Elaine L. O'Neill

Passion, Promise, Partnering with God

Are You Overwhelmed With Life?

By 12 Comments

DSC00550

This life with its many problems overwhelms us. Families all around us fall apart. We hear that the economy will soon collapse. Our government makes decisions contrary to our Biblical way of thinking. Instead of experiencing peace and joy, frustration and fear cling to our hearts and minds.

Because we live in a fallen sinful world, drugs, alcohol, divorce, unemployment, suicide, and terrible diseases affect all of us. Discouragement paralyzes us and keeps us from functioning in the victory that God intended for us. We feel burned out, exasperated and at our wits end.

Darts from the enemy seem to shoot at us every day and all day long.

Satan, the prince of the power of the air, the king over darkness, sends his attacks against society, against the Church, and against believers. He knows that his reign on earth will end soon.

It is easy to get discouraged and to feel angry and hopeless in our daily circumstances. Are you living in a defeated state or are you walking victoriously over the situations in your life?

God has a plan for us to live above the challenges of life. Instead of living in frustration, worry, or fear, He wants us to be filled with His peace and presence.

He says in His Word, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:6-8).

God tells us:

  • Don’t worry about anything
  • Pray with thanksgiving
  • Present your requests to God
  • Think about things true, noble and right
  • Focus on things pure, lovely and admirable

Then He tells us that if we do these things, He will fill our hearts and minds with peace, which is greater than all our human understanding.

When life overwhelms us, follow God’s formula for perfect peace.

Promise: “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV)

Partnering with God: Dear Jesus, This world and its mess, discourages me. Distractions keep me from focusing on You. I want to live victoriously in Your peace, not in my frustration and discouragement. Help me not to worry but to pray about everything with thanksgiving and believe You for answers. Make my focus on You and on positive virtues that will strengthen me in my daily walk. I want Your strength, power, and peace to fill my heart and mind. Lord, I believe You will do it!

Personal Revival

By Leave a Comment

Most of us are self-sufficient and think that we are ok. It is a tactic of the enemy to fill us with pride and deceive us to think that we don’t need revival. It is quite easy to judge others for their faults without honestly looking at our own hearts for areas that need change.

I often view repentance as something another person should do. Because of pride, I have a hard time admitting my faults and shortcomings. I frequently see the splinter in someone else’s life and lightly ignore the boulder of sin that holds me back.

This year, I turned my life over to the Lord in a new way. As I made the decision to turn away from my sins, some of my trials seemed harder. I pleaded with God to change me and to take away the sins and weights that hold me back. I first have to do my part.

River Lighthouse

  • Revival means getting to know the Savior and author of my faith through God’s Word, prayer, and obedience. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
  •  Revival means I have to repent and totally turn from my evil, ungodly ways. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8) I made a list of sins and areas that must change: worry, fear, judging, procrastination, clutter, etc.
  • Revival means I need a stronger commitment to humble myself and pray. My old bad habits need to go so that my prayer time can be filled with new, stronger spiritual disciplines. I must remove distractions, use a written prayer list so I don’t forget requests, write scripture promises near requests, change my schedule, and put God first.
  • Revival means I need to trust God with my whole heart and know that His way is best. I must believe that God has control of all the problems and challenges and stand convinced that He would work out all things according to His plan for my good.

God decides when and how revival takes place. Each area of revival requires discipline and a steadfast spirit in me. I am changing a little at a time. I am waiting on God to revive me, in His way and in His time.

Promise: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Partnering with God: Lord, help me to humble myself before you and trust you with all my heart for you to bring revival in my life. I repent of my known sins and ask you to make me aware of other sins that are keeping me from a right relationship with you. Change me. Hear my desperate prayers for revival. Remake my life and revive me so I can serve you better.

Passion for God’s Hour

By 8 Comments

oneHourAs I read the resurrection story, my heart often focuses on one incident that occurs before the crucifixion when Jesus and the disciples were in the garden of Gethsemane. He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”  (Matthew 26:38)   Jesus asked His best friends and coworkers to hang out, to connect, to pray and to be alert by watching with Him in His darkest hour.

God wants my attention, my devotion and my heart everyday; yet it is a constant struggle to wholeheartedly give Him my time. [Read more…]

Passion for Praying through Lists

By 10 Comments

During my first week of college, a new friend asked me to be her prayer partner. “Of  course!” I eagerly responded.

I knew how to pray (or at least thought I did). I wasn’t afraid. I practiced prayer throughout my whole life.

During a break between classes, the two of us took off for a friend’s unoccupied dorm room to talk to God.

The next few moments with Dale changed my whole life. [Read more…]

Passion for God’s Direction

By 6 Comments

Challenged by a life changing decision, my husband and I knew that we needed assurance from God.  We were moving our ministry of pastoring a church to full time evangelism, after many friends and family affirmed my husband’s gift of evangelistic preaching.

Leaving our church family and a ministry that we loved to enter into an uncertain adventure for the Lord was extremely frustrating and scary.  Some people close to us did not share the understanding of God’s leading in our lives and reacted negatively to this change. A huge question mark about our future lay before us. [Read more…]

Passion for Prayer

By 14 Comments

I learned as a child that it was important to pray and talk to God. I followed the pattern of asking God to bless my meals, then praying for my family and a few needs before bedtime. Sunday School teachers and church leaders encouraged prayer and weekly added to my list of requests. As I grew older I memorized Bible verses that taught me the basics of talking to God.

It was not this nurture and teaching that really taught me how to pray. It was the hard knocks of life that put me in a position of being desperate before my Lord, Savior and Creator that brought growth and strength into that wonderful plan of communication with God. [Read more…]