IT'S ME LORD YOUR UNWORTHY SERVANT

 All my life, You have been faithful. You give me peace in the middle of all the confusion around me. Thank You, I don't worry about things and the future; I can't control so much anymore. Thank You for teaching me how to breathe and control my emotions. Thank You for all the Spiritual Soldiers and Guardian Angels around me. Thank You for the wisdom and understanding that helps humble my walk. Thank You for the means to do what has to be done, and thank You for the overflow. Teach me how to be a better Steward with Your money and take away my fleshly desires. Father, give me Your strength and courage to be faithful amid life's struggles and storms. Give me eyes that stay focused on You, my purpose, and ears that hear Your instructions around the obstacles ahead. Thank You for the privilege to be a part of Your Holy family. Lord, help me with my unbeliefs, strengthen my prayer life, and help me use every opportunity to witness for You daily. Lord, You have shown me throughout Your Word that You love me, and I am so grateful. Forgive me for all the times I doubted You and the times I tried to handle things myself. I know You love and want the best for me; please teach me how to surrender all in Jesus' name. Amen.

WE ARE CONNECTED BY THE SPIRIT AND OUR HISTORY

Romans 10:12 "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.

"History is not there for us to like or dislike. It's there for us to learn from. So if someone's history offends us even better." Because then we are less likely to repeat it. America History cannot be told correctly without Native American or black American history. Because the past teaches us about the present, it gives us the tools to analyze and explain our problems and oppressions. History explains behaviors and patterns that would be invisible in the present. We are created in God's image, so our gender, skin color, and differences are not what matters. Instead, the Spirit of God in us brings it all together. 

Father, we are grateful that Your Word is not just for one nationality, ethnicity, or race but for all people. Lord, teach us that the only difference between us is skin color. We all serve the same God. Thank You, Lord, for our diversity and for showing Your grace equally. Let Your Word be clear that all believers are one in You. So, give us eyes that view one another as You view us. Thank You, Lord, for not showing favoritism but accepting from every nation the ones who fear You and do what is right."Thank You, Lord, for not favoring one person or group. Thank You for acknowledging the diversity of Your creations while showing grace equally. In Jesus' name Amen

A HUNGER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

Women who hunger for righteousness and justice have played a role throughout history, from walking with our Savior to our Civil Rights Movement. For example, in 1960, when Martin Luther King was assassinated, his widow Coretta Scott King, courageously took her husband's place in leading a peaceful protest march. Coretta Scott King had a deep passion for justice and was a fierce companion of many causes.

Lord, today may you help us cultivate a hunger for Your righteousness and justice for all here on Earth. Father, baptizes in the Holy Spirit that helps us be a part of Your work and do what's right. So, give us Your courage and strength to fight injustice correctly and look to You first for guidance. Lord, let us not miss the opportunities during these unjust times to witness for You. To fill the hearts of all people with Your love and compassion through Your Word. May we secure justice by sharing love, mercy, and equality for everyone? Father, we ask You to end all division and a human society built on love, forgiveness, peace, and understanding. In Jesus' name Amen

EXAMINE YOURSELF

 1 Corinthians 11:28 "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.

Life situations will make us examine our faith and how much we really trust God. To examine our faith, we will first need quiet time with God. Spending time studying, praying, worshiping, and fasting helps us hear from God directly and expeditiously. This will help us stay in alignment with Him and our purpose. Next, examining ourselves allows us to assess our spiritual life. Then the Holy Spirit will give us eyes that see the obstacles in our way and how much we trust God to guide us around them.

