Truthful Grace
Renew your heart with these inspiring articles about Prayer by author and teacher, Melissa McLaughlin~ Truthful Grace. Empower your prayers, ignite your prayers with God’s Word and God’s Spirit.
By Melissa McLaughlin My foot pressed steady on the brake. While waiting at the light, my eyes scanned the traffic. Lawn signs and billboards crowded the street like fans at a holiday parade. Election ads echoed between songs on the radio. The tension hovered in the air like a dense fog. For those of us … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin He heaved and thrust the shovel into the earth. With a sudden jerk, it lurched from his hands. The landscaper had arrived to plant a new tree in our front yard. Though the lush grass appeared soft on the surface, a few inches below lay the stump of an old oak tree. … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin My gut wrenched. Tears spilled from my eyes. I was overcome as I scanned pictures of recent hurricane damage in the southeast U.S. Piles of rubble and jagged tree roots dotted the landscape where homes once stood. Roads had collapsed as the earth gave way underneath. The devastation looked surreal. Further, the … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin When It’s Hard to Pray I stumbled out of bed, bumbled to the kitchen, and floundered to make the coffee. My eyes strained to focus. My thoughts lumbered like a turtle wading through thick swamp mud. Every movement felt like a heroic effort. Some mornings are rough. Some days it’s hard to … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Childlike Gratitude The notes jingled in the distance. My children’s faces perked up, their eyes brightened, and the pleading commenced. The anticipation was palpable when the ice cream truck stopped in our neighborhood. This was not quality ice cream, mind you. The ice creams cost $1. Our choices included sherbet popsicles shaped … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Our eyes sparkled as his voice carried us along. Dad and Mom read bedtime stories to us during our early childhood years. We soaked up these tales of chocolate factories, children slipping through a wardrobe, and small hobbits on grand adventures. Dad and Mom were excellent readers who drew us into the … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin A Memorable Prayer The words stirred my heart. I had finished leading an online women’s prayer group when the email popped up. An attendee from the session thanked me for leading the group and prayed for me. She asked God to refill me for all I had poured out to uplift others. … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Please join me lifting up a prayer for fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and father figures. Let’s remember the godly men who have cared for us. If you are a father this prayer is for you, too. Heavenly Father, Thank you for your steadfast love which endures forever. Today I pray a blessing over … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin There she sat. The sunlight floated through the window like a golden sheet enfolding our gray-striped cat. I smiled at our cat’s daily routine. Each day she squeezed into cracks and corners brightened by any available ray of sunshine. On floors, chairs, even in the bathroom. As the sun advanced across the … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Please join me in prayer for mothers, grandmothers, aunts, or mother figures. Let’s remember the godly women who have nurtured us and lift them in prayer today. If you are a mother, this prayer is for you, too. Heavenly Father, thank you for lavishing your love on us. Today, I pray a … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Start Your Day with God With each new dawn, we are given the gift of a day. How will we face the 24 hours ahead? Some days we wake up feeling refreshed, while other days we struggle to put one foot in front of the other. Regardless of our physical strength or … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Lord Jesus, as I welcome this new year – I welcome You. Come into my heart anew. Wash me, cleanse me, restore me. Holy Spirit, illuminate my soul’s sin-shadowed corners with Your radiant glory. Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a right spirit within me. Let this be … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The Battle Not again! Months ago, I promised myself and God that I would stick to my new early morning plan. My morning goal is to sit down for prayer and Bible reading before even touching the phone, TV, or computer. That day, I only intended to check the weather, but instead, … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Seeing God With Us It was a simple thing. My husband and I paused for a brief rest. The daily grind of laundry, bills, cooking, and errands hemmed us in like hamsters on an exercise wheel. Despite running as hard as possible, the finish line appeared just out of reach. At one … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin A Powerful Prayer in Song I woke that morning to a surprise from God. Just as my eyes opened a praise song popped into my head. Blessed be the name of the Lord ~by Don Moen I hadn’t heard this song in years. The music and lyrics echoed in my heart for … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin How do you thank a mother? How do you thank someone who held you, nursed you, and cared for you when you could not care for yourself? How do you thank a mother? No mother is