"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus..."

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV).

I was praying with a group of 22 men last night. It turned into a deep prayer meeting with fire falling down from heaven onto all those present. We laid hands on and prayed for one another for over an hour. The HOLY SPIRIT’s presence was throughout the room. We basked in the H0LY SPIRIT and loved it.

As we were praying for a friend, I heard a man say, “Father God, We thank you for Bob. Bob is a perfect example of someone who has his eyes fixed on Jesus, like you were talking about in Hebrews 12:2.

That scripture stuck in my mind and I text it to friends this morning. I had a man come to me before lunch and said, “I like the scripture you text me about “fix our eyes on Jesus,” but how do you do it. I can’t seem to keep my eyes on Him. I am all over the place.”

I told him not to feel bad and witnessed to him that I struggled with the same thing until about two years ago. That is when I began praying for God to give me a burning desire to pursue Him.

I suggested to this man that he should pray that he both be hungry and thirsty for the LORD and get into God’s holy word. For the will of God is in the word of God and all the answers to life’s questions reside in the bible.

I recommended that he go to a church and get involved and meet Christian friends. Hanging out with Christians changes your life. I told him that you got to get to a point in your life that when you are hugged by another person, you realize that it is not that person that is hugging you, but it is Jesus.

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6 (NIV).

"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:22 (NIV)

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker †
Praying 4 U Ministries

Let His light break through like the morning

End-Times Warriors

I encouraged you to get about our Father’s business and that is the business of bringing heaven to earth.

We are saved from ourselves and from the darkness of this world, not so we can go to heaven, but so we can bring heaven to earth.

Bind up and cast out the evil one in the name of Jesus. All believers have authority over evil. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4. (NIV).

Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples two by two and they came back saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20 (NIV).

You have been given the authority to use Jesus name to cast out the forces of evil. Root up all things not planted by God. Let His light break forth like the morning.

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker †
Praying 4 U Ministries

He makes the rough places smooth...

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16 NIV.

Oh, what a joy it is to pray for others. Seeing the great hope they have in our great God, propels me to keep ushering in the power of the Holy Spirit around me.

I had a 22 year-old come and ask me to pray with her this week. As I listened to her prayer concerns, I learned a lot about the young lady. She was filled with a heart of compassion for two dying relatives and has faith that God does “make the rough places smooth”.

She is in her first year of her walk with the LORD and she knows that being a Christian is not an easy life. But she knows as a Christian, you are never alone. He will not forsake us.

“Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40 NIV. This young lady believes and will see the glory of God.

Father God ~ We praise you, O LORD, for you are Holy. You are the king of glory and you surround us like the mountains surround Jerusalem. Smother us with your perfect love that lasts forever. We love how you love us. In the good and great name of Jesus. Amen!

Rick Hawbaker †
Praying 4 U Ministries

Hurricane Irene

Father God ~ A very dangerous and costly storm has hit the East Coast of the United States and could affect 55 million people as it works its way North. It is a powerful storm, but you LORD are more powerful. Break down this storm like only you can do. Let not another life be lost to Hurricane Irene. Father protect our brothers and sisters. In Jesus name. Amen!

Shout to God with cries of joy....

Awesome LORD ~ You are the GREATEST. There is nothing that compares to you. Your unending love, mercy and grace goes unmatched.

Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for our sins, past, present and future. May we not forget that He also lived for us and lives today in us.

Help us not to be in such a hurry through life that we miss you. Our fellowship with you, O LORD, that is the way to overcome the evil one. Nothing is greater than a close walk with thee.

Thank you for the provisions you have given us and for those yet to come. All glory, honor and praise goes to you. We are grateful for all that you are. In the good and great name of Jesus. Amen!

Psalm 47:1-2 "Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the LORD Most Hight, the great King over all the earth!" NIV

Rick Hawbaker †
Praying 4 U Ministries

Look for good in others...

“After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David.” 1 Samuel 18:1 NLT.

Jonathan himself was a great warrior and destined to be king, but he recognized the seed of God planted in David. Jonathan watered that seed and watched David become what God called him to be.

We are called to “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other”. Romans 12:10 NLT. We must honor people for who they are and look for a speck of gold in everyone we meet.

O how the glory of God would be released in our midst if we looked for the good in everyone instead of constantly looking for negative traits. It would change how we feel about others and how others feel about us.

“Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 13:1 NLT.

Look for the seed of God in others and water that seed building your relationship with that person, and furthering the kingdom of God. We are the body of Christ and are to be one spirit. Let’s help develop one another to serve the Lord.

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

A real hunger for God...

“Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” 1 Peter 2:2-3 NLT.

Do you have a real hunger for God? We need to have a great desire to grow closer to Him and to do that we need to dive into His holy word. No matter where you are on your walk with the LORD, you are still a baby and in need of pure milk to be a healthy Christian.

We love how the LORD loves us, but there is more for all of us to receive. Receive God’s word and you will grow in Him. Never tire of reading, hearing, or studying the simple truths of the bible.

“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1 NLT.

As you experience the Holy Spirit working through you and around you, you will become on fire for the LORD and feel His presence. You will want to receive more milk to continue to grow.

Pray for the LORD to grant you a willing Spirit. Reflect your encounter with God to others. Show the Holy Spirit. Release the presence of God bringing a bit of heaven to earth.

‎“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 NLT.

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Preparing to defeat darkness

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 KJV.

