’s house!

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – 1 Corinthians 3:11-12

Wood. Hay. Straw. These three materials get a bad rap because they are flammable. I get that concept but allow me to state this one simple truth. These three items were created by His hand, cradled his infancy, and supported his final breath. We do not magnify these items, but we do not deny their availability and usefulness to withhold the brightness of his personal work of love. They were natural elements that got the job done. No, they do not have any eternal gain, nor do they offer any substantial growth. But at times they can be useful and efficient.

Gold, silver, precious stones. What are they to you? How can you dig for gold, search for silver, and display precious stones in you today? Take Paul’s warning of how you build to heart and Shine the evidence of being His. Oh, to see how richly you shine the evidence of being God’s house!

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Wednesday, Sweet Father, It’s Wednesday

- JaclynPalmer Leave a comment

Lord, these days! How comical they are. So very uneventful and redundant and normal. As if each day is simply a day to wake up and live a day. To see the sky, to feel the temperature on our skin, to smile at nature, to listen to the song of a bird.

Lord, the garbage man comes today. I pray for him. I pray protection over his people as he comes home from work each night. Lord, thank you for his essential job. We all are thankful for his continued work. Perhaps we’ll leave him some cookies today.

Lord, I have a pick up at Albertsons today. How excited I am to drive a mile to grab my pickup. Hm. Perhaps, we will take our bikes. It’s not a large order. My son and I can pull up in a pick up spot. That would be fun. Ha. Lord, I pray for my favorite Albertsons employees. Oh, how I love them all. Bless each one of them. Keep them safe as they continue faithful in their work and in the giving of their smiles.

Lord, my son has a day of school with his teachers from Cole. Oh, how thankful we are for his teachers! Lord, I know they miss being with their students as much as these kids miss being with them. Thank you for their daily availability and love.

Lord, my prayer sisters have a day before them. I pray for the schedule that sits before them. Whether their schedule involves a normal day working in their essential occupation or whether it includes staying at home with their people. I pray a smile, Your light, and Your presence deep within their souls. Guide their hands and feet to serve the ones around them. Lead their heart to hold and help the ones in need of their care. Father, open their eyes to the beauty of this day.

Wednesday, sweet Father, it’s Wednesday. Help us to embrace the uneventful, redundant and normal day that sits before us.

Thank you for this Wednesday,

XOXO

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