ever perfect, of course. But a godly mother’s love is strong, self-sacrificing, and desires the best … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin A Resurrection Miracle I will never forget it. One summer afternoon, my husband and I were resting in the family room when I was startled by the sound of a man screaming. This was not a kid’s scream or the sound of someone joking around, but the sustained, piercing wail of sheer … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Large and in Charge We’ve all been there at some point. You are the one left in charge. Maybe your role is: At some point in time, we have all been the person in charge. Being called to a position of leadership is humbling, rewarding and exhausting. Why We Pray for Our … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin There we were on our mini getaway. The ocean waves rolling in thunderous glory. The sunlight sparkling on the waves. The salty air wisping around us in playful windy puffs. It was our long awaited fall visit to the beach. Well after the seasonal vacation crowds were gone, but while the warmth … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin For as long as I can remember, I have loved horses. Horses captivated my mind and heart as a young girl. The swift, strong gallop. The playful, childlike whinny. The glistening coat and flowing mane. I drew pictures of them, read stories about them and dreamed of myself riding these majestic and … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The first time I participated in a time of prayer and fasting was in high school. In order to raise awareness and raise money to fight world hunger, our church youth group organized a sleepover at the church that included a time of prayer and fasting. This afforded us the opportunity to … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Another gruesome and wicked act of racial injustice carried out in our land. My heart dropped. My stomach sickened. My body heaved with grief. How did we get here, Lord? How can we bring justice, Lord? How can we bring healing, Lord? What is our response? Stealing, Killing, Destroying? Some have chosen … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin We are living in a time we could never have imagined. The world and its systems have come to a screeching halt. Businesses, schools, churches, activities, travel have all been put on hold. In a matter of weeks, the coronavirus pandemic turned the spotlight on the fragility of our lives. The simple … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin We all love a good story! I have an uncle who can tell a story like nobody’s business. Complete with animated facial expressions, exuberant gestures and winsome voice inflection. The listeners are always captivated and waiting for the punchline at the end. Jesus knew the power of a good story and used … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Close Communication Who is your closest friend? Our closest friends are typically those with whom we share our deepest aches, goofiest moments and most candid thoughts. We rest in their love for us knowing they will enjoy the high points, cry with us in the low points and gently but honestly correct … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Lord, let me not pass by Let me not pass by without a glance at Your glory Your splendor Your majesty Your golden voice singing, “See what I have made, For joy For wonder For awe For beauty So you can gaze And not pass by My gentle touch Waiting for you … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Burn, O Holy One Burn bright within me Breathe on the embers of my heart Ignite a raging inferno, a consuming fire, a blazing torch That I may love You more That I may shine Your light That I may not grow cold with the dust of ashen faith Let me abandon … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Ever had one of those days? Whether you are taking your first few steps to follow Christ or you have traveled myriad miles in your walk with Him, there are days when it feels we simply cannot take one more step. Days when it seems impossible to put one foot in front … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin How do I pray according to God’s will? How do I pray the heart of God? As I ponder these questions, one of my childhood memories comes to mind. I was in second or third grade. Each month, the teacher passed out a form for students to order paperback children’s books. When … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin Have you ever had one of those days when things went from bad to worse? I recall the time we went camping only to discover, hour by hour, the items we forgot to pack. After setting up the tent, which always seemed to bring forth an argument about which pole goes where, … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin The story of Nehemiah is one that grabs my heart every time. From beginning to end, I see a man of strength through surrender. Though the concept of surrendered leadership seems a contradiction, when we are surrendered to the Lord, it becomes our greatest strength. The Story of Nehemiah Nehemiah’s story took … Read more
By Melissa McLaughlin What Time is It? What time is it? Are we there yet? How much longer ’til we get there? I remember those days. How we carefully planned each long-awaited vacation. Our children were young, so we selected destinations that provided opportunities for robust outdoor playtime and old-fashioned family fun. We packed clothing, … Read more