Iron sharpens Iron Ministry Inc

03/19/2022

A Prayer for Today

Share With Others

“Father, thank You that there are lessons in the painful situations I experience that I can use to help others. Thank You that I have something to give, some encouragement to share, some wisdom to impart. Help me to give away what You’ve given to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Healing comes when you get outside yourself and help others. There’s a blessing in that pain. When you’ve been through something, you’re uniquely qualified to help and comfort somebody else in that situation. Look for opportunities. God is counting on you to help others facing the same thing.

05/22/2021

MOSES: FORWARD BY FAITH
Exodus 14
People don't like to hear that living by faith guarantees hardship, but it's true. When we choose to obey God, we will at times suffer and have to make painful sacrifices - like Moses in today's reading.

Growing up in Pharaoh's palace, Moses must have known that carrying out God's command to free His people was humanly impossible - the prideful Egyptian ruler relied on Hebrew slave labor to build his storage cities (Ex. 1:11). Nevertheless, Moses did what the Lord said to do. And the slaves' release was just the beginning. Moses then spent 40 years leading this errant people, interceding for them when they disobeyed God, and calling upon the Lord when they faced trouble.

Moses' life may have been marked by challenge and sacrifice, but more importantly, it was shaped by an intimate relationship with God. When a new obstacle would arise, Moses turned first to God for guidance and provision. His hardships challenged his trust in himself and strengthened his faith in the Lord.

This is also true for believers today, and Scripture teaches that our trials also produce deeper intimacy with the Lord (I Pet. 4:1-2). When we accept that hardship is a part of the Christian life, we can lean on God and grow closer to Him.

05/16/2021

05/12/2021

LETTING GO OF BAGGAGE
Hebrews 12: 1-3
If we have ever had to carry luggage while running to catch a flight or the bus, we know how difficult and exhausting it can be. Have we considered that the same could be said about carrying baggage from our past into our Christian life?

Sometimes the burdens we carry have been with us since childhood - painful experiences during those formative years can have a profound impact, even into adulthood. And things we saw, heard, or felt could negatively affect our spiritual life today. In Fact, it's possible to be unaware of the load because after bearing it for so long, we may have become accustomed to the weight and bulk. Perhaps it even feels normal, but it's not what the heavenly Father wants for His children.

To run with endurance the course God has set for our lives, we must lay aside these encumbrances. He can break any lingering unhealthy pattern and replace it with hope and deep satisfaction in Him. As we consider our background and childhood experiences, ask God to reveal the truth clearly. When we recognize ways in which others have had a negative influence, pray He will give us a forgiving spirit and healing for any wounds that remain.
Thank You Father for taking away our pain and sorrow. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

05/03/2021

WELL DONE

And by this we know that we have come to know Him,
if we keep His commandments.
I JOHN 2:3

This entry brings a close to another two full months of actively seeking a deeper relationship with God.
We have given Him our time and attention. We have invited His presence into our lives and opened our hearts to welcome Him.

Father God, Thank You for the quiet time we get to spend with You. Centering our heart and focusing our thoughts on You helps
us so much. We feel better every day because of Your love. We give You all glory, honor and praise. In Jesus' name. Amen

04/07/2021

WE ARE CAPABLE OF CHANGE

Pastor A. W. Tozer wrote, "Human nature is not fixed, and for this we should thank God
day and night. We are still capable of change. We can become something other than
what we are." Because of God, we can change our thinking, change our actions and change our lives.

Father God, thank You for the circumstances that have led us to become better people,
to grow our love for others and our love for You. Thank You for our grateful hearts.

03/31/2021

GOD'S WHISPERS

I hear this most gentle whisper from One I
never guessed would speak to me.
PSALM 81:5

When we experience a nudge from above to help someone, to do a good deed, listen!
Being able to hear God's whispers is a gift.
If we are being guided to make a difference, rather than push it aside, be grateful and act.

Father God, thank You for trusting us with Your work. Amen

03/29/2021

LIVE FROM YOUR HEART

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord,
you know all things; you know that I love You."
JOHN 21:17

The apostle Peter lived a remarkable and full life - he walked beside and followed Jesus,
sometimes letting his flaws, his doubt and fear guide his actions. Yet it's undeniable that he lived
with passion. He passionately followed Jesus. He loved Him with all his heart.

Father God, we want to live our lives fully - to experience it with passion, and wholeheartedly welcome every moment.
Teach us Your ways. Open our hearts to Your love and truth. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

03/04/2021

FACING CHALLENGES
A few thousand years ago, the young shepherd David stepped forward to fight Goliath. We often speak of this story as a reminder of the young man's bravery, even when the odds were against him. But David's bravery - and success - came from His deep faith in God. (See I Sam. 17). And this faith helped him go on to become a successful warrior and king.

The LORD gave David many responsibilities during his reign, and he endured numerous trials - some due to his own sin. Through it all, the king returned to God again and again in humble dependence and repeatedly proclaimed his trust in the Lord's faithfulness.

God calls us to abide in this kind of relationship with Him. In seasons of trial or abundance - and we'll likely experience both, even simultaneously - we can cling to Him and trust that He is the source of all courage, perseverance, and abiding joy.

THINK ABOUT IT:
What do we do when we're facing a challenge? How does our relationship with God factor into the choices we make?

Does our faith in Christ help us to feel courageous when facing something new, challenging, uncomfortable, or intimidating? Why or why not?

PRAYER: Father God, You are perfectly pure. We pray for Your help in the name of Jesus, reflecting Your character of cleanliness and order in our homes and in our communities. Amen.

03/02/2021

TRUST GOOD IN TROUBLING TIMES
Psalm 46
If we listen to the news, no doubt we've heard scary stories of political upheaval, global threats, and natural or man-made catastrophes. Although people around us may be fearful and stressed, there is no reason a child of God should feel this way. For Christians, the Lord is a refuge and very present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1).

While today's passage describes a variety of disasters, the writer's intention was certainly not to cause fear. Rather, these words are a reminder of our Father's supremacy over everything that happens. His protection of His people, and the ultimate victory that results in His kingdom's rule on earth. In light of this, we are told to let go of worry and efforts to protect ourselves - and instead trust Him. Our comfort and security are found not in frantically running around, trying to make sure we are safe, but in knowing God. Whatever trouble we experience, He is sufficient to help us through it.

The key to courageously facing the future is confidence in the Lord. He's our shelter, strength, and help in trouble. To increase our trust in Him, read through the psalms, looking for words and phrases that affirm His protection, steadfastness, and care.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for increasing our sense of what it means to be part of a community. Help us and everyone in our community to achieve an attitude of success and victory, and to defeat thoughts of failure and defeat. Amen!