Father, let us test and examine our ways, comparing them with what You have revealed in Your Word. Let the Holy Spirit show us when we think, speak, and act out of order with You, so we can repent and return home. Help us seek You when the testing of our faith arises so we will trust You and not rely upon ourselves. Lord, we understand that You test us because You love us and want us to grow in grace and in Your knowledge. So, help us "rejoice when being tested and count it all joy when we meet trials of various kinds, for we know that the testing of our faith produces perseverance, steadfastness, and endurance, so we know there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank You, Lord, for the wake-up call, and thank You in advance for strength when we're weak and love when we feel forsaken. Wisdom when we're foolish, comfort in our grief, courage when we're afraid, and peace amid confusion. In Jesus name

PRAY WITH ME

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

Good morning, Lord; we come to You with a heart of gratitude and praise, thanking You for keeping us through another night and thanking You in advance for the hedge of protection around us today. Thank You for Your forgiveness Lord, and help us forgive those that have wronged us. Lord, deliver us from the hands of addiction, adultery, greed, pride, drunkenness, and strife, so the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.' Lord, strengthen our prayer and study life to help us recognize Your presence here on earth. Lord, fill us with Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement You in our daily lives and situations. Lord, baptize us in the Holy Spirit that empowers us to pursue righteousness and obey Your Word. Father, bless us with the Fruit of the Spirit to strengthen our faith and courage to help us stand on Your promise. Lord, thank You for holding our hands that remove our fears and doubts so we are not like waves of the sea, blown and tossed around this Valley of death. Lord, give us eyes that stay focused on You with unshakable faith; in Jesus' name, Amen.

SAVE OUR CHILDREN

Psalm 127:3 "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him" Who we assume the responsibility to love and teach them the way to go, Lord, forgive us for falling short".

Lord, we come together today to bind the works of the Devil and our oppressors over our children. Father, we ask that You keep Your hedge of protection around them in their comings and goings. Lord, fill their hearts with hope so they feel they have something to live for so they don't give up. Father, we ask you to persecute those who fill their minds and Thoughts with violence. Father, pull the wool off the faces of those who flood our neighborhoods with guns and persecute them of Your will. Lord teaches us how to study and pray with our children as our parents and grandparents did with us. Lord, equip their teachers with the wisdom and knowledge they need to survive today. Lord, forgive us for falling short of Your mercy, grace, and favor for not teaching our children Your way. So, right now, Lord, help us point them down Your highway that will take them off the world's streets. Don't let us lose them to this Valley of death. Lord, let them hear Your instructions so they will be guided to habits and behaviors that strengthen Your character. Lord, give their hearts to feel the pain and suffering 💔 parents, families, and friends go through when gun violence erupts. Lord, please don't turn a deaf ear to our problem; we ask You to intervene in the Holy Spirit of Jehovah Rohi and save our children. In Jesus' name Amen

EVERYTHING

The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness the world and those who dwell therein, for He has founded upon the Seas and established it upon the waters.

Lord, we are Your people and all the earth. You created us and everything in this world 🌎 for a purpose, to serve You and continue building Your Kingdom. So, we pray for a more substantial study and prayer life to keep us strong. We pray for knowledge and courage when we witness, compassion and kindness when we serve, and faith to stand on Your promise. Lord, help us be inward-changed men and women, so unclutter our hearts to give You room to move in a mighty way. Thank You for keeping us through the night, and thank You in advance for the hedge of protection around our families and us today. Lord, we hold our heads high, seeking Your face; give us eyes that see how You work and educate us in Your ways. Lord, grab us by the hands and lead us around the obstacles ahead and down the path of Truth. Lord, You are fair, and just mark us with Your sign of love and walk with us as we witness for You. Father, when our flesh rises up against our Spirits, let Your wisdom we have learned lay it to rest. Thank You, Lord, for clearing our name and restoring us to our heavenly Father. Amen 

INVEST IN YOU

 Invest in our Spirit and in acts of charity. The yield rate is the highest on the market.

"Jesus taught, "'Use our worldly resources to benefit others and to make friends. In this way, our generosity stores up a reward for us in heaven."

