she prays Archives - Cheri Strange, She Yearns, Christian Speaker & Author

Order My Steps

10 March 2023

Cheri Strange

No comments

Categories: Prayer

The average American eats out between four and five times a week. That places the Stranges in the minority as we average one meal per week, which has traditionally been Friday nights at an establishment with a dependably short wait for a crowd (ten Stranges). For us, that place is Cracker Barrel. We know it well: Breakfast served all day, biscuits with butter as the appetizer, and that triangular game on the tables. Personally, that Tricky Triangle is my favorite part because I can solve it EVERY TIME, leaving my children wowed and amazed.

I can solve it unhindered and in a matter of seconds because I spent countless hours as a child discovering a pattern for success. And I’m not alone in my quest. My nephew did some wowing of his own over the holidays when he solved about fifteen different types of rubics cubes, several in less than two minutes, for all of us in my kitchen. His feat was much more amazing than my Tricky Triangle win, but the path to success is found the same way: learning patterns and using them to accomplish our goals.

Spiritual Patterns

David seems to understand the power of patterns in his life—routines and protocols leading to godliness as well as those down a more self-seeking and destructive route, because he asks God for help.

Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. KJV

Most of the time, blatant sins do not blow into our lives unanticipated. You could say we plan for them.

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. James 1:14

The winning strategy David offers is to ask God to keep us from those practices that lead wayward, to instead, “order our steps,” or for pattern-seeker like me, to guide us toward—practices, attitudes and behaviors that lead to victory.

I like the way the NIV records David’s heartfelt request

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. NIV

Today, for you, my friend, I would like to pray this very thing.

A Prayer to Order My Steps

Father, God,

I thank you for the resources you have provided through the Bible to help us become faithful followers, and to give words to our minds and hearts when we might not know what to ask. Today I ask that you direct the footsteps of my friend to line up with Your Word. Show her insights of You. Teach her what it looks like to pattern her days and nights after the life of a disciple of Christ. Give her the wisdom, the strength to resist temptation to go her own way, and a way of escape when she finds herself stuck. Equip her for winning the battles against the sin that so easily entangles. And enable her to walk out the patterns and steps You illuminate. For all this we thank you.

Amen

XOXOXO

Before you Go

Don’t forget to check out the latest FREE reading plan available from YouVersion!

Have you received Cheri’s FREE gift to you? For a limited time, get 3 resources to help you experience more of God in your everyday life. It’s filled with practical help for living out what really matters. (Hurry because this gift is going away soon.)

DOWNLOAD NOW

For the one who feels invisible, largely passed over, and insignificant – Cheri has created a resource for you. Grab your copy of Can You See Me, Now? Good news for the lonely, left out, and less than today.

Buy the Book

WAIT! THERE’S MORE.

If you would like to become a part of the private FB group, She Prays, we would love to have you. Click the image to join.

You can meet Cheri on the She Yearns blog for more truth-saturated, Gospel-centered encouragement like this:

Praying for Understanding

27 January 2023

Cheri Strange

No comments

Categories: Prayer

Praying for Understanding

What do you and I do when we come to a spiritual dilemma—when we don’t know what to do or which way to go? If you ask the teenagers in my house, they will suggest we Google it. And that might help enrich our knowledge or provide options. But when we find ourselves needing more understanding of a spiritual nature, Googling our brains out is most likely not going to lead us on the right trajectory. Spiritual matters must be pursued in spiritual manners. And the best place to begin is the Word of God.

The Apostle Paul understood the need for more spiritual understanding which he attested by his own testimony to the Philippian church.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Philippians 3:8-12

Gaining a richer understanding, knowing more of the Savior regardless of the cost, was Paul’s way of life. In fact, this path toward seeking out more understanding was something he taught those who came to believe the Gospel in the early churches. More than a pursuit for those who had a premature urge to Google, a necessity for all of life. What to do, where to go, how to get there, and who God wanted them to become were the unspoken needs of the day.

And they gained more understanding the same way you and I do today.

Through prayer.

An Example from Paul

Paul walks the Believers of Colossi through his own prayer– not only to share a piece of his heart for them but as a model for how they should continue to pray for themselves and each other.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:9-10

And I am ever so grateful he did because it remains here for us today.

