Remember to thank God for Who He is (not just what He does).

no gossip. just prayer. anytime. anywhere.

Welcome! We are so glad you've joined us to pray. As you know, PrayingPals.org offers a way for thousands of Christians

worldwide to gather online and pray for prayer requests.In addition to church, it's a great way to get extra prayer. Please share about it with your friends. Take part in our weekly prayer time in three easy-to-apply steps:

1) Focus on God's Word.

2) Pray for all prayer requests.

3) Send in your prayer request or praise report.

Click here to listen to "The Praying Pals Radio Program (with Stacie Ruth)."

Or tune in on the radio! KCHE 92.1 FM airs it every Sunday. Listen as you get ready for church. And remember to pray for your pastor today.

Devotional

"Take God's Word For It" is a weekly devotional by Stacie Ruth Stoelting Hudzinski.

Feelings deceive us.

Choose to believe Jesus.

And give thanks for Who He is -no matter what.

We've all likely heard a popular saying that people should pray hardest when it's hardest to pray. But what about giving thanks when your feelings are far from thankful?

I know what it is like to have hard days when your feelings bristle at the thought of thankfulness. But God knows what He is doing. He never misspeaks. His Word remains the final word and the ultimate best for us. So let's focus on it together about this:

"Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus" (I Thessalonians 5:16-18, AMP).

Such thankfulness to God finds its root in a Christ-enabled follow-through to a choice to give thanks in the midst of anything. Choosing gratitude enriches your life, the lives of those around you, and even your brain. (As a doctoral student, I know how deeply this is true.) Most important, it pleases our loving Heavenly Father. (When we know Christ, we know God as our Heavenly Father. Learn more at the "Know God" page at PrayingPals.org.)

By not allowing bitter roots to choke out your joy and other fruits (of the Spirit), you can experience God's best in the midst of a test. Knowing that God never changes can help gratitude levels: We can always thank God for His character traits (e.g. faithful, holy, loving, creative, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal, etc.)!

So let today be the day to obey -not out of legalism but out of love for our Heavenly Father who parents perfectly and always for our best. Give thanks. And pray no matter what. Pray. Even if all you can say is "help me, Jesus." Give thanks. Even if all you can say is "thank You for never leaving me even when feelings are deceiving me."

Just. Trust. Jesus.

Feelings deceive us. Choose to believe Jesus. And give thanks for Who He is -no matter what.

-Stacie Ruth for Praying Pals (www.PrayingPals.org)

P.S. Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? He's the only Way to Heaven. He said so. Click here to learn how to know God and go to Heaven.

Prayer Tip of the Week

Ask God to help you be thankful in the midst of anything. He will help you.

Weekly Prayer

"Lord, we praise You still even as we face everyday pressures. We thank You for the gifts we received, but, Lord, we want You most! We repent of our sins such as excluding You from our daily lives. Please open our eyes and our hearts whenever we open Your Word. Grant us grace to give grace, please. Heal us so that we enjoy You most and bring glory to You. We pray for all members of Praying Pals, too, and ask for Your best for each prayer request sent. We hand over everything to You. Thank You, Jesus, for coming so that we can come close to You for eternity. We love You. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Prayer Requests

Share your prayer request at www.PrayingPals.org.

If you have a praise report, please send it by e-mail

instead at info@prayingpals.org.