Praying the Psalms

Little shepherd boy, David, was out in the field when Samuel requested his father, Jesse, to send for his youngest son.  

Samuel had received word from the Lord that David was the one He had chosen to be the next King over Israel (See 1 Samuel 16).  Out of all of his older brothers, young David was probably the least likely in the eyes of the people.  He wasn't the people's choice, but He was the Lord's choice.  However, he was the most likely in the eyes of the Lord.  That was truly all which mattered then.

David wasn't without opposition, obstacles, hardships, and trials in his life though.  As most people, he endured all of it.  Yet, he didn't let that stop him from being who Almighty God had created him and called him to be for His purpose and plan (See Jeremiah 29:11).

As David is the author of most of the Psalms, we get to know more about him through his inspired words to the Lord.  He actually pours out his heart to the One who made his heart during his challenges, hardships, and trials in his life which are captured in this particular book of the Bible.  God knew David, and he knew his God.  He was known as a man after God's own heart due to both his repentance and obedience to the Lord (See Acts 13:22).  

No matter what we go through in our own lives, we too can pour out our hearts to the only One who also made our hearts.  The 30-Day Prayer Journal: Praying the Psalms allows us to do that through our own written words to God.

Whether you are just beginning or continuing your prayer journey, this monthly prayer journal is available on both CreateSpace and Amazon.

30-Day Prayer Journal: Praying the Psalms

Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Praying Without Ceasing

The older I get physically as well as the more mature and wise I become spiritually, the more people I have on my prayer list.  How about you?  My personal and private list seems to get longer as I add more people almost on a daily basis.  My prayer list consists of family members, biological relatives, spiritual family, friends, acquaintances, and others.

Whether its people who have done us wrong or whatever else, we can trust that God will take care of all of the people involved and all of the situations in our lives.  The prayers of the righteous are both powerful and effective (See James 5:15-17).  They help all of us truly accomplish God's purpose and plan (See Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28).

God tells all of us to "pray without ceasing" in His word (See 1 Thessalonians 5:17).

To assist you in your prayer life, two annual prayer journals are both available through CreateSpace and Amazon.


365-Day Prayer Journal: Praying Without Ceasing


366-Day Prayer Journal: Praying Without Ceasing



Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Father, Forgive Them

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  (Luke 23:34, NIV)

These words that Jesus spoke to His Father have become more my own over recent months.  I know more about what the Son of God was thinking and praying for His enemies---those who had done Him wrong towards the end of His 33-year life on this earth.  (See Luke 6:27-28)

It saddens me now to think about it.  To not only think about the way people have mistreated me, abused me, hurt me, rejected me, and disappointed me but to also remember the way people mocked Jesus, persecuted Him, tortured Him, and crucified Him over 2000 years ago.  I definitely can identify more with Him, His pain, His sorrow, and His sufferings in this world.  (See Isaiah 53; John 15:18-25, 19)

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  (Galatians 2:20, NIV - emphasis added mine)

I am not always comfortable with the physical locations He allows me to enter into in this world.  And, I don't always like receiving the harsh treatment, persecution, or whatever else.  I am doing what my Father would have me to do in this world though.  I am shining His light ever more sooo brightly.  I am speaking the truth in love.  I am preaching in and out of season.  And, whatever else He desires of me.  (See Matthew 5:13-16; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:2)

Consequently, I can expect opposition.  [I will use an analogy in my own words that a pastor of mine used during one of his sermons a couple of years ago.]  When a fish is going downstream with the current and the other fish, there isn't anything really getting in its' way.  Sure, there may be some debris floating by in the water.  There may be some leaves and branches from the trees that have fallen into the river.  There may even be some dead fish floating in the water as you pass them by downstream.  However, there truly isn't any real opposition because they are going the same way as everything else.  When you repent and turn away from the world's systems---their mindsets, their ways, their processes, their behaviors---you will be totally going the opposite way.  You will be going against the current of the river or the world in this case.  You will experience a lot more resistance.  A lot more opposition.  You will be going upstream now.  You will be going God's way.  Doing His work and His will.  There will be debris passing you by going the opposite way.  There may be some leaves and branches from the trees overlooking the river.  You may also see some of the dead fish floating downstream as you are going upstream.  However, there will be a lot more fish coming up against you as well.  They may try to bite you.  They may attempt to drown you.  There may even be other obstacles in your way.  You keep moving forward though.  You keep persevering against the current of the river.  Knowing that on the other side---the end of that part of the journey---there will be a beautiful place for you.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV - emphasis added mine)

Before Jesus left this world, He specifically told us we would have problems and trouble in this world.  However, He also left all of us with this reminder.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33, NIV)

Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

What God Has Joined...

"Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." (Mark 10:9, NIV)
Those are usually some of the words in wedding vows, when two people get married in this world. Many people including some Christians who attend wedding ceremonies assume, think, and/or believe that God must have been a part of the couple's dating and/or courtship beforehand. He must have placed the couples together. He must have joined them in holy matrimony. However, that is not always the case.
“So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NIV - emphasis added mine)
God only joins one man and one woman together in holy matrimony.
Let’s look again at Genesis 1.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28, NIV)
The first man, Adam, was all alone in the Garden of Eden. That was an issue or problem though.
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18, NIV)
God’s plans included making a specific woman for him.
“So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.  Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:21-22, NIV - emphasis added mine)
Notice the way that God made the first woman, Eve, and brought her to Adam for His specific purpose.
The same is true today. God's plans normally include making specific, individual women for every man in this world. Additionally, He desires for them to be spiritually and physically brought together as one for His specific purpose and plan.  (See Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 19:4-6)
Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Que Sera Sera

"...Que Sera, Sera, 
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be..."

Source: YouTube

There are many people in this world even within the body of Christ today that actually believe those particular lyrics from the old song, Que Sera Sera, which was originally sang by Doris Day in 1956.

What if I told you that those specific song lyrics and those kinds of attitudes and outlooks are not biblical nor scriptural?

Those type of perspectives are partly to blame for the passivity and defeated mindsets of people including some unknowledgeable and unpowerful Christians.  As a result, they do not live the abundant life that Jesus Christ died to give them here and now in this world.  

Not only can we know God's will for us as His children, but we can also actively participate in His purpose, plan, and will for us.  We can take captive those thoughts which are disobedient to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  We can intentionally fight the good fight of faith.  And, we can proactively win battles along the way in our individual races.  


(See Jeremiah 29:11-13; John 10:10; Ephesians 6:10-18; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7)


Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Dear Younger Me

                                          Source: YouTube

The above music video entitled Dear Younger Me is performed by the Christian artist group MercyMe.  In the video, the artist sings about writing a letter to his younger self.  This contemporary Christian song is one of my favorites in the last several months.  I have been thinking about the letter that I would write to my younger self.  I am wondering whether there are others out there who may ponder the same about themselves.

What would I say to my younger self?  What would you say to your younger self?

This particular artist begins his letter in the song lyrics like this... "Dear Younger Me...Where do I start...If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far...Then, you could be...One step ahead...Of all the painful memories still running through my head...I wonder how much different things would be...Dear Younger Me..."

Those lyrics are probably the way many of us would start a similar letter to our younger selves.  We may not know exactly the way to begin the letter, but there would be a lot to include in it.  Perhaps, we could have spared our younger selves a lot of unnecessary heartache, pain, regret, hardships, challenges, trials, and more.  That is, if we could go back in time and share that much gained knowledge, wisdom, discernment, clarity, and more with our younger selves.

Would we do anything differently with all of that gained knowledge, wisdom, insight, experience?  I definitely would do some things in a different way---a better way.  For one, I would tell my younger self to daily read the Bible---God's word.

I have learned since then that an unrenewed mind hinders us in life.  There were many years where I was not renewing my mind on God's word---His truth (See Romans 12:2).  As a result, I really didn't know my specific purpose in God's plan nor that it was a good plan for me.  Only as I disciplined myself to read and study His word did I not only came to personally know my Father in a more intimate way but also the plans He had for me---plans to give me a hope and a future (See Jeremiah 29:11).

How about you?  What have you learned?  What would you do differently?


Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

Source: YouTube

"...Tell me the story of Jesus...Write on my heart every word...Tell me the story most precious...Sweetest that ever was heard..."

The above song lyrics of the old hymn, Tell Me the Story of Jesus, has been on my heart and mind for some time now. It has really been resonating with me lately.

I have been reminded that everybody in this world has a story to tell others.  Most importantly, every believer of Jesus Christ has a story to tell other people in this world.  What is the reason?

Everybody has been through challenges, obstacles, hardships, and trials in life.  (See James 1:2-4)  What is most important though is this... Who got them through those difficulties?  What brought them out on the other side of those downfalls?  How did they come out of those so-called pits in life?

Whether a person has yet accepted Him into their hearts and lives or not, it was Jesus---the name above all names.  (See Romans 10:9-10)  He is the author and finisher of our faith.  (See Hebrews 12:1-2)  He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end---who is, who was, and who is to come.  (See Revelation 1:8, 22:13)  

Jesus has a story. Briefly, His story is the true Gospel---His death, burial, and resurrection. (See Isaiah 53; Matthew 26-28; John 3:16-17, 19:30; Romans 10:9-10) Everyone has a story. He wants all of us to share our stories with others. Most importantly, He desires that we tell His story. 

What is His story in your life? How has He loved you? What has He done for you? How has He changed you? Additionally, the list goes on... Therefore, I encourage you and challenge you today and every day thereafter. Share your story and tell people the story of Jesus.

Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.