May we use these insightful words on behalf of those in our midst who need direction, answers, and a deeper understanding of Who God is. And may we ask God to lead them recognizing how to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, and bearing fruit in every good work.

A Prayer for More Understanding

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for the Bible. Thank you for caring enough for each one of us to leave us the very words we can utilize when we don’t know what to do or where to go, or when we just want to know you better. Not only do You desire to give us more understanding in all of these areas, you want us to be filled with it. What a generous God you are. So now I ask that you do this very thing for my friend reading. Don’t just help her for the minimum. Let her see what fullness is. And in moments when she isn’t sure which road to take, what answer to give, or how to make sense of the drama in her life – give her understanding. You are so much better than anything we can seek out on our own. Give her words to pray, eyes to see, and a willing heart to walk in the ways You make known. Continue to teach her that You are trustworthy for all of the unknowns. May she desire nothing less than a life that knows and loves You more tomorrow than she did today.

In the Name of Jesus,

Amen

XOXOXO

Before you Go

Don’t forget to check out the latest FREE reading plan available from YouVersion!

Have you received Cheri’s FREE gift to you? For a limited time, get 3 resources to help you experience more of God in your everyday life. It’s filled with practical help for living out what really matters. (Hurry because this gift is going away soon.)

DOWNLOAD NOW

For the one who feels invisible, largely passed over, and insignificant – Cheri has created a resource for you. Grab your copy of Can You See Me, Now? Good news for the lonely, left out, and less than today.

Buy the Book

WAIT! THERE’S MORE.

If you would like to become a part of the private FB group, She Prays, we would love to have you. Click the image to join.

You can meet Cheri on the She Yearns blog for more truth-saturated, Gospel-centered encouragement like this:

A Prayer for Contentment

21 January 2023

Cheri Strange

No comments

Categories: Prayer

A Prayer for Contentment

This past week I read the Biblical account of Jacob returning to Canaan with all the drama that ensured. Jacob is not my favorite patriarch. He’s a pretty lame husband and father. But he does bring some redeeming qualities to the table. Not only does he pray appropriately to God before he crosses back over to meet his brother, but his response to Esau after Esau tried to give back his gifts is spot on. He can teach us a thing or two about contentment in the middle of messy circumstances.

Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it. Genesis 33:8-11

Jacob is deceived about Leah, swindled out of years more of free labor, and cheated by Laban in his compensation time and time again by his father-in-law. I wonder how many years it took him feeling cheated, swindled, and overworked to land in a place where he believed whatever God gave him was enough.

Likely a few.

I ponder the same thing about Paul, who feels so strongly about the importance of personal contentment, he spends several verses urging Timothy to embrace it rather than chase after what will never satisfy.

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:6-12

Paul combines contentment with godliness, marrying the two concepts. Godliness refers to “the genuine fear and love of God, and obedience to his will,” (Benson Commentary), while contentment “refers to a state of mind; a calm and satisfied feeling; or a freedom from murmuring and complaining,” (Barnes Notes).

This marriage seems to communicate the benefit of the intimate relationship found through Jesus. When you and I pursue Him, praying, reading the Bible, and walking in obedience, we are in the right frame of mind for gaining contentment.

Is that enough?

No. That is not enough. Paul spends several verses pointing out the folly and destruction that comes from chasing after what will not matter in a thousand years, and the lure it can have on a person to do just that. Then he impresses on this young minister the need to escape.

Run away, urges Paul, a man of learned experience and considerable wisdom.

Paul points out the human condition to want more, pursue more, and if that doesn’t work, acquire more unethically until the grave. Nothing has changed for over two-thousand years. We remain a people who relentlessly chase after more.

Have you ever finished scrolling on social media with the satisfying sense that you are enough? Ever rest in thoughts that you have enough? Is your reflection conducted without murmuring? What about your closet? Do you have all you need without want? And your car? Your house? Even today, the world in which you and I live beckons us to long for more, to seek it, just like in the days of Paul.

