The Power of a Grateful Heart
As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, it’s the perfect time to focus on the power of gratitude. We live in a world where it’s easy to get caught up in what we lack, but God invites us to shift our perspective by practicing thankfulness. A thankful heart changes everything—it shifts our focus from our problems to God’s faithfulness. Put another way, when we choose to focus upward it changes our outward perspective. When we take time to recognize the blessings that we have in our lives, even in challenging moments, we experience the peace that only God can give.
In our November study, we explored how gratitude isn’t just a feeling; it’s a choice we make every day. Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Gratitude opens our hearts to God’s presence, helping us cast our cares on Him instead of holding onto anxiety and worry. Notice, he isn’t saying give thanks ‘for’ the situation, there is a difference.
Reflection Question
Think about a recent challenge you faced. How did choosing gratitude (or not choosing it) affect your outlook on the situation?
Activation Question
What’s one small step you can take today to develop a habit of gratitude? Perhaps start a simple list of three things you’re thankful for, even if they seem small.
Gratitude isn’t always easy, especially when we’re dealing with difficult circumstances. But when we choose to thank God even in the hard times, we align our hearts with His truth and invite His peace into our lives.
Prayer
Lord, help me to develop a heart of gratitude, to see Your blessings even during my hard times, and to give thanks in all circumstances. Amen.
Facing Our Fears with Faith
Fear is a powerful emotion that can hold us back, keep us up at night, and make us feel like we’re carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. But God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear—He’s given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). When we surrender our fears to Him, we find the courage to step forward in faith, trusting that He is bigger than any challenge we face.
In our October study, we talked about what it means to replace fear with faith. It’s not about pretending our fears don’t exist; it’s about choosing to focus on God’s promises instead of our worries. We often forget that He is with us, holding us up with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). We don’t have to face our fears alone—God is right there, ready to give us strength and peace.
Reflect
What’s one fear you’ve been holding onto that you need to surrender to God? How can giving it to Him bring you peace?
Take Action
What’s one small, faith-filled action you can take today to face your fear head-on, trusting God’s strength instead of your own?
When we choose faith over fear, we invite the Holy Spirit to take control and transform our anxious thoughts into moments of deep trust. God’s peace is available to us—we just need to cast our cares on Him and confidently step forward!
Prayer
Lord, I surrender my fears to You today. Help me to trust in Your strength and love as I face the challenges ahead. Amen.
Joy to the World
To Our Dear Christian Family,
As we enter the Christmas season, Teresa & I want to encourage you to focus on the joy of the Lord and rejoice in His goodness, in spite of the uncertainty, unrest, and chaos that we are exposed to and experience in our daily life…
Remember our God is good and remains sovereignly in control. Philippians 4:4.
Would you like daily inspiration?
We invite you to like & follow us on Facebook & get daily “Joy to the World” scripture series notifications.
Do you want to begin a new Christmas tradition?
We invite you to join us as we read through the book of Luke.
(Note, neither Teresa nor I came up with this idea and we don’t know who to thank for it, but we are excited about making it our own new tradition and hope it inspires you too!)
The Adoration Room
Hello Family,
In February the second room of the Lord’s prayer brings us into the Adoration Room. Adoration is defined as “deep love or respect. Worship.”
AuDIO Transcript
Hello Prayer Works Family
This is Janie and Teresa.
(Jannie) We're here to share with you some life application from the Adoration Room which we have been focusing on for the month of February
We would like for you to refer to the mini prayer study and journal that we sent out to you.
The scripture for the Adoration Room is
Holy be Thy name, Hallowed be thy name
The application is in all things give thanks. When things get tough it can be hard to enter the Adoration room, but worship does not mean we deny the pain of the hardship of our current circumstance. Teresa is going to give you a life application of being in the Adoration room doing a difficult time in her family's life.
(Teresa) Thank you Jannie and hello Prayer Works family. As Jannie said, it can be difficult to enter the Adoration Room, especially when we find ourselves in hard places. This past month our family experienced not one but two winter storms that hit Texas within days of each other.
