'Wait, I say, on the LORD’

‘Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD’ – Psalm 27:14 KJV.

As we pass over the meadows and through the woods we don’t have a clue what is waiting over the next rise in the road. But you know, that’s o.k. because we have a king of this universe that loves us dearly and He won’t forsake us.

We may face struggle after struggle and be poor and broken and be oppressed past our comfort level. We may never get the respect and may always have hardships. But we have a friend and savior in Jesus!

Walking through the valley of the shadows, look to the LORD God almighty for your strength to endure. Pray for strength, comfort and wisdom. You are not alone. Have you ever thought that God might be using you in a great way and you will be blessed greatly?

Pray to God to deliver you from the shadows and lift you up out of the valley. ‘for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me – Isaiah 49:23 KJV. Pray and then wait. He waited for you!

‘But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’ – Isaiah 40:31 KJV.

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

'For each day he carries us in his arms'

“Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.” Psalm 68:19 (NLT).

Good times as we know them appear to be gone. At least that is the feeling of most everyone you run into. Not just in America, but other countries as well. If people don’t tell you of their troubles you can see the stress on their faces.

The rent, mortgage payments, car payments, cost of feeding and clothing your family, health care, child care and everything else, keeps on going. But the jobs have stopped and raises have ceased for some. Those reaching retirement have not put away money as they have used their money helping their children and helping their children's families survive.

God called Himself the Great “I Am”, not the Great “I was.” He is the Great provider. Nothing is impossible for Him. I urge you to not only get into the word of God to find Him and know what he wants, but to get on your knees in prayer and get to know the LORD.

God is mighty to save. He is a mighty fortress. Surrender to Him and let Him use you in a great way. Your redeemer lives. Seek Him and find Him. God still answers prayer.

"Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." Psalm 55:22 (NLT).

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Getting into the word of God...

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:” Deuteronomy 6:6 (KJV).

I am led to encourage you to get into the word of God. I can not see how we can be obedient to our Father in heaven, if we don’t know what it is we are to do.

I worshipped with an assembly of believers recently in a setting different from the one I am used to. Behind the person delivering the message of God was the Ten Commandments. There were five on each side of him and written large enough so everyone could read them.

These were the commandments and not merely suggestions. I think it would do us all good to jump into the Old Testament and know what God wants for his dear children.

I am not trying to beat you up or get you down because you are not in His word every day. You can’t see Jesus and the glory of LORD if you are looking down. What I am doing is encouraging you to get to know God through His word given to us.

Be lifted up by His holy word and share it with others. The word became flesh (Jesus) and if you fill your heart, soul and mind with the word, you too will become Jesus to others.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Week-end prayer...

Dear God in Heaven ~ Thank you, Almighty Father, for all that you have done for us and for all the blessing yet to come. You are awesome and beyond compare. There is no match for you and your greatness.

We know that you are definately alive and we are thrilled you have shown up in a HUGE way in our lives. Give us a burning desire to get into your word and get to know you even better. We need to know you and know what you want to be accountable to you.

We are your hands and feet. Teach us to serve you and show your heart to others. May we spread the kingdom of God to all nations and release your presence for others. Show us your glory!

In the good and great name of Jesus, Amen and Amen!

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Seek the LORD...

Are you right with God? Does He think so? I am praying that you have done business with the LORD.

Paul Washer of HeartCry Missionary Society states, “If you are not walking with Him right now…it is possible you never knew Him…Cry out to Him until the work is done in you!”

Folks, the good LORD is out there waiting for you to surrender to Him. If you look for him you will find Him. "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 King James Bible.

He forgives, He heals, He redeems, He surrounds you with His unending love. He is the one for you. You will love how He loves you!

“Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” - Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT)

Live for Him - He died for You!

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Enjoying time with God the Father...

‘And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.’ Mark 1:35 KJB

I was up before the first birds began to sing several times this week. Oh, what a neat feeling. I could feel the presence of my Father surrounding me.

It was as if I had him all to myself as I could not see or hear anything to distract me. Jesus must have felt the same thing as he often sought out the quite and solutude places.

It is the great moments like this alone with Him that propel me on to desire more and more of the king of the universe. Praying to our almighty Father gives me an awesome feeling. It is way, way beyond me to try to comprehend that he has made everything known and unknown. Assured that he is for us gives me a warm, comforting feeling.

I am waiting on the LORD for my next step forward. I know I won’t be disappointed. The bible tells me so …”No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame”, Psalm 25:3.

