One Minute with God: Devotional Prayer Journal

January 1

At the time appointed …

—Genesis 18:14 (KJV)

But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path, God’s purposes know no haste and no delay. (DA 32.1)

O h my God, we can learn so much from you about your divine nature, your attributes, your love, and your character. As your sons and daughters, we desire to have an intimate relationship with you. This year, we want a closer walk with you so we can learn more about you and know you more intimately. We give you thanks for Christ, who dwells in us by the power of your Holy Spirit. We wholly trust that at the appointed time, your will for our lives, your children, will be done and you will be glorified. We pray in the holy name of Jesus, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 2

The LORD is my shepherd: I shall not want.

—Psalm 23:1 (KJV)

W hen we think of a shepherd, we think of someone who cares for the flock. So it is with Christ; He is the Good Shepherd. He is ever looking to do us good. He protects our comings and goings. He looks for ways to bless us. He never sleeps or slumbers. His constant gaze is on us, His beloved children. We can rest assured all our provisions have been made—we shall want for nothing.

Heavenly Father, why do we doubt your goodness and love? Today, I ask for forgiveness and I surrender this heart to you. You have provided and met all my needs, and I know I will want for nothing because you are the Good Shepherd in whom I trust, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 3

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding.

—Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

T o trust means to have a firm belief in the reliability of a person. Here, you are being asked to trust in the Lord with all your heart. You have to learn to trust your heavenly Father.

At times in our lives, we worry about things that may never come to pass. We waste precious moments worrying when we could have been enjoying our lives. God wants us to trust Him. He wants us to know He is willing and able to help. He bids us look at how He has led us in the past, and He wants us to trust He is leading even now.

Heavenly Father, we come to you because you are our all in all. May we trust you and know that no good thing will you keep from us. Even when we can’t understand what’s happening in our lives, help us trust in you today and forever, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 4

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.

—James 1:6 (KJV)

Long delays tire the angels. It is even more excusable to make a wrong decision sometimes than to be continually in a wavering position, to be hesitating, sometimes inclined in one direction then in another. More perplexity and doubting than from sometimes moving too hastily. (GW 133.4)

H eavenly Father, as the year is fresh and new, we pray we will make haste through every door you open. May we cultivate a relationship with you so we will know your way and your voice. We pray for that childlike faith—with nothing wavering, believing you are able. Increase our faith and love for you. We pray this in Jesus’s name, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 5

So run, that ye may obtain.

—1 Corinthians 9:24 (KJV)

W e are not to be idle as if sitting and expecting great blessings to fall into our laps. We are to run so we may obtain. Jesus expected much, so He attempted much. Should we not follow His example? Be active in your life. You’re your faith.

Oh my God, who is in heaven, we pray for an active lifestyle in reaching others for you and in building the character that will prepare us for heaven. Help us never to lose the boldness to stay active in your cause and represent you in all circumstances. May we walk with the assurance that you, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, walks with us. Help us pursue the desires you have placed in our hearts knowing we have nothing to lose. We pray this in Jesus’s name, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 6

And God said … and it was so.

—Genesis 1:9 (KJV)

What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God’s heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? (SC94).

H eavenly Father, it is clear in your Word that what you speak comes to pass and what you have promised to do you will do. Take away our complaining and our doubts. Increase our faith as we develop the habit to pray. This is our prayer in Jesus’s name, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 7

I will be with thee.

—Joshua 3:7 (KJV)

T his is such an assuring promise the Lord of our lives has made to those who are called by His name. No matter where you may find yourself, know that God is with you. No matter what you may be going through, know that God is with you. If you can feel His presence in the best of times, look for Him in the worst of times—because He is there. As He was with Moses and Joshua, so He is now with you.

Loving Father, we ask you to motivate us to work for you so we can reach others right where you have placed us. Help us trust you are with us always even unto the end. Give us a desire to seek the lost. We pray this for Christ’s sake, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 8

And he marveled because of their unbelief.

—Mark 6:6 (KJV)

The secret of all failures is our failure in secret prayer. (KC 14)

H eavenly Father, we all would say we believe in prayer, but do we truly believe in the power of prayer? Do we even take the time to pray? Help us by the power of your Holy Spirit to prevail in prayer. May we PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) because we pray to the one and only true and wise God! Amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 9

Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

—Luke 18:1 (KJV)

It is not too much to say that all real growth in the spiritual life-all victory over temptation, all confidence and peace in the presence of difficulties and dangers, all repose of spirit in times of great disappointment or loss, all habitual communion with God- depends upon the practice of secret prayer. (KC 9)

H eavenly Father, my heart’s desire is to know you. Here I stand in the battlefield asking you to be my guide—because without you, I will surely perish. Do for your children what only you can do. I pray for Christ’s sake, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 10

For in him we live, and move, and have our being.

—Acts 17:28 (KJV)

The hand of infinite power is perpetually at work guiding this planet. It is God’s power momentarily exercised that keeps it in position in its rotations. The God of heaven is constantly at work. It is by His power that vegetation is caused to flourish, that every leaf appears and every flower blooms. Every breath, every throb of the heart, is the continual evidence of the power of an ever-present God. (6BC 1062.5)

O h, my God, when we consider your awesomeness, we have no need to wallow in fear or worry because everything that we are we are because of you. We give you thanks, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 11

Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

—John 16:24 (KJV)

D on’t limit God with your unbelief. Make your request and you will receive. It’s that simple. God is waiting on you. Go on, ask.

