'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