Prayer to begin this week...

Father God…So often we call out to you, O LORD,  asking you to hear us, but today I realize we should be turning our ears to you instead.  That way we can hear you.  This is a day that you have made. May we rejoice and be glad in it and not forget to thank you for being our all in all.

Our best stories come from our struggles. Our testimonies come from our tests. The very seeds of success are in our failures. We give to you all the honor, glory and praise. Through our pain comes our praises to you, our provider, our healer and our savior.

We renounce the lie that we cannot persevere and shout out the truth that you are with us and seasons do change. Keep us standing through the storms in our life. You are our mighty fortress, our strong tower, our rock, our deliver.

Pick us up and tuck us under your arm and rescue us from the powerful enemy that lurks around always ready to devour us. Let the truth be known that the Snake has power, but no authority. We can walk away in victory with you.

May we live in the truth that all chains are broken by your blood and that all we have to do is toss down the chains that bind us. Your spirit gives us freedom, hope and healing.

You know our hearts. Forever keep our lights burning and rescue us from the forces of darkness. May your goodness overcome, O LORD. May your goodness overcome.

In the good and great name of King JESUS. Amen and Amen! 

Praying 4-U Ministries

 

Grab hold of the authority that is yours...

God did extraordinary miracles  through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured  and the evil spirits left them. ~ Acts 19:11-12 (NIV).

The awesome mighty power that worked through Paul is living in you and is waiting to be activated. Jesus took our sins, sicknesses, and diseases to the cross that we may be free and remember what he said in John 19:30?   “Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Jesus suffered for us and paid the cost that you and I could never had done and said “it is finished”. He didn’t say “it is started.” His work is done, but our work had just begun as he bowed his head and passed on His Spirit to us.

End times began when God came to earth as a man in Jesus. Jesus showed us the perfect example of how a man right with God could do wonders wired with the mighty power of the creator of the universe.

We are the end times church and we are to pursue the miraculous things that God wants to do through us. Jesus told us in John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

God’s holy word says in Malachi 3:6 (NIV), "I the LORD do not change.” In Matthew 19:26 we are told, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” ~ Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV).

Activate Kingdom Power in your life by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you. Walk in the victory that has already been won. You possess all authority on earth in JESUS name.   

Led By The  Holy Spirit,

 

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4-U Ministries

Set on fire again...

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” ~ Isaiah 55:12 (NIV).

I thank the LORD God Almighty for friends Bob, Chris and Daryl. I loved them all long before the inaugural WAAWG Backpacking adventure and now love them even more. We recently spent three days and two nights in the outback of Wyoming in the Snowy Range together in the wild.

God is all about exceeding all our expectations and that is certainly what he did on this Week-end Almost Alone With God (WAAWG). I was extremely excited about backpacking, especially with three men of God who I already knew pretty well.

I knew our time together and time with the LORD would go unmatched. God had our attention at the trips beginning to the very end. Although the majority of things downloaded to me from Papa were repeat things, He knows I am a slow learner and sometimes I need to be picked up and set back down on the ground with my feet running.

After praying off and on throughout the rainy night, I was not surprised to be blessed seeing a Bald Eagle circling above my tent as the first morning was broken. I thank JESUS for showing me ten Bald Eagles, thirty-plus Elk, two moose, and three men who loved me.

I am grateful to have seen the face of the LORD over the years in these men and O what a fabulous time hanging out with them in the midst of King JESUS.

I can not imagine a more inspiring setting to encounter our LORD than where our feet took us. It was a slice of heaven and I was again set on FIRE for the LORD.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV).

Led By The Holy Spirit,

Rick Hawbaker
Praying 4-U Ministries

Is your phone the LORD of your life?

“- for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” ~ 2 Peter 2:19b.

This question popped in my head recently…Are you walking through life with JESUS or are you walking through life with your cell phone?

With all the things a phone can do, we are in danger of letting it master us. I  was away for a week in the mountains. I didn’t need a computer or laptop to keep in touch with the world. I had my phone.

I was able to keep up with Facebook, tweet, email and text with friends all over the world. I searched the internet for places to hike, to eat, checked the weather, mapped where I was going, and looked over real estate. I even took pictures with it. I did everything but use it as a phone is intended to be used.

I see the break room at work is filled with people not talking with one another and families out to dinner not communicating, because they are all on their phones. People can’t sit at a red light waiting for the light to turn green without checking their phones or texting someone. Is your phone the LORD of your life?

A friend told me he had taken a step back and had gotten a phone that just makes calls. It was consuming too much of his time and he could see his teenage son having the same problem.

God used Pastor Todd Hudson of Freedom Fellowship to give me a sense of guilt of my addiction to my phone saying, " Is anything other than JESUS the LORD or master of your life? Then Satan has won! "

My addiction to my phone was confirmed and I have been convicted. The last thing I want is to be on the outside of the Kingdom looking in. I am so thankful for a God that will not leave me as I was, but a God who loves me and continues to sanctify me.

By laying this at the foot of the cross, looking up to a mighty God for strength to overcome and confessing this addiction to him and others, I can throw down the chains that have bound me and be free. I want to walk through life with JESUS. You can too!

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” ~ Philippians 4:13.

Led by the Spirit

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4 U Ministries

Free Us O LORD...

                                                                                     

Father God, in the mighty name of JESUS, we come to you today lifting up countless friends, co-workers, neighbors and relatives battling with the powers of evil. Strengthen us so that we may take that first step, the right step in the right direction. Pull us up, O LORD, and FREE US from the chains that our binding us. Free us from addictions, and make our paths straight. Save us from ourselves. May the gates of heaven be open in our minds and the gates of hell be closed forever. Pour your awesome Kingdom Power over us. Soak us in it. May this day be a day of reconnecting with you and your power. We know that you will meet us no matter where we are and we are so grateful for a King that loves us like you do. We love how you love us. In the good and great name of Jesus. Amen and Amen!

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