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<h3>Pray, Believe, Release</h3>“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)For years, many believers have been taught a simple formula: Pray, Believe, Receive. On the surface, it sounds biblical and faith-filled. But over time, something subtle can happen. Prayer can become less about trusting God and more about trying to control the outcome.We pray with a specific answer already locked into our minds. We “believe” hard enough to convince ourselves that God must respond the way we want. And when the answer doesn’t come the way we expected, we’re left confused, disappointed, or even questioning our faith.Scripture shows us a better pattern: Pray, Believe, Release.To release something to God means we place it fully in His hands—not just the request, but the outcome. Not just the timing, but the method. Not just what we want Him to do, but how He chooses to do it.Jesus modeled this kind of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Facing unimaginable suffering, He asked for the cup to pass from Him—but He didn’t stop there. He finished with, “Not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). That wasn’t weakness. That was perfect trust.Real faith isn’t telling God what He must do. Real faith is trusting God to do what is right.When we pray and release, we are saying: “Lord, I trust You more than I trust my own understanding. I trust Your timing more than my urgency. I trust Your wisdom more than my preferences.”God still answers prayer. He still provides. He still heals, opens doors, restores, and blesses. But He does it according to His will, not ours—and His will is always shaped by eternal purpose, not just temporary comfort.When we release our prayers to God, we trade anxiety for peace. Philippians 4:6–7 reminds us that when we bring our requests to God with thanksgiving, His peace guards our hearts and minds. That peace doesn’t come from getting everything we want. It comes from knowing we’ve placed everything in His hands.Today, whatever you’re praying for—release it. Trust God with the who, what, when, where, and how. And rest in this truth: God’s answer will always be better than your best guess. Let Us PrayDear Heavenly Father, I come to You not to demand an outcome, but to trust Your will. I bring You my needs, my hopes, and my fears, and I place them fully in Your hands.Help me to believe You are good, even when I don’t understand Your ways. Teach me to release control and rest in Your wisdom, Your timing, and Your care.Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done. I trust You with the answer, and I trust You with my heart.In Jesus’ name, Amen. Walk in faith, rest in grace, and trust the One who walks beside you.In His love and grace,ray mileur “Helping believers walk closer to Jesus, one day at a time.” <a href="http://www.raymileurministries.com" data-mce-href="http://www.raymileurministries.com">www.raymileurministries.com</a> If today’s devotion encouraged you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need this reminder.You can find over 400 daily devotionals and reflections at: www.raymileurministries.comSometimes the message we need the most is the one that God uses us to pass along.

Pray, Believe, Release

<h3>Quote of the Day</h3>Pray, Believe and Release“Prayer isn’t about convincing God to do my will. It’s about trusting God to do His.” ~ ray mileurThis one hits close to home for me, because I’ve had to learn this lesson the hard way—more than once.There have been seasons when I prayed with my mind already made up about how God “should” answer. I wasn’t really surrendering. I was negotiating. I was handing God a script and asking Him to follow it.And when He didn’t? I felt frustrated, disappointed, and sometimes even quietly resentful—though I’d never say that out loud.What I’ve learned over time is this: the moment I truly release something to God, peace shows up—even before the answer does.Releasing doesn’t mean I stop caring. It means I stop controlling. It means I stop trying to force God’s hand and start trusting God’s heart.Some of the best answers to prayer in my life didn’t look like answers at first. They looked like delays. They looked like closed doors. They looked like “no” when I was praying for “yes.”But looking back now, I can see God was protecting me, redirecting me, and shaping me in ways I never would have chosen for myself.That’s why I’m learning to pray differently these days.I still bring my needs to God. I still ask boldly.But I finish every prayer with open hands instead of clenched fists.“Lord, I trust You with the answer. I trust You with the timing. And I trust You with the outcome—even if it’s not what I hoped for.”That’s not giving up. That’s growing up in faith.Walk in faith, rest in grace, and trust the One who walks beside you. In His love and grace, ray mileur“Helping believers walk closer to Jesus, one day at a time.” <a href="http://www.raymileurministries.com" data-mce-href="http://www.raymileurministries.com">www.raymileurministries.com</a> If today’s quote and my reflection encouraged you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need this reminder.You can find over 400 daily devotionals and reflections at: www.raymileurministries.comSometimes the message we need most is the one God uses us to pass along

Quote of the Day

There has been another ICE-involved shooting, and once again our nation feels the weight of grief, fear, and division. A life has been lost. Families are shattered. Communities are on edge.This is a moment for the people of God to do what we do best—fall to our knees and lift our voices in prayer.Heavenly Father, we come to You heavy-hearted. We lift up our law enforcement officers, the grieving families whose lives have been changed forever. We ask You to comfort them with Your peace that passes all understanding.Lord, grant wisdom and restraint to our leaders, and citizens alike. Soften hardened hearts. Heal what violence has broken. Bring calm where anger and fear have taken root.May justice be pursued with humility, and may mercy guide every step forward.In Jesus’ name, Amen.Let us be known not for our shouting, but for our praying—and for standing for both truth and compassion.ray

Protests Leads to Shooting in Minnesoto - Let us Pray

<h3>A New Way to Stay Connected</h3>Dear Friends,As many of you know, my ministry pages and messaging access on Facebook are no longer available. While that door has closed, God has opened another.I’ve created a new ministry account on Twitter where I’ll be sharing daily Scripture, short devotional thoughts, prayers, and encouragement — the same heart and message you’ve come to expect here.If you’d like another simple way to stay connected and receive these daily reflections, I invite you to follow me on Twitter.You can find me here: <a data-mce-href="https://x.com/RayMileur1" href="https://x.com/RayMileur1" title="Ray Mileur Ministries on Twitter / X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ray Mileur Ministries (@RayMileur1) / X</a> This will be one more place where we can walk together in faith, stay encouraged in God’s Word, and keep pointing one another toward Jesus.Thank you for being part of this ministry and for continuing to walk this road with me.In His love and grace,ray mileur

A New Way to Stay Connected

<h3>Let us Pray </h3>Dear Heavenly Father, We come before You with humble hearts, knowing that You are sovereign over the winds, the snow, and the fury of the storm. You spoke creation into being, painting the world with Your majesty, and You still hold every gust and flake in Your mighty hands today. Remind us of Your nearness, even when the world feels cold and uncertain.Lord, we lift up our guardians—police officers, firefighters, EMTs, utility crews, highway workers, dispatchers, and all who will put themselves in harm’s way to serve others. Grant them courage and resilience. Give them strength beyond their own, wisdom in each decision, and a sense of Your presence as they brave the elements. Sharpen their judgment. Keep them alert, safe, and able to return home to their families, letting their service be a beacon of hope in the darkness.Father, we pray especially for the elderly, the disabled, the vulnerable, and those who feel isolated in this season. We ask for Your covering over every community in the path of this winter storm. Protect families in their homes—let their walls stand strong and their hearts be filled with comfort. Guard those who must travel. Provide warmth where the cold threatens, light where darkness lingers, and peace where fear tries to take hold. Let love and compassion be the fire that banishes despair.We lift up our first responders and those who live alone. Place Your angels around them, encircling them with Your protection. Stir the hearts of neighbors, churches, and caregivers to reach out, to check on one another, and to share warmth—both physical and spiritual. Let no one be forgotten in the cold; instead, let kindness be the thread that weaves every community together in this season of trial.We also lift up the animals—pets, livestock, and wildlife—who face the storm’s bite. Provide shelter from the freezing winds. Protect them from harm, hunger, and fear. Empower their caretakers with wisdom and compassion. Soften every heart to show mercy and responsibility, that all Your creatures may find safety and care in this time.Lord, we ask that this storm would pass with minimal damage, minimal loss, and maximum grace. Where power is lost, restore it swiftly. Where roads are dangerous, let Your hand guide each traveler. Where fear rises, let faith rise higher and hope burn brighter. Transform every hardship into a testimony of Your goodness and the resilience of Your people.We trust You, not just in calm weather, but in the midst of the storm. In the howling wind and swirling snow, teach us to lean on You, to find courage in Your promises, and to remember that even the fiercest night will yield to Your dawn.You are our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble.In Jesus’ name, Amen. If you know someone who lives in the path of this storm, or someone who serves on the front lines, please share this prayer on your page. You never know who needs to see it, pray it, or feel less alone tonight. Let’s cover this storm in prayer—together.&nbsp;Thank you,&nbsp;In His love,ray

Let us Pray

There was a time in my walk with the Lord when I thought faith was something I had to manufacture. I believed that if I just felt stronger, believed harder, or spoke the right words with enough confidence, things would fall into place. I wasn’t trying to twist God’s arm, but I was quietly leaning more on my own understanding than I realized. Looking back now, I can see that I wasn’t growing in faith—I was just growing in effort.<figure id="figure-hma9qx8y8bmkqa2urc"><img id="hma9qx8y8bmkqa2urc" src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/dHrWRsKV1GIagJyueY9M1LJou0TDAu1elIhCAdb2UfRKktYLSNrUByu8LRmeE3ap.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/dHrWRsKV1GIagJyueY9M1LJou0TDAu1elIhCAdb2UfRKktYLSNrUByu8LRmeE3ap.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Romans 10:17 changed that for me in a simple but profound way: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” That verse pulled faith out of my emotions and anchored it firmly in God’s Word. It reminded me that faith isn’t something I stir up inside myself; it’s something God builds in me as I stay close to His truth.I’ve learned that when my Bible stays closed, my faith doesn’t get stronger—it gets thinner. When prayer turns into a list of demands instead of a posture of listening, my faith doesn’t mature—it gets shallow. But when I make room to hear God’s Word, even on days when I don’t feel especially spiritual, something steady begins to happen inside me. My thinking straightens out. My fears quiet down. My perspective shifts. Not because my circumstances changed, but because God’s Word did its quiet work in my heart.I’ve also learned how easy it is to get in God’s way. I plan. I strategize. I try to control outcomes. And then I ask God to bless what I already decided. That’s not faith—that’s management. Real faith starts when I surrender the steering wheel and let God’s Word set the direction. It means trusting Him enough to obey what He says even when it doesn’t make immediate sense or fit neatly into my plans.The older I get, the more grateful I am that faith doesn’t depend on my strength. It depends on God’s faithfulness. My job isn’t to perform spiritual gymnastics for God. My job is to stay rooted in His Word, keep my heart open, and remain teachable. When I do that, faith grows naturally—quietly, steadily, and deeply.If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: faith becomes real when it moves from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts into our daily choices. God doesn’t ask us to create faith. He asks us to receive it, nurture it, and live it out one obedient step at a time.And the more I stay out of His way, the more clearly I can see His hand at work in my life. Walk in faith, rest in grace, and trust the One who walks beside you.In His love and grace, ray mileur “Helping believers walk closer to Jesus, one day at a time.” <a href="http://www.raymileurministries.com">www.raymileurministries.com</a> If today’s devotion encouraged you, please consider sharing it with someone who could use a reminder to anchor their faith in God’s Word. You’re also welcome to bookmark this page and return daily for new devotionals.

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Pray, Believe, Release

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Protests Leads to Shooting in Minnesoto - Let us Pray

A New Way to Stay Connected

Let us Pray

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