All posts by Stephen Schwambach

Friday, May 27, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo in reverent awe:

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God…”
(Luke 1:76-78)

When Zechariah spoke these words, Jesus

He was filled with the Spirit.

Through Him You were revealing that His son – John the Baptist –

had one overriding purpose:

“to prepare the way

for You.”

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Isaiah 40:3; Genesis 14:19; Deuteronomy 32:8; Psalm 7:10; Lamentations 3:38; Luke 6:35; John 1:23; Acts 7:48-49

Thursday, May 26, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo in unbounded gratitude:

“…the priest…shall… burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord…In this way the priest will make atonement for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest.’”
(Leviticus 5:12-13)

I’m so thankful that I don’t have to do this anymore, Jesus.

On the cross You gave Your life to become my sin offering.

I am wholly, completely, utterly forgiven!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Isaiah 43:25; Matthew 6:12; Matthew 9:2; Matthew 12:31-32; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 2:13-15; Colossians 3:13

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo in trusting desperation:

“‘How is it that John’s disciples…are fasting, but yours are not?’ Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.’”
(Mark 2:18-20)

It’s my time to fast, Jesus.

I so wish You were here in the flesh

because I need a miracle.

But even now, say the Word

and it’ll happen!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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John 14:12; John 14:18; John 16:7; John 16:32; Acts 2:22; Acts 19:11; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Galatians 3:5

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo with white-hot fervor:

“Moses said…‘I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?’”
(Exodus 4:10-11)

Please forgive me, Jesus

for all the times I’ve pulled out that same lame excuse

and told You why I couldn’t do what You’ve told me to do.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Exodus 4:1-8; Exodus 4:13-17; Judges 6:14-16; Luke 14:16-24; John 15:22; Romans 1:20; Romans 2:1

Monday, May 23, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo with heartfelt gratitude:

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
(Matthew 4:1-3)

This was Your plan, Jesus –

to be tempted by Satan to show me that he attacks when I’m weak

and so that when I cry out to You

You can answer:

“I know.”

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Matthew 6:13; Mark 14:38; Luke 4:13; 1 Corinthians 7:4-5; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Galatians 6:1; James 1:13

Sunday, May 22, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo all the way to the marrow of your bones:

“Cursed is the ground because of you…It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
(Genesis 3:18-19)

Okay. Got it.

But thanks to my ever-deeper 1on1 relationship with You, Jesus

to dust my Spirit will never return!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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1 Kings 10:1; Psalm 139:1; Jeremiah 9:24; Jeremiah 12:3; Jeremiah 22:16; Jeremiah 24:7; John 10:14

Saturday, May 21, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo with fierce determination:

“And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.”
(Malachi 2:15)

Since that’s what You’re looking for, Jesus

that’s who I long to be.

There’s only one problem:

I’ve got a long way to go.

Make that a long, long, long way to go.

But no matter how many times I fall short, landing on my face in disgrace

I’m going to keep trying…and trying…and trying…

leaning on You, Holy Spirit
all the way

until my faith
becomes sight.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Psalm 19:14; John 9:31; 1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 3:12; Titus 2:12; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 2:11; 2 Peter 3:11

Friday, May 20, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo with no-holds-barred surrender:

“The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.”’”
(Zechariah 3:6-7)

You love doing this for us, Jesus –

giving us huge incentive to honor You.

Cause Your holy passion to rise within my soul

to become everything You’ve created me to be!

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Exodus 15:2; Judges 5:3; Psalm 16:7; Psalm 22:22; Psalm 30:12; Psalm 119:8; Psalm 119:145; Philippians 3:7-11

Thursday, May 19, 2022

 

Be very careful, as you pray this Lazaroo:

“…horses and their riders will fall…”
(Haggai 2:22)

A rider on a horse may feel safer, Jesus, almost invincible.

The horse raises them up high off the ground
making them feel above it all.

The horse is faster than soldiers on foot
able to race away from danger.

But it’s an illusion, isn’t it?

A rider on a horse is a bigger target

and the bigger they are
the harder they fall.

Maybe I’d better stay humble

and not get up on my high horse.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Exodus 10:3; Numbers 12:3; Deuteronomy 8:2; Matthew 11:29; Matthew 23:12; Luke 1:52; Ephesians 4:2; James 4:10

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

 

Pray this Lazaroo with heartfelt gratitude:

“The land by the sea will become pastures having wells for shepherds…”
(Zephaniah 2:6)

That is so like You, Jesus!

Even while You punish

You bless.

You take away one thing

and give another.

It’s who You are: Loving, Generous, Forgiving, Merciful –

which is why I’m still drawing my next breath…

experiencing Your gracious gift of life…

walking this earth.

If that was not who You are

I would have been drawn, quartered and fried to a crisp

long, long ago.

[LISTEN to today’s Lazaroo by phoning (812) 473-7729…or by clicking the PLAY button below:]

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Exodus 22:27; Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 25:10; Psalm 86:15; Luke 6:36; James 3:17