(V) Virgins of Honor (keep extra oil to shine brightly)
Lindsey, I pray that like the 5 wise virgins, you will always be watching and alert and that you will always be ready!
Heavenly Father, good morning. Thank you for the rain as it is needed for the trees and plants. Thank you for the sunshine that also is needed by those trees and plants. Thank you for showing us growth within your creation! And thank you for the scripture to use for the letter V for the virgins of honor, the wise virgins:
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (Matthew 25:1-4)
And what happened when the bridegroom arrived in the middle of the night?
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. (Matthew 25:7-9)
Lord, I am here again to pray for Lindsey, as usual! Today I pray for wisdom for you Lindsey. I pray that the virgins of honor, the wise virgins would be an example to you. I pray that you would also remember to carry extra oil with you wherever you go. Every single day! I pray that you never would end up like the five foolish virgins who had to scurry around at the last minute and find out it was then TOO LATE! I also pray that God would grant you discernment to know when the oil you have is meant just for you, when it is not for others who have left theirs behind. And finally, I pray that you would be able to constantly be alert, ever watchful and always ready. And the glory we will give to God. All the glory is his. I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen (more…)
(U) Unnamed Musical Women – the many happy women of Israel
Lindsey, I pray that you would be just like the many unnamed women of Israel who came out of the cities singing and dancing to the Lord. They played instruments and danced with all their hearts. I see this in you and pray that the Lord would show you ways to continue in this!
Heavenly Father, good morning! Thank you for the beautiful trees. Thank you for the bushes. And thank you for the flowers and plants. Thank you for all that you set in front of our eyes! And thank you for the scriptures regarding the MANY unknown, unnamed musical women for the letter U today:
And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. (1 Samuel 18:6-7)
AND
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. (Exodus 15:20-21)
Lord, here I am, ready to begin the prayer for today for your daughter! Lindsey, I thank the LORD for the talent and skill that he gifted you with. I thank YOU for knowing to go out and use those gifts. And I pray that the Lord would provide you with many more opportunities to sing, dance and play music to him on your own, with your family and friends and for crowds of people. I pray that you would have the courage to play to him then. I pray that he would give you words when you need them and that he would relieve any anxiety that may try to creep up on you. And all the glory goes to God. The glory is all his. I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen (more…)
(T) Tryphena and Tryphosa – dedicated hard workers for Christ
Lindsey, today we read about two women who likely were sisters that are mentioned only once in all of the Bible, yet that one time they are saluted for being hard workers for Christ. I pray that you too may be saluted in this way!
Good morning Heavenly Father. Thank you for cinnamon. Thank you for the wide variety of spices. Thank you that we can think of them so that we can have the saying “spice of life“. And thank you for the scripture for the sisters mentioned in Romans:
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. (Romans 16:12)
Lord, I am here again. With joy I am here to begin today’s prayer for your daughter. Lindsey, today I pray that you would continue to work hard for Jesus, just as Tryphena and Tryphosa did. I pray that others would salute you for being faithful to Jesus even more than applauding you for your music. And the glory is all God’s. We give him the glory. I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen
Tryphena & Tryphosa:
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(S) Salome – faithful through thick and thin
Lindsey, the woman in the Bible for the letter S is Salome. Her two sons got the nickname “sons of thunder” – Jesus himself called them that! She followed Jesus and ministered and supported him right up to his crucifixion. Even when others deserted or even betrayed Jesus, Salome stuck with Jesus!
Heavenly Father. Good morning. Thank you for the godly people you have surrounded me with. Thank you for these good role models I have around me. And thank you for the story of Salome who raised up her sons of thunder while supporting and ministering to your son Jesus!