But like Paul, you and I can experience the kind of marriage of godliness with contentment he shares with Timothy. This one, Paul has lived. In the middle of a prison sentence, he professes:

…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11 NIV

How does a person become content with what God has given, regardless of circumstance?

The roadmap to true contentment lies in these instructions to Timothy.

Recognize your own human frailty in the desire for and pursuit of more (vs. 9-10).
Run away from it (vs. 11).
Run toward righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness (vs. 11).
Fight for your faith (vs 12).

This list deserves more time, but for now, allow me to encourage you to keep this list handy on your phone for life. But the best place to begin our quest for contentment – believing God is able to give us all that we need (regardless of our circumstances), and place our absolute security in Him, (without murmuring or complaining) is to ask for it.

A Prayer for Contentment

Lord,

You know our desires. You are familiar with even our unspoken longings. Only You hear our silent responses to all we see around us that drives us to discontentment. May You give the grace needed to live today and always satisfied with what you give.

Give my friend the insights needed for recognizing where she is weak. Unreservedly, offer her Your strength to run from it, to turn off the phone, to drive past or scroll past the stores, and reject the temptation to deliberate thoughts about what she does not have. Oh God, will you show her Your goodness to her, and open a clear path forward in what to seek? Give her nothing less than that blessed mix of godliness and contentment of which Paul writes.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

XOXOXO

Before you Go

Don’t forget to check out the latest FREE reading plan available from YouVersion!

Have you received Cheri’s FREE gift to you? For a limited time, get 3 resources to help you experience more of God in your everyday life. It’s filled with practical help for living out what really matters. (Hurry because this gift is going away soon.)

DOWNLOAD NOW

For the one who feels invisible, largely passed over, and insignificant – Cheri has created a resource for you. Grab your copy of Can You See Me, Now? Good news for the lonely, left out, and less than today.

Buy the Book

WAIT! THERE’S MORE.

If you would like to become a part of the private FB group, She Prays, we would love to have you. Click the image to join.

You can meet Cheri on the She Yearns blog for more truth-saturated, Gospel-centered encouragement like this:

Pray for Focus

6 January 2023

Cheri Strange

No comments

Categories: Prayer

Pray for Focus

Welcome to a new year. I pray your season of celebration has been a good one. By now, I suspect you have moved past the Christmas decor and empty fudge tins to concentrating on what the next twelve months might bring. How does one prepare for what we hope will be better than the past? Pray. Pray for God to lead you and me toward who He wants us to become and what He has planned for us to do. In essence, we pray for focus.

It’s not just a good idea, it’s a perceptive pursuit. Solomon, the man known to us as the wisest in human history, made this suggestion:

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25

What does Solomon mean by calling us to look straight ahead?

According to biblical scholars, Solomon is referring to that which is straight in front of us, the right things, possessing a simplicity of aim, or singleness of motive. In other words, the king writes of the importance of setting God and His ways directly before us as our solitary focus. Fixing your gaze directly before you directs us to make seeking Him, knowing Him, and following Him our sole aim and primary ambition.

In everyday life, meeting this goal begins with prayer.

Maybe you feel like this is never going to work for you. Suppose you have tried but your thoughts run wild before the clock has moved forward ten minutes. How can you and I work toward placing God before us and looking straight ahead to right things? We start by praying for the focus we need.

Pray for what to focus upon. Often that is found in Scripture.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Psalm 1:1-5

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

I encourage you to pray these elements over your own life. Spurgeon once wrote, No one meanders into the kingdom of God. Neither does a person make God her aim without being intentional.

Once what you are to focus upon becomes more clear, pray for the ability to stay the course, with your eyes, heart, and mind gazing straight ahead. Friend, allow me to pray for focus in your life today.

A Prayer for Focus

Lord Jesus,

I pray for my friend to make You her sole aim this year. I thank You for Your word which makes the right way to take clear. Today, I ask that You give my friend insights into Who You are and what You want her to be about. Help her to make time. Make Yourself clear. Give her insights she could not know whithout spending time with You, Also, make her aware of that which tugs at her thoughts and desires to move her off course. Give her Your strength and Your courage to keep steady her gaze on You. Make her aware of Your presence and activity in her very life. Help her know You love her and desire to be the delight of her life.

