{"id":3406,"date":"2017-01-04T14:29:54","date_gmt":"2017-01-04T19:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/?p=3406"},"modified":"2017-12-29T14:49:00","modified_gmt":"2017-12-29T19:49:00","slug":"stronger-start-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/2017\/01\/stronger-start-new-year.html","title":{"rendered":"A Stronger Start to the New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Then the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, \u201cGet up, and eat, for the journey is too long for you without adequate sustenance.\u201d (1 Kings 19:7 Amplified Bible)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Coming off the victory of a lifetime, Elijah received a threat from Queen Jezebel that shook his confidence and rocked his equilibrium. Fear crept into his mind, and like any fugitive might do, he hit the pavement lickety split. He escaped deep into the wilderness, plopped down under a juniper tree, and asked God to do him the honor of ending his life right then and there. He had had E-Nough.<\/p>\n

Thank God He doesn\u2019t answer our every prayer, for it certainly wasn\u2019t his will to kill his most effective prophet. Not today.\u00a0An angel touched him, waking him up, and provided food and beverage, telling him, in essence, \u201cI know you\u2019re strong in spirit, Elijah, but in case you haven\u2019t noticed, you live in a body. Take care of that body. You\u2019re in this for the long haul, buddy, and you ain\u2019t done yet!\u201d<\/p>\n

Thus saith the Lord to you today, \u201cTake care of yourself, my friend! Eat well! Eat often. Sleep well! Rest often.\u201d And above all else, take your Vitamin D if you happen to live in a gloomy midwestern state as we do.<\/p>\n

Want a stronger start to 2017? Pray this plain and simple prayer\u2026<\/p>\n

Father,<\/em><\/p>\n

I started out this year ready to tackle the goals and objectives on my heart, for I was convinced that you put those desires there in the first place. Now, Lord, just a few days into 2017, I\u2019m already feeling the heaviness of the challenges that taunt me. Fear is creeping in, threatening to undo my faith.<\/em><\/p>\n

I say in response to those threats, \u201cNo, absolutely not! Not today! Not tomorrow!\u201d I will not consider, heed, or toy with the devil\u2019s bait to fear. I hereby reject it, for it is a lie (albeit mixed with a trifling of truth, as most lies are) making it as repugnant as\u00a0\u00a0Haagen Dazs\u00a0with cow pie crumbles!<\/em><\/p>\n

Fearful thoughts, shut up!<\/em><\/p>\n

Lord, I will take the opportunity to heed the angel\u2019s advice to Elijah. I will arise and eat some excellent food. I will take my Vitamin :D. I quite seriously ask for wisdom to know how in the world to take care of this body so that I can stay in this aforesaid world until I\u2019ve finished the job. Thank you for giving me wisdom! I receive it in faith according to James 1.<\/em><\/p>\n

And while I\u2019m at it, I receive your everlasting love for me today. May my roots go down deep into your love and keep me strong \u2013 spirit, soul, and body.<\/em><\/p>\n

In Jesus\u2019 Name, Amen<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Then the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, \u201cGet up, and eat, for the journey is too long for you without adequate sustenance.\u201d (1 Kings 19:7 Amplified Bible) Coming off the victory of a lifetime, Elijah received a threat from Queen Jezebel that shook his confidence and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":478,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,15,24,7,4,25,3,1],"tags":[1985,1986,1987,1917],"class_list":["post-3406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible","category-bible-prayer","category-current-events","category-daily-prayer","category-god","category-jesus","category-prayer","category-uncategorized","tag-2017-resolutions","tag-staying-healthy-in-2017","tag-strong-in-spirit","tag-the-joy-of-the-lord"],"yoast_head":"\nA Stronger Start to the New Year<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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