There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) (Mark 15:40-41)
and
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. (Mark 16:1-2)
Lord, it’s me. I’m here to pray for your daughter you love. Lindsey, I pray that you would be like Salome. I pray that you would raise up some sons of thunder around you. I pray that God would boost your faithfulness and replace doubts with truth. When others desert Jesus, may you stick close to him. When others say Jesus is dead, may you know that he is alive. When others say Jesus rose again, may you think to yourself, “yeah, I knew that!”. And we will give all the glory to him. The glory is all his. I pray this in the name and authority of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen
Salome
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(R) Ruth – Refuse to Accept Rejection! Take Risks! Deal Actively With Life!
Lindsey, I spent months preparing to do these final 26 days of prayers for women of the Bible, and when I was reading about Ruth, something I read reminded me of your initial rejection from “America’s Got Talent”. This is what the Women of Faith Bible says about Ruth: “Ruth was not naive. She likely had faced the indignation of her own people when she married Mahlon, an Israelite. She was aware of the initial resentment against her in Bethlehem. But she refused to accept rejection. Instead she placed herself in the Lord’s hands as she went out to glean in the fields…” Another book, Women of the Bible summed up Ruth’s character like this: “Generous, loyal, and loving, she is strong and serene, able to take unusual risks, dealing actively with life circumstances”. I believe much of this can be said of you, making this a special prayer indeed.
Heavenly Father, I welcome this day with you. All of your creation sings joyfully your praise. The birds sing, the chipmunks chatter. The mountains and hills sing joyfully and the trees clap their hands! Thank you for this wonderful creation Lord. And thank you for the third woman from the book of Ruth that I can use in my A to Z prayers… Ruth herself!
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. (Ruth 1:16-17)
and here is the scripture I referenced as I started my thanksgiving:
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12)
Lord, what a joy to know that I can come to sit with you. I look forward to starting a new prayer for your daughter again, especially today since I am on the letter R and am using scriptures regarding the story of Ruth. Lindsey, this is a special prayer for you. Today I am not praying for you right now or for your future. Instead I am thanking God for giving you the gumption to refuse to accept rejection! You were rejected in front of millions of people, yet you refused to accept that. Instead, you chose to take it as a challenge to do even better. And thus I thank the Lord for the wonderful example you are to the millions of young women watching you. I thank God that you can be a role model for them today. I thank God for that terribly hard and bitter day of complete rejection because God used it to show how he can turn all things into good! And we will give the glory to God. All the glory is his. I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen
Ruth:
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(Q) Queen of Sheba – Travel Far; Ask Hard Questions; get Answers
Lindsey, today I pray that you will be willing and determined to travel great distances to get answers to your hard questions, just like the Queen of Sheba (who both Matthew and Luke considered more honorable that their current generation!)
Good Morning Heavenly Father. Thank you for another beautiful day. Thank you for the green grass. Thank you for the flowering trees. Thank you for the example of Spring! And thank you for the honorable woman for the letter Q:
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42)
She traveled far to ask Solomon hard questions and was breathless at how he could answer every single question she had:
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not. And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her. (2 Chronicles 9:1-4)
Lord, I’m here again resting with you. And after a bit of rest, I begin today’s prayer for your daughter who loves you so much. I pray that you would answer all of Lindsey’s hard questions. I ask that you allow her to travel great distances to see the answers for herself. I pray that you would take her breath away. Let her be breathless when she sees the answers! And we will give you all the glory. All the glory is yours Lord. I pray this in the name and authority of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen
=> More about the Queen of Sheba
(P) Priscilla – Unafraid of Controversy from a Faithful Life
Lindsey, today was the day that my computer crashed. I had to do a factory reset on it, followed by over 150 Windows updates and then reinstall a few of my programs. I thought that I had written the prayer for you after that but it seems like I was too distracted and forgot. However, you know that you are in my prayers all day long, so only the written one was missed, and I will do double duty for today!
And so … now I pray that you would be unafraid of any controversy that may result from your leading a fully faithful life, just as Priscilla was so committed to a faithful life that she risked her life for Paul’s sake! I pray that God would be your guide, your strength and your protector and that he would grant you more wisdom and discernment this week!
