Write from My Heart

Friday, November 21, 2025

Five Days of Prayer - Day Five

Hebrews 13:15-16 (NLT) Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Romans 12:12 (NLT) Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Colossians 3:17, 23-24 (NLT) And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. ... Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

James 1:5-8 (NLIT) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

At first glance, this may appear to be a random selection of verses. However, when taken as a collective, these verses can be powerful reminders to continue in prayer with praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father as the priority. Remember that God has given to each one of us some gift, ability, or talent to use for his purposes; be faithful in using what he has given you. When you are uncertain, unsure, or lack understanding; ask God to allow his Spirit within you to guide your understanding.

I humbly believe that God has given me an ability to encourage others through the writing of short devotionals. That is why I “Write From My Heart”, although to be honest, sometimes the intended reader is myself as well as others. The following prayer is my daily prayer before I sit down to write. I do not know what God has asked you to do or what talents, gifts, and abilities he has given to you. Perhaps my prayer might inspire you create your own daily prayer; that is my deepest hope. Blessings to you, Dear Reader.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Help me to be obedient to whatever nudgings You place on my heart. Guide me in the diligent study of Your Word. Provide the measure of understanding You trust me to handle correctly. Provide the thoughts You want me to write for others to read, even if the reader is me. Open the doors You want me to use, and give me peace about the doors You close. I pray that in all things You receive all honor, glory, and praise. May Your will be accomplished and may I be useful to You.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional Five Days of Prayer – Day Five appeared first on Write From My Heart at

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Five Days of Prayer - Day Four

Psalm 55:6, 8-9 (NLT) Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. ... “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Psalm 62:8 (NLT) O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

Daniel 3:16-18 (NLT) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.

One of the most devastating teachings about prayer is that you do not receive what you asked for because you apparently did not have enough faith. Teachings of this sort typically misuse the “grain of mustard seed” scripture. Nothing could be further from scriptural foundations regarding prayer. The truth is that God does want you to pour your heart out to him – the good things, the bad things, the questions, the concerns – all of it, in daily communion with him. But true faith is recognizing that God’s ways are always best. His solutions are flawless; His timing is perfect. You may see responses that are in line with your thoughts, but even when you don’t; true faith is still trusting in your Heavenly Father.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

You are God; I am not.

You know what is best; I do not.

I haven’t come to tell You what to do;

I’ve come to ask you to do what is best.

I don’t know what that will be;

but I know it will be the right thing.

I trust Your wisdom. I trust You.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional Five Days of Prayer – Day Four appeared first on Write From My Heart at

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Five Days of Prayer - Day Three

John 17:20-23 (NLT) I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Chapter 17 of the Gospel of John records the most wonderful words of Jesus’ prayer for himself, his disciples, and for all generations to follow. I encourage you to take a moment to read the entire prayer. My heart tells me this is a wonderful reminder that we not only pray for ourselves and our families, but for generations to come. The ladies’ Bible study group at our church has a wonderful tradition each year of dividing up the names of all students in our children’s and youth Sunday School classes, and each of us takes a card with a few names on it—to remember those young lives in prayer (and their teachers) throughout the year. One of the ladies made beautiful cards with prayer suggestions, and although I am unsure of the original source, I share with you 14 Ways to Pray... for all the young lives you know as well as for generations to come:

· Pray that they will come to know Christ as Savior.

· Pray that they will love God with all of their hearts.

· Pray for their parents and families.

· Pray that they will choose the right kind of friends.

· Pray for spiritual stability during tough times.

· Pray for the needs of their hearts that you may not know about.

· Pray for physical protection in their lives.

· Pray that they will love God's Word.

· Pray for their continued connection to the body of Christ.

· Pray that they will find their identity and worth in Christ and not in our world.

· Pray that God will give them compassion for others.

· Pray that they will have integrity in all areas of their lives.

· Pray that they will look for ways to serve the Lord.

· Pray that they will learn to pray too!

The devotional Five Days of Prayer – Day Three appeared first on Write From My Heart at

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Five Days of Prayer - Day Two

Ephesians 6:18-20 (NLT) Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Colossians 4:2-4 (NLT) Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim his message as clearly as I should.

Yesterday we embarked on a week-long exploration of favorite prayers and scriptures regarding prayer. The apostle Paul reminds us to be alert and faithful in prayer, especially remembering to pray for others. There are times when we know specific concerns to voice on behalf of others; yet there are also times when there is a name on our heart, but we don’t know what to pray. My uncle once shared with me suggestions for “What to pray, when you don’t know what to pray.”

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Today I come to you in prayer for __________, and although I am not aware of their specific needs, I trust Your Wisdom. I pray you grant them strength and courage to cope with whatever they may face today. I pray that they may be aware of Your Presence around them. Grant them grace for every spiritual need. Grant them guidance in setting direction. Grant them wisdom to discern Your Will. Grant them courage and boldness to live according to Your Way. And Lord, in the words of an old hymn, I pray you grant them “strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow.”

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional Five Days of Prayer – Day Two appeared first on Write From My Heart at

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Monday, November 17, 2025

Five Days of Prayer - Day One

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) Never stop praying.

There is an old, falling-apart, Webster’s Dictionary (1965) sitting on my desk. Every now and then I take a moment to look up a definition of a word...sometimes an unfamiliar word...but as in the case of today, it is the transitive verb and noun form of a word frequently used; pray, prayer.

pray (v.t.); to implore; beseech; to ask for; to make supplication (e.g., to make a humble request)

prayer (n.); a humble entreaty made to God

Prayer is talking with the God who created you, loves you, saves you, comforts you, restores you. He always listens. He always responds in his perfect timing and in his perfect way. I often wonder why we make prayer such a difficult task. We have no trouble chatting or texting with our friends; why do we leave our Gracious Heavenly Father in the distance? Why do we only seek him when we have a problem?

This week my heart wants to share some of my favorite prayers and scriptures with you. My hope is that something will inspire you to develop a deeper prayer life with your Gracious Heavenly Father. He already knows your heart, your needs, your concerns, your joys, and your hopes...but he longs to hear from you, personally. Blessings to you, dear Reader.

Dear Heavenly Father,

For what I am, that I ought not to be; Forgive me.

For what I am not, that I ought to be; Forgive me.

Be with my mouth in what it says.

Be with my hands in what they do.

Be with my mind in what it thinks.

Be with my heart in what it feels.

Work in me – through me – for me – in spite of me.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional Five Days of Prayer – Day One appeared first on Write From My Heart at

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Friday, November 14, 2025

Everyday Worries and Unhealthy Fears

Psalm 34:4 (NLT) I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Common sense tells us that fear of a hot stove is a healthy fear that keeps us from harm. There are times; however, when we allow our everyday worries to grow into unhealthy fear. A small concern, when not yielded to the Lord, circles about in our mind, growing exponentially. Soon our thoughts are manipulated by all the negative possibilities and “what if...” scenarios. Take heart! There is a solution available!

When small worries, or even large ones, of the day enter our thoughts, immediately seek the Lord in prayer. He already knows your concerns, but he is ever waiting patiently for you to seek him. By seeking the Lord in all our worries or concerns, we find peace and refuge in him. Somehow it helps us to keep our thoughts in perspective and quiets the chaos in our minds. And it was Christ himself who reminded us, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27, NIV). The point is this, before we allow a concern to grow into worry, or a worry to grow into a fear—turn to the Lord in prayer—seek Him, who is our strength, our refuge, and our help.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

You know our concerns for health, finances, family, and other things that weigh heavily on our hearts and minds. Forgive us when we lose sight of your power and diligent control. Help us keep our thoughts in perspective and still the chaos floating in our minds, for you are ever present, and you are our help and strength. We trust you in all things and in every situation.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional Everyday Worries and Unhealthy Fears appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Called by Command

Romans 12:18 (NLT) Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Colossians 3:15 (NIV) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

When I think about what it means to live in a peaceful way, the typical descriptive words come to mind; quietly behaved and calm. Sometimes we tend to view peace as just the opposite of war, and in some respects it is. We like to congratulate ourselves, and claim that when we are not literally, physically involved in war, we are “peaceful.” However, it might be illuminating to think about what peace is not in order to gain a better perspective on what peace is. Being at peace is not being contentious (i.e, likely to cause disagreements or arguments, or a wearisome tendency to quarrel and dispute). No, the Romans passage doesn’t mean we will never disagree with what is wrong in our nation. But it does mean as far as it depends on us, we will not cause strife with others. We will not be the cause of arguments and quarrels.

There is something else to which I would like to draw your attention. The Colossians passage states that we are “called to peace.” When you are called to do something, yes, you might consider it an invitation or request. But the actual root of the word called indicates a command. Let that sink in for just a moment. As members of one body, the body of Christ, we are called by command to let peace rule our hearts; it is not a mere suggestion or request. It is a responsibility.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Sometimes we like to consider ourselves to be peaceful creatures. Yet with all the disharmony in our world and nation, not to mention blatant wrongdoing, it is all too easy for us to get caught up in the heat of the moment—in our thoughts, our attitudes, and our words. This displeases you and it does not bring honor and glory to your name. Please forgive us. Teach us the right way to respond. Teach us how to let the peace of Christ rule our hearts and minds.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional Called by Command appeared first on Write From My Heart at

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

All in God's Perfect Timing

Psalm 90:12 (NIV) Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 (NLT) Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

During the generations from Adam to Noah, it was not uncommon for the average lifespan of man to reach the 800s or 900s (cf. Genesis 5:1-32). After the great flood, man’s lifespan was reduced to about 120 years (cf. Genesis 6:3). This was not an immediate or abrupt change, but it occurred gradually during the generations from Noah’s sons until just after Abraham’s family. By contrast, here in the United States, the average lifespan of men and women in 1950 were 65 and 71, respectively. The latest Google information as of 2023 has our current average lifespan standing at 78.4 years of age.

