Here Is What You Can Do! Abigail's Story Plus More

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,880
Hey friends, welcome to the Her God Story Podcast where you will always hear a good

2
00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:08,840
story to encourage and inspire you in your walk with the Lord.

3
00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:14,160
I'm your host, Jodie Chiricosta, ministry leader at Somebody Cares America and International,

4
00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:15,920
author and traveler on this journey of faith.

5
00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:20,760
If you haven't done so yet, please be sure to like or follow this podcast on your favorite

6
00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:25,120
streaming platform so you won't miss any of our amazing guests.

7
00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:29,720
You probably know by now that I always ask my guests what woman of the Bible has inspired,

8
00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,160
encouraged, or taught her something.

9
00:00:32,160 --> 00:00:33,840
But what about you?

10
00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:39,200
I want to hear what women of the Bible have helped you in your walk of faith.

11
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,800
Email me at hergodstory at somebodycares.org and tell me why.

12
00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:49,280
I just might read it in a future episode to encourage others who are listening.

13
00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,920
Remember email me at hergodstory at somebodycares.org.

14
00:00:53,920 --> 00:01:00,880
Like all of you, I have been grieved and horrified by the brutal attack of the terrorist group

15
00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,200
Hamas on Israel.

16
00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:08,640
The aftermath of that attack has also been costly with regard to human life and human

17
00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:14,040
suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians.

18
00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:19,360
I completely support the sovereignty of Israel, but I'm also pained by the suffering of the

19
00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:25,480
Palestinian people mostly at the hands of Hamas and other jihadist groups who care little

20
00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:30,840
for them but use them as pawns on the larger global game board.

21
00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:31,960
What are we to do?

22
00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:38,600
The best place to go for answers when our heart is overwhelmed is the Bible.

23
00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:43,160
Ephesians 6 gives us a great place to start.

24
00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:50,800
After putting on the full armor of God, which includes truth, righteousness, peace, faith,

25
00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:58,120
applying our salvation, and taking up the Word of God, verse 18 tells us to pray in

26
00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:03,920
the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

27
00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:09,840
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

28
00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:14,520
Pray, we are to pray.

29
00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:21,800
God may then have you give, advocate, or do other things, but we must first start with

30
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:22,800
praying.

31
00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:28,400
To give an understanding of the full meaning of a verse or passage, I often use the Bible

32
00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,880
Hub app and look at a word or words in the original language.

33
00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:38,080
When I looked up the word pray from Ephesians 6:18, the explanation of the Greek meaning

34
00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:46,860
is to interact with the Lord by switching human wishes or ideas for His wishes or ideas

35
00:02:46,860 --> 00:02:48,680
as He imparts faith.

36
00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:55,860
God wants us to pray His desires about situations, which releases Him to do His will.

37
00:02:55,860 --> 00:03:00,800
Of course God could act without us, but He has chosen to work through us in the world,

38
00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,960
through our prayers and through our actions.

39
00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:08,160
When we hear of challenging situations on a global, national, local, or even personal

40
00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:13,080
level, the first thing we must do is pray, but not just any prayers.

41
00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:17,020
We must pray God's heart and will about the situation.

42
00:03:17,020 --> 00:03:21,160
When our emotions are caught up in something or we have little understanding about complex

43
00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:26,240
issues, we tend to pray our desires, our understanding of what's best.

44
00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,000
But that is not what Ephesians 6 is saying.

45
00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:33,200
How can we pray God's heart and will about something when our minds and our hearts are

46
00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:34,200
reeling?

47
00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,160
Well, we pray in the Spirit.

48
00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:41,960
God gives some people the gift of praying in tongues, and if you have that gift, it's

49
00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:46,680
a good way to pray God's will without having your thoughts and emotions get in the way.

50
00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:51,320
If that's not a gift God has given you, you can still pray in the Spirit.

51
00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:58,360
First, focus your attention on the character of God, His goodness, love, righteousness,

52
00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:03,760
might, mercy, justice, power, beauty.

53
00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,080
The list goes on and on.

54
00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:12,640
Once you have fully focused your mind on Him, then pray that those characteristics will

55
00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,440
be worked out in each situation and circumstance.

56
00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,560
If a scripture comes to mind, pray that scripture over the situation as well.

