InstaEncouragements Blog

2 Desperate Prayers of King Hezekiah

7/15/2022

What should be our #motivation for #praying desperate #prayers? #Hezekiah lays it out clearly in #Isaiah 37. “…that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone are the #Lord.” Isaiah 37:20b Friend, #God hears your prayers of #desperation. He sees your tears, just as He did with King Hezekiah. “…Thus says the Lord, the God... I have heard your #prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.” Isaiah 38:5 #pray #Biblestudy #Oldtestament #Scripture #Jesus

“Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before You in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” Isaiah 38:3

As I was reading through God's Word with the Sweeter Than Honey Bible reading plan this summer, on July 6, I came to Isaiah 37-39, and the two desperate prayers Hezekiah, King of Judah, prayed.

Hezekiah's first prayer of desperation is found in Isaiah 37:14-20. It's a prayer for the saving of a nation. Hezekiah's second prayer of desperation is found in Isaiah 38. It's a more personal prayer asking God to spare his life and give him more years. Let's look briefly today at these two prayers of desperation and see what we can learn from them to impact our own prayer life.

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Aging With Grace: Week Six

7/12/2022

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How do we #flourish in times of darkness Teaching 5th graders provided the opportunity to learn an important lesson about #flourishing. In seeking to find out under what conditions a plant would grow best, we planted 3 bean seeds--one seed we watered and placed in complete darkness. One we placed in light with no water, and the third was watered and placed in a window. The surprise for us all was that the seed watered but in darkness was able to become quite tall, but it was completely white.

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

We are using the book Aging With Grace
by Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt.

“Where we look determines what we worship, and what we worship determines what we become.” —Aging With Grace

How would you like to learn how to age with grace with us this summer, friend? I have done this study, and let me tell you, it is not just for older women! We are all aging, even if you're 18 years old, you're aging, and we all want to do it with grace, right? Join me here or eight weeks this summer on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 est beginning June 7 through July 26.

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4 Things I learned From Jonah

7/8/2022

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Why did #Jonah ever think he could escape from the presence of the #Lord? When the men on the ship ask Jonah, “…What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” (1:8) “he said to them, ‘I am a #Hebrew, and I FEAR THE LORD, the #God of #Heaven, who made the sea and the dry land’” (1:9). I find it ironic that Jonah, who tells a bunch of sailors he fears the Lord God of Heaven who made the sea, is trying to run from his God. #Biblestudy

As I was reading through God's Word with the Sweeter Than Honey Bible reading plan this summer, on June 21, I came to the story of Jonah and the great big fish.

As I read the book of Jonah, one question immediately came to mind—Why did Jonah ever think he could escape from the presence of the Lord? Have you ever wondered that too?

When the men on the ship ask Jonah, “…What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” (1:8) “he said to them, ‘I am a Hebrew, and I FEAR THE LORD, the God of Heaven, who made the sea and the dry land’” (1:9).

I find it ironic that Jonah, who tells a bunch of sailors he fears the Lord God of Heaven who made the sea, is trying to run from his God.

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Aging With Grace: Week Five

7/5/2022

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Although there are no words adequate to describe the wonders of God’s creation, pictures of its beauty and majesty come to mind when we hear the words “flourishing” and “fruitful.” God has made most all living things with the capability to physically flourish and bear fruit. When I think of creation bringing glory to God, I think of the plants and animals doing what they were created to do. This is a beautiful picture of how we also flourish and bear fruit. By doing what He has created us to do.

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

We are using the book Aging With Grace
by Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt.

“Where we look determines what we worship, and what we worship determines what we become.” —Aging With Grace

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26 Things the Psalmist Asks of the Lord

7/1/2022

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This summer, the girls over in the Sweeter Than Honey Facebook group and I spent 52 days in the book of #Psalms. It was a lovely time together as we #journaled a #prayer each day--52 #prayers from David and other writers of the psalms. This #journal is a treasure! On June 7, when we arrived at #Psalm 119, we discovered 26 things the psalmist asks of the Lord. These are 26 things we should ask of the Lord as well. Let's look at 26 Things the Psalmist Asks of the Lord From Psalm 119:17-68 today!

This summer, the girls over in the private, Sweeter Than Honey Facebook group and I spent 52 days in the book of Psalms. It was a lovely time together as we journaled a prayer each day—52 prayers from David and other writers of the psalms. This journal is a treasure!

On June 7, when we arrived at Psalm 119, we discovered 26 things the psalmist asks of the Lord. These are 26 things we should ask of the Lord as well.

Let's look at those today!

"Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your Word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not Your commandments from me!" Psalm 119:17-19

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Aging With Grace: Week Four

6/28/2022

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“I think I have learned more of my dreadfully wicked heart, and the preciousness of #Jesus during this trial than I ever learnt before.” --Mary Winslow Maybe you could write your name beside that statement after a time of deep sorrow. The loss of our first #grandchild at the age of two weeks threw me into a two-year period of #grieving that resulted in a greater understanding of #God’s #love and His ways, and yes, a greater understanding of my “dreadfully wicked heart.” #bookclub #Biblestudy

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

We are using the book Aging With Grace
by Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt.

“Where we look determines what we worship, and what we worship determines what we become.” —Aging With Grace

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Community: Why We Need Each Other

6/24/2022

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My #college years were some of the most formative in my life. The #community that I discovered there was a first for me. The #fellowship and #friendships I encountered in those years changed and grew me in all areas of my life, especially in my #Christian walk. After #graduation, I found myself desperately trying to recreate the type of #relationships and sense of #belonging I felt during college. I became #restless and #frustrated that I could not replicate this experience in the “real world.”

My college years were some of the most influential and formative in my life. I was challenged, stretched, and developed in ways that I have never experienced before.

Additionally, the community that I discovered there was a first for me. The fellowship and friendships I encountered in those years changed and grew me in all areas of my life, especially in my Christian walk.

After graduation, I found myself desperately trying to recreate the type of relationships and sense of belonging I felt during college.

Initially, I became restless and frustrated that I could not replicate this experience in the “real world.” But as the years passed I came to understand not only what a true Biblical community is but how to cultivate it.

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2 Desperate Prayers of King Hezekiah

Aging With Grace: Week Six

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

4 Things I learned From Jonah

Aging With Grace: Week Five

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

26 Things the Psalmist Asks of the Lord

Aging With Grace: Week Four

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

Community: Why We Need Each Other

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2 Desperate Prayers of King Hezekiah

Aging With Grace: Week Six

Join us for our Summer 2022 ​Book Club-Style Bible Study

4 Things I learned From Jonah

Aging With Grace: Week Five

Join us for our Summer 2022 ​Book Club-Style Bible Study

26 Things the Psalmist Asks of the Lord

Aging With Grace: Week Four

Join us for our Summer 2022 ​Book Club-Style Bible Study

Community: Why We Need Each Other

Join the movement!

Top Posts

Featured

Categories

Archives

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study

Join us for our Summer 2022
Book Club-Style Bible Study