Don't be a hoarder of things you can bless others with: shoes that dry rot before we wear them; blankets and sheets we no longer use; clothes we have not worn for over two years, and so much more. We can all be a blessing to others, and there is no higher return. The best investment we'll ever make is in our Spirits and in acts of charity 😀

Father, baptize us in the Holy Spirit to nourish our hearts and strengthen our faith. Lord, help us understand that we are weak and defenseless without You, so help us practice what we have learned so Your wisdom will manifest in our lives. Lord, fill our hearts with gratitude and love that inspires us to help transform our world 🌎 Give us eyes that see the good in all people and the compassion to help those less fortunate. Teach us when and how to be generous and serve our purpose by helping others and honoring You. Let us give without recognition or counting the cost. Lord, help us give of ourselves, knowing that the reward is serving and doing right by You. Amen

PRACTICE THE PRINCIPLES DAILY

Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days from the end to the beginning of the year. But we must practice the principles daily so they will manifest in our lives.

K stands for Kings, our proud Black Kings

W stands for our strong Black Women

A stands for Africa, our beautiful Mother country

N stands for Nation courageous Black Nation

Z stands for Zawadi, the gift of love ❤️

A stands for All Black people in unity

A stands for All Black in agreement on the Spirit.

We need Umoja and Kujichagulia to come together and learn about our people and nation's heritage, customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements. We must develop Ujima to assemble into a collective whole and be responsible for each other. We need Ujamaa to develop businesses and communities owned and controlled by our people.

Father, we thank You for a new day, healthy, clothe, sheltered, and in our right minds, and we pray for those that were called home and the ones they left behind. Thank You for inviting us to recognize and understand Your divine grace in our lives. Enable us to see the reality of our flesh and help us put to rest hate, racism, envy, back-bitting, jealousy, and all that is not of You, to give You room to uproot it from our hearts, our society, and our world.  Lord, teach our young people that life is valuable and help them understand how to come together as one and stop mistreating and killing each other. Lord, we bow before You and recognize we need a Savior. Lord, we come to Your Altar with a heart of gratitude to give You thanks for Your Son and our freedom from sin. Father, touch us with Your Spirit; let us find joy even in a system that is built against us.  Lord, let us find peace in every situation, even the agony of death.  Father, let Your Spirit unite us and build our self-determination to strive for and maintain our families and communities.  Teach us to love each other like You love us, so we can work collectively and be responsible for each other.  Help us come together and create our own that will help us control our businesses, neighborhoods, and communities.  Lord, we know that You are our purpose for living, so order our steps in Your will, in Jesus' name. Amen

DO WHAT YOU'RE FAMOUS FOR SAVING US

Luke  1:77 To give us the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of our sins. 2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ from all eternity.

Communicate with God daily, pray often, worship, and fellowship with other believers. Put God first in everything we do and stay focused on Him, and He'll do what He is famous for healing: Spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Protection: He walks with us through this Valley of Death. He steers us around the obstacles that will make us stumble. Peace: A peace that comforts us when all hell is breaking loose in our lives. He provides a secure and quiet place for us. Joy: when our hearts are filled with good values, the things God finds valuable. We obtain an unspeakable joy not because of an event, people, place, or something but of God. Strength: in times of weakness, He helps us stand firm in the faith; He gives us the courage to keep moving forward. Wisdom: Godly wisdom enables us to prepare ourselves for a life of prosperity, understanding, and eternity. With godly wisdom, we trade earthly values for biblical values. God has given us so much more than we deserve. He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins and raised him from the dead, so we could live.

Father, You have called us to obtain the glory of Jesus Christ, who called us unto salvation through our faith and the Holy Spirit. Thank You for being our refuge and fortress; we will trust You. So, Lord, we come before You, just as we are, thank You for the forgiveness of our sins, and we forgive all others for what they have done against us. We renounce Satan, the evil spirits, and all their works. We partner with You in this life and the next. In Jesus' name Amen

KILL IT IN SEED FORM

When people bring gossip to you, kill it in seed form; don't nourish it any further by spreading it bury it. When our day-to-day struggles overwhelm us, kill it in seed form, leave it on the Altar and be still. When people betray or hurt us, kill it in seed form, don't take revenge; give it to God, and He will fight our battles. The only seed we need to nourish is our Spirits with the Truth.

"And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may take root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. 

Father, help us nourish our Spirit and not our flesh, so give us Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement You in our daily lives. Lord, help us strive to keep moving forward, never giving up by staying focused on You and our goals. And let us not get weary of doing good because, in due time, we will reap what we sow. Lord, You are the true Vine, and our Father is the vinedresser. Remove every branch in us that does not bear fruit and prune us, so we may bear more fruit. Abide in us and we in You, so we are connected to the Vine, to grow like a tree planted by the water that sends out our roots by the stream, and we do not fear when heat comes, for our leaves remain green, and does not cease to bear fruit." in Jesus name Amen.

 

HANNAH'S PRAYER

Hannah, a barren woman, prayed to the Lord in the temple of Shiloh for a son and vowed to dedicate her child to Him. The Lord granted her prayer and gave her a son whom she called Samuel. 

This prayer of adoration was made by Hannah in gratitude. 

1 Samuel 2: 1-10 My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted high in the Lord. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. 2 "There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 3 "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak with such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him, deeds are weighed.4 "The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. 5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. 6 "The Lord brings death and makes it alive; he brings down to the grave and raises. 7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles, and he exalts. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the earth's foundations are the Lord's; he has set the world on them. 9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails; 10 those who oppose the Lord will be broken. The Highest will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."

PRAY

Father, as long as we have faith, we don't need a thing. Lord, thank You for lying us down in the Green Meadows. Thank You for the peaceful pools of water we drink from and for teaching us how to breathe through our problems. Thank You for ordering our steps around the obstacles ahead of us. Lord, even though we walk through this Valley of death daily, we fear no evil because You walk with us. Thank You for comfort when we're in pain and suffering. Thank You for feeding us in front of our enemies and allowing our cup to overflow with blessings. Thank You for renewed strength and courage daily, and forgive us for falling short of Your grace and favor. In Jesus' name Amen

EARS THAT HEAR YOUR WORD AND EYES THAT SEE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE

Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God" gives us knowledge on how faith comes by taking in God's Word.

Whoever has our ears also has control over our hearts. So, what are we listening to, the world or the Word, because whatever we're listening to is filling our hearts? No, I'm not trying to say. All you need to hear is the Word. But, to filter through what we hear, we need Jesus. This is why we need to listen to the Word to fill our hearts with the Truth that guides our Spirits to eternal life ❤️ not only the world that will pass away and die.

Lord, thank You for a new day of peace, shelter, and clothed in our right minds, and bless those less fortunate. Father, gives us ears that hear Your Word and eyes to see from Your perspective. So, we can stand patiently, practice faithfully what we have learned and help us draw near to Thee. Lord, we believe 🙏 because Your Spirit dwells in our hearts and minds; we see and feel Your presence daily. Thank You for Your courage and strength to endure suffering and overcome our fears and unbeliefs. Thank You for accepting us and giving us the same inheritance as Christ through our faith in Him. Thank You for Your sacrifice that has released us from sin and opened the gates to Salvation. ThankYou for Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement You into our daily lives. In Jesus' name Amen 

PAIN HURT AND GRIEF

Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." We cannot deal with grief alone, we need earthly help and Spiritual help to get through the loss of a loved one. GOD is always accessible to the brokenhearted because He remembers the pain of His loss. Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever." Our flesh will be wasted or taken away, but our Spirits will live on; we can always communicate with God and our loved ones in the Spirit. Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." God is close to us when we are in mourning. Jesus shares in our hurt and pain as He prepares us for a day of comfort. Just as we share in His mourning of our world's appalling conditions and in the sorrow of our sins.

Father, thank You for forgiving our sins and choosing our hearts to dwell in; thank You for keeping us through the night and letting us rise today in our right minds. Thank You for Your divine intervention in our lives and for keeping our focus on You. Lord, we now pray for all those called home and those they left behind. Thank You, Lord, for being with us in our time of grief and for the Spiritual Soldiers around us who are weeping with us. Thank You, God, in advance for the community of Your people who will minister comfort and peace to all brokenhearted members of our family. Thank You, God, for being our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in troubled times, especially grief. So, Lord, we call upon You in our time of sorrow that You give us the strength and will to bear our heavy burdens until we can again feel the warmth and love of Your divine compassion. LORD, thank You for being mindful of us and showing mercy while we struggle to comprehend life's hardships and grief. In Jesus' name Amen 🙏