57
00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:28,720
For instance, Isaiah 61, 1-3 tells us Jesus came to proclaim good news to the poor, to

58
00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:33,960
bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness

59
00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:38,240
for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance

60
00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:44,880
for our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow

61
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:50,640
on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a

62
00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:54,520
garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

63
00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:59,160
They will then be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of

64
00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,080
His splendor.

65
00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:06,400
That scripture has come to mind as I've prayed about the situation in Israel and Gaza and

66
00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,760
Ukraine and Russia and others.

67
00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,600
But of course, there are other scriptures that may come to mind as well.

68
00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,800
Ephesians 6 tells us to pray on all occasions.

69
00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:21,640
Interceding, which means to mediate, negotiate, or intervene on all occasions.

70
00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:26,640
Let's take a look at several women in the Bible who interceded on behalf of others to

71
00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:28,680
see God's will done.

72
00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:35,280
2 Samuel 20 tells the story of a man named Sheba, who led a rebellion against David,

73
00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:36,280
king of Israel.

74
00:05:36,280 --> 00:05:41,560
Sheba and his followers holed up in a walled city called Abel Beth Maka.

75
00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:45,880
The army of Israel surrounded the city and built a siege ramp to batter down the gates

76
00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:46,880
and walls.

77
00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:48,880
Its residents were terrified.

78
00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,340
They had no idea why the army was there.

79
00:05:51,340 --> 00:05:54,880
They considered themselves peace-loving and loyal to David.

80
00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,000
But now they were facing destruction.

81
00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,320
I have no doubt they were crying out to the Lord for rescue.

82
00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,320
And then a wise woman arose to intercede.

83
00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:09,640
On the city wall, she called to Jacob, commander of the army, and asked why they were besieging

84
00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,120
the city.

85
00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:15,920
Jacob told her, Sheba and his rebels have taken refuge there.

86
00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:22,440
So verse 22 says, Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice.

87
00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:26,340
And they cut off the head of Sheba, son of Bichri, and threw it to Joab.

88
00:06:26,340 --> 00:06:30,200
So he sounded the trumpet and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home,

89
00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,320
and Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

90
00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:34,320
Brutal?

91
00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:35,320
Yeah.

92
00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:39,920
I'm not suggesting a violent solution, although Ecclesiastes does tell us there is a time

93
00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:41,100
for war.

94
00:06:41,100 --> 00:06:46,360
I share the story to point out how this unnamed woman interceded according to the will of

95
00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,160
God to save the city.

96
00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:54,080
God didn't want Abel Beth Macca destroyed and the people killed for the rebellion of

97
00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:55,720
a few.

98
00:06:55,720 --> 00:07:01,320
But God also did not want rebellion fomenting among the people of Israel.

99
00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:06,300
This woman had God's heart to save the city and to see justice done.

100
00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:12,040
Her intercession between Joab and the townspeople is an example of how God can use us to pray

101
00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,240
and intercede regarding situations all over the world.

102
00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,800
It can also be a point of prayer for God to raise up wise women and men to advocate for

103
00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,440
His will to be done in a given situation.

104
00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:29,720
In 1 Samuel 25, we read about Abigail, another woman who stepped into the gap to plead God's

105
00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,880
heart in the midst of a crisis.

106
00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:36,640
Abigail's wicked husband, Nabal, had greatly offended David and his men.

107
00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:41,120
David let his emotions get the better of him, so he and his men set out to destroy Nabal

108
00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:46,640
and all his household, some of the very same people he had been protecting just a few weeks

109
00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:47,760
prior.

110
00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,080
Abigail caught wind of what was happening and went out to meet David's army.

111
00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:57,320
She sent gifts ahead, which is in a prayer context represents worship.

112
00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:01,560
And when she came face to face with David, she fell at his feet and repented for the

113
00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,720
offense, even though she had not been the one who instigated it.

114
00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:09,480
She gently reminded David that his intentions were sinful.

115
00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,120
He was going to kill innocent people.

116
00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:17,680
And then she reaffirmed the destiny that God had for him.

117
00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,460
Her intercession worked.

118
00:08:19,460 --> 00:08:25,280
She prevented David from committing murder and innocent people were spared, leaving God

119
00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,200
to deal with wicked Nabal, which he did.

120
00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,920
A few days later, Nabal died.

