A Prayer for Zeal When Motivation Is Lacking By Megan Evans "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." – Romans 12:11 ESV Has your daily walk with God ever felt sluggish? It's frustrating to love the Lord yet lack the passion you desire in worship, devotion, and serving. Rest assured, you are not alone if you've ever found yourself stuck there. Even the most seasoned believers find their daily devotion occasionally in a slump. While it's hard to snap out of dimness on our own, thankfully, God's Word gives us hope and help today. Recently, I found myself sitting with my open Bible, unfocused and unmotivated to read and pray. My spirit craved a blaze, but the wick of my heart refused to light. "What's wrong with me?" I thought to myself. "How did I get here?" Perhaps I was tired, distracted, or rushed. Maybe I was simply in need of freshness or more variety in my time alone with God. Whatever the cause, I knew that by staying steadfast to Jesus, He would answer my prayer for renewed motivation and even the fuel to obey and enjoy Him. Be encouraged that He will do the same for you! In Romans 12:11, Paul tells us to continue living out our daily faith when we lack enthusiasm. This verse isn't scolding us; instead, it encourages us to keep cultivating God's love, even if words like "zeal" and "fervent" feel distant and impossible. Motivation matters, and Paul speaks about the long-term dedication to our Christian faith. He knew first-hand what it is like to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). With expectancy, we can keep following the road Christ has marked for us till the end, and thankfully, we never have to wait for our feelings to match our faith! God never leaves us, never gives up on us, and keeps growing and renewing us as we look to Him (Isaiah 41:10). We don't have to give up or quit while we wait to get out of our slump-quite the opposite! Regardless of feelings, God wants us to meet with Him and demonstrate His love to others. We demonstrate zeal when we keep showing up. We may not always experience feelings of exhilaration when we sit to read or pray. Still, we can obediently spend time with God in His Word and confidently remain devoted to Him, knowing our faith stays anchored in Christ. Matthew 7:9-11 reminds us that our Heavenly Father is faithful in giving good gifts to His children when we pray and ask, so there is no shame in asking God for passion. Additionally, Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that God "rewards those who seek him."  We demonstrate service to the Lord when we glorify Him and seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Weariness might invade our hearts occasionally, but remembering who and why we love helps us stay focused and energized to serve Him. Serving God begins with loving and worshiping Him. When we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, this love will naturally spill onto those around us. Paul also explains in Romans 12 that God wants us to love one another with sincerity and devotion and to honor others above ourselves (verse 10). So, it's not about having our name on every volunteer list but rather saying yes to the Lord when and where He leads. We demonstrate fervency in spirit when we refuse to settle for lukewarm faith. God is faithful and will lead us out of dry patches when we seek Him. So, cry out to the Lord today! Ask the Holy Spirit to stoke the fire in your heart. When we feel tired and complacent, Jesus will strengthen and sustain us. He will comfort, convict, and compel us to live God's best for our lives. As it says in Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Let's pray: Dear Lord, deliver me from my spiritual slump. My feelings don't seem to match my faith today. I love you, and it saddens me when I experience complacency and a lack of zeal in my worship and devotion. Remind me when I feel this sluggishness that you are still near. Thank you for always hearing my prayers. Thank you for constantly receiving my worship and service, even when it feels small. Today, Father, I ask you to increase my zeal, fervency, and desire to serve you. I will trust you alone with this holy work in my heart. Remind me often not to quit spending time with you or living out my daily faith. God of hope, fill me and keep growing and renewing me as I seek you daily. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/fizkes Megan Evans is a military wife, and a mother to three wonderful teenagers. She and her family live in Tennessee where she serves as the women's ministry director at her church. An author and blogger with a heart for discipleship; she writes, speaks, and teaches women about enjoying God in each busy day. Check out her new book, "Permission to Walk: A 40-Day Journey to Unhurried Peace" and learn the daily pace of life that Jesus taught as we daily navigate this distracted and fast-paced world. You can connect with Megan at www.unhurrymyheart.com, www.instagram.com/megan.m_evans , and www.facebook.com/unhurrymyheart. Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week, she gives you practical, real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day, click below! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for Zeal When Motivation Is Lacking – Your Daily Prayer – May 26 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer for Zeal When Motivation Is Lacking By Megan Evans "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." – Romans 12:11 ESV Has your daily walk with God ever felt sluggish? It's frustrating to love the Lord yet lack the passion you desire in worship, devotion, and serving. Rest assured, you are not alone if you've ever found yourself stuck there. Even the most seasoned believers find their daily devotion occasionally in a slump. While it's hard to snap out of dimness on our own, thankfully, God's Word gives us hope and help today. Recently, I found myself sitting with my open Bible, unfocused and unmotivated to read and pray. My spirit craved a blaze, but the wick of my heart refused to light. "What's wrong with me?" I thought to myself. "How did I get here?" Perhaps I was tired, distracted, or rushed. Maybe I was simply in need of freshness or more variety in my time alone with God. Whatever the cause, I knew that by staying steadfast to Jesus, He would answer my prayer for renewed motivation and even the fuel to obey and enjoy Him. Be encouraged that He will do the same for you! In Romans 12:11, Paul tells us to continue living out our daily faith when we lack enthusiasm. This verse isn't scolding us; instead, it encourages us to keep cultivating God's love, even if words like "zeal" and "fervent" feel distant and impossible. Motivation matters, and Paul speaks about the long-term dedication to our Christian faith. He knew first-hand what it is like to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). With expectancy, we can keep following the road Christ has marked for us till the end, and thankfully, we never have to wait for our feelings to match our faith! God never leaves us, never gives up on us, and keeps growing and renewing us as we look to Him (Isaiah 41:10). We don't have to give up or quit while we wait to get out of our slump-quite the opposite! Regardless of feelings, God wants us to meet with Him and demonstrate His love to others. We demonstrate zeal when we keep showing up. We may not always experience feelings of exhilaration when we sit to read or pray. Still, we can obediently spend time with God in His Word and confidently remain devoted to Him, knowing our faith stays anchored in Christ. Matthew 7:9-11 reminds us that our Heavenly Father is faithful in giving good gifts to His children when we pray and ask, so there is no shame in asking God for passion. Additionally, Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that God "rewards those who seek him."  We demonstrate service to the Lord when we glorify Him and seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Weariness might invade our hearts occasionally, but remembering who and why we love helps us stay focused and energized to serve Him. Serving God begins with loving and worshiping Him. When we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, this love will naturally spill onto those around us. Paul also explains in Romans 12 that God wants us to love one another with sincerity and devotion and to honor others above ourselves (verse 10). So, it's not about having our name on every volunteer list but rather saying yes to the Lord when and where He leads. We demonstrate fervency in spirit when we refuse to settle for lukewarm faith. God is faithful and will lead us out of dry patches when we seek Him. So, cry out to the Lord today! Ask the Holy Spirit to stoke the fire in your heart. When we feel tired and complacent, Jesus will strengthen and sustain us. He will comfort, convict, and compel us to live God's best for our lives. As it says in Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Let's pray: Dear Lord, deliver me from my spiritual slump. My feelings don't seem to match my faith today. I love you, and it saddens me when I experience complacency and a lack of zeal in my worship and devotion. Remind me when I feel this sluggishness that you are still near. Thank you for always hearing my prayers. Thank you for constantly receiving my worship and service, even when it feels small. Today, Father, I ask you to increase my zeal, fervency, and desire to serve you. I will trust you alone with this holy work in my heart. Remind me often not to quit spending time with you or living out my daily faith. God of hope, fill me and keep growing and renewing me as I seek you daily. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/fizkes Megan Evans is a military wife, and a mother to three wonderful teenagers. She and her family live in Tennessee where she serves as the women's ministry director at her church. An author and blogger with a heart for discipleship; she writes, speaks, and teaches women about enjoying God in each busy day. Check out her new book, "Permission to Walk: A 40-Day Journey to Unhurried Peace" and learn the daily pace of life that Jesus taught as we daily navigate this distracted and fast-paced world. You can connect with Megan at www.unhurrymyheart.com, www.instagram.com/megan.m_evans , and www.facebook.com/unhurrymyheart. Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week, she gives you practical, real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day, click below! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for Zeal When Motivation Is Lacking – Your Daily Prayer – May 26 appeared first on GodUpdates.

553 - Moon Jaguar becomes the 10th ruler of the Maya city of Copán (modern Honduras), will reign for 25 years 1647 - Alse Young becomes the first person executed as a witch in the American colonies, when she is hanged in Hartford, Connecticut 1942 - Belgium Jews are required by Nazis to wear a Jewish star 1955 - Musical adaptation of the 1927 silent film "7th Heaven", starring Gloria DeHaven and Ricardo Montalbán, opens at ANTA Theater, NYC; runs for 44 performances 1963 - French Championships Men's Tennis: Australian Roy Emerson beats home favourite Pierre Darmon 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 1972 - The British state-owned travel firm Thomas Cook and Son is sold to a consortium of private businesses headed by the Midland Bank 1987 - US Supreme Court ruled dangerous defendants could be held without bail 1987 - Cecilia Bolocco, 22, of Chile, crowned 36th Miss Universe 2002 - Indianapolis 500: Defending champion Hélio Castroneves of Brazil becomes fifth driver in Indy 500 history to win back-to-back races for his second of 4 race victories 2012 - Pope Benedict XVI's butler is arrested for allegedly leaking confidential documents More Historical Events »

Historical Events 961 - German King Otto II crowned 1951 - Vaughan Williams' "Pilgrim's Progress" premieres in London 1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their 2nd bed-in for peace at Hotel La Reine Elizabeth, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 1984 - Floods kill 14 in Tulsa, Oklahoma 1997 - NHL Western Conference Final: Detroit Red Wings beat Colorado Avalanche, 4 games to 2 2000 - Arthur C. Clarke is knighted "for services to literature" at a ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1863 - Bob Fitzsimmons, English boxer (first 3-division world champion; Middleweight 1981-96, Light Heavyweight 1903, Heavyweight 1897-99), born in Helston, England (d. 1917) 1923 - Roy Dotrice, British actor (A Moon for the Misbegotten, Amadeus) and narrator (A Song of Ice and Fire), born in Guernsey, Channel Islands (d. 2017) 1931 - Jim Frey, American MLB manager (Kansas City Royals, American League C'ship 1980; Chicago Cubs), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2020) 1941 - Imants Kalniņš, Latvian classical, choral and rock composer ("Hey, You There!"), born in Riga, Latvian SSR 1957 - Kristina Olsen, American folk singer-songwriter ("I'm Keeping This Life of Mine"), and session musician, born in San Francisco, California 1981 - Eda-Ines Etti, Estonian pop singer (Eurovision), born in Haapsalu, Estonia More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1864 - Charles Sealsfield, Austrian-American writer, dies at 71 1907 - Ida McKinley, US First Lady (1897-1901) and wife of the 25th US President William McKinley, dies at 59 1959 - Joe Kelly, American radio and television host (Quiz Kids, 1949-53), dies at 57 1977 - William Powell, American RandB singer (O'Jays - "Love Train"; "Backstabbers"), dies of cancer at 35 1979 - George Brent, American actor (Baby Face, Dark Victory, 42nd St), dies at 75 1995 - Friz Freleng, American animator for Warner Bros cartoons (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies), dies at 88 More Famous Deaths »

Extremely disturbing police bodycam video shows the moment that a cop shot and killed a "non-aggressive" deaf and blind 13-pound dog. On Tuesday morning, a Sturgeon Police Department officer responded to a report of a missing dog. Nick Hunter, 35, reported his fluffy, 13-pound white Shih Tzu mix missing. Most concerning for the owner, is that the 5-year-old dog was deaf and blind. Hunter reportedly informed the dispatcher that the dog was "not at all" aggressive. Sturgeon Police Department Officer Myron Woodson reportedly responded to the missing dog report. Within minutes of attempting to locate the disabled dog, Officer Woodson reportedly fired two shots into the 13-pound pup.Officer Woodson located the small Shih Tzu dog. Bodycam footage shows Woodson approaching the small dog, and he is armed with a catch pole. According to bodycam footage, the dog named Teddy is seen aimlessly trotting around. The officer is seen attempting to lasso the distressed dog, but is unsuccessful. The dog continues to walk randomly around the grass yard. The dog is seen on video playing with a vine on a tree. Suddenly out of nowhere, the officer is seen shooting the dog only three minutes after encountering the small dog without the animal being aggressive toward the cop. Police bodycam video shows the officer shooting the dog at the 5:35 mark and firing another shot at the 5:41 mark. Bodycam footage shows the officer walking back to his cruiser to retrieve a bin, walking back to the scene of the death, and putting the lifeless body of the dog into the receptacle. He places the bin with the deceased animal in the back of his cruiser. The owner of the slain dog – a very distraught Nick Hunter – is seen confronting the police officer before he can drive away. According to the video, he is recording the officer as he questions him. Hunter tells the officer that his dog was "completely blind and completely deaf." Officer Woodson attempts to defend his fatal actions by saying that he saw a "dog walking around blindly," and he only can respond to situations with "information at hand" and claimed he had spent 10 minutes dealing with a dog that was "walking around blindly." Woodson claims that he doesn't "enjoy shooting dogs." "I'm not happy that I had to shoot a dog," Woodson says on video. Hunter informs the officer that there are numerous non-lethal alternatives to making a dog respond. Woodson states, "I'm sorry I had to do it. That's all I'm saying." Hunter declares, "I can handle a dog dying if the dog was put down for a proper reason." He adds, "He was not aggressive to a person, and not a harm to anyone." Hunter accuses the officer of not attempting "to do anything properly besides lethal force." The dog owner claims the dog escaped from its kennel after its collar slipped off. The city of Sturgeon defended Officer Woodson's fatal actions with a statement that reads: The city has reviewed the dispatch report and body camera footage regarding the recent dog at large incident. The city believes that the officer acted within his authority based on the information available to him at the time to protect against possible injury to citizens from what appeared to be an injured, sick, and abandoned dog. The dispatch indicated that the person calling in did not want to be contacted, and had reported that the dog, though not in her view dangerous, was injured, maybe blind, and had mud and dried blood in its fur. The dog’s strange behavior appeared consistent with the dispatch report of an injured or possibly sick dog. In order to better equip officers for future animal at large call outs, the city will be sending all officers to Boone County Animal Control for training and education, in hopes that this unfortunate situation does not occur again.Hunter told KMIZ, "I filed a complaint formally with the city of Sturgeon and requested to speak with the mayor. The mayor did not contact me, instead posted a statement contradicting everything that me and the officer spoke of, saying the officer's fear was Teddy having rabies."Hunter proclaimed that his dog was updated on its rabies vaccines. "The officer was going strictly based off the fact that the dog walks with his head sideways due to him being deaf and blind," Hunter alleged. He added, "I'm hoping these officers and future officers can find a way to follow the the fourth continuum, our levels, correctly versus going straight to lethal force. That should always be a last resort in dealing with any life."Hunter told the news outlet that he plans on suing the city of Sturgeon over the shooting death of his dog. (WARNING: The following police bodycam video is extremely disturbing and graphic) Bodycam video shows Sturgeon dog shooting www.youtube.com

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[unable to retrieve full-text content]Former President Donald Trump will address the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, DC, on Saturday, May 25. The post Watch Live: Donald Trump Speaks at…

Former President Donald Trump vowed to place members of the Libertarian Party in his cabinet and in “senior posts” in his administration if elected president in November. While speaking at the Libertarian…

Jason CohenDaily Caller News Foundation NBC News’ Dasha Burns told MSNBC on Friday that black and Hispanic voters reject her suggestive statements that former President Donald Trump is racist. Trump…