"Choose you this day" (Joshua 24:15).

Abigail was fair and wise. Married to an evil man, Nabal, she had a choice. (See I Samuel 25.) Would she become like him? Or would she rise above the negative atmosphere and maintain her dignity?

We too are surrounded by angry, insensitive people. "Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked" (I Samuel 24:13). What is on the inside of a person cannot be hid.

It is possible to allow the problems of others to become ours. We must realize: Their problems are their problems. We have our own. Each of us must decide whether we moan, complain, and belly-ache or rise above our struggles, trust God, and wear a smile.

It is possible to spend our lives reacting and never taking responsibility for the person we become. We will stand before God for our behavior. So will those who hurt us.  

At some point a decision has to be made. "No longer! I will not allow the hurt, pain, shame, and abuse that come my way to dictate my future."

What kind of a person do we want to be? Poised? Kind? Grateful? Even tempered? Gracious? Merciful? Soft spoken? Respected?

To incorporate these elements into our character, we must avoid responding and reacting to everyone around us. We will be impacted and even devastated by the angry words and unkind attitudes of others, but we choose whether we allow them into our spirits.

Daily cleansings by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God insulate us from becoming infected with hate, anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. When we comprehend it is our life we are giving away, we will be less inclined to allow others to pull our strings. 

Our lives are made up of individual days. We can think today does not count, we will do better tomorrow. That is a lie from Satan. Everyday we can choose. "Today is going to be a blessed day. Today I am going to live in such a way that I please God."

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15)

Editors note: Bonnie and her husband attend First United Pentecostal Church, Odessa TX,  Pastor Terry Pugh. She is a freelance contributor to various Christian publications and responsible for publishing "First" Ladies.

 

I'm not sure what I would have done had I came face-to-face with the dentist, all I knew was my baby was hurting and I needed to fix it. I learned something about myself that day. I learned that even the smallest circumstance could send my protection instincts into overdrive.

 

As I look into the sleeping face of one of my children or hear their peals of laughter as they play I am overwhelmed by the love I feel. If it's their tear-stained face that I am looking into, the urge to protect them hits me, just as it did sitting in the dentist's office. I do everything I can to protect my kids, but sometimes I am not enough. I gave my children to God when they were babies, He can do what I cannot.

 

The best way I can protect my children is to pray for them. I plead the protecting power of Jesus' blood over my children every day. I pray that God will not only protect them physically but spiritually and protect their future. I pray that they will continue to live for Him and fulfill His will for their lives. 

 

During a particularly tough time in my life, when my prayer life was not what it should have been, I had a dream.  I dreamed that one of my children was severely injured. I awoke with tears in my eyes, frantic to check on my children.  Before the fog of sleep cleared, I heard God's voice speak to my heart.  He said, "I can't protect them if you don't pray for them."

 

Since that night, I make it a point to pray for my children every day.  Sometimes I slip into their rooms at night to watch them sleep and whisper a prayer over them. Even though several years have passed, I can still hear those words, "I can't protect them if you don't pray for them."

 

Editors note: Cheryl Akers is the mother of four children; Rebecca, Anthony, Jonathan and Madison. She and her husband, Jayson, are the youth leaders of Christ Temple Church in Phoenix, AZ. (By the way, this is my daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Oh yes, I am blessed! -Debbie Akers)

Week 1 - Battlefield of the Mind
In the Name of Jesus Christ We Pray...
· Give us great faith as we speak Your Word with boldness and with authority.
· You care about us, we give You all our cares and worries.
· Fill us with the peace of God as we trust in You to provide all our needs.
· Remove the pride in our hearts that causes us to be judgmental or critical.
· Keep our minds focused on You Lord, for right-thinking brings on right actions.
· Keep our thinking in line with God's Word for our thoughts will affect what we become.
· Give us a Christ-like mind so that our thoughts and behavior will follow in Your footsteps.

Week 2 - The Mind Affects your Speech
In the Name of Jesus Christ We Pray...
· As we begin each day, we determine that Your love will guide what we say and how we think.
· Purify our lips by removing all defilement from our hearts and minds.
· Discipline our tongues to refrain from gossip, judging, criticizing, and faultfinding.
· Don't allow us to break another person's spirit by the things we say.
· Bridle our tongue so that we may be slow to speak, slow to take offense, and slow to get angry.
· Fill our hearts and mind with a spirit of appreciation for all You have done for us.
· Let our conduct and speech back up our spiritual claims and promises.
· May we allow Your Words to be food for thought and nourishment to our bodies.
· We declare today that we refuse to do the work of the devil with the words of our mouth.

Week 3 - Train to Speak Positive
In the Name of Jesus Christ We Pray...
· Make us ever mindful of guarding our tongues, speaking only positive words.
· We plead the blood of Jesus over our thoughts, the words we speak and our actions.
· Remind us that self-control is essential in guarding the words we speak.
· Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to You, O God.
· Give us boldness and wisdom to declare the truths of Your Word unto others
· Grant us thankful hearts that will be continually expressed in our worship and praise to You.
· Keep our lips from words of contention and condemnation.

Week 4 - Battlefield God's Mouthpiece
In the Name of Jesus Christ We Pray...
· Quicken Your Word within us and grant us wisdom in encouraging and helping others.
· Give us great compassion for people, knowing when to speak and when to keep silent; praying
always for those going through fiery trials.
· Teach us to speak words of encouragement, refraining from corrupt conversations.
· Deliver us from bitterness, anger, shouting, and hatred. Teach us to be kind to one another.
· Help us to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" in all our conversations.
· Keep our focus on You, Lord, so we can become Your mouthpiece in a world that needs You.
- Bind Your Word in our hearts so we will speak words of wisdom in the workplace and in our
homes.

In 1999Thetus Tenney shared an article about the Praying Mothers of Brazil with Gwyn Oakes who shared her burden with the National Ladies Committee. Ruth Harvey was chosen as director. Daughters of Zion was chosen from the titles submitted for the program. Debbie Akers joined as editor of the Daughters of Zion newsletter.