 

HE WILL GIVE US REST

 Psalms 91:1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Highest will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust

Father, Thank You for Your continued presence in our lives. Thank You for Your Almighty wings which cast an impenetrable shadow of protection around us. Thank You for holding our hands as we walk through this Valley of death and guiding us around the obstacles ahead. Thank You for choosing to dwell in our hearts, lifting our burdens, and securing a Heavenly place for us. Thank You for the Holy Spirit that brings hope and comfort to our hearts. Thank You for renewing us daily with Your strength, and may we always see glimpses of Your infallible glory and blessing as we seek Your face throughout our days. Lord, our victory and salvation are found in You, in Jesus' name, Amen.

THE FIRST FOUR PRINCIPLES OF KWANNZA

 Unity and self-determination will give us collective work habits and responsibilities. So, we can build and maintain our neighborhoods and communities. Taking control of our problems by making their problem our problems to solve them together. Understanding that none of us are free until we are all free. Understanding these principles will help us develop cooperative economics for our social and cultural needs and aspirations through jointly-owned and democratically controlled businesses. The road map to a better life.

Father, unite us with the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am among them." Lord, fill us with self-determination and give us the tools to control our lives. Fill our hearts with gratitude, compassion, and kindness so we can treat others like ourselves by helping them carry their burdens. Father, let us understand that none of us are free unless all are free, so their problems are still our problems. Lord, let the principles of Kwanzaa bring us closer together ❤️ 🙏 to develop cooperative economics for our social and cultural needs to depend on ourselves. Lord, give us the financial wisdom of how to use the resources and the knowledge of how to implement them in our neighborhoods, communities, schools, hospitals, businesses, and lives. Finally, baptize us in the Holy Spirit to help us stay connected to You and each other. In Jesus' name Amen

UJAMAA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY

 Ujamaa (Collective Work and Responsibility)

To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and solve them together. Akoma ntoaso - the Adinkra symbol of shared effort and obligation

Active and Informed Togetherness

The third principle is Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) which is a commitment to active and informed togetherness on matters of common interest...

African Freedom is Indivisible

The principle of collective work and responsibility also points to the fact that African freedom is indivisible. [As] long as any African anywhere is oppressed, exploited, enslaved or wounded in any way in her or his humanity, all African people are also

Active Cooperation

In the context of a communitarian social order, cooperation is another key aspect of Ujima. It is based on the assumption that what one does to benefit others is at the same time a benefit to him/her...

Finally, collective work and responsibility can be seen in the challenge of culture and history. Work, both personal and collective, is truly at the center of history and culture...

KUJICHAGULIA MEANS SELF-DETERMINATION

Kujichagulia means (self-determination)

Self-determination impels us by centering on purpose, conviction, and value rather than negative considerations.

Father, help us put away fleshly determination to focus on a spiritual resolution by centering on purpose, conviction, and value rather than negative considerations. Lord, let us not doubt ourselves, fill us with self-determination, set goals for ourselves, and take the initiative to reach them. Lord, give those overweight the self-determination to exercise because they value their health and wellness. Give those that are addicted self-determination to value living a better life sober-minded. Father, help us raise our children and our children's children with Your wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the value of responsibility and self-determination. Lord, help us practice what we have learned, to build our self-determination, to believe in ourselves, and stand firm on Your Word. Father, baptize us in the Holy Spirit that gives us the determination and motivation to walk through this Valley of Death, fearing no evil because You are with us. Father, let our self-determination help us remain courageous and strong in all areas of our lives. Lord, let us partner with You in all we do to ensure we are on the right path. Thank You, Lord, in advance for giving ears to our prayers, in Jesus' name. Amen.

HAPPY KWANZAA

Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days beginning on December 26 and lasting through January 1. This holiday was created in 1966 and named for the time of year when some African tribes traditionally celebrated the first harvest of their crops.

On each night, a candle is lit to observe the nguzo saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The principles of Kwanzaa are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).