In a scene from Shadowlands, a film based on the life of C.S. Lewis, Lewis has returned to Oxford from London, where he has just been married to Joy Gresham, an American woman, in a private Episcopal ceremony performed at her hospital bedside. She is dying from cancer, and, through the struggle with her illness, she and Lewis have been discovering the depth of their love for each other. As Lewis arrives at the college where he teaches, he is met by Harry Harrington, an Episcopal priest, who asks what news there is. Lewis hesitates; then, deciding to speak of the marriage and not the cancer, he says, “Ah, good news, I think, Harry. Yes, good news.”
Harrington, not aware of the marriage and thinking that Lewis is referring to Joy’s medical situation, replies, “I know how hard you’ve been praying …. Now, God is answering your prayer.”
“That’s not why I pray, Harry,” Lewis responds. “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God; it changes me.”

Is Prayer Important?

Prayer is one of the most important things a Christian can do. Through prayer we communicate with God and therefore, it should be taken very seriously. It doesn’t have to be complicated and difficult. It doesn’t come with a magic formula. There aren’t certain words that God pays attention to more. It’s something anyone can do anywhere at any time. And it’s something every Christian should constantly – without ceasing.

Jesus found it important to pray while He lived on this earth. In Matthew 14:23, Jesus has just finished feeding 5000 people and he sends them home. He then sends the disciples in a boat to the other side of the sea. Jesus climbed a mountain to have some time alone and pray to His Father. He stayed there until late into the night.

Prayer is one of the ways that we get to know our Heavenly Father. But it’s impossible to know someone if you don’t talk to them. As we pray, we discover God’s will, He will convict of sin, and He will reveal His heart to us. If you want a relationship with God, we must seek Him with all our heart and one way seek Him is through prayer. You can’t have a relationship with someone if your refuse to speak to them.

Another reason prayer is important is because we fight spiritual battles in prayer. It is through prayer that Satan is defeated and the strongholds that hold as captive are broken. The Word of God is our sword in the battle, but prayer gives us the strength and the faith to be victorious. Satan’s goal is to destroy us, make us ineffective for the cause of Christ. God’s goal is to bring us closer to Him.

As we spend time with God in prayer, God works on our hearts and He changes us so that we are becoming more and more like Him. It’s been said that couples who have been married a long time slowly begin to look at and act like one another. They’ve spent so much of their lives together that it becomes difficult to see the individual characteristics they each brought to the relationship in the beginning. The same is true with God. The more time we spend with Him, the more like Him we become. Our habits and lifestyle will changes. Our language will change. Our priorities will change. Our attitudes will change. We will no longer live a self-centered life, but instead, we will love our neighbor as we love our self and we will love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. Instead of an “it’s all about me” mentality, we will find joy in serving others.

In prayer we find strength for difficult circumstances. As Jesus faced the cross, He went to the Garden to pray. He knew what was waiting for him after He left the Garden. But it was in the garden that he prayed and found strength for what was coming. How often have you been in something very difficult, heartbreaking in life and instead of going to your Father in prayer, you became angry and bitter at him. These are the moment we should too God – not away from Him.

In prayer we can seek the face of God to understand His will for our lives. With every major decision we face, we need to be sure we are seeking God and asking for His wisdom and guidance so that we make the right decisions. Sometimes, it takes time and hard, earnest praying to get an answer, but He will give you an answer at just the right moment.

Is prayer important? Yes! When was the last time you got alone with your Heavenly Father and spent time talking with Him in prayer?

Please share today’s Devotion to your social media accounts. We’re using the following hashtags: #Mattahew #Jesus #prayer #WCM

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Don’t forget to memorize this week’s Bible Verse.

In 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  Our verse last week focused on praying. This week, we’ll focus on seeking God’s face.

This week’s memory verse:

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Meditate and apply:

Will you commit to praying with us in 2020 that God will revive His people, renew our faith, and redeem our land? We feel such an urgency and desperation for revival. If God is moving your heart for revival, write your revival prayer in the comments along with your state or country. 

#revive #renew #redeem #revivalinAmerica #revivalin2020 #WCM

Now you can receive the weekly memory verse straight to your email inbox. Sign up below.

 

T-shirt Fundraiser Event:

As we focus on Revival for America, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray,and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.” This design was created as we focus this week on seeking the face of God for revival. Jeremiah tells us that when we seek God, we will find Him when we search with all our hearts. You’ll find the design in tees for women, mugs, bags, and other products. Check them out in the Spreadshirtand Teespringsshops.

Thank you for helping us grow!

Click here to view the Teespring store. 

Click here to view the Spreadshop Store 

#allyourheart #seekandfind #seekingGod #WCM #teespring #spreadshop

BOOKING NOW! Be a host site for the NEW God, Love & Marshmallow Wars Book Tour & Couples Conference:

This event helps couples understand why the daily activities found in the book will equip them to build a stronger marriage and the book provides them with 365 intentional activities to take what they learn at the event and apply it on a daily basis. Through the event, couples will discover the Biblical “why” behind the categories of activities found in the book and the “how” these activities are important to building a stronger marriage. Focus points of the event includes :

• How memorizing scripture together and studying God’s Word together as they study, meditate and apply scriptures related to marriage and life issues will help them develop marriages that honor God.
• Why utilizing fun conversation starters that spark meaningful conversations will keep interest alive as they continually learn new things about each other.
• Why keeping romance alive is essential to intimacy and connectivity.
• How making memories and working together builds relationship investment bonds and how these investment bonds can become the knots that keeps them together through the tough times.
• How they can understand what they are or are not contributing to the marriage as well as how they might be contributing to problems or potential problems within the relationship through the use of targeted, intentional personal reflections
• Why it is important that couples never stop dating and how group dates with Christian friends can be both an encouragement and accountability to their own relationship.

During the event, couples will be given an activity from each focus point to do together, making this event an interactive, fun, and engaging event with practical, hands-on learning. Unlike other couple events that are over when the event ends, couples who attend the GLMW event will be able to apply what they learn when utilizing the book on a daily basis for a year. Since the book is not dated, couples are able to reuse the activities year after year to continue being intentional in strengthening their relationship with each other and with God as they strive to live out God’s design for marriage every day.

Learn more about hosting this event at your church or conference site by clicking here.

About the book: The GLMW book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

#GLMW #couplesevent #GLMWbook #intentionalmarriage #Godlymarriage

Looking for a keynote speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is now booking for 2019 and 2020 Christian events for women’s and couples’ ministries for both small and large events.
Book with us now.

Julia is CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people and couples develop a passionate relationship with God. A public speaker, conference trainer, event planner, and blog writer, Julia is a two-time graduate from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor in Psychology and a masters in Professional Counseling. Saved as a child and raised in church and in a Christian home and private Christian School as a Pastor’s kid, Julia has taught Sunday school, led music, played the piano, served as Children’s Director, and engaged her gifts in many other areas of church life. Previously employed with the Florida Baptist Convention, Julia organized events and led conferences for church ministry assistants. Today, Julia enjoys sharing her journey as a growing Christian with others looking for a deeper connection with God. Through Bible study and her own life experiences, God has given Julia a passion to help couples understand God’s design for marriage while they learn to place God first in their marriage, cultivate meaningful relationships, build intimacy, and address the tougher issues that come in every marriage so that they can experience a marriage that honors and glorifies God. Julia also loves mentoring, teaching, and working with women to help them learn to live as Godly women.

With her history and experience growing up in both small and large churches, Julia enjoys bringing top level quality events to churches of all sizes. Her father largely pastored small churches and therefore she understands that these vital parts of the believing community need to be good stewards of the resources God provides them with. This knowledge inspires her passion for being available with a fresh perspective for those who want to provide their congregations with meaningful spiritual growth opportunities, regardless of size.

To request more information or a booking, 
fill out the online form here.

Or call us at 904.524.8073

#JuliaBruce #speaker #keynote #author

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at CBD through any of these links. Your cost to purchase any item through an affiliate link is the same as purchasing directly from CBD.

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We are praying and seeking God for Revival in America in 2020. The path to revival can be found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Watch the video on this verse created by our CEO.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves….” This week we have featured several resources on prayer. We hope you’ll choose one for your own personal Bible study and join us in seeking God with a heart of humility and pray with us for God to send a revival to America in 2020.

Check out the Christian Book Distributor resources below.

Our organization receives an 8% commission on any item you purchase through these links. However, the product price is the same for you. There is no increase in your cost for us to receive the commission. All commissions receive support the work and ministry of Wellspring Christian Ministries. 

Seeing Jesus: Seeking and Finding Him in the Scriptures

By Nancy Guthrie / Tyndale House

In Seeing Jesus, author and Bible teacher Nancy Guthrie shows how Jesus is revealed in the Old Testament through 60 brief, but insightful readings. Your eyes will be opened to the epic scope of the Bible’s story like never before, as you see Jesus at the center of God’s plan to save his creation from the very beginning. Adapted from The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament. Features an imitation leather binding and a ribbon bookmark.

Experiencing God’s Presence: Learning to Listen While You Pray

By Linda Evans Shepherd / Revell

What if every time you had a conversation, your best friend never got a word in edgewise? Your relationship would be less than fulfilling–for both of you! In the same way, a fulfilling prayer life is more than just regularly talking to God. And it’s more than checking items off a prayer list. God loves us so much that he wants us to draw close enough not only to talk but also to listen.

Now, from the award-winning author of When You Don’t Know What to Pray, comes a bold and life-transforming book that will help nurture a vibrant two-way relationship with God. Linda Evans Shepherd shows you how to develop a dialogue with God, continually seeking him and seeing him at work in your life. Steeped in Scripture and filled with personal stories of answered prayer, this book also includes sample prayers and action steps you can put into practice immediately.

Diligently Seeking God: Daily Motivation to Take God More Seriously

By Gary Henry / Wordpoints

What difference does it make whether we seek God? Diligently Seeking God offers a complete year of daily meditations that will help you look at this question more honestly. Each page explores a different dimension of our need for God and invites you into a deeper desire for Him.

Written in a style that is both reverent and comfortable, Diligently Seeking God meets us as real people and wrestles with the questions that come to us in our most personal moments.

No matter where your spiritual life is right now, this book will beckon you to higher ground. Whether you see yourself as being a Christian or not, Diligently Seeking God will: (1) Motivate you to take God more seriously every day, (2) encourage you to focus on God, rather than on yourself, (3) challenge you to make God a greater priority, (4) help you to make positive choices for the quality of your life, and (5) inspire you to keep going when life is hard.

Provocative and passionate about life’s most important subject, this book will make a difference in your spiritual growth. Diligently Seeking God will nudge you where you need to be nudged.

A Woman Seeking God: Discover God in the Places of Your Life – eBook

By Dorothy Kelley Patterson / B&H Books

Discover God in all aspects of your life! Examining everyday experiences in the light of God’s Word, Kelley Patterson will help affirm your faith in God’s daily presence. In this collection of 36 essays, she shares insights on family life, dealing with adversity, the power of prayer, intimacy in marriage, and evangelism. A daily Bible reading plan is included. eBook Version.

Seeking God’s Face: Praying with the Bible Through the Year

By Faith Alive Christian Resources

A daily prayer book drawn from an ancient Christian tradition.

For hundreds of years, Christians have observed the “daily office”–prayers offered to God at regular times of day. This practice, now experiencing a wide resurgence, can help your life become a vital, lifelong conversation with God. In Seeking God’s Face you’ll find a simplified daily office–intended for once-a-day use–designed especially for thoughtful Christians.

Seeking God’s Face provides an entire year of daily prayers and readings, each featuring seven elements, including:

• an opening prayer of adoration
• a psalm and Scripture reading
• suggestions for personal prayer
• a prayer based on a classic creed or confession
• a closing blessing

Forward by Eugene Peterson

Truly Seeking God

By Bernard Bonowitz / Cistercian Publications

52 Weeks: Seeking God Through His World and His Word

By Rachel Carter Welborn / Come and See Photography

21 Days of Praise: Seeking God’s Face Instead of His Hand

By Lucille Willis / WestBow Press

Overcomer DVD Bible Study Kit

By Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick / B&H Books

Many people feel they are less than who God says they are. We get our identity from our careers, our political positions, family roles in the family, and other things. This small group study uses clips from the film Overcomer to examine how we determine our identity and how we can find our true identity in Christ.

The Bible study is geared for adult groups to use prior to the movie or just after seeing the movie. The study includes clips from the movie.

The Overcomer Bible Study Kit has five sessions and includes:

• one Bible Study Book
• one DVD with a promotional video and five 2-4 minute video sessions

Session Topics:

1. Who Are You?
2. You Are Broken
3. You Are Chosen
4. You Surrender
5. You Declare

Overcomer, Blu-ray/DVD/Digital By Provident Films From the creators of War Room, Courageous and Fireproof. Basketball coach John Harrison’s high school team is crushed by the closing of the town’s largest employer. Hundreds of families move, leaving him running a struggling cross-country program. But then he meets Hannah and begins helping this unlikely runner attempt the impossible in the year’s biggest race. Starring Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer, and Aryn Wright-Thompson. Rated PG. Dove approved (12+). Approx. 119 minutes. Blu-ray Exclusives: The Heart of Overcomer Creating the Opening Drone Shot Working with the Kendricks Post-Production Behind-the-Scenes: Editing, Scoring, Coloring, and Sound Design “Enough” (Lyric Video) Featuring Koryn Hawthorne Don’t Mess with the Editors Special Features: The Making of Overcomer Bloopers 10 Minutes of Additional Scenes Commentary with Director Alex Kendrick and Producer Stephen Kendrick Overcomer in 60 Seconds The Theme of Identity The Power of Forgiveness “Overcomer” (Lip Sync Music Video) Featuring Mandisa and More! Other Features: Audio: English, French (PAR), Spanish, Thai Subtitles: English, English (SDH), Spanish, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Tagalog, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese

God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage