My Prayer Today

for me and for you

This post is going to be a little different than our “normal” blog posts. However, it is something that is on my heart and I feel God wants me to share it. I hope it blesses your soul and urges you to spend more time with Him as you become a more genuine disciple. 

A week or so ago, this beautiful and humble reminder was shared, and it’s been rumbling in my heart ever since. A sweet, older-than-me lady said that she had an off feeling in her heart and soul one day. She prayed and asked that God would reveal to her what was wrong. He revealed (as He always answers our prayers) that the day before she had worn a beautiful outfit and received many compliments on it, but hadn’t ever thanked God for the outfit or the compliments. Once she did that, her heart was clear again. 

This just hit me so hard for several reasons: 

1. How often do we thank God for such “minor” things? I know I don’t. And why don’t we? Because, often, we take them for granted. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to “Rejoice always, pray constantly,  give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” CSB

Give thanks for everything! Even for that new outfit! Even for the gas in my car that gets me where I need to go. Even for the laundry detergent that gets my clothes clean. Everything. 

2. How in tune this sweet lady is with the Holy Spirit. How many times do I just ignore that nagging feeling of conviction and just go about my day? Or say a blanket prayer of “Lord, I’m sorry. I know I messed up a lot today. So just forgive me for them all.”

Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. 1 John 3:19-22 (NLT)

So when we feel that nagging conviction from the Holy Spirit, the guilt because we messed up (again), we can have full assurance that God already knows. He knows our mess ups and STILL LOVES US. 

But note the second half of this scripture- we receive what we ask because we do what pleases Him. Obviously sin isn’t pleasing to God, we all know that. But when we have sinned and have ignored the prompting from the Holy Spirit to repent, we have a barrier between us and God. He still knows all things; He is omniscient. But this barrier may keep us from being bold in our prayers and from receiving blessings from God. 

A few weeks ago we spent time dissecting and learning about various aspects of prayer. This is a written prayer- for myself first, but also for Mel, for our own church members, and for you. I hope that you can relate to it and that it encourages you today.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this beautiful day. It’s cloudy, foggy, overcast so not really physically beautiful but the birds are chirping. And you’re in control. That makes it a beautiful day. Thank you for being omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. I know that no matter where I go, I’ll never be too far from you. No matter what I do, you’ll always know how it will end. That’s so comforting. 

Thank you, God, for the life you’ve given me. Sometimes I wonder if I focus too much on the trials I have faced, but I know those are moments that strengthened my faith and have shaped me into who I am today. Thank you for everything they taught me and gave me. Such learning has happened. Especially the way I’ve been forced to lean on you and trust in you. I do wish it were more my natural response to trust You with all things, help it to become my natural response. 

I’m also so beyond grateful for this current season of my life. I may no longer be in a career and with a life I had dreamed of and planned for a long time. But I am now, and will always be, first and foremost, Your child, Your servant. The ability to serve You more and in stronger ways just brings me joy. Even in the drama that unfolds. Thank you, God, for allowing me to serve you in multiple ways. 

I want to be even more in tune with your Spirit and serve you in even more ways as You lead. Help me to be more grateful for all of the blessings you have given me and all of the opportunities you have blessed me with. 

I also sometimes struggle with the idea that I may be wasting time and money or squandering the resources you’ve given me, like the prodigal son. I never want that to be true. I want to be a good servant in every way, responsible for the things you’ve blessed me with. Sadly money is necessary to make our current society function. Give me your wisdom to use it wisely. 

Please continue to provide for me financially, Lord. And if/ when the time comes that you see fit for me to have a life change, please make it overwhelmingly known so that I can’t deny it’s from you. 

I know there were decisions I made in the past that I thought were from you and were defining for my life. Looking back I don’t know that it was for sure your plan for my life. I know for a fact that you used it for good. You taught me lots of lessons through that process. But was it your will and your ideal plan? Or was it just a way to fill the void I had in my heart at the time that truly needed to be filled with you? Was it just my way of moving my life along in the way I wanted? I’m not sure. 

All I know for certain, Lord, is that I want my next big life decisions to be solely from You.  I’m somewhat scared when and what that is / looks like. But I trust that You have this under control. You will make it known. And in the meantime, I’m supposed to just rely on You and trust in You. I also want to do my part, not selfishly sitting by the sidelines but actively doing my part to follow Your will. 

Thank you, Lord, for your comfort and for your peace that passes all understanding. Please continue to give me those things and help me to follow You more closely. 

Of course you know my burdened heart for those I love who are physically suffering. There’s nothing I can say that you don’t already know, thank you. Give doctors and nurses your wisdom and grace to treat them correctly and kindly. Help the medical staff to want to be effective and proactive. Be with their families and continue to give them your peace and comfort and allow them moments for rest - rest physically and also true rest in You. While this trial is definitely not an easy one for them, I’m confident that you can and will use it for your glory. May your will be done, Lord- in heaven and on earth. In whatever way that looks like- physically healing, heavenly healing, or a continued season of suffering that brings others to you in the way it’s handled. 

God, you are so good. So kind. So gracious. So wonderful. I can’t count the ways. I love you. I am so grateful that you have chosen me to be a part of your family and your kingdom. Help me to reflect that in every aspect today. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.