19. The Curse God Put On Earth Caused Death - New Testament

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death.” Romans 5:12 NLT

Can you imagine a world without death? That’s how it was in Eden.

God’s curse because of man’s sin allowed death to enter the world.

With Adam’s covenant with God broken, creation changed to a place of death.

Satan’s leading man to sin brought death to all life on the earth.

The curse on earth is from man’s sin brought death to all life on the planet.

Heaven and earth were both free from death before sin.

God’s original creation was a death-free zone, like it will be again in eternity.

Disobedience literally brought death to earth for every living thing.

Lord, I praise You as Ruler over life and death. May I honor You in both. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

18. The Curse God Put On Earth Brought Thorns & Weeds

“The ground will produce thorns and weeds.” Genesis 3:18 NCV

Thorns and weeds appeared as a direct result of the curse.

God’s curse on the ground caused thorns and weeds to appear.

Satan’s leading man to sin brought thorns and weeds to the earth itself.

The curse on earth brought thorns and weeds to the planet.

God’s original, perfect creation had no weeds or thorns.

Disobedience literally caused thorns and weeds to appear on earth.

Lord, give me the strength and courage to make it through this life that full of thorns and weeds, and help me to remember that You are in charge of it all. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

17. The Curse God Put On Earth Made It Hard To Grow Food

“You will have to work very hard for your food. In pain you will eat its food all the days of your life.” Genesis 3:17b NCV

Food was provided in the beginning with no effort on Adam’s part, but sin changed that.

God provided food without man’s hard work before sin.

God freely provided sustenance for Adam, His covenant partner, until Adam disobeyed.

Satan’s leading man to sin lead to difficulty in getting food from the earth itself.

The curse on earth required man to work hard for sustenance throughout life.

In God’s original creation, food was freely provided for His creatures.

Disobedience literally caused man to have to work hard for food throughout life.

Lord, until the day we’re free from the curse, I thank You for my ability to work and provide food for my family. May I honor You with my words, my deeds, my example, and my abilities. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

16. Cursed Earth, The 2nd Of 5 Earths In Scripture

“Then God said to the man, ‘You listened to what your wife said, and you ate fruit from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat. So I will put a curse on the ground.’ ” Genesis 3:17a NCV

Sin caused God to put a curse on the planet, changing everything good into something cursed.

God cursed the ground when man disobeyed in Eden.

Adam broke his covenant with God by disobeying, causing paradise to be cursed.

Satan’s leading man to sin lead to a curse on the earth itself.

The curse on earth was a direct result of man’s disobedience to God’s only command.

Heaven on earth and direct fellowship with God ended when the curse was pronounced.

God has the right to put a curse on the creation He made.

Disobedience in Eden literally caused a curse to be put on the planet itself.

Lord, I honor You as the One with the power to create or destroy, and I worship You as King and Lord of all creation forever. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

15. God Walked Regularly With Mankind On The Original Earth

“They heard the Lord God walking about in the garden.” Genesis 3:8 NLT

Adam and Eve knew exactly what it sounded like when God was walking in Eden.

God walked regularly in Eden with Adam and Eve.

Satan has always worked to sever your personal relationship with God.

God walked on original earth without fire (after sin, that’s not the case).

Heaven will probably be like original earth; walking in relationship with God.

God literally walked with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

Lord, I look forward to the day I can actually hear you walking close by. Until then, let me hear Your voice; guide me in Your ways each step of the way. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

14. The Original Earth Was Physical & Very Good

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31 NIV

Earth and all creation was physical, yet “very good.”

God’s entire physical creation was “very” good.

Satan worked to corrupt the “very good” place God had made.

Being “physical” doesn’t negate the characteristic of being “good.”

“Very good” things don’t “eat each other,” like natural selection suggests.

The original earth was literally good in every possible way.

Lord, thank You for creating such a “very good” place for us to live. I pray for resurrection and restoration to come soon; make it “very good” once again. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

13. Original Earth, The 1st Of 5 Earths In Scripture

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface. Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3 NLT

The original earth was good and perfect in every way possible. Yet physical.

God created original earth as a place to be with His favorite creation, mankind.

Satan wants you to believe everything happened by accident instead of by God.

Earth is God’s personal creation, and He spoke it into existence by His power.

Heaven and earth were both created at the same time, the beginning or our time.

Evolution isn’t how earth came into existence; God created it out of nothing.

God literally created earth in the beginning; it’s didn’t form from an explosion.

Lord, I praise You for Your creation! What a great artist & scientist You are!

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

12. Prayer Prevented A Law Suit

I own a copier business in Longview, Texas. We also serve Mt. Pleasant. One day, I got a call from a ministry outreach there who had recently leased a new machine on a 3-year lease. Steve was quite upset on the phone, and wanted his machine picked up as soon as possible. He said, "Your salesman promised that we could cancel this lease at any time, so I'm calling now to get it picked up." I took down his number, and promised to locate his paperwork and call right back.

I discovered he was 6 months into a 3-year lease, and that he was 4 payments behind. In addition, he owed us over $300 in service and supply charges. It seemed obvious to me that he was in a bind financially, but there wasn't much I could do at that moment. We had already been paid by the leasing company, and he owed them the balance of the payments.