121
00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:37,460
You might be thinking the wise woman and Abigail were not praying, but I see it differently.

122
00:08:37,460 --> 00:08:40,120
Remember the fuller definition of prayer?

123
00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:44,520
Interact with the Lord by switching human wishes and desires for his wishes and desires

124
00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,880
as he imparts faith.

125
00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:52,680
They were both interacting with the Lord to switch human desires for God's wishes.

126
00:08:52,680 --> 00:08:56,040
And he gave them faith to step out.

127
00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,760
Read the book of Esther and you will see a very similar story.

128
00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:04,960
Sometimes when wickedness abounds and we pray that God will deal with it, his answer takes

129
00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:10,040
longer, sometimes much, much longer than we expect.

130
00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:17,720
Second Peter 3 15 tells us why it says, remember our Lord's patience gives people time to

131
00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:19,720
be saved.

132
00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:27,400
Our God is a loving, patient, kind God who does not want anyone to perish.

133
00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:31,620
Second Peter 3 9 says he wants everyone to come to repentance.

134
00:09:31,620 --> 00:09:37,840
So part of our prayer in each situation must be that people's hearts are open to God and

135
00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:39,760
they put their faith in Jesus.

136
00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:45,680
Aren't we so grateful for this love, patience and mercy with us?

137
00:09:45,680 --> 00:09:51,360
But in God's time, he will move to rescue the oppressed and vanquish wickedness.

138
00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,320
So don't lose heart or stop praying.

139
00:09:53,320 --> 00:10:00,620
James 5 16 reminds us that prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.

140
00:10:00,620 --> 00:10:05,200
Up to now, I've been emphasizing the need to pray for large scale issues, but God also

141
00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:10,680
wants us to pray for the one and to present our personal requests to him as well.

142
00:10:10,680 --> 00:10:15,880
I think of Miriam when she was just a girl, she and her family were slaves in Egypt under

143
00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,420
a particularly cruel Pharaoh.

144
00:10:18,420 --> 00:10:22,320
He had decreed that all male babies born to Hebrew families were to be killed, thrown

145
00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:23,320
into the Nile.

146
00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:27,340
Miriam's brother Moses was born during that time.

147
00:10:27,340 --> 00:10:30,920
His mother, Jocobet, hid him for as long as she could.

148
00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:35,540
But when he was three months old, it became too difficult to hide him anymore.

149
00:10:35,540 --> 00:10:41,840
So to preserve the rest of the family, she made a basket of reeds coated with tar, placed

150
00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:46,120
Moses in the basket and floated him down the Nile.

151
00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:49,880
She left Miriam hidden along the shore to see what would happen.

152
00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:55,280
Pretty quickly, Pharaoh's adult daughter came to the river with her attendants to bathe.

153
00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,360
They found the basket with Moses inside crying.

154
00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:02,500
Pharaoh's daughter knew he was a Hebrew baby and should have thrown him into the river,

155
00:11:02,500 --> 00:11:06,160
but she had compassion and decided to adopt him.

156
00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:12,680
At this point, Miriam bravely approached and asked if Pharaoh's daughter needed a nursemaid

157
00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:13,680
for the baby.

158
00:11:13,680 --> 00:11:15,880
Yes, she did.

159
00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,820
And Miriam ran off to get her mother to take care of the baby Moses for Pharaoh's daughter

160
00:11:19,820 --> 00:11:22,980
until he was weaned and possibly longer.

161
00:11:22,980 --> 00:11:25,960
So why does this qualify as prayer or intercession?

162
00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:30,720
Well, Miriam was interceding for Moses' life and identity.

163
00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:35,360
God had a purpose for Moses' life, but Moses needed to know his true identity in order

164
00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:36,880
to fulfill it.

165
00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:43,200
If he had been raised from infancy by Egyptians as an Egyptian, he may not have had the compassion

166
00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,520
or motivation he needed to do what God asked him to do.

167
00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:51,800
And right now we have a whole generation of young people whose identities are under attack,

168
00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:53,880
but we can intercede for them.

169
00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,120
It is God's will that they know their true identity.

170
00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:02,800
Each one has a God-given purpose that can only be fulfilled if they know who God created

171
00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:04,280
them to be.

172
00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:11,680
As a parent, grandparent, sibling, neighbor, teacher, social worker, counselor, or friend

173
00:12:11,680 --> 00:12:17,900
at any level, you can pray for the Moses that God brings to your attention.