Heavenly Father, good morning as I reflect back a day. I recall your generosity through the day. I recall that you were there with me always. I remember how you promised to never leave me. Thank you Lord. And thank you for the story of Priscilla who stepped out in faith even as far as having the church meet in her house, as your scriptures relay to us:
The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1 Corinthians 16:19)
and she even opened her home as the place for Paul to stay:
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. (Acts 18:1-3)
and Paul remembers how she risked her life for him:
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. (Romans 16:3-4)
Lord, I’m here on behalf of Lindsey, your daughter you love. I pray that you would give her opportunities to be generous and share her home with others. I pray that you would grant Lindsey more understanding about your Word and about Jesus and that she could clarify the full truth for others. And I pray for God’s protection over you Lindsey whenever you lay your life on the line for someone else. And we will give the glory to God. All the glory is his. I pray this in the name and authority of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen
=> More about Priscilla
(O) Orpah – No Risk = No Adventure!
Lindsey you are a daughter of the living God. I pray that you will be able to relinquish control over to him and let him be the master planner. I pray that you will choose your path well. I pray that you will live the adventure that only God can bring to you. I pray that you will feel totally safe even when taking the risks needed.
Hello Heavenly Father. I welcome another day with you. I welcome another day with yet more amazing things in your creation before my very eyes. Thank you for letting your beauty and glory be evident to all who look upon your creation. And thank you for the story of Orpah as the woman in the Bible for the letter O:
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. (Ruth 1:11-15)
Lord, I am here again. I’m here to pray for your daughter Lindsey, and perhaps today’s scripture is an indication of what to avoid! Avoiding the risk of travel to another land was Orpah’s choice. But look at the rewards that Ruth received by taking that risk! Lindsey, I pray that you would continue to walk with God and to take the risks set before you. I pray that the rewards would be great for you now and in the future. I pray that the Lord would give you the wisdom to see the path to follow and the courage to actually walk that path. And we will give the glory to God. All the glory is his. I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen
=> See more about Orpah
(N) Naomi – Inspire Others
Lindsey, may you inspire others as Naomi inspired Ruth. She was such an inspiration to Ruth that Ruth refused to leave her and clung to her. May others see such inspiration in you.
Good morning Heavenly Father. Thank you for the changing weather. Thank you for the warnings that are part of your creation … warning about a change in weather. We say “it feels like it is going to rain” or “it looks like rain”. Thank you for the weather indicators. And thank you for the inspiring story of Naomi for the letter N:
Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. (Ruth 1:6-9)
AND THEN…
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. (Ruth 1:14)
Lord, I’m here again. I’m here to sit with you. I’m here to lift up Lindsey your daughter and to pray for her again today. Lindsey, I pray that as you cling to Jesus along your journey that others may be inspired and want to follow you and the God that you worship. And the glory will go to God. All the glory is his. I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen
Naomi:
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(M) Mary Magdalene (followed Jesus to the End and the Risen New Life)
Lindsey, I pray that you would have a devotion to Jesus like that of Mary Magdalene. She followed him, ministered to him and cared for him. She stuck with him right to the foot of the cross. She was there when he was buried. And she was there when the stone rolled away and was the first witness to the resurrection. Yes, I pray that like Mary Magdalene you would follow Jesus wherever he leads you.
Heavenly Father, good morning. Thank you for smells. Yes, outside there is the smells of a new morning dawning and inside the smells of coffee and cinnamon pastries. Outside it can get quite windy while inside it is always calm. Thank you for all that is inside and out! And thank you for the scriptures relating to Mary Magdalene, the woman in the Bible for the letter M:
There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. (Mark 15:40-41)
Lord, yep, it’s me. I am back again as usual. I am ready to pray for Lindsey, your daughter you love. Lindsey, I pray that your journey always will include Jesus, that you would acknowledge him where ever you go. While you haven’t witnessed his life, his death and his resurrection, you can witness for him by your life, your light and your laugh. And we can give the glory to God. All the glory is his. I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen
=> More about Mary Magdalene
A daughter of God 