We had intermittent electricity, slow or no internet service or cell service, and no fresh drinking water for almost a week. Just as things began to change for the good my daughter caught COVID and we had to adjust to care for her as well as take extra precautions for my 84-year old mother-in-love. It made me think of the Murphy's Law saying that was popular of years ago, “anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”
And then I realized, there's a scripture for that!
John 16:33, “In this world, you will have trouble.” And then when I thought about that I realized that verse didn't begin there.
It begins with encouragement, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.”
And it ends with hope, “but take heart I have overcome the world.”
Each day that things did not return to normal made our situation seem less certain, more uncomfortable, and more challenging. I noticed myself beginning to lose focus. I started looking more at what was or wasn't happening and less at what I could and or should do.
Have you noticed that in your own situations in life?
That the longer it takes to get back to “normal” or to a certain level of comfort the harder it seems to stay focused on goals and priorities.
John 16:33 did give me some peace. I was reminded that the Adoration Room is not about where I am, my circumstance, or my situation.
The Adoration Room is about who God is!
Creator, Jehovah Jireh my provider, God omniscient, all-knowing, omnipresent, always here omnipotent, all-powerful. He is faithful and yes He is worthy of praise in the midst of my circumstances.
So I made a choice to enter the Adoration Room, to intentionally shift my focus to who God, to adore him, and to surrender my praise and worship to him.
As we continue through the 12 Rooms of Prayer we will move into rooms that do focus on our needs, but today take a moment to reflect and to enter the Adoration room fully focus on who God is.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, creator of everything. I lift my prayers and my praise to you. You who are set apart and Holy. You are worthy to be praised and trusted. You are Abba and there is none like you. You are worthy and faithful.
Observations From the Family Room
Hello Family,
In January, as we begin our prayer journal and walk through the 12 Rooms of Prayer in the Lord’s Prayer, we entered “the Family Room.”
“Our Father in Heaven” (Matthew 6:9)
The Family Room is where we connect with God, our spiritual Father, and the head of our Christian Family. Galatians 3:26 (NIV) Here we can come to worship and acknowledge God for who He is. (Isaiah 12:4)
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
”
We can also pray for our relationships: marriages, the families we are born into, the families we create, friendships, and the relationships we develop with people outside our homes here in the Family Room.
We can intercede on their behalf asking for salvation, reconciliation, healing, peace, joy, hope, and even unspoken or unknown (by us) needs they may have. 1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)
Are you praying for a relationship and wondering when will God answer your prayer? Is it hard to hold on to hope?
Well, one thing we’ve noticed is that hope, faith, and waiting seem to go together when we find ourselves abiding in the Family Room.
As our prayers go up it’s in this room we have often had to wait the longest. We wait for what we cannot see. We wait on the Lord to do His work in me, in those I’m praying for, and on those that are part of His plan that I may not even know. Our faith is tested most often while waiting. Do I trust enough to wait on His timing? Our hope is in the Lord. (Psalm 33:20-22 NLT)
We often want everything now (microwave world) but change, reconciliation, revival do not come quickly. Cold hearts and dead love are not restored in an instant. When we believe that it does we set ourselves up for disappointment. View your prayers through the lens of Christ and wait faithfully on His timing.
How? Pray, pray often, pray without ceasing. Trust and believe God will provide an answer. Psalm 33:21-22 (NLT) Regardless of how long it takes. In the Family Room, it is important that we relate our lives to what Jesus would do and how He would respond. Think of Jesus dying on the cross for your sins. Think about it. Then remember, He could have come down. But it was His love for humanity that kept Him there. The love of God can keep us grounded and focused in difficult situations! John 13:34 (ESV)
In the Family Room when we talk to God we connect to Him be persuaded by the Holy Spirit to walk in surrendered humble obedience to God’s Holy Word. Romans 8:26 (NIV)
So pray, personal and intercessory prayers. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) Then abide (wait) in the Family Room, focus on the Cross, and connect with God the Father, and allow the Holy Spirit to be your helper and your strength!
Scriptures
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Isaiah 12:4 (KJV)
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)
We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20 (NLT)
In him our hearts rejoice for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. Psalm 33:21-22 (NLT)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34 (ESV)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26 (NIV)
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)