We are surrounded in a fallen world by people who have no desire to live for our king. Temptation is everywhere. The flesh is weak and we may fall to the enemy. It is so important that we armor up and stand shoulder to shoulder against the powers of the dark world. We are weak, but through God we are strong.

If you do not know that there is a spiritual battle going on, then you are probably losing the battle. The spiritual forces of evil are alive and very real. Standing alone is a dangerous spot to be in. Alone we can be picked off and swallowed by darkness.

I encourage you this day to take a stand against evil. Get into the word of God and there you will find His will for you. Keep company with Jesus and become more like Him as you are transformed into the person He intended you to be.

Christ is King of all creation. Jesus is not the opposite of Satan. Satan is a mighty power and force, but the power of Jesus is the almighty. We have victory through Jesus. He is the mighty conqueror and we can conqueror the powers of darkness through him.

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Have a hunger for God and welcome His Holy Spirit to guide you. Develop a relationship with God through prayer and listen to Him.


Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Build up your strength in the LORD

May you come to realize that God is with you now and forever and He is for you! I am praying that God will show up in a HUGE way in your life. Once you know that He is the great provider and that He reigns over all of the earth, then you will know who your best friend is.

God’s holy word tells us in 1 Samuel 30:6 that even when David was greatly distressed and people talked of stoning him, “David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”

We live in a fallen world. A world filled with darkness. We are called to make a stand against Satan. There is a battle to fight in the Christian life and God is our guiding light and lamp upon our feet.

We must prepare ourselves for the battle as we put on the armor of God. We must do as David did and strengthen ourselves in the LORD before putting on the armor.

If we do not build up our strength in the LORD, we will be defeated. When we stand up against Satan’s schemes with the power of God, we find his plots are nothing.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might”- Ephesians 6:10 KJV.

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Arise, Holy Spirit, Arise in me.

May the Holy Spirit of our God almighty drift down from heaven and settle upon you. Unlike anything else on earth, the Spirit of God will strengthen and comfort you.

Once you ask the spirit to take up residence in your body, you begin your walk with the LORD. There is no better feeling than knowing the King of the entire universe is at the controls and leading you.

The greatest gift on earth has already been given to us. That is the gift of God’s own son, Jesus, coming down from heaven to pay our debt. Jesus paid it all. He took our sins to the cross where He was hung on a tree.

Satan was defeated that day at the foot of the cross. He knows he was defeated, but yet he bothers us still. We are told in the Gospel,‘The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy’ John 10:10 KJV.

Satan is mighty, but nothing compared to God Almighty. The church of Jesus has been held together since Pentecost by the Spirit of God. Bind yourself with other believers of God and strengthen one another with prayer.

Earnestly seek the spiritual gifts from God. The gifts can be very helpful as you express and receive His love. Fan into flame the gift of God that is in you.

'Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.' Psalm 51:10 KJV.

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Walking in the Spirit

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.’ Galatians 5:16 KJV.

Walking in the Spirit is something you do or you don’t do. It is that simple. The Spirit and the flesh are opposites. Walking in the Spirit isn’t something you can do sometimes and then sometimes not do. It is a continued and progressive motion.

In the New Testament we see how the Holy Spirit lived in the Apostles and influenced them to be like Jesus. They patterned their lives after the Spirit’s leading. They are an excellent example of people walking in the Spirit.

Keeping away from the things that clash with the Spirit of God is 24/7 job for us. We are moved by the Spirit to be more like Jesus, but yet we are surrounded by things tempting us to fall to the desires and passions of the flesh.

Peter urged us in 1 Peter 2 to abstain from sinful desires, which war against our soul. We are just visitors here on earth on our way to our eternal home in heaven. Do not get caught up going after earthly things and neglect the salvation of your own soul.

Seek heaven as it is your home. Seek God for He is your destiny. If you are walking in the Spirit evidence of that is shown daily in you.

‘If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.’ Galatians 5:25 KJV.

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Come to the Lord † He cares for you

If you are just going through the motions at work and you hope your car knows the way home when you get off, then you need to seek the Lord for help.

God’s holy word tells us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. Matthew 11:28 KJV.

We sometimes fall into a rut and before we realize it, the hole we are walking in has gotten so deep we can not see out. Pray to God to reach down and pull you out and to save you from yourself. We are here to be happy in glorify Him, and to share the good news of our risen and coming savior.

Plow straight forward through the current storm you are in. Your reward lays in front of you ready to be claimed. Keep your eyes and heart on the Lord.

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:” Matthew 5:12 KJV.

Heaven may be just around the bend for you or maybe down the road many miles, but rest assured there are better days coming for all believers. Be comforted knowing that we are just visitors here and while Jesus is off preparing a place for us to be united with Him, He is busy preparing us for that place.

‘Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ 1 Peter 5:7 KJV.

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

He still leads us today…

'And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:’ Exodus 13:21 KJV.

In Exodus our great God was with his people 24/7 as he led them across the desert. He provided cloud cover to comfort and shield them from the heat and sun and to lead them, and He gave them a column of fire to light their way at night.

God was on display 24 hours a day in front of the children of God. But even with this ever present miracle, the people turned their back on the Lord and did not see Him. This story shows great love and care from God to His people. We too are loved and cared for greatly by the LORD and yet today many don’t see Him.

The spirit of the Lord led the children of God by clouds and fire. Today we have the spirit-filled word of God given to us to show us the way and comfort us. He still leads us. His holy word is our comfort and light. Dig into His word and find Him and follow Him.

'Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.’ Psalm 105:3-4 KJV.

Shalom,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries