A More Encompassing Vision for This Blog and My Writing

Life and writing depend on balance. Hence, this blog is no different.

I want to write about Infinite Blessings. However, there is more to it than just that.

Consequently, the question which recently came to mind is: What do I really want to write?

Several different answers came to mind in response. Hence, I asked myself a follow-up question: How can I encompass everything I want to write in one and is it even possible to include all of it in one theme or category?

Hmm… I thought on this for a while and came up with this:

“A Way of Life: The Faithful Trio of Prayer, Bible, and Thanks (A Spiritual Memoir)”

I am not sure if that exact title will stick. However, I can say this. I will stick with this theme, even if it is reworded, for weeks, maybe months, and maybe even years. So, this is my new blog theme.

If you dig around in this blog, or have read it before, you will know that these three aspects are vital parts to my life and writing. Hence, this theme is no surprise.

There is nothing more important to me than the faithful trio. And, if you are Christian, the same can be and should be said about you.

After all, the Bible tells us how we are to pray, meditate (think on, ponder, contemplate) the Bible, and give thanks 24/7/365. All the time. Morning, noon, and night. Forever and a day. Without stopping. Without ceasing.

Forgive my silliness in the previous paragraph, where I was quite redundant, even redundantly so. However, it was to make a point. I hope I made it. Let me try again just in case.

The Bible tells us to pray, meditate on the Word, and give thanks all the time, even as we do other activities. I want to spend some time trying to figure out how to do the faithful trio. The upcoming blog posts will be the story of my journey trying to do so. So, stay tuned. Tomorrow will be the start of a way of life and living the faithful trio. 

The World Does Not Define Me or My Calendar: A Way of Life

I want to live the best life possible.

I realize the world's definition does not fit my definition of living the best life possible. In fact, through my over four decades of life, there is one certainty I have come to know and try to live by: Whatever the world says is good, run from it, for it will surely lead to a bottomless pit where nothing is good enough and I will always want more. The world says to be happy, it's up to me. Look within, or so they say.

Hah! If left to my own devices, I would be miserable. I error. All the time. I am far from perfect. If I were to depend on me, I would be an abysmal failure. So, no... The world's ways are not and cannot be my ways.

Also, the world says identity is dependent upon certain things... career, children, hobbies, etc. This is how people of the world define themselves.

My first and foremost identity is: Daughter of God. (Daughter of a king. Sister of a Savior.)

Nothing matters more than that. That is who I am.

I am a wife. I write. I am the human of two cats and two turtles. Do any of these define me? No. Not really. I am the child, the daughter of God. This is who I am and is what makes me who I am for eternity. My other earthly identities are just temporary.

So, again, the world does not define me or who I am.

Nor does the world determine or define my calendar.

The world thinks that busyness makes us more important. It even things busyness will make us more satisfied. The seeking of more is the way of the world. Hence, the world says that your calendar needs to be full—and it even needs to have so many events or so many categories in order for us to be satisfied or considered as an asset by people.

The world says our calendars must be full or you are lazy or are lower in their sights.

The world does not define my calendar because it does not consider or value what I find important.

If all I have each day on my calendar was: prayer, Bible, and thanks, I consider myself a massive success. I will have at least planned to live right, according to the Bible, and hopefully I will have actually lived out my calendar as well. These things go against the pleasures of this world.

I realize my day is not mine. It’s God’s. If I plan anything, I plan on ways on how to live the faithful trio of prayer, Bible, and thanks.

This is a way of life… the faithful trio. Not the things of this world. This is how I choose to live. This is how I want to live. I am the daughter of God and my day is his, not mine. I will live the faithful trio 24/7/365. This is a way of life and is the best way to live. I am and will be infinitely blessed because of these things. 

(Photo/Image Credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2009-2016).

Lord, teach me how to pray through Your Word

Lord, teach me how to pray through the Bible day and night.

Give me the want to do so.

Tell me what to pray. Put it on my mind and in my heart.

Teach me the meaning of each verse of the Bible and how I can pray it through for everyone and everything.

Prayer for the Day on April 08, 2016

Prayer: Lord, Jesus did nothing without his Father’s approval. Help me to live this verse in regards to my prayer life and in everyday life. I just want to please you, Abba, and bring you glory in all I do and in what I choose not to do.

John 5:30 Expanded Bible (EXB)

30 “I can do nothing alone [by myself; on my own initiative]. I judge ·only the way I am told [L as I hear], so my judgment is ·fair [just; right; righteous]. I don’t ·try to please myself [L seek my own will/desire], but ·I try to please [L the will of] the One who sent me.

Lord, teach me to pray this way

Lord, teach me to pray this way:

Isaiah 62:6-7New Living Translation (NLT)

6 O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls;
    they will pray day and night, continually.
    Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.
7 Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work,
    until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The thoughts, learning, and practice of being a prayer warrior

Welcome to another day and another personal journaling entry of the story of my journey of learning how to offer prayer protection.

When I started to journal my journey of learning this type of prayer, I have to confess how I had not prayed nearly as much as I should, and forgot to pray far more than I did pray. I am starting over in my prayer life, pure and simple.

I started this prayer protection journey on March 27, 2016 and it has now been a total of eight days so far. Has it been this long already, Lord?

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Prayer to be Used as a Prayer Warrior:

Lord, I think I have already learned a great deal and have been reminded of far more regarding prayer in general and in the offering of prayer protection and being a prayer warrior and watchman. Thank you for teaching me so patiently. Please teach me a great deal more each and every day. Moreover, God, help me also apply what I learn and to remember what I learn. Teach me what it means to be a prayer warrior. I want you to use me as one. Show me what it means to be and act as a prayer warrior. Use me. Help me to hear your every prayer prompt and to immediately respond. To you be the glory.

I pray these verses:

Luke 11:1 New Century Version (NCV)
11 One time Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his followers said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his followers.”

Matthew 7:7-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

James 5:16 Expanded Bible (EXB)
16 [L Therefore,] Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. ·When a believing person prays, great things happen [L The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective].

1 John 5:14-15 New Living Translation (NLT)
14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
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Prayer and the Holy Bible 

I never need to be at a loss of words and never need to be unsure of my words in prayer or of my prayers. I could pray through every verse of the Bible multiple times and get a great deal from it and be thoroughly blessed and bless others through it as well. This is why I include the Bible verses I do. I want to pray them over and over and pray them so much I memorize them by accident.

This is one of the most effective ways to pray and is the easiest, frankly. Never mind the most rewarding for myself and all I pray about. After all, here is a promise:

Isaiah 55:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
11 so My word that comes from My mouth
will not return to Me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do.”

Prayer for the land

Prayer for the land

I realize it is my responsibility to intercede for everyone, every place, and everything I can. I also realize it is a sin not to do so.

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1 Samuel 12:23 New Living Translation (NLT)
23 “As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right.
New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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In many cases,  I am afraid that my reminder and prayer of this verse needs to be to start to pray for others, other places, other things, not just to continue. Lord, help me to pray for everyone I can and teach me how to pray for more.

Lord, also help me to pray for the land. For where I live: My block, neighborhood, city, county, state, region, country, Church, and world. Also, help me to pray about every news story I can. Father, help me to prioritize these prayers as well.

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Ezekiel 22:30 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
30 I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

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2 Chronicles 7:13-15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13 If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 15 My eyes will now be open and My ears attentive to prayer from this place.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

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2 Chronicles 7:13-15 Expanded Bible (EXB)
13 “·I may [L If I…] ·stop the sky [shut the heavens] from sending rain. ·I may [L …or if I…] command the locusts to ·destroy [devour] the land. ·I may [L …or if I…] send ·sicknesses [plague; pestilence] to my people. 14 Then if my people, who ·are called by my name [belong to me], will humble themselves, if they will pray and seek ·me [L my face] and stop their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will ·heal [restore] their land. 15 Now ·I will see them, and I will listen [my eyes will be open and my ears attentive; 6:40] to the prayers prayed in this place.
Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

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Lord, give me the want to pray. Put it on my mind and heart and help me to respond. And, help me respond immediately.

I will focus on meditating on these verses, along with Ephesians 6:10-20 today.

A new beginning: Prayer Protection

A NEW DAY: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

My personal spiritual warfare journaling, learning, and prayer

This is how I began my day. I thought the term/phrase "spiritual warfare" was all-encompassing. Well, the more I study and pray about it, there are many more disciplines or practices that come with spiritual warfare prayer. Consequently, I am going to call my new personal journaling series and focus: PRAYER PROTECTION.
Tentatively, I am adding this to the title of my journaling series temporary title: "Prayer Protection: My journey of learning about intercessory prayer, spiritual warfare prayer, watchman prayer, and powerful prayer." Hence, you see there is a lot more to this than spiritual warfare.

All of these are temporary prayer, but I think I like PRAYER PROTECTION and that most likely will not change. What comes after that title and after the colon is temporary.

So, this marks a new focus. A second new beginning.

I am journaling a great deal more than what I am sharing on my personal journaling blog here at RYP Stories. Therefore, I will eventually turn this into a book. Know that what you read here are the highlights and there is a lot more depth I will share in the book.

Since I realize what I am wanting to learn about is a great deal more than just spiritual warfare, I now have several more resources/books to peruse. Far more importantly, it means there is a great deal more of the Bible I will need to read, study, think on/contemplate/meditate, and journal about.

I just read everything again I wrote to this point in this journal entry and I cannot help but chuckle at the connotation of PRAYER PROTECTION. It almost sounds like spycraft. This is my mission, should I choose to accept it, and the mission is to offer prayer protection over my life, my husband, my family, my friends, my home and house, my marriage, our block, our neighborhood, our city, our county, our church, our state, our region of states, the U.S., the U.S. military, the U.S. government, the president of the U.S. (present and upcoming), the Church as a whole, the world, the news and current events of all of the above and following, and against terrorism.

What a mission.

No pressure. Gulp.

How on earth do I go about this mission?

I have no idea whatsoever. Therefore, I guess it is time to pray on it, read, study, and pray some more.

One thing I know for sure is that no book out there starts with practical things to help you to immediately start applying these types of prayers to my life. They start with introductory explanations. I want a book that starts me off with prayer, not just at the beginning of the chapter, and at the end, but throughout. I want immediate application. And, if not a prayer written out, then a prayer point to stop and pray for immediately. I want to immediately put what I learn into practice.

Hence, I will learn all I can,  pray as I go, and journal. Then, I will write that resource. So, stay tuned. This will start in my next personal journal entry.

What brought me to begin the process of learning about spiritual warfare?

What brought me to begin the process of learning about spiritual warfare?

Blog post series: What is Spiritual Warfare?: My personal journaling of my journey learning about this topic
I have spent gobs of time today researching all of the books out there on spiritual warfare and the full armor of God and have found that there is no book out there like what I am looking for. Is this why I am prayer journaling my way of learning about spiritual warfare? Is this, Lord, why you have out it on my heart? Please lead me and guide me, Lord. Only you. None of me. Only your glory. I cannot help but pray as I write. 
I keep getting pressed to pray through the news each day all day long.
The terror attack in Brussels and the presidential elections of the United States, combined with the latest news of the Hillary Clinton email scandal have me at a tipping point where I realize I am desperate for this world to change and fight terror as a united front. I am at the point of desparation to have not only have a worldwide prayer revival, but a reading of the Holy Bible revival.
When I hear of a dog found... raped and hung on a tree in Seattle over the weekend...
When I see the moral depravity of the world, but most importantly of the Church, I cannot help but feel a fire inside
I realize I cannot change anyone. So, I will not try. It's futile.
Most of the time I have a hard time changing myself. However, I am now desparate. This world is going down in flames... and so is my nation. 
I realize I have something most people do not have. I have time. This is why yesterday you, Lord, called me to become a full-time Bible student, which I know goes hand-in-hand with becoming a full-time prayer warrior. To be in the Holy Bible is to pray and to pray is to be in the sacred word of God. You cannot have one without the other. 
And, I am still shocked that the first topic is spiritual warfare. Gulp. No pressure. 
You see... I do not have the background to wage war. Not a recent one or a thorough one. I have missed this important spiritual discipline, as in missed the mark. Therefore, it is time for me to change this.
So, what kind of book am I looking for on spiritual warfare? A simple, practical one which looks thoroughly at everything the Bible says. And I mean everything. I am looking for head knowledge, heart knowledge, and practical application, without all of the Christianese and lingo. Something written with the emphasis that not everyone knows what they know. 
I also have found that I have trouble with books that have topical prayers or chapters in them, when most of the book or prayers do not apply to me. If they only have a quarter of the book applicable to me, I won't waste my time or my money. Therefore, I'm looking for a book that is more applicable to everyone and every issue. I pray I am making sense.
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A new day 03/29/2016
It is 538 a.m. and I sit on my teal colored sofa in our living room with the fireplace on, coffee nearby, and I hear our turtle tanks' water filters, which sound like a fountain. I sit here in the stillness, where I am the only one awake and stirring in the house. I know it is early when not even the turtles stir. 
As I sit here, I cannot help but get a little weepy as I realize in this new journaling series is a call home for me. At least, that is how it feels. It is like I have come home to a place of refuge, this new journaling track of learning through 5 w's and an h of the Bible today. And, with this first focus being on journaling about spiritual warfare. 
Thank you, Lord, for the call home to where I belong. To what I am supposed to be doing. 
Note: By the way, I am including the dates only to show my progression with my journaling. Each journaling entry (or blog post) is meant to be timeless. Each can be read today or in fifty years and still apply. 
Thank you for the vision you have given me. 
Now, it is time to pull out Ephesians 6:10-20 and I will make sure to read as slowly as possible and digest word by word. I have a printed out paper copy and a digital copy. I will read both versions and will share my thoughts here, along with anything, Lord, you share. 
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What is Spiritual Warfare?
Reading word by word of my printed out copy of the full armor of God passage...
Be strong in the resurrection power of the Lord. 
That reminds me of this passage:
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Ephesians 1:18-21 New Living Translation (NLT)
18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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Verse 10 of Ephesians 6 tells us to be strong in God and in his great power. It isn't just any power. It is in the resurrection power. And this power wasn't just of the resurrection, but the power was found in everything that came with the resurrection: forgiveness of sin; Christ now placed at the right hand of God and given power over every nation, everyone, and everything; fulfillment of prophecy; God reversing what was done in the Garden of Eden; etc. This power is neverending and is all-powerful. This power never weakens or dims. 
I am to be strong in God and in his resurrection power. 
Put on the full armor of God and do not forget a piece or your fight against evil will not be as effective. 
If I were to focus more on the spiritual fight than on the earthly one, and I prayed so God would then act, and I freed him to do so through my prayers, then I bet this world would be less insane, self-centered, lazy, ungodly, and unbiblical. If I were to fight the spiritual battle, and not the earthly, I would then attack the root and source of the problem, not an offshoot. My spiritual battle waged is far more effective than the earthly battles.  
What can I do to bring God the most glory? It would be through freeing people and circumstances to him and his blessings. When we are in bondage, the blessings cannot get through to us. We cannot see them and do not accept them. After all, we are in bondage and are blinded. 
Moreover, if I am already in battle, or at least am ready for battle, then I have that mindset already and it is easier to see the enemy and his work so I can then engage him in battle. If I was not prepared, I would surely lose that battle... and I surely have... for years...
If I am armed with my weapons, and have the battle mindset and am prepared for battle, it is much harder to be tricked by the enemy. Therefore, why would I ever want to not be ready? But, is this not what I have done for years, the not being prepared for battle part?
Just because I forget about something, deny it, or ignore it, it does not make it any less real or any less of a threat. I cannot wish the enemy away. I must fight. 
How many others are not fighting? Someone has to. And, I refuse to submit to the enemy. 
All of this sounds great. Furthermore, it is true. But, now what? How do I engage in this war? How do I prepare myselt for it? What are the battle plans, Lord, you have for me?
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What is Spiritual Warfare? Ephesians 6:10-20 definitely answers this question. The only problem is, that if I am honest, I do not know what it means or understand? Paul wrote Ephesians and he understood what he said within context of the time and place he lived. His readers did as well. Therefore, I find it tricky to fully grasp what it means today. Therefore, I need to thoroughly study the passage and everything I can about spiritual warfare. 
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The background of Ephesians 6
The Book of Ephesians was written by Paul,  an apostle of Jesus. The ruins of Ephesus are barely there today. It had not survived as well as some of the seven churches of Revelation found in modern day Turkey. They say that only fifteen percent of the city has been dug and found by archaeologists. 
Ephesus was a port city along the coast of the Aegean Sea and was the forth largest city in the Roman Empire. It is estimated the city held between 225,000 and 250,000 people at its height. Plus all of the tourists who visited the Temple of Artemis, who was also known as Diana, the fertility goddess. These tourists went to Ephesus in order to worship her. Ephesus also helps the Library of Celsus and a medical school back in the day.
Many Ephesians became rich because of the worshippers of Artemis. Since these people journeyed there, they needed a place to stay, a place to eat, and they usually bought trinkets as well. The fact that the temple was one of the seven wonders of the world only added to this. It made more flock there. 
Since Artemis was the deity of fertility,  it meant that prostitution was common there in Ephesus, and it was not looked down on since it was part of the worship. The prostitutes lived in a brothel along through Marble Road. 

How do I use my body in ways that are not godly or biblical? Ahh. Yes. The quality and quantity of food I eat. Lord, help me to always put you first and to treat my body as your temple. 

Reading the full armor of God again, slowly, word by word. 

What is Spiritual Warfare?: My personal journaling of my journey learning about this topic on 03.28.2016.

Welcome to a new blog post series.

The title of the new blog post series is:
What is Spiritual Warfare?: My journey of learning this topic

Today's blog title: 
What is Spiritual Warfare?: My personal journaling of my journey learning about this topic on 03.28.2016.

Welcome to a new blog post series where I will share my personal journaling as I journey through the Holy Bible.

It is of a larger series in which I plan to learn about the Bible and it is called:

"Learning the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the Holy Bible today"

This is a series I can work on full-time for the rest of my life, if I so desired. And I desire to do so right now, that is for sure. Or, more specifically, full-time for at least the next ten years approximately. At that time, my husband, B plans on retiring so I will move to writing part-time instead... maybe. We shall see in ten years or so.

At any rate, I will make it my full-time job as a normal, everyday, average gal to, learn all about the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the Holy Bible. This is my goal of this new blog post series... to learn everything I can about the sacred word of God.

My goal for this specific blog post series is on spiritual warfare.

It hit me yesterday how I think our world is under a major spiritual warfare attack. And, so is the United States.  And so is my state, county, city, neighborhood, our home, my husband, our work individually and together, and me.

For all of us to have fallen so short of biblical values proves my point. Yes, each of us has individual responsibility for our fall, but spiritual warfare certainly adds to this.

But, am I correct?

It has been a while since I studied spiritual warfare. I want to approach it empty, where I try to forget everything I think I know and learn everything the Bible teaches about spiritual  warfare.

I will use several texts to help me learn all I can about spiritual warfare. The main one I will use at first is found here:

http://smile.amazon.com/Lord-Warfare-Teach-Stand-Devotional-ebook/dp/B002RLBKFO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1459172214&sr=1-1&keywords=lord+is+it+warfare+teach+me+to+stand+by+kay+arthur

It is the book,

LORD, IS IT WARFARE? TEACH ME TO STAND: A DEVOTIONAL STUDY ON SPIRITUAL VICTORY by Kay Arthur

I think this spiritual victory is the key to the United States of America, the world, my state my county, my city, my neighborhood, my block, my family, my home, and me
living a successful and a blessed life, spiritually and in general. This is also the key for the upcoming presidential elections, I might add, along with fighting the war on terror and against ISIS in particular.

The battle always begins with me. I cannot control anyone else. But, I can sure change me and make the difference from my sphere of influence.

The main biblical passage I will focus on is:

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Ephesians 6:10-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 
Christian Warfare
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics[a] of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore,
with truth like a belt around your waist,
righteousness like armor on your chest,
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.[b]
16 In every situation take the shield of faith,
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is God’s word.
18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.
Footnotes:
Ephesians 6:11 Or schemes, or tricks.
Ephesians 6:15 Ready to go tell others about the gospel.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

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I find it interesting how we are not to strengthen ourselves. We are to rely on God to strengthen us and on his vast strength.

Not my strength.

His strength.

His vast strength. Not just a little strength.

We are to put on the full armor of God, not just a partial.

Then, after we rely on God for his vast strength, and after we put on all of the armor of God, then we can stand against the schemes and tactics of the devil, our enemy.
I take note of the order of these and how I cannot stand if I do not do those other things first.

And, if I do not or cannot stand, then I will lose the battle. Hence, the other things are necessary.

Now, in Ephesians 6:11, it talks about the tactics of our enemy. The word, "tactics" comes from the Greek word, "methodeia," which means: deceit, schemes, trickery, and craftiness. It refers to plans oftentimes. Deceitful plans and planning.

So... the enemy is tricky and deceitful. We need to not forget this. The devil will trick us, as Ephesians 6:11 informs us: 

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Ephesians 6:11 New Living Translation (NLT)
11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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Ephesians 6:11 Expanded Bible (EXB)
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s ·evil tricks [schemes].
Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

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Our enemy will deceive us. He is crafty.

One of the ways he tricks us is through deceiving us, where we do not know or remember that we are at war with him. If he convinces us this is the case, then we will not arm ourselves. We then will be attacked when we are unarmed. 

So, it is important to always remember we are at war. 

We are at war. These verses prove it:

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Ephesians 6:12-13 Expanded Bible (EXB)
12 [For] Our ·fight [conflict; struggle] is not against ·people on earth [L flesh and blood] but against the rulers and authorities and the ·powers [or cosmic powers/rulers] of this ·world’s darkness [L darkness], against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly ·world [realm; places]. 13 ·That is why you need to [L For this reason,] put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil [C persecution generally or end-time tribulation] you will be able to ·stand strong [keep your ground; resist the enemy]. And ·when you have finished the whole fight [L after you have done/accomplished everything], you will still be standing.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

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I am reading Ephesians 6:10-20 at multiple points all day long. My goal is to read it so much I memorize it and it takes hold in my heart and mind both. Consequently, I have decided on the HCSB version of the Holy Bible. 

What are my thoughts so far? I read LORD, IS IT WARFARE by Kay Arthur years ago and cannot help but wonder when I got so off-track. How could I forget so much? 
I actually have decided to do the EXPANDED BIBLE version instead as far as reading and re-reading to the point of memorization. Here is that version:

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Ephesians 6:10-20 Expanded Bible (EXB)
Wear the Full Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his ·great [strong; mighty] power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s ·evil tricks [schemes]. 12 [For] Our ·fight [conflict; struggle] is not against ·people on earth [L flesh and blood] but against the rulers and authorities and the ·powers [or cosmic powers/rulers] of this ·world’s darkness [L darkness], against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly ·world[realm; places]. 13 ·That is why you need to [L For this reason,] put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil[C persecution generally or end-time tribulation] you will be able to ·stand strong [keep your ground; resist the enemy]. And ·when you have finished the whole fight [L after you have done/accomplished everything], you will still be standing. 14 So stand ·strong [or ready], with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the ·body armor[breastplate] of ·right living [a righteous life; or God’s own righteousness/justice; L righteousness]. 15 On your feet wear the ·Good News [Gospel] of peace ·to help you stand strong [for firm footing; or to be fully prepared].16 And ·also [in addition to all this; or in all circumstances] use the shield of faith with which you can ·stop[extinguish] all the ·burning arrows [T fiery darts] of the Evil One. 17 ·Accept [Receive; or Take] the helmet of salvation, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the ·word [message] of God. 18 Pray ·in [or in dependence on] the Spirit at all times with all ·kinds of prayers [L prayers and requests], asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ·ready [alert] ·and never give up [L with all perseverance]. Always pray for all ·God’s people [T the saints].
19 Also pray for me that when I ·speak [L open my mouth], God will give me words so that I can tell the ·secret[mystery] of the ·Good News [Gospel] ·without fear [confidently; boldly]. 20 ·For this Good News […for which] I am an ambassador in ·prison [L chains; 3:1]. Pray that I will speak ·it [or for him; or in him] ·without fear [boldly; confidently], as I should.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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I am going to read this three times slowly and take each verse in slowly as I do and I will try to ponder each word, phrase, sentence, etc., as I do. I want to take it all into my mind and heart. This is how I will spend the next couple of hours. 

Lord, teach me how to pray

There are times I do not know what to pray because I am so stunned by what has happened. But, there is something far more prevalent in keeping me from praying as I want or should. I am not sure I really, truly, fully, deeply know how to pray. Or, at least I am scared that I don't. Therefore, I doubt if it would hurt if I prayed this prayer: Lord, teach me how to pray.
Almighty God and Holy One, if I am realistic, I do not think it is ever possible to learn enough on how to pray to You and communicate with You, the Eternal One and All-Powerful One.
And, I want to learn and know more about prayer just in general. I want to
Luke 11:1 Expanded Bible (EXB)
11 One time Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his ·followers [disciples] said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his ·followers [disciples].”
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Lord, teach me how to pray without ceasing for those touched by terror and for the terrorists. Show me how. Give me the words and remind me to pray about these things. Guide me.
Teach me how to stand in the gap and be a watchman in prayer aobut terrorism.
In the name of Jesus Christ, my Messiah and Lord, my Redeemer and Strength, I pray that You bring each terrorist to believe in Jesus Christ--and if not, that You bring justice.
Thank You, my Rock and Refuge, for being the One who saves and that it isn't up to me to make or force someone to believe. Thank You for being all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, so You do not depend on me to bring people to believe--nor do You depend on me to bring You justice. You do all of that just fine on Your own. You are the One True God and You do not depend on man for anything.
Lord, help the wicked to know that there is a better way. In fact, there is only one true way.
John 14:1-7 New Living Translation (NLT)
14 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Lord, help terrorists to learn and believe in John 14:6.
There is something else that is strongly on my mind and in my heart right now, Lord. Protect people, in Brussels and anywhere else there is a plan of a terror attack. Put a hedge of protection around them.
Lord! You just spoke to me and made my prayer book aobut how to pray about terrorism very clear. You said that this is to be a book about "Spiritual Warfare Prayer and the War on Terror." Period. End of story.

Prayer Focus: Praying for the world and about terrorism

Saturday, November 21, 2015
Last night as I tried to fall asleep, I prayed. As I prayed, this came to me:
Lord, the world seems like it's falling apart at the seams. I realize there is nothing new under the sun as it says here:
Ecclesiastes 1:9 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
The world turmoil is not new. We just know more about it because of the internet and social media. (For instance, when hearing about breaking news, social media is usually the best way to find out information because social media posts in real-time. That being said, you have to know most of the information is marginally true and is subjective, so you have to filter it for the facts later.)
Lord, none of this is a surprise to You. However, Lord, it is a surprise to me. It hurts knowing the suffering of people. I wish I could go give them a hug and just be there for them. I pray instead and I realize well this is best anyway. Prayer offers them more than anything or anyone of this world.
The world is in turmoil and seems so... ugly... Bleak. Hurtful and hurting. Busy. Lost. Confused. Angry. Sad. There are so many challenges and so much ugliness, God. We are all trying to find our own way and are trying to find some beauty and at least one blessing to count. First, there was Paris. Then, Mali. Then, now, there is a threat in Brussels. They are in lockdown and are on alert. Americans are told to leave there or not to go there.
Lord, so much ugliness in this world.
Where is the beauty? Where is the light in this dark mixed up world?
Wait. We are all looking inside of ourselves, and all around, so we are not looking where we should. We should look for You. We should seek Your face. You are eve good, beautiful, and light. You are our only hope.
As our hearts break...
As we learn of more ugliness...
As we crave beauty in this muck...
We should look for You. Search for You. See You alone. You will never fail us and always want what is best for us. You are our one and only true and absolute hope.
We should also remember how You have a purpose for and in everything.
Acts 17:27 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
27 He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Lord, I wish You didn't have to get my attention with events and circumstances. I wish I turned to You first and foremost... and I wish I stood in the gap and on watch without having to remind me and get my attention. Help me to remain focused on looking for You in all I do, think, feel, and say. You alone, Lord. In these times... You first and You alone. The world will fail me every time and is a man versus man world. You are the only sure foundation.
Isaiah 28:16 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem,
    a firm and tested stone.
It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
    Whoever believes need never be shaken.
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I should search for You, seek You and Your face, at all times. Yes, Father, in the times of sunshine, clouds, rain, snow, and storm, we should seek You and Your face. First and always. For, when we do, You reward us and bless us.
Matthew 6:31-34 New Living Translation (NLT)
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Another terror attack? We should not worry. We should pray instead.
Lord, it is sometimes difficult to look for You in this vile and mixed up world at times that leads only to trouble. People are so self-centered they forget about You or are so focused on self they have never known You at all.
Psalm 53:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
For the choir director: on Mahalath. A Davidic Maskil.
1 The fool says in his heart, “God does not exist.”
They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.
3 All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Lord, help me be the one. Help me be the one who seeks You first. Help me be the one who stands in the gap. Help me seek You every moment. Help to stand on watch.
But, Lord... all of this can be difficult at best. I cannot possibly do any of this, let alone all of it without You.
First, Paris, then terror attacks in Israel, then in Mali, and now Brussels is on high alert. People are dying. People are being murdered because of a difference in belief and a difference in a way of life. Ouch. There's so much tumult and turmoil... I feel like I am drowning in this sea of ugliness. Therefore...
Psalm 63:1-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
A Davidic psalm. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.
1 God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You;
my body faints for You
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
2 So I gaze on You in the sanctuary
to see Your strength and Your glory.
3 My lips will glorify You
because Your faithful love is better than life.
4 So I will praise You as long as I live;
at Your name, I will lift up my hands.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
I long for stability in this topsy-turvy world. I know that it's only found in You.
Lord, I know it isn't just me who struggles with these things and is grasping at anything to make sense of things and in order to stop myself from drowning in this sea of terror, never mind everyday life.
God, I realize that the fact that I am finding so much ugliness means in part that the terrorists are getting what they want. They want to disrupt lives. They want to cause terror and incite a war. I ahve fallen into that trap. That is why I should seek You first, always, and alone, so I do not fall into their trap and get my eyes off the prize.
Philippians 3:13-14 Expanded Bible (EXB)
13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not ·yet reached that goal [taken hold of it], but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the ·past [L things that are behind] and ·straining toward [stretching/reaching forward to] what is ahead, 14 I keep ·trying to reach [pursuing; chasing] the goal and get the prize for which God called me ·to the life above [heavenward; L upward] ·through [or in] Christ Jesus.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
My goal should be to focus on heaven, not on the things of this earth. The things of this earth are only temporary. Heaven is eternal.
Colossians 3:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Help all of us to turn to You and seek You. Helps us all to pray for what we should, when we should, in all things, for all things, and at all times.
I pray this for myself and for everyone who has been touched by terror the last few decades:
Psalm 91 New King James Version (NKJV)
91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
-- New King James Version (NKJV). Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Love, prayer, and terrorism

