Praying Scripture

My wife is reading this book about praying certain scriptures over our kids. Which got me to thinking today about how I can pray scripture over certain area's in my life and others lives. God has given us a clear and well placed guide in our lives, but we need to make the choice to use it. By praying scriptures we are not only praying them, but actually memorizing them in the process. Psalm 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." By doing this, we are hiding the words in our heart to help us walk the path that Jesus has laid out for us. He says He is the only way to eternal life, it is written in Matthew 19:24 "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.""

I continue to reminded of the parable about the woman and the ruler in Luke 18:1-8

"The Parable of the Persistent Widow 

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”"

When Jesus says 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."

• He says Rejoice always, always means no matter when, where or how, because we have reasons to give praise, because He has come to save us from ourselves, the world sees the bad in everything, but Jesus has set us free to give us hope, grace to walk and in all things a way to do it. 
• Pray continually, because when we keep our eyes focused on things above and not on things of this world, Colossians 3:2 "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." We will see His perspective and not our own. 
• He says give thanks in all things, because in all things He is in control, even when the world seems to be chaotic, He is right there in the midst of the storm Mark 4:35-41. It can't be about me, but about God. the more I put Him first, the more the storms will calm and even when they don't I will be calm, because I will know that He is in the storm standing right by my side. 

It isn't just when we feel like it, it is all the time and be intentional what we pray for, for God has said it, trust in Him and the words He has given us. Today it is time to make it about Him first and then others then self and in doing so He will give us JOY.
J=Jesus
O=Others
Y=You

Nehemiah 8:10 "Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”"

Psalm 28:7 "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him."