Father God ~ You are awesome, O LORD. Your greatness will never be matched. Thank you for putting your gracious hand on all of those who look to you for comfort and strength. May we see your glory and not give in to the temptation. Give us the deep and burning desire to glorify you in all we do. In Jesus name. Amen!

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Iron sharpens iron...

I go to a great Saturday morning men’s group with the guys to talk some Bible. I have been going to the group and have helped lead it for over three years. They have been meeting for over six years.

It is great to get together with other Christian men and just chat. There were no pressing problems brought to the table this past week. That is not always the case.

‘As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 (NLT). This has been proven over and over to be true as some of the men have gotten some valuable help and insight from others.

We sip on coffee and chat as men arrive and then get into the word for 45 minutes to an hour. Then we share our prayer concerns and pray together for one another.

We are currently going through the Book of John. We have done some other books of the bible and have discussed Max Lucado, Jack Deere and Bill Johnson books, to mention a few. Richard Foster’s book, “Celebration of Disciplines”, was a big hit.

The group bills itself as a Saturday Morning Men’s Support Group. Although it is advertised through the church I go to, men from different churches in the area attend.

Everyone needs to have a group like this to unpack the word, discuss what it says to you, and to hear what the word is saying to others. The fellowship with other Christians is unbeatable and we need it.

‘So it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.’ Romans 12:5 (NLT). Be there for your brothers and sisters as all believers are one body connected together by Christ.

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

One day closer to heaven...

Navigating through a typical day of hearing one person complaining after another, I offered this to those struggling yesterday...“We are one day closer to heaven.” And that we are. One day closer to heaven. Hallelujah! Praise the Holy name of King Jesus!

After about a half an hour of sharing that message with others, the words God had given me circled my workplace and came upon me from someone that did not know I had begun the fun. It was neat having someone tell me the words I had offered to another needing an uplift. It worked and I was uplifted too!

A couple hours later I was heading for the water cooler and ran in to the very first person I had told it to on that day. Guess what she said to me before I could say anything? She smiled and said “We’re a minute closer to heaven!”

We are in the very midst of His glorious kingdom, but there is more to come. Make Him Proud As You jump in to help build His Kingdom to completion.

“Arise, O LORD! Rescue me, my God! ...Victory comes from you, O LORD.
May you bless your people.” Psalm 3:7-8 (NLT)

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Having great faith...

A couple of crazies passed me today on Harley’s holding hands. That’s not something I would feel safe doing…driving a motorcycle with one hand 55-plus mph in four lanes of bumper to bumper traffic heading the same way I am. Not to mention the fact of being connected by hands with someone an arms-length away also driving on two wheels with one hand.

After the fear I had for them came to pass, I began thinking about just how much trust that would take. You would have to trust your own one-handed driving ability, the ability of the person you are hanging on to and the sea of traffic surrounding you.

It would really be something if people could or would put that much faith in God? Imagine the mountains we could leap over. We would be like young shepherd David having faith that the LORD would help him slay the giant Goliath. And David did slay him.

We can face anything with that kind of faith, knowing our enemies will fall before us. We must pray and encourage one another to passionately seek our Father and His will and keep His word in our heart and on our minds.

Enclaved in problems and circumstances I often think of the glory days ahead for all that heed the call and surrender to our great God. For one day the glory of the LORD will unfold and cover the earth.

‘The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?’ Psalm 27:1 (NLT).

‘Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. Do not let me fall into their hands.’ Psalm 27:11-12 (NLT).

‘Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.’ Psalm 27:14 (NLT).

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

The glory of God shined on His people

Our dear God in heaven told us many years ago, as Moses led the Israelites from the Red Sea across the desert, that He is the Lord who heals. Praise God hallelujah. We are forever grateful to our Maker and He is so faithful.

In that story in Exodus 15, we see the people had no water to drink for three days and in the desert that can be a fatal situation. When they did come upon a body of water, it was too bitter to drink.

Dying of thirst or at least thinking were, the people of Israel turned against Moses and demanded he do something. “So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink.” Exodus 15:25 (NLT).

Have you ever been backed into a corner and think there is no possible way out? We have to follow the lead of Moses and go to our Father and pour our heart out to Him. He is our strength and our help.


Nobody likes the feeling of being in the wilderness camped next to water that is too bitter to drink. But I have come to realize that we can’t enjoy the cool of the morning if we don’t know the heat of the night.

When you are venturing through the darkness of night, call upon the Lord for guidance and follow His way. Feel His embrace and follow Him forward.

“Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.” Psalm 90:10 (NLT).

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Pictured above is Cooper Chapel in Bella Vista, Arkansas. It is named for the mother of the man that founded Bella Vista in Arkansas.