Tag Archives: prayer

Plastic Prayers Make Plastic Churchgoers

Posted on August 4, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

What about your prayers? Are they as honest and authentic? Or are they plastic and fake? A lot of prayers are—especially public prayers. God knows what is in your heart—and he delights in the man or woman who will put down their mask to pour out their heart to him. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged authentic christ followers, honesty is the road to transformation, plastic christians, plastic lives, plastic prayers, prayer | Leave a comment

The Mountaintop

Posted on August 2, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The blessings of the mountaintop are wonderful, but can become a temptation to pride. That is one foothold that you don’t want to even try—it leads to a quick and devastating slide to the bottom. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged and obedience, Blessing, Hezekiah, humility, mountaintop, prayer, pride goes before a fall, repetance, success | Leave a comment

What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do

Posted on July 27, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Jehoshaphat ordered the singers to the front lines of the battle. They led the people to sing and praise the splendor of God’s holiness: “Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever.” The Lord took care of the rest. The enemy fell into confusion and began to fight among themselves. Victory was won through praise. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged Jehoshaphat, looking to you, Praise, prayer, the sang at the top of their lungs, victory through praise, when we don't know what to do | Leave a comment

The Agony and the Ecstasy

Posted on July 26, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Intercession is both agony and ecstasy—both deep struggle and “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). Open your heart to Jesus, feel the burdens of his heart and allow him to teach you to pray. He has much to teach you. The ecstasy makes all the agony worthwhile. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged agony of prayer, ecstasy of answered prayer, ecstasy of God's presence, God, intercession, Jesus, prayer, prayer assignments, prayer warrior, prevailing prayer, stand in the gap | Leave a comment

Revival: Do We Really Want It? (Is the Price Too High?)

Posted on July 23, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

It will cost you something: humility, repentance and much prayer and seeking his face. But the joy of revival will be worth it. Let’s pay the price for admission to see the glory of God fill “the temple” again. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged cost of revival, humility, prayer, repentance, revival, seek my face, turn from their wicked ways | Leave a comment

God is the Strength of My Heart

Posted on July 15, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

But there is a turning point in this lament Psalm: verse 17. “Till I entered the sanctuary of God.” The lament is an important part of our prayer life. We need to pour out our hearts, like Asaph, in complete openness and honesty. We need to open our hearts to God: even our questions, doubts, fears and wounds. But we do so in his presence, and when possible in the company of a loving group of fellow believers who are there with us to help us move from bitterness to strength. We need to enter the sanctuary of His presence. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged bitterness to strength, courage and strength, healing of our heart, joy of his presence, lament, nearness of GOd, prayer, presence of God, Psalms, strength of my heart, turning point | Leave a comment

Open Up Your Heart

Posted on July 7, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Open your heart to Him today. Tell him what is on your heart. Do not hold anything back. He wants to hear your cries and satisfy your deepest desires. Your pain, your sorrows, your fears, your questions; he wants to hear them all. He wants to draw near to you, but he waits until we call on him—until we call on him in truth. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged Jeremiahs 29:13, O Hallesby, Open your heart, prayer, Psalm 145:18, Revelation 3 | Leave a comment

New Songs

Posted on July 4, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Old songs should be cherished and sung and passed on to the next generation; I grew up with hymns and continue to find great spiritual nourishment through them. I find them essential. Yet, like the psalmist, we should also look for the ongoing work of God in our lives that will produce new songs. As we grow in faith, may new songs also spring up in our heart. So take up your instrument and sing. Old songs; new songs; sing them both with passion and joy. We serve a great God and he is worthy of our praise! Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged celebrate the new things God is doing, faith, favorite songs, good memories, heart filled with praise, importance of hymns, Jesus, new experiences, new songs, old songs, prayer, singing hymns, Worship | Leave a comment

Surprise!

Posted on June 18, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

God answers prayer. Pray fervently and expectantly. And don’t be too surprised when the answer you are seeking comes knocking at the door. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged amazing answers to prayer, answer comes knocking at the door, books of Acts, desperation, earnest praying, expectations, Peter knocking at the door, prayer, Rhoda the servant girl, surprised by the answer to our prayers, they were amazed | Leave a comment

Waiting and Watching

Posted on June 10, 2026 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Intercessors serve as watchmen. They often spend late nights and early morning hours waiting on God–watching for him to work. Alert to the dangers; alert to the enemies movements, the watchman is focused especially on the coming dawn when God’s light breaks forth—the long awaited answers that result from watching and waiting. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged intercessors, keep watch, prayer, watching and wating, watchmen | Leave a comment