6/16/25 Prayer

I love being in Your Presence, Lord. It is good to just sit and be with You—not talk, but rather invite You to enrobe me. Some may not do this, but You invite us all to do so. We learn a new practice, one that brings stillness and peace. You tell us “Be still and know that I am God.”

In those times, I may hear one word from You. You may give me insight into a problem. You may encourage me in a particular area of my life. Or You may simply remind me profoundly that You love me just the way I am. I need not strive.

Your Word—You speaking into me, it’s life giving. 

You want me to be that way. You designed me uniquely to do this in other people’s lives. Not only do my actions matter, but my words do as well. I pray that Your Presence floods my mind as I talk with people of all kinds. I pray The Holy Spirit gives me the words a person needs to hear in a particular moment. I pray to be intentionally encouraging to others as I go through my day. Also, please give me awareness of the words I use and the messages I convey, whether intentional or not.

And let me not stop there! You have given me so many gifts and good things. I don’t necessarily know or fully understand the importance of even the most seemingly insignificant things I have. But You gave them to me for Your purposes. 

Before the world was created, You knew me and You had a plan and purpose for me. Help me not to try to figure it out all at once, but rather, to live daily going to You, my Wellspring. May I spend time being renewed, refreshed and fueled for my day. May that time with You open my eyes, mind and heart to see where You want me to step in and shine Your light. 

It may be as simple as giving a pleasant greeting and compliment to someone having a hard day. It may be as bold as asking someone if I can pray with them in the midst of struggle. I don’t know Lord, but I do know that I want to be that person. I want to serve You with all the gifts and good things You’ve given me. And in all this, I pray that You get all the glory.

In the Life Giving and Sustaining Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

6/9/25 Prayer

Holy Spirit, You are so ever present in me. When I step back and think about this, it’s quite remarkable, even stunning. The Creator of everything that is, has been and will ever be, is present and alive in me. Emmanuel, God with me. That’s a name You were called, Jesus, when You came to earth.

I need to tell others about this—that they’re not doing life alone. That even when they’re not actively aware of it, it’s true. You are with us; You are with me personally! How beautiful is this. How faithful You are to me. I hardly deserve it, and that’s part of the reason this truth is a treasure.

And oh the good things You’ve done for me and given me. My breath, to start with, family, friends, food and shelter. You’ve given me a church family that really wants to be a part of my life experience. They want to support and love on me. They want to be a partner to go through life with me. This is unusual in this day and age. Most folks are only out for themselves and making their own life and experience better. Wow, I should really look into this.

I go through my days not really appreciating that You, God Almighty, are my true treasure. Life is so distracting and there are so many shiny objects that call out for my attention. I forget about You. I forget that You want to be an active and vibrant part of my experience. That’s why You are in me Holy Spirit!! And the beautiful thing is that even when I forget, You don’t. You’re still with me, still loving me, still providing, still waiting for me to turn my attention to You.

You, Lord Almighty, You are the biggest and most extravagant treasure in my life. I want to share You with others.

In the Ever Present Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

6/2/25 Prayer

You are a good God—all the time! You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. You are good to all. You have compassion on all You have made. Every good and perfect thing is from You.

You are the richest of all treasures and You have shared some with me. I am blessed beyond my understanding, and so grateful to be Your child—perfectly made and just where You want me at this moment in time.

Open my eyes and mind to see more clearly and frequently Your beauty and goodness. Reveal to me this week a new thing, a new truth about You.

May who You are—all Your attributes—open like a flower as I walk through this week. May I taste and see Your goodness, experiencing Your blessings.

You are my treasure—my greatest asset—from which any and all good comes. May I live fully into this truth, unshackled, not timid, but boldly in power and love—all for Your glory and the good You have for me.

In the Good, oh so Good Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

5/26/25 Prayer

God, You are of action! You actively love, You create, You provide and protect. You never stop acting. You are not a passive God that just created humankind to wander aimlessly. You go before us and are actively with us, especially when we seek You.

As the Psalmist tells us “Those who know Your Name trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for You.”

May I be of action as well. May I live out my faith in You, Your goodness, Your faithfulness, Your mercy and grace, and Your promise—leaving a trail of crumbs and seeds pointing to You.