I returned his call, armed with this new information, and was greeted by a rather cold response. I apologized that he had the misconception that he could cancel at any time, because we go to great lengths to train our salespeople NOT to say that. However, since I was now aware that he needed out, I promised to make every effort to find someone else to take over the payments for him, thus relieving him of the obligation. He then asked what I was going to do for him "today". I suggested that all I could do "today" was recommend that he catch up on his payments, since he was four payments behind.

His response was curt and rude. He said, "I have already talked to my lawyer about your salesman's promise, and he said that it was definitely a verbal contract. So you will be hearing from my lawyer SOON!"

"O.K.", I said. "But before we hang up and you go see your lawyer ... you're in the ministry, right?" "Right", he said. I asked if we could pray about it together on the phone before we hung up. He said, "... o k ...". I have been in situations before where conflict was involved and he other person offered to pray, and they prayed a very condescending prayer. So I said, "I'll tell you what, I will start the prayer and you can finish it." He agreed.

"Dear God," I prayed, "please bless Steve in his ministry work there in Mt. Pleasant. I feel like he is in some financial trouble right now, and I pray that whatever you want him to learn from this that he will learn QUICKLY, so that his life, his work, and his ministry can be a blessing to you. And if I have done anything wrong or unfairly, I pray that you will put it on my heart to make that right. In Jesus Name, ... ".

There was a short pause, then I heard Steve quietly say, "God, ... I agree with everything he said. In Jesus Name, Amen."

I never heard from Steve again, OR his lawyer. And he paid us for the toner. Prayer worked ... again.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

11. David Reigned 40 Years

“David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all.” 2 Samuel 5:4

“He had reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.” 1 Kings 2:11 NLT

40 is often a purifying number in scripture. 40 Years was how long King David reigned.

God gave David 40 years as king of Israel.

David reigned over Israel for 40 years.

David literally reigned over Israel for 40 years.

Lord, thank You for the example of a life of faith we see in King David. After You anointed him King, he spent 20 years running for his life & living in caves. He waited on YOUR timing for his duties as king to begin. Give ME that kind of patience. Help me to trust You and wait on Your timing in MY life. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

10. God Made The World In Six Days

“For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then he rested on the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” Exodus 20:11 NLT

The very best commentary on scripture is other scripture. Just as He said in Exodus 31:16-17, God reveals the truth here about how long creation took. God invented language, so we can probably count on Him using the right words to teach us the truth. Note the context compares and equates the six-day work-week with the six-day creation week. The idea of millions or billions or years doesn’t come from anywhere in scripture. It’s a man-made idea. Do you really believe in millions of years and “From Goo to you by way of the zoo?”

God says the 7th day is to holy because of the 6-day creation week.

Satan wants you to doubt the truth revealed by God in the Bible.

God created the 7th day of rest as a weekly reminder that creation took 6 days.

Heaven and earth were both created during the six-day creation week.

God created heaven and earth in six days.

God literally made everything in six days and rested on the seventh.

Lord, give me faith to believe everything You’ve revealed in Your word. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

9. God Made The World In Six Days

“Israel must keep the Sabbath day forever. It is a permanent sign of my covenant with them. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but he rested on the seventh day and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:16-17 NLT

The very best commentary on scripture is other scripture. Just as He said in Exodus 20:11, God reveals the truth here about how long creation took. God invented language, so we can probably count on Him using the right words to teach us the truth. Note the context compares and equates the six-day work-week with the six-day creation week. The idea of millions or billions or years doesn’t come from anywhere in scripture. It’s a man-made idea. Do you really believe in millions of years and “From Goo to you by way of the zoo?”

God reveals that the 7th day is to rest--just as He rested from creation on the 7th day.

The Sabbath day was created as a sign of God’s covenant with Israel.

Satan wants you to doubt the truth revealed by God in the Bible.

God created the 7th day of rest as a weekly reminder that creation took 6 days.

Heaven and earth were both created during the six-day creation week.

God created heaven and earth in six days.

God literally made everything in six days and rested on the seventh.

Lord, forgive me for doubting Your Holy Word. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

8. Jesus Said Belief + Baptism = Salvation

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16 NLT

Belief + Baptism = Salvation. Some discuss belief and omit baptism; others talk of baptism but de-emphasize the heart change needed. Jesus states here that both are required.

God wants everyone to believe, be baptized, and be saved.

Baptism is irrelevant without belief, and salvation is incomplete with baptism.

Baptism seals our covenant with God and prevents condemnation.

Satan discourages faith, because it leads to baptism and salvation.

Salvation is achieved when a believer submits to water baptism.

Heaven is reserved only for baptized believers.

God literally wants you to believe and be baptized so you can be saved.

Lord, help me to truly take this command to heart. Help me to take Jesus to lost people I know personally, and help me to support missionaries to other countries with my prayers, my support, and my money. Forgive me for not doing these things in the past. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

7. Always Consult God

“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he and his men marched out to meet them. The Philistines had arrived in the valley of Rephaim and raided it. So David asked God, Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

1 Chronicles 14:8-10 NLT

God gave David a great victory over Goliath the Philistine. Odds were against him. He was inferior in size, strength, and experience. But David had God. But did this mean that every time the Philistines posed a threat that David automatically assumed a Divine Mandate from God gave him assurance of victory in battle? No. Even though he had just become king, David asked God what to do. So should you.