174
00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:21,400
Pray that God's Word in their lives will be fulfilled.

175
00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,760
Pray for their protection from the lies of the enemy.

176
00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:29,600
Pray in the Spirit, but pray their destiny hangs in the balance.

177
00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,380
And what about your own needs and the needs of your loved ones?

178
00:12:32,380 --> 00:12:35,680
God wants you to bring those before him as well.

179
00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:39,960
In Matthew 15, we read about a Canaanite woman who came to Jesus pleading for her daughter

180
00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,960
who was suffering terribly from demon possession.

181
00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:44,600
His disciples wanted to send her away.

182
00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,740
She was Canaanite, by the way.

183
00:12:46,740 --> 00:12:51,040
And Jesus himself tested her faith, but she would not waver.

184
00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:57,160
She kept humbly interceding in spite of every obstacle and argument against her daughter's

185
00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:58,160
deliverance.

186
00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:05,360
She persevered in faith, interceding for God's will, healing for her daughter.

187
00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,300
And her daughter was healed.

188
00:13:08,300 --> 00:13:11,940
Have you been praying for a loved one but not seen the answer yet?

189
00:13:11,940 --> 00:13:13,800
Look to Jesus.

190
00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:18,500
Persevere in humble faith like the Canaanite woman, knowing that all you can do is bring

191
00:13:18,500 --> 00:13:22,200
that person to Jesus and trust his goodness.

192
00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,540
He is good.

193
00:13:24,540 --> 00:13:30,280
And if you're struggling with something personally, you can go directly to Jesus about it.

194
00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:35,280
While it's good and can be very faith building to have others pray for us, no intermediary

195
00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,380
is required.

196
00:13:37,380 --> 00:13:44,440
In Matthew 9, 18-22, we read about a woman who had been sick and ostracized for 12 long

197
00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:45,580
years.

198
00:13:45,580 --> 00:13:49,180
She had spent every penny she had on doctors and nothing helped.

199
00:13:49,180 --> 00:13:51,680
Her situation seemed hopeless.

200
00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:54,480
But then she heard of Jesus.

201
00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,480
She heard of the many people he had healed.

202
00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,260
She didn't want to draw attention to herself because religious law dictated she remain

203
00:14:01,260 --> 00:14:03,620
apart from everyone.

204
00:14:03,620 --> 00:14:08,160
But she crawled through the crowd and touched the hem of his robe.

205
00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:15,440
She recognized Jesus as the only one who could save her, heal her, restore her.

206
00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:22,620
And she did not let anything distract her or anyone prevent her from getting to Jesus.

207
00:14:22,620 --> 00:14:27,000
Her actions were her worship and her prayer of faith.

208
00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,960
And when she touched Jesus, she was healed.

209
00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:36,100
And not only that, she was restored to the community that she had been apart from for

210
00:14:36,100 --> 00:14:37,360
so long.

211
00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:41,380
Yes, God does use medical professionals to heal people.

212
00:14:41,380 --> 00:14:44,520
But he is the one who brings the healing.

213
00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:49,120
He is the one who restores and sets us free and gives us clarity.

214
00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,880
Before seeking medical doctors or during an emergency while seeking medical help, it is

215
00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,360
always good to pray.

216
00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,340
Ephesians 6 says to pray on every occasion.

217
00:14:58,340 --> 00:15:01,460
It doesn't matter who others think you are.

218
00:15:01,460 --> 00:15:05,480
If you put your faith in Jesus, you are a child of God.

219
00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:10,400
You can go boldly to him, ask him to give you his perspective and reveal his desire

220
00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:14,860
for every situation so you can pray according to his will.

221
00:15:14,860 --> 00:15:18,520
And you will see him do amazing things.

222
00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,480
Sometimes answers come quickly.

223
00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,300
Some require perseverance.

224
00:15:22,300 --> 00:15:27,940
But when you do not know what to do, or even if you think you know what to do, the first

225
00:15:27,940 --> 00:15:31,420
thing you need to do is pray.

226
00:15:31,420 --> 00:15:38,560
Life can quickly become overwhelming if we focus on the chaos, confusion, violence, sickness,

227
00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,340
and suffering in the world.

228
00:15:40,340 --> 00:15:46,420
But if we focus on God and his nature and his character, we will begin to understand

229
00:15:46,420 --> 00:15:50,660
his good plans and purposes in each situation.

230
00:15:50,660 --> 00:15:53,000
Then we can pray according to his will.

231
00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:54,680
Let's take a moment and pray together.

232
00:15:54,680 --> 00:16:10,680
You are holy, mighty, loving, faithful, good, powerful, victorious, righteous, just, merciful,

233
00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:14,280
and so, so much more.

234
00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,180
Words cannot express your majesty.

235
00:16:16,180 --> 00:16:19,940
You are more glorious and loving than we can ever comprehend.

236
00:16:19,940 --> 00:16:25,680
And because of who you are, we know that sin and suffering is not your will.

237
00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,660
Sickness and oppression is not your will.

238
00:16:28,660 --> 00:16:34,760
You sent Jesus to seek and save the lost, to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives

239
00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:39,720
free, to release prisoners from darkness and comfort those who mourn.

240
00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:46,360
And so, Lord, we ask that you intervene according to your will in Israel and Gaza and the West

241
00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:52,280
Bank and Ukraine and Russia and other war-torn areas of the world.

242
00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:56,640
Reveal your son Jesus to the lost so they can be saved.

243
00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:58,080
Comfort those who are mourning.

244
00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:04,600
Heal broken hearts and set the prisoners free physically, emotionally, spiritually.

245
00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:08,480
Protect those caught in areas of conflict and lead them to safety, Father.

246
00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:14,860
You are the Prince of Peace, and we ask that your peace would reign in each situation.

247
00:17:14,860 --> 00:17:20,440
We call forward men and women who are filled with your wisdom to bring forth solutions

248
00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,160
to crises that seem beyond hope.

249
00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,240
For you are our hope.

250
00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,160
You are the source of all wisdom.

251
00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,440
And Father, touch our listening friends.

252
00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:35,680
Give them faith to believe that you are who you say you are and that you have good plans

253
00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:41,720
for them, plans to prosper them and not to harm them, to give them a future and a hope.

254
00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:47,280
But I ask that those good plans will come to fruition in their lives.

255
00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:52,420
You promise to direct the steps of the godly, so do that today, Father.

256
00:17:52,420 --> 00:17:57,360
Make your path very clear to each one who's listening and seeking your way.

257
00:17:57,360 --> 00:18:02,560
And we thank you for it because we know you hear and answer our prayers.

258
00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:04,640
In Jesus' mighty name, I pray.

259
00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:05,640
Amen.

260
00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,840
You know, friends, there are widows as well as orphans all over the world who need to

261
00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:13,880
experience the tangible expression of God's love right now.

262
00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:17,400
Many have special needs that we as a company of women can meet together.

263
00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,240
Will you consider joining us with a special gift to help?

264
00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:24,840
Just go to hergodstory.org and click on the widow and orphan tab at the top of the page.

265
00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:26,480
And thank you for tuning in.

266
00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:30,640
In our show notes at hergodstory.org, you'll find scriptures and other information we talked

267
00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:31,640
about.

268
00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:35,460
You can also get a six-week devotional on Women of the Bible that you can download for

269
00:18:35,460 --> 00:18:40,880
free or purchase a 12-week devotional that we'll send you for just $12, knowing that

270
00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,280
all the proceeds go to our Widow and Orphan Fund.

271
00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:50,280
We'd love to pray with you on our 24-7 prayer and text line, so give us a call or text anytime

272
00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:56,520
at 855-459-CARE or email us at prayer@somebodycares.org.

273
00:18:56,520 --> 00:19:01,280
And now, dear friends, I bless you from Psalm 20: 1-5.

274
00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:05,040
In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.

275
00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:09,320
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.

276
00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:13,040
May He send you help from His sanctuary and strengthen you.

277
00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,980
May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your worship.

278
00:19:16,980 --> 00:19:21,640
May He grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed.

279
00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:26,400
May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the

280
00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,220
name of our God.

281
00:19:28,220 --> 00:19:31,640
May the Lord answer all your prayers.

282
00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:35,680
Her God Story is a ministry of Somebody Cares America and international.

283
00:19:35,680 --> 00:20:02,680
To find out more about or support the ministry, go to somebodycares.org.