(Prayer about terror, standing in the gap, acting as a watchman for prayer)
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Here is a passage of scripture that separates Christians and terrorists:
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Ephesians 3:17-19 Expanded Bible (EXB)
17 I pray that Christ will ·live [make his home] in your hearts by faith and that your life will be ·strong in love and be built on love [L rooted and grounded in love]. 18 And I pray that you and all ·God’s holy people [T the saints] will have the power to ·understand [comprehend; grasp] the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is ·greater than anyone can ever know [beyond comprehension/knowledge], but I pray that you will be able to know that love. ·Then [L …so that] you can be filled with the fullness of God.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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The only way we can fully know love is through knowing Jesus Christ. His life is a representation of God's love.
If we know Jesus, we know love. True love. Unconditional love.
And, God expects us to show others this love.
This is what the terrorists lack. True, unconditional love.
Christianity is based on the love of God.
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John 3:16-18 Expanded Bible (EXB)
16 “[L For] God loved the world so much that he gave his ·one and only [only; unique; T only begotten; 1:14, 18] Son so that whoever believes in him may not ·be lost [T perish], but have eternal life. 17 [L For; Indeed] God did not send his Son into the world to ·judge the world guilty [condemn the world], but to save the world through him. 18 People who believe in God’s Son are not ·judged guilty [condemned]. Those who do not believe have already been ·judged guilty [condemned], because they have not believed in [L the name of] God’s ·one and only [only; unique; T only begotten; 3:16] Son.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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If you do not know Jesus, these verses mentioned throughout this blog post will not make sense. See the following verse for an explanation:
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1 Corinthians 2:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
-- New King James Version (NKJV). Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Here is a more simplistic version of the previous passage:
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John 3:16-18 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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Here is a more simplistic version of the earlier passage:
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Ephesians 3:16-19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, 17 and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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Our God is Love. And, He expects us to make love our focus--not judgment. (Also, He is the only one who judges. We do not.) Christianity is centered on love.
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Matthew 22:37-39 New Living Translation (NLT)
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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Nowhere does the Bible say we are to judge other Christians. Nor does it say that we are to judge those who are Christians.
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Matthew 7:2-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a log in your eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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God does not tell us to murder other Christians we disagree with. Terrorists will murder, and have, others of their own faith who do not have the same faith and belief as their own. They do not believe in the saying: "Let's agree to disagree."
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Lord, help me to take all of these verses to heart and think on them so I can apply them to my life. Help me to fully grasp these verses. Then, I can pray more about terrorism and for terrorists. Help me to know You and Your love so much that it helps me to pray about terrorism, Father.
Lord, help me to fully, completely grasp and understand Your love. Help those touched by terrorism to know your love as well. Help this world to know Your love today--not tomorrow. Today and tomorrow even.
The love of Christ is perfect. The love He has for us and the love we have for Him. To know Christ is to know love. Without Jesus Christ, there is no love. There's false love and shallow love, but not true, deep, unconditional, eternal love.
Lord, help those touched by terrorism to know love through what they are going through. Help them know that circumstances and feelings cannot diminish Your love one millimeter. Love is beyond emotion and circumstance.
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1 John 4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. 3 But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.
4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.
13 This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given assurance to us from His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent His Son as the world’s Savior. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
17 In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, for we are as He is in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because He first loved us.
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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Lord, I pray all of these verses and will keep praying them for those touched by terrorism and I pray this for those who do not believe--that they may know Jesus and these verses.
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Prayer about terror and standing in the gap

