How Can I Pray For You?

Hey everyone! 

For the next 30 days, I will be dedicating a portion of my day to praying for people. I really believe in the power of prayer.  I can count how may times my prayers have been unanswered. Most times, it was my fault; other times, God had something better. So yes, I serve a prayer answering God.

We sometimes underestimate the efficacy of prayer.When you pray according to God's will and with faith, your prayers will be answered. Prayer can move mountains. Does God want you to be healed? Does He want you to overcome that addiction? Does He want that friend/family member to get saved? 

YES! YES! YES!  Let's pray for you, your family, your friends, coworkers, etc. There is no request too small or too great. With God, all things are possible. Just have faith!

I realize that a lot of people want prayer for a lot of things but don't want anyone to know what they are struggling with or going through. They basically don't want anyone to know their business. I understand that, and thankfully you can post anonymously. 

If you want to email me your prayers, that's fine too. You can do so at hephzibahsplace@gmail.com. You can also inbox me on Facebook if you do not want to be anonymous. 

Please leave your prayer requests below/send me your requests and I will agree with you in prayer. Go on, you have nothing to lose :)

God bless you <3

"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."(Matthew 18:19)

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.(1 John 5:14-15)

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

(Mark 11:24)

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. (Ephesians 6:18)

Boundaries : How Far Is Too Far?

So we all know the Bible says you can't have sex before marriage. Oh you did not know? Okay! LOL. Hey! You never know. A guy once said to me 'I think you have been brainwashed with this Christianity thing. Don't get me wrong. I am Christian too but where does it say in the Bible that you can't have sex before marriage?' Did you just gasp? So did I. I was totally gobsmacked! Really? Even non-christians know that.

Anyway, I digress. Most people know sex outside of marriage is a sin but wonder where to draw the line. If you are reading this, you probably would like to know too. I could tell you this is where you draw the line, you can do this but not that. However, it doesn't work that way I really believe that we have freedom in some things and what might might not bother one person can be a stumbling block for another person. So I'd rather not approve anything. The Bible says ' whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.' (Romans 14:22) While the Bible clearly says no to sex, there are some things that we need to use our discretion for.

Here are some Biblical guidelines for setting boundaries: 

You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(Matthew 5:27-28) 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,acceptable to God (Romans 12:1)

Abstain from all appearance of evil.(1 Thessalonians 5:22) 

So when you and that person are holding hands, hugging, kissing, making out, etc. What kind of thoughts are going through your mind? Are the thoughts true, honourable, right, pure, lovely and admirable? Have you already fornicated with him/her in your mind? Matthew 5:27-28 says you don't have to commit the act; just thinking about it is already a sin.  I believe that whatever looks like a sin, leads to sin, abstain from it. 

So I already set up boundaries, what next? 

Never feel like you have to compromise your boundaries to accommodate someone else. Ever since I was a young girl, I had all these boundaries set up and I was doing pretty good until I was 19. This was probably because I never really paid attention to guys until this one Christian guitar playing guy came into my life. I had a MASSIVE  crush on him. It was so ridiculous, it led to a mini panic attack. Oh my gosh! Will anyone really want to to be in a relationship with me with these boundaries? Are my boundaries too rigid? Maybe I need to relax my boundaries.

Be careful of who you surround yourself with. I remember people telling me ‘Girl, you are a joker. You’ll just stay single forever'.  Some people laughed about it, these were christian lades too. I remember someone specifically saying 'it's one thing to say no to sex, but that's pushing it. No guy would agree to that'. They sowed seeds in my heart but thankfully, before those seeds could cause any real harm, I went to God. I remember saying to God ‘ Uhm, you know when I set up those boundaries and made those commitments, I was so young and You know, this is is not a sin, neither is that. I really don’t have a problem with these boundaries but I feel no guy would want to commit to that’. The Lord is so sweet and compassionate. He didn't get angry with me, He wasn't disappointed with me either. However, He didn’t say anything. I was frustrated. I needed to hear Him speak right there and then. He didn't though. Instead he led a complete stranger to come talk to me a few minutes later about how her friend had set up similar boundaries. Never said anything to the girl by the way. She just randomly told me. In her words, she 'just thought to share'. He made me realize that I was not alone.

A couple of months later, I found out about a couple who had set up really ‘strict’ boundaries during courtship. I thought some of them were so rigid but I quickly realized, that’s  how many people see me too. I do not plan to go down the same road, unless of course the person I am courting has similar boundaries. Romans 15:1 says "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves ". I mean, it might be difficult and frustrating in the beginning because like I said in my 25 random things about me post, I am a very affectionate person. However, It's all for the glory of God so I will learn to keep my hands to myself if I have to. LOL.

So what’s the point of this ‘cool/super story’? 

Never feel like your standards are too high or your boundaries are too strict. Do what you think is best for you and your walk with Christ.If someone really loves you and wants to be with you, they will honour your boundaries.. I know for a fact that those people discouraging me were lying! I am now surrounded by people who don't think I am weird or 'too religious' because of my boundaries. Instead, they encourage me all the time. There are men and women who are willing to give up their own pleasures/things they have liberty in so that you do not fall.

Also, instead of thinking, 'how far is too far?' Let's concern ourselves with how close we can get to God's heart. Let everything we do be for His glory. 

<3