In the Name of Jesus,

Amen

XOXOXO

Before you Go

Don’t forget to check out the latest FREE reading plan available from YouVersion!

Have you received Cheri’s FREE gift to you? For a limited time, get 3 resources to help you experience more of God in your everyday life. It’s filled with practical helps for living out what really matters. (Hurry because this gift is going away soon.)

DOWNLOAD NOW

For the one who feels invisible, largely passed over, and insignificant – Cheri has created a resource for you. Grab your copy of Can You See Me, Now? Good news for the lonely, left out, and less than today.

Buy the Book

WAIT! THERE’S MORE.

If you would like to become a part of the private FB group, She Prays, we would love to have you. Click the image to join.

You can meet Cheri on the She Yearns blog for more truth-saturated, Gospel-centered encouragement like this:

A Prayer to Experience God’s Love

16 December 2022

Cheri Strange

No comments

Categories: Prayer

A Prayer to Experience God’s Love

My two grown and flown daughters spent part of their weekend together at a theme park. Their mission: to ride lots of rollercoasters. The reflections in their selfies testified to their success. Those grown-up smiles reminded me of former days when I took those same girls to that exact park. In those days, all they could ride was the kiddy roller coaster. There were no death-defying plummets, twists, or gravity-defeating loops. The track looked more like a set of circular monkey bars from a playground. No matter. My four-year-old sat in the car anticipating the thrill to come. Shrieks of joyful delight permeated the air as her hands waved above her head before the car ever ebbed away from the platform. No doubt, this experience was going to be an exhilarating one.

The Psalmist seems to be anticipating the same type of exhilaration and pleasure when he writes:

Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you. Reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you. Psalm 143:8

Those kiddy roller coaster days marked me. They caused me to wonder how often I approach life with my hands in the air oozing with informed anticipation of anything about my relationship with God. The Bible doesn’t paint a picture of such grand anticipation, but it does infer a known and relished commodity.

In other words, the love of God cannot simply be read about and believed. It must be experienced.

Why Don’t We Experience God’s love?

The problem with many of us is that we have no idea what we are missing. It’s as if we have never ventured thrill-riding. We lack experience, remaining spectators rather than participants. The Psalmist longs for more because he knows there is more to be apprehended. Not stopping with wanting and wishing, he does the only thing he can. He prays.

What about you? Do you want to experience the more available? Are you ready to move beyond observation and words in a book to the thrill ride of your life?

If so, then buckle up as you bend the knee. His love for you and for me is promised and sure.

We will not be disappointed.

A Prayer to Experience God’s Love

Lord Jesus,

I ask that You draw my friend to Yourself, helping her to experience the depths of Your love for her. Let the words of the Psalmist permeate–“let (her) experience Your faithful love in the morning, for (she) trusts in You” – becoming her cry and her reality. Show her Your power, Your goodness, Your grace, and Your gentleness. Give her a history of You loving her in such a way that causes her to keep coming back — like a thrill ride that always has a place saved in line for her to experience more and more of Your faithful love until she sees you face to face.

In the Name of Jesus,

Amen

Friend, it has been my pleasure to meet you here each week – pray over you and use this cyberspace to deepen relationships. I’m signing off until the new year. Make sure to become a subscriber so that you don’t miss anything. It is my joy and pleasure to be here with you.

XOXOXO

Before you Go – Did You Know?

For the one who feels invisible, largely passed over, and insignificant – Cheri has created a resource for you. Grab your copy of Can You See Me, Now? Good news for the lonely, left out, and less than and join the Strange Readers Café. We will be going through the book together beginning Oct. 3 until December 16 – just in time for Christmas.

Buy the Book

Join the Group

Don’t forget to check out the latest FREE reading plan available from YouVersion!

Have you received my FREE gift to you? Get 3 resources to help you experience more of God in your everyday life. It’s filled with practical helps for living out what really matters. (Hurry because this gift is going away soon.)

DOWNLOAD NOW

WAIT! THERE’S MORE.

If you would like to become a part of the private FB group, She Prays, we would love to have you. Click the image to join.

You can meet Cheri on the She Yearns blog for more truth-saturated, Gospel-centered encouragement like this: