Wait on the LORD...

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).

Our great Father in heaven was not only great when He spoke everything into being. He was not only great when He walked on earth in the flesh as Jesus. He is great today and continues to show His greatness.

All honor, glory and praise goes to our heavenly Father. Before we crawled across the floor for the first time or kicked in our mother’s womb, he had plans for us. I have to share this story.

I received a text from a friend this morning who I had been praying for. Her family was in need of finding a less expensive home in a safer neighborhood.

Six days ago after making the final interview on the home they wish to rent, she received the disappointing voice mail that they had chosen someone else.

My friend wept and cried out to the LORD for someone who knew them to come forth with a house for rent.  A day later her daughter text her saying a friend of hers had a house (two doors down from the one she originally wanted) and the daughter’s friend would rent it to them.  

Our amazing God had a better plan for this lady and her family. He had a bigger house for less money per month that she could make a safe home for her family. Glory to God in the highest. LORD of lords. King of kings. Amen and amen!

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14 (NIV).

Led by the Spirit

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4 U Ministries

Who is your ultimate battle buddy?

“Keep on loving each other as brothers.” ~ Hebrews 13:1 (NIV).

We are all the body of Christ and must love one another. If you do not love someone, you are not loving Jesus.  The truth is others are Jesus to you and you must be Jesus to them. We are one in the Spirit and make up the body of Christ.

I thank the LORD  for the mighty way he continues to make His presence known in my life. I thank Him for the faithful men and women He has given me to work together to further His mighty kingdom.

I didn’t know what I was missing out on when I was trying to do life of my own. I am so glad to have battle buddies.  Praying with them we help one another break down the walls and break the chains that sometimes present themselves.

Although these battle buddies are much needed, we quickly are brought to mind that they are of the flesh and will let you down. That’s why your ultimate battle buddy has to be none other than Jesus.

When chaos is raining on you, turn to the almighty maker of heaven and earth. It is only He that can save you from yourself and the circumstances that are smothering you. Focus on the LORD and not your circumstances for when He shows up, great things happen.

“The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” Psalm 118:14 (NIV).

Led by the Spirit,

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4 U Ministries

Focus on God, not your circumstances

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ~ Matthew 6:33

Father God, You are the great giver of life. The King of Majesty. Thank you, O LORD, for coming upon me in a mighty way, snatching me out of darkness to be a warrior for your great Kingdom. Protect me today as I put my sword down parallel to the ground and push evil back into darkness. May I keep my eyes fixed on you and not on my circumstances. Fill me with your Kingdom Power. In the good and great name of Jesus. Amen and Amen!

Tell others of the wonderful deeds...

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.” ~ Psalm 9:1-2 (NIV).

David defended God by going into battle with a giant who bad mouthed God. What are you willing to do for the almighty? Don’t just give lip service and say thanks to the Lord halfheartedly. From the bottom of your heart let others know of your close relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Do you tell others of the wonderful deeds He is doing and has done in your life time? God’s Holy Word says in Habakkuk 3:4 that “His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.” And, to me His coming upon me is as brilliant as the sunrise and I am telling everyone.  

I have many times seen bright lights as I have gotten closer to God. As I feel the warmth of His presence I glow from the inside out. Oh, how great it is to bask in the presence of God and let Him love on you.

If you have the joy of the LORD running through your veins, you can feel His presence and it is something you will want to share with others. Share His goodness and glorify Him.

Led by the Holy Spirit,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries

Pray to be free from sickness...

“And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.” ~ Exodus 23:25 (NIV).

Our mighty God tells us in his own holy word that he is our healer and he is the one who takes our sickness and disease away. Yet people who claim to be Christians, live day after day with things that are not right with their health. Isn’t it strange that it never occurs to them that they can ask God to restore their bodies.

I crossed paths with a girl in her early 20’s recently that has fought an allergy to coconut all of her life. Whenever she comes in contact with it, her face swells to the point she is unrecognizable.

I asked her if she had ever prayed for God to take away that allergy and if she had ask Jesus to stand between her and the coconut. Even though she was born into family that regularly worships God, she had never considered praying to be free from this sickness that binds her.

We can pray to be free from all kinds of things, including free from an allergy that limits our activities and alters our health. The Lord urged us in Isaiah 52:2, “Free yourself from the chains on your neck.”

Let us not limit God and believe that he can not do all things. For that is a lie straight from Satan. Our God is the God of the impossible.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” ~ Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV).

Led by the Holy Spirit,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries 

Pursue all that God has for you

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 (NIV).

My alarm was set for 4 a.m., but our Father woke me up at 3.  Lying there I could tell He had something to reveal to me. So I got up and took some time to pray and go through scripture.

It is exciting hosting the ghost.  I love it when the Holy Spirit stirs me and stir me he did on this morning. Our Father made it very clear in a vision that I am to encourage three people. He even showed me who the three are that I am to encourage.

God then revealed to me that I am supposed to encourage these men to pursue all things that HE has for them because God has something more for me that is coming through these men. I receive that in the name of JESUS and can hardly wait to see what more He has for me.

David is said to be a man after God’s own heart. Although David strayed off from the ways of the LORD, he always returned, asked for forgiveness, and sought after more.

We all need to be in hot pursuit of all God has for us and need to be praying, “More LORD. Give me more of you and less of us.” And as we pursue a deeper relationship with Him, we will continue to grow through the experiences.

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6 (NIV).

Led by the Holy Spirit,

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4 U Ministries

Jesus taught, preached, healed, raised the dead, and drove out demons

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." Matthew 4:23 (NIV).

I am thinking if someone wants to become the image of Jesus, they would look in God’s holy word and read exactly what Jesus did. That should give us a pretty good clue to what we are to be conforming to. Yes, Jesus certainly was compassionate and loving, but He was much, much more. As the first walking House of God on earth, Jesus taught, Jesus preached, and Jesus healed!

We are now the House of God on earth and we, too, are to be bring Heaven to earth. The will of the Father was “on earth as it is in Heaven”. Jesus did the will of his Father and we are to do the same. God's will is that simple, "on earth as it is in Heaven".

As you read the Gospel insert your name every time you come across the name of Jesus as he is doing signs and wonders. What you read is what we are to do. We have been given the power and the authority of Jesus through his Father. Yes, the Kingdom Power.

Jesus came to earth as a man that was right with God and through God was able to do many things. "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37 (NIV). Nothing is impossible for us either if it is the will of God.

Claim the Kingdom Power and authority that is yours as a son or daughter of the King of the Universe. That is your identity. Do the things that Jesus did! “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8 (NIV).

Ask the Holy Spirit what he wants you to do today. I am thinking He has already told you, but you just are not listening. Accept the position in the Kingdom that God has given you. Teach, preach, heal, raise the dead, and drive out demons in the name of Jesus for the Kingdom. 

Led by the Spirit,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4 U Ministries