Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Revelation 14:12 MSG — Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus.

As we have spent the week pondering saints, who has come to mind? A saint is someone who has an exceptional degree of holiness, closeness to God, or deep moral virtue. Have you also realized that you may be considered a saint to someone? Are you open to the Holy Spirit to guide and direct your steps? Are you willing to surrender your will to God? God wants to use you as His vessel. Are you standing “passionately patient”? How are you “keeping God’s commands and staying faithful to Jesus”?

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the saints in my life who have been a Christian example and shown me the way. Continue to guide and direct them as they share Your love. I surrender my will to You and trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit as You use me as Your vessel. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Psalm 31:23-24 MSG — Love God, all you saints; God takes care of all who stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone. Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon.

We began this week examining the definition of a saint and each day I have encouraged you to think of people in your life that have been a saint to you. When you hear the word saint which people come to mind? How have these people impacted your life? How did they bear fruit? I suspect that the people you refer to as saints walk closely with Jesus, spend time in prayer, and give God all the glory. Which of these habits do you practice? How are you allowing God to use you to impact others in His name? How are you bearing fruit for God?

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the saints in my life who have been a Christian example and shown me the way. Continue to guide and direct them as they share Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭MSG‬‬ — Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

Today I am reminded of the praying friends that I have gained in each season of life and have been like saints to be at one time or another. I am so thankful.

Have you ever had a concern and texted or called a friend to ask them to be praying for you? This Thankful Thursday, let’s reflect on the Christian friends around us that we know will pray when we ask them to. Take a few minutes today to thank at least one of your praying friends for their faithfulness.

Conversely, what an honor it is to be asked to pray for someone. When a friend asks you to pray, it is a reflection of the faith you show. If someone asks you to pray they are trusting you with their needs and desires. The next time you are asked to pray for someone, respond by saying, “Thank you for trusting me with your request.” Be sure to value your praying friend and be a praying friend in return. 

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the saints in my life who have been a Christian example and shown me the way. Continue to guide and direct them as they share Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Matthew 28:18-20 MSG — Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

As I think about the people in my life who I consider to be saints, I realize they are people who responded to God’s command given by Jesus in today’s featured scripture. The command to “go out and train everyone” is called “The Great Commission”. Saints realize the importance of this command and take seriously the call to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Saints are water walkers who step out of their boat of comfort and into the water of the unknown to share the love of Christ. Spend time today thinking of and praying for the saints in your life.

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the saints in my life who have been a Christian example and shown me the way. Continue to guide and direct them as they share Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV —  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

The word saint is derived from the Latin word sanctus meaning “sacred” or “holy”. To be named a saint in the Roman Catholic church one must go through a canonization process, but a saint is generally known as a person recognized for having an exceptional degree of holiness, closeness to God, or deep moral virtue. 

I believe all of us have persons in our lives who have been saints. When I think of saints I have known in my life, he/she is often an active member of a church, forging the way for the work of the church and fellow believers. The saints in my life have been a Christian example for me and have shown me how to trust God through all things. Spend time today thinking of and praying for the saints in your life.

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the saints in my life who have been a Christian example and shown me the way. Continue to guide and direct them as they share Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV —  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

The word saint is derived from the Latin word sanctus meaning “sacred” or “holy”. To be named a saint in the Roman Catholic church one must go through a canonization process, but a saint is generally known as a person recognized for having an exceptional degree of holiness, closeness to God, or deep moral virtue. 

I believe all of us have persons in our lives who have been saints. When I think of saints I have known in my life, he/she is often an active member of a church, forging the way for the work of the church and fellow believers. The saints in my life have been a Christian example for me and have shown me how to trust God through all things. Spend time today thinking of and praying for the saints in your life.

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the saints in my life who have been a Christian example and shown me the way. Continue to guide and direct them as they share Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Photo by Ray White

Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Today is recognized as All Saints Day. On this day we honor all those of Christian faith who have gone on before us. Listen to The Commission by CAIN. Allow the words of the song remind you of the call we have on our lives and the example the saints have set for us.

@biblegateway @youversion