However as I read today’s verse, I am drawn to the second half which reveals the reason for a shorter lifespan... so that we may grow in wisdom. You see dear readers, wisdom is far more than knowledge. Wisdom includes such synonyms as common sense, discretion, levelheadedness, and prudence. The reason we are to understand how short life is, is that we are not only to use our time wisely, but we are also to learn how to use our head in making decisions that lead us closer to our Heavenly Father and further away from the world’s ideals.

This is quite possibly why Paul encouraged Timothy not to have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because they only lead to quarrels (cf. 2 Timothy 2:23); to continue in what he had learned and been taught since childhood (cf. 2 Timothy 3:14, thank you Sunday School teachers!); and to keep his head in all situations (cf. 2 Timothy 4:5). This is wisdom. Life is too short to dwell on negative. We are to be busy working toward God’s kingdom, which will be here soon—all in God’s perfect timing.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Too often we misplace our focus on the aches and pains of growing old. Yet your word encourages us that the brevity of life teaches us to focus on those things which are important to you. Renew our purpose for living. Guide us as we draw closer to your Kingdom.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional All in God’s Perfect Timing appeared first on Write From My Heart at

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Checking Eight Words - Part Two

Psalm 19:14 (NIV) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Philippians 4:9 (NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Yesterday we looked at the first four words, and we identified selective readings to help us remember how to focus on these attributes. Now let us consider the remaining four words. Again, I will add my initial thoughts and key verses that help me, and I encourage you to find verses that are helpful to you. Here are the Eight Words again:

True – Honorable – Right – Pure – Lovely – Admirable – Excellent – Praiseworthy

When I think about things that are lovely, one of my first thoughts is the beauty of all creation. I enjoy the beauty of sunrises and sunsets, the clouds and all the colors of the skies. The intricate details of plants and animals...even the antics of squirrels and the longs necks of giraffes...all creation amazes me. (Psalm 19:1; Psalm 104:24)

When I think about things that are admirable, I think of the talents others are willing to share. I admire the hard work and hours spent practicing and developing those talents be it professional skills, military skills, music, speaking, teaching, cooking, cleaning, or encouraging others. (Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 6:10; 1 Peter 4:10)

When I think about what is excellent, I think of something far beyond the ordinary. It is going above and beyond “good” or even “great.” It is the wisdom of King Solomon, but it is also the widow’s mite. It is giving your very best effort in everything you do, as if you are doing it for your Heavenly Father, because ultimately you are serving him. (Colossians 3:17, 23)

When I think about something praiseworthy, I am always drawn to my Heavenly Father. For truly he alone should receive all praise, glory, and honor. (Psalm 69:30; the latter part of Revelation 4:8)

And now, two well-worn phrases come to mind... “scratched the surface” and “tip of the iceberg”. There are so many more scriptures we could find in God’s word to help us stay focused on those things that are pleasing to him.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Once again, you tell us not to just be hearers of the word, but to be doers also (James 1:22). Forgive us where we fail you and guide us to become more Christlike in our daily lives.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional Checking Eight Words – Part Two appeared first on Write From My Heart at

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Monday, November 10, 2025

Checking Eight Words - Part One

Psalm 19:14 (NIV) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Last month (Oct. 17^th) I challenged all of us to learn eight simple words. When I stopped to check myself this weekend, I could remember the first four words easily, but I struggled to remember the last four words, and they were not in any particular order. Here they are again:

True – Honorable – Right – Pure – Lovely – Admirable – Excellent – Praiseworthy

When I think about things that are true, I immediately think that God IS truth. Furthermore, he knows everything about me; I cannot hide anything from him. (Hebrews 4:13; Psalm 139:1-18)

When I think about things that are honorable, I think about character. The Bible reminds me that a good name is more honorable than gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

When I think about what is right, my thoughts are drawn to my actions. Am I doing those things that are correct and right according to God’s word? (Ephesians 4:29, 32; 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12; and James 4:17)

When I think about something pure, I immediately think of my Savior. Jesus Christ—the spotless lamb, sacrificed to provide me with a means of forgiveness, and an opportunity for eternal life in his soon-coming Kingdom. (1 Peter 1:18-21)

These are some of my thoughts as I put Eight Words into practice. I encourage you to begin finding verses that are meaningful to you—words that will help you put into practice what you are learning from God’s Word. Tomorrow, I will continue my thoughts with the remaining four words.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

You tell us not to just be hearers of the word, but to be doers also (James 1:22). Forgive us where we fail you and guide us to become more Christlike in our daily lives.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional Checking Eight Words – Part One appeared first on Write From My Heart at

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com