Heavenly Father, our greatest need is you! And we have access to you through prayer. Loving Dad, we pray we may know what your will for our lives is. Thank you for reminding us that our joy depends on answered prayer. May we shake off the lethargy by the power of your Holy Spirit, and let us ask so we may receive so we may be joyful, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 12

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

—2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

W hen I became an adult and still had some amazing dreams to accomplish, the one and only gift I would ask of others was the gift of prayer. But I wouldn’t ask just anyone; I would ask the people I knew who prayed—those who believed in the power of prayer—to pray for me. There is no greater gift than the gift of prayer.

Heavenly Father, you have given to us, your children, the recipe for a connection with you and all you represent—humility, prayer, and change. May we take heed and humble ourselves, and may we pray so we may be healed physically, mentally, and spiritually in Jesus’s name, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayers

January 13

I believe God …

—Acts 27:25 (KJV)

I t is important to know who God is and develop a relationship with Him. If you don’t know God, you won’t understand His movements.

Loving Father who art in heaven, if I am going to follow you wherever you lead, I need to believe in you. Abraham believed in you so much that when you asked him to leave his relatives and home and go to a strange land, he trusted and followed you. We come in prayer and in faith. Like Abraham, may we believe you and know it will be just as you have said. We want to know you. For if we know you, we won’t doubt you, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayer

January 14

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.

—Romans 4:19–20 (KJV)

G od knows how to take us to a place where all heaven and earth will know we know who God is, and if He says it, He will do it. I know if I were Abraham, my faith would have grown cold because in the natural, it doesn’t seem to be possible to have a child when everything in me is dead. But God invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8), and what He has promised, He will do.

Yes, Father, you are on the throne and are working miracles in the lives of your children who believe. You did it in the life of Abraham, and you can do the impossible for us. May our eyes stay on you and not on our circumstances we pray, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayer

January 15

He believed in the LORD.

—Genesis 15:6 (KJV)

O ur lives should have a plethora of blessings displaying God’s work in our lives. As His children, we have the evidence to rest our faith in His loving arms. There is no room for doubt when it is so clear God is with us, and all nations will call you blessed.

Heavenly Father, your Word is clear. We need to take you at your word. We need to believe. Let us meditate on how you have led us in the past so our faith may be strengthened, and like Abraham, may it be said of us that we believed the Lord, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayer

January 16

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

—Romans 4:21 (KJV)

Have there not been some bright spots in your experience? Have you not had some precious seasons when your heart throbbed with joy in response to the Spirit of God? When you look back into the chapters of your life experience do you not find some pleasant pages? Are not God’s promises, like the fragrant flowers, growing beside your path on every hand? Will you not let their beauty and sweetness fill your heart with joy? (SC 117.1)

L oving Father, may we be fully persuaded that you will perform what you have promised. Take away all discouragements and gloom, and give us your joy we pray in Jesus’s name, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayer

January 17

Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

—Genesis 18:14 (KJV)

G od loves to do the impossible. He loves to work in such a way that when the work is done, you have zero doubt that it was God. Just look at how He parted the Red Sea when the children of Israel were thinking they were doomed because they couldn’t see the way out. When it seems impossible, that’s the time to call on your heavenly Father, the God of the impossible.

Forgive me, Father, for I have been guilty of uttering such doubts. I pray my words and actions never put you to shame. Increase my faith so I too will see all the blessings you have in store for me to come my way. Increase my faith I pray in Jesus’s name, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayer

January 18

And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel.

—1 Samuel 4:21 (KJV)

I t is not a good idea to dwell on the disappointments of life and fixate on all the unpleasant things that have occurred. That will bring about a downcast, overwhelmed spirit. Instead, let us talk of the goodness of the Lord and all the wonderful things He has done.

Loving Father, we know we make mistakes, but we also know you are a forgiving God. Let us not be like Ichabod’s mother and name our future based on our past mistakes. May we look to Jesus always and know that our futures are bright because He is in it. It is in His name that we move forward embracing our futures, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayer

January 19

Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away.

—Joshua 3:15–16 (NIV)

One of the most essential qualities of the faith that is to attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God, is holy audacity. Where we are dealing with a supernatural Being, and taking from Him things that are humanly impossible, it is easier to take much than little; it is easier to stand in a place of audacious trust than in a place of cautious, timid clinging to the shore. (SD 3/28).

L oving Father, may we attempt great things for you. Take away the timid, cautious attitude and give us that holy audacity to do great and expect great today and every day, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayer

January 20

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name I will do it.

—John 14:13–14 (KJV)

L earn how to persevere in prayer and press your request to our Father, who’s in heaven, in the name of Jesus. God will honor that name.

Heavenly Father, your Word is clear. You will do anything we ask for. We pray to know what we ought to pray for so we may glorify you, our Father. May we press our petitions to heaven for lost souls and opportunities to witness for you. We know you will fill all we lack. We pray in the matchless name of Jesus, amen.

Reflections, Thoughts, and Prayer

January 21

Hold your peace.

—Job 13:13 (KJV)

W e talk way too much about the things that perplex us and praise God way too little for all the good He has done. We need to keep in mind that heaven is constantly in our midst. The angels are grieved when all we do is murmur and complain about our situations making no mention of God and His greatness.

God knows how to work behind the scenes. He sees what no eyes can see. Let us learn to hold our peace when trials cross our paths. Let us learn to pray giving God thanks for all His goodness.

Heavenly Father, I want to