Note to the readers of this blog and my personal (prayer) journaling:
Reader of this blog and my personal journaling (and prayer journaling), I ask that you bear with me as I post a few blog posts today. However, since today is a self-declared prayer retreat for all the victims of terror this week in particular, I determined the material I have to share is too precious not to share. I hope to arm you with prayers as well regarding everyone that has been touched by terrorism in general and this last week.
There will be a couple of more blog posts as well today and through the weekend as well regarding praying about terrorism and all of those involved and all touched by terrorism.
Hence, if you enjoy reading this blog, and do not want to get bombarded by multiple blog posts per day, you might want to consider setting it up as a bookmark and checking it once a day (or more) and at your convenience. Otherwise, I pray each blog post I publish will be a timely one for you and you will not find it annoying to receive yet another one.
My goal is as of December 1st or so to limit my blog posts to one a day, but only five days per week. Until then, I want to arm us with as much material so we can fight the war on terror with the most powerful and effective weapon out there: With prayer. I hope to give you the material needed to do so.
Here is another passage about the importance of watching and praying:
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Nehemiah 4:8-9 Expanded Bible (EXB)
8 So they all made plans to come to Jerusalem and fight and ·stir up trouble [cause confusion/a disturbance]. 9 But we prayed to our God and appointed guards ·to watch for [L against] them day and night.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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Lord, I have thought for years how you want me to be a watchman of and for prayer and stand in the gap. Lord, help me to do so. Teach me fully what this means and how to put it into practice. Once and for all. If You want me to make this a full-time endeavor, please tell me. Guide me and instruct me.
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Proverbs 3:5-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
-- New King James Version (NKJV). Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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There are always slight nuances between versions or translations of the Bible. Just a one word difference adds more understanding so we can grasp further what God is telling us in His Word. This verse and translation is no exception:
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Proverbs 3:5-7 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
5     Trust the Lord with all your heart,
        and do not rely on your own understanding.
6     In all your ways acknowledge him,
        and he will make your paths smooth.
7     Do not consider yourself wise.
    Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
-- GOD’S WORD Translation (GW). Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group
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Lord, please guide me in my prayer life and in all of my prayers. Show me how to pray about terrorism and what to pray about terrorism. Help me to act as a watchman and to stand in the gap both. Help me to know what this means and apply this knowledge. Lord, help me to understand Your Word fully and be able to apply it fully as I pray for and about terrorism, for all those touched by terrorism and all of those who commit terrorism.
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Ephesians 1:17-19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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Lord, the fact is not everyone can stand in the gap like I can. I am unique in what I can offer as I stand in the gap. Therefore, it is my responsibility to pray as only I can, as others pray only as they can. I understand that this is why everyone should pray. for, each of us bring something different to the fight.
I realize I am in a very unique position in my life in general and in my prayer life. My husband works. I stay home. We don't have two-legged children. Therefore, I can pray for an extensive period of time each day, on top of praying as I go and in my mind in God-talk, rather than self-talk.
Lord, how do YOU want me to stand in the gap? What does it look like with my gifts, talents, and abilities?
What does it look like just in general, god, to stand in the gap in prayer?
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Ezekiel 22:29-31 Expanded Bible (EXB)
29 The people of the land ·cheat others [practice extortion] and ·steal [commit robbery]. They ·hurt [oppress] the poor and needy. They ·cheat [mistreat; extort] foreigners and ·do not treat them fairly [deny them justice].
30 “I looked for someone to ·build up [repair; 13:5] the walls and to stand before me ·where the walls are broken [in the gap/breach] ·to defend these people [L on behalf of the land] so I would not have to destroy them. But I could not find anyone. 31 So I ·let them see [poured out] my ·anger [wrath]. I destroyed them with an anger that was like fire ·because of all the things [L bringing down on their heads all] they have done, says the Lord God.”
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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Lord, I know for a fact I have not prayed far more than I have--in general and regarding terrorism specifically. Even though I knew You wanted me to do so. I make praying for and about terrorism an intentional goal from time to time, but then I get off-track. And, then I stop. Lord, help me to stand in the gap in the way You want, for as long as You want, even if it means for the rest of my life. Help me to make this a priority--once and for all. Help me to finally and totally commit to the endeavor.
There is only one I can influence and control. That is me. Help me to do so. The fact is, I know how surely I cannot without Your help. Father God, teach me how and guide me. Be with me and Holy Spirit, speak for me when I don't have the words.
I want to stand in the gap about terrorism and be a watchman. Now, help me to learn what that means, Lord.
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Or a more simple version of the passage:
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Ezekiel 22:29-31 New Living Translation (NLT)
29 Even common people oppress the poor, rob the needy, and deprive foreigners of justice.
30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. 31 So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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Not one. You looked and there wasn't one who stood in the gap. Abba, I cannot even begin to imagine how often this has been me and will be me. However, Father, help me to focus intentionally and purposefully on standing in the gap regarding terrorism.
Forgive me for not standing in the gap as I could and for not being a watchman.
Forgive me for all of the times I couldn't sleep, because You wanted me to pray, but I didn't for whatever reason.
Lord, help me.
Now, let's look just at verse 30 in another version or translation of the Bible:
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Ezekiel 22:30 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
30 I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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Lord, I know that since September Eleventh, 2001, You have put standing in the gap, and acting as a watchman of prayer, on my heart and in my mind about terrorism. There have been times I have heeded the call. However, there have been other times I have not. As I have said several times already, and in different ways. Lord, help me to know how You want me to do this and help me to commit to do so. I cannot without You.
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