God wants you to get in the habit of consulting Him in all things.

God always wants His covenant partners to seek His direction.

Satan wants you to think that God already approves of what you want to do.

God wants you to seek His advice in daily decisions of life.

Heaven knows the future, and offers direction that’s in your own best interest.

God literally wants you to get in the habit of consulting Him regularly.

Lord, remind me to always consult You before making the final decision. Don’t let me be deceived into thinking I automatically have Your approval for whatever I want to do. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

6. Pray For Your Enemies

“Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45 NLT

Don’t “cast stones” on your enemies; Jesus wants you to pray for them. This may be one of the hardest things in the world to do, but it’s also probably the most Christ-like think you can do. Try it. When you’ve trained yourself in this invaluable art, you’ll be glad you did. It’s also a very “freeing” experience.

God wants us to act like His true children by praying for our enemies.

Enemies will persecute you in this life if you’re a child of God.

Praying for an enemy reveals that you’re a true child of God.

Heaven is where God is right now.

God literally wants you to pray for people who do you wrong.

Lord, right now I choose to pray for my enemies. You know who they are. Bless them in the way that You know is best for them, and best for the Kingdom. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

5. Pray When You’re Afraid & God Will Help

“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 NLT

Fears paralyze us. Prayer frees us. Participate in the latter.

God answers our prayers and frees us from all our fears.

Satan and his forces work to paralyze us through a variety of fears.

Fear can enslave you, but God can deliver you from it.

Prayer to God can literally free you from any fear that enslaves you.

Lord, I confess that fear often paralyzes me. Help me overcome. Give me the peace I seek and help me to rest in the assurance that You are greater than anything I could possibly fear. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

4. Look To God For Help And Freedom

“Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6 NLT

God is close by, but don’t wait. Seek Him out and you will find Him.

God is near and easily found by those who seek Him; for now.

Satan wants you to neglect seeking the Lord until it’s eternally too late.

God is nearby, but unless you seek Him, that won’t always be the case.

Heaven is God’s abode, but it’s apparently not a far-away place.

God is literally nearby, close to each of us.

Lord, I seek You now, while You’re near and findable. Reveal Yourself to me. Give me eyes to see Your presence right here around me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

3. Defeating Evil In The World

“For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
1 John 5:4-5 NLT

You can defeat Satan by trusting Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

God wants us to defeat evil in every possible way in our daily lives.

Belief in Jesus as God’s Son is the key to winning the battle against evil.

Faith is the key to winning your personal battle against this evil world.

Heaven’s residents will be those who learned to defeat evil.

Evil is literally defeated by trusting Christ as Son of God.

Lord, I choose to defeat Satan and this evil world by trusting Jesus. Lead me to You. I pray in His Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

2. Devote Yourself To Prayer

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Do not forget to pray.” Colossians 4:2-3 NLT

Your eyes do not have to be closed. Pray as you go. Pray continually

God wants us to pray with a thankful heart.

Pray with an alert awareness of the true enemy, Satan.

If you’re not careful, it’s easy to forget to pray.

Heaven deserves our thanks.

God wants you to literally be devoted to prayer.

Lord, remind me to pray; don’t let the cares of this word keep me from this most important task. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

1. Learn To Pray

“One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.’ ” Luke 11:1 The Message

The disciples never asked to learn how to preach, but they recognized how important it was to learn to pray.

God notices your devotion to prayer.

Satan does not want you to learn to pray.

Jesus practiced regular, often extended, prayer.

Prayer is literally one of the most important things you can ever learn.

Lord, help ME to learn to pray. Help me to trust You as I begin learning how to have a continual, daily, personal relationship. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

Welcome

Welcome to the Prayer Thoughts blog, by Steve Hemphill.

This site is dedicated to the study and thoughtful consideration of and meditation on the Bible, God’s Holy word.

I believe the Bible is the literal, inerrant word of God. I believe Jesus is the only way to heaven. I believe in baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

I am focused on the evaluation of scripture in light the major themes in scripture: What does the verse or passage teach about God, spiritual warfare, prophecy, heaven, creation vs. evolution, the literal nature of scripture, and about our covenant with God. If we can’t trust God to reveal truth in Genesis 1, when can we trust Him? For easy reference, throughout the exploration of each Bible passage, I will use the following colors to discuss insights in these important, specific categories:

Insights about God will be in black.

Insights about baptism will be in purple.

Insights about our covenant with God in brown.

Insights about spiritual warfare & sin will be in red.

Insights about prophecy will be in green.

Insights about heaven will be in blue.

Insights about creation & evolution will be in orange.

Insights about women in scripture will be in grey.

Insights about the literal nature of scripture in burgundy.

Thanks for visiting. Keep praying, keep studying, and keep reading God’s word. The benefits are enormous. In fact, they’re eternal. Your Servant, Steve.