When I see a need, may I step in to fill it. When I see an injustice, may I be courageous and defend against it. When I see the lonely, may I be a friend and accompany. When I see someone struggling, may I make the time to help—meeting them wherever they are.

You’ve given me certain gifts—be it qualities, skills, insights and/or resources. May I not leave them on a shelf unused, or hoard them for myself. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to the times and places where my gifts could be helpful or are needed. Stir my heart, flood me with compassion—moving me to act.

You loved me first. I love because You love me. May the pure love that You have for me be evident in my actions. May there be no doubt that the gifts You’ve given me are being used to bring a little bit of Heaven to earth.

In the Loving Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

5/19/25 Prayer

What You’ve created, Lord, is beautiful—including me! When I walk outside and see the trees, the flowers, the squirrels, the ants, the sky, the sun, and feel the breeze, I’m in awe of Your creativity, the expanse of Your Power, and the tremendous work that was required to create our world. Don’t get me started on the marvels of how a human body works!

I love to sit in Your creation and just be. I think there is something to that—being in the moment. Feeling Your Presence and being content. Most of the time, I’m planning ahead, figuring out what I need to be doing, or actively doing it. I can get caught up in looking too far ahead and then worrying about how I’ll get there or how things will be. Then other times, I think too deeply about what I really should be doing, what my goals should be, what’s next in life.

I don’t think that’s how You designed humankind to be. If I think about the Garden of Eden, we were supposed to live walking and talking with You—enjoying what You created and not concerned about what or where our next meal would come from. Instead we would experience life in each moment. Sounds amazing and life giving.

You want me whole—You designed me for shalom.

I live in a broken world, where society and culture do not put You front and center. I have to choose to follow You; make a conscious decision to include You in my days. Unfortunately, You do not come to mind automatically.

Holy Spirit, please help me change that. Convict me and bring my mind to You throughout my day. Help me to invite You into what’s happening, the good, the mediocre, the mundane, the bad and the sad.

I’ve noticed that when I spend time with You, I’m renewed. I have more patience, I show love more readily, I’m in a better mood. All around, my inner being is better (even if my circumstances are not). Huh.

I want to walk closely with You. I want to spend time in Your Presence. I don’t have to do it perfectly. But I can certainly do it more than I am right now.

Help me Holy Spirit! Help me make choices based on Your will and not mine.

Help me with motivation, determination, and the occasional push to get me going. But I have to do my part—to create the conditions and routines to make this happen. I want to live one day at a time enjoying Your Presence, Your Peace and Your Goodness. I want to live into the full measure of what You have for me. You made me for that. Indeed, You want that for me.

In the Gracious and Life Giving Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

5/12/25 Prayer

Eternal and unlimited, that is You. You have always been—are—and will always be. You are the Great “I am.” Abundance flows from You, and it never ceases to be. How mighty is my God!

You are the perfect demonstration of selflessness. You loved me first, even when I was (and, so many times, continue to be) unlovable. I am loved in this world by others, but never perfectly like You. It’s impossible for a human to do.

You also love me through others. And You use me to love others. That love is demonstrated in so many beautiful ways. It may be as simple as taking the time to talk to a friend on a busy day, or as elaborate as orchestrating an outing for the family to go serve in a food pantry when what we really want to do is go to the beach. It could be choosing to do what a family member wants when I had planned to do something else for myself.

The point of showing love is to put the other person first. To set myself aside for another. The most grand example was Jesus on the cross. Selflessness personified.

While I am finite on earth—with You and after death, I will live eternally. What I do here on earth has eternal consequences. Obviously, the first is choosing to accept You in my heart by faith. But also, by what I do and don’t do as relates to others.

My relationships have eternal impact—sharing Your love, doing as You would do. Your light shines through me, illuminating Your Presence. It also shows how You’ve impacted me and my life. I’ve been transformed by Your love and want to be a transformative vessel of Your love in the lives of others.

I pray that a desire wells up in me, to do for another—in exchange for nothing. That I do just because I love, even for a stranger or someone I may not like. Holy Spirit, this is not continually possible in my own selfish strength, but it is immensely possible in Your Power. I pray for this to be the pattern of my life.

You loved me first. You love me now. You’ll love me tomorrow and forever. May I live fully into Your love and may that love pour out into the lives of others.

In the Loving Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

5/5/25 Prayer

Thank You Almighty Lord for the opportunity to be Your hands and feet—to go out into the community and represent You, not necessarily by what I say, but what I do, how I love.

This world needs Your love. In fact, this world was made to be loved by You. I am Your disciple, and as Your disciple, I want to represent You well. I want the love that You pour into me, to spill out and pour into others. My cup overflows.

You made me in abundance, not in scarcity. Your love for me is endless and immeasurable. Holy Spirit, please help me to feel and be that way with others—to live abundantly, not fearing scarcity. It could be time, it could be money, it could be love, it could be compassion, or even sharing an interest. Let me not act in scarcity with these things and others. Sometimes I fear that if I give them away, I won’t have enough for when I need them. But that’s not true! You’ve provided them to me in abundance for the purposes You designed me. 

You have said “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” And also, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

May I be as generous with others as You are with me. And may I remember that this begins at home with my family and spreads from there—to my neighbor, to my co-worker, to my friend, to the stranger, to my community, to other communities, to other countries, to the world. And even to the one I do not like. That person was created in love by You. It is not my place to judge but to love.

In the Endlessly Generous Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

4/28/25 Prayer

My Beautiful God, You are so patient with me. You are grand—yet gentle and humble. You wait on me and never turn me away. You pursue me, but oh so quietly and unhurriedly. You wait as long as it takes for me to turn my life to You.

Sometimes when I’m with You, a peace fills me, calms clothes me and I feel complete. But not always. I wish it were true always.

You tell us to seek You. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” You want my heart. You want me to seek to be with You, to spend time with You—in true desire, not in obligation. That’s what puts a smile on Your face.

What I’m learning is that I don’t have to “do” to be with You. I can just “be.” Yes, reading Your Word draws me closer to You and can speak into my heart when I’m curious and open to listen. Singing to You and listening to Jesus music is another form of worship. But so is just sitting or standing and asking to be in Your Presence, purposely being with You in quiet.

At first my mind thinks, jumps around, trying to fill the silence. But then I realize that it’s unnecessary. I don’t need to “do.” You did it all on the cross. You loved me first. I can simply respond and “be” loved. That opens my heart to love You back. It makes me feel good to just sit with You in silence, to receive Your love and share in Your glory—the place of shalom.

You are inviting me. You’ll wait as long as it takes. Your hand is always open. Holy Spirit, I need Your help to understand more fully my relationship with You. I need to more fully accept that there is no earning or performing. I want to feel the desire to want to spend more time with You. I want the desire to read my Bible, to learn more about You. I want to be looking for You throughout my days, to discover Your treasures and wisdom. I want to talk to You throughout my days. I don’t want it to be a chore, but a delight. I can’t do this fully on my own. 

I need You to change my heart—to take what I know is true in my head and let it blossom in my heart. While I usually want what I want—I want to want what You want. Help me Holy Spirit. Open my mind, body and soul to live and be with You more fully.

In the Patient and Gentle Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

4/21/25 Prayer

My Most Beautiful Savior, You rose from the dead to save me … little ‘ole me! You died for me. You rose from the dead for me. You saved me from my sin, You saved me from myself, You called me from this world to be Your own. I am Your child, whole and complete—just as I am today. I don’t need to do anything to earn this standing, to be Your beloved child. While everything else is performance based, not with You.

I don’t fully understand or appreciate the depth and immensity of this truth. I pray You reveal it to me slowly over time. Holy Spirit, help me reflect and meditate on it, help me experience this truth practically in my daily life, help me grow in understanding. Imprint this truth on my heart. Let it echo forever in my soul. May each day I remember to receive this gift and to live into it.

And You have no favorites. You died and rose again for all others as well. Oh, what a wonderful world it would be if we all lived into this truth. Many don’t believe, others don’t live into this truth (I know that happens to me). Yet, all is not lost this side of heaven. You made me. You revealed Yourself to me. You’ve empowered me. I am Your disciple. I am Your representative here on earth. I’ll hardly do it perfectly, but I’ll get it right much of the time. You’ll personally guide me in this process.

Open my eyes and ears to see people and this world as You do. Let me see those with needs, though they themselves may not realize it. Draw out compassion from my heart and soul—not as in pity, or in a way that immobilizes me—but rather that motivates, encourages and strengthens. Convict me when I’m complacent. Rile me up when I’m hunkered down for myself. Assuage my fears and embolden me with courage. Lord, transform me into the person You made me to be.

In the Saving Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

4/14/25 Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are almighty, yet gentle as a dove. So gentle and close to us that we can call You Dad. 

It’s remarkable that the Creator of everything that is, cares about every single detail of my life; and wants to be intimately involved in it. You want to provide for all my needs. You want me to be filled with joy and contentment. You want me to live into the full measure of what You have for me. You, God, are “for” me!

I pray to believe this truth with all my heart. I pray to not only know this truth in my heart and head, but to live based on it. To trust You with my secrets, to trust You with my fears, to trust You with my longings and heartaches, to trust You with my dreams, to trust You with my money, to trust You with those whom I love, to trust You with my future.

I pray to know—in the depths of soul and being—that I am not going through this life alone, that You are not only with me, but for me. I want that. Holy Spirit, remind me of this truth unceasingly—write it on my heart. 

Encourage me to share this truth. Open my eyes to someone who needs to hear it. Give me the courage to speak it out loud. And as I speak it, give me more confidence and conviction in its truth.

There are those who are physically limited, physically challenged. They struggle even more with the things and doings of this world. Simple things are harder for them. Things I take for granted may seem like mountains to climb. Holy Spirit, reveal to me their particular struggles, let me know of their practical issues—give me the eyes to see their needs, their desires, their hearts.

And just as You care about every detail of my life, give me the heart, mind and actions, to care and do in the details of their life and their particular physical challenges. Please use me to bless them in Your Name.

In the Gentle and Compassionate Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

4/7/25 Prayer

Gracious and Loving Father, You are Beautiful and Wondrous. You love us unconditionally and Your love will never cease. Though I search for it in this world—for something similar, I don’t find it. It’s simply not available through anything else or anyone here on earth. This world is broken and all humans are flawed. 

I have this yearning—to be loved perfectly, to be accepted, to feel that I am valued, to feel secure, to feel complete. I don’t even know what I yearn for sometimes. But I am learning that nothing can truly satisfy it but You. In You, I can find deep rest.

I love walking with You. I love that when I wake, You are with me. I love that as I go throughout my day—at any given moment—I can be with You. I love that You lay my head down to rest at night. Sure, sometimes I don’t feel it, but nonetheless, You are there. 

Open my senses, my awareness, my soul, to feel Your Presence. Give me the desire, the perseverance, the courage, to each day choose to live with You, to seek Your Presence. 

In living with You, I pray for a clear mind, calm spirit and peace—shalom. That’s what I was made for, to live in communion with You. While everything may not be “right” or as I want it, I feel more peace. It’s all more doable. I’m more secure. You are my refuge, my fortress and my shield. 

Lord, I can’t be the only person who feels this way. May I have compassion on those who struggle for peace, who may be mentally distressed—whether it be depression, anxiety, discouragement, feeling unsettled, or restlessness. I feel that way from time to time. When I do, I’d love for someone to be Your hands and feet and be there for me. 

Lord, show me who needs Your loving touch, who needs to know that they are loved, are valued, are accepted, are secure. While we can never be complete without You, we can soothe each other and be the hands and feet of Jesus. May I seek to share the kindness, the patience, the love and compassion that You embody.

Your love is enduring and unfailing. May I, and those who I minister to, rest in that truth.

In the Kindhearted Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

3/31/24 Prayer

Praise The Lord oh my soul, praise The Lord! Forget not that He forgives all our sins and that He sits with us in our times of need. Praise The Lord oh my soul, praise The Lord.

I am never alone. You are always with me! It’s kind of cool—how as a Triune God, You are never alone. You, God, Holy Spirit and Jesus are always together. You continually love and glorify each other. I was made to live in that, to commune with You.

But Lord, this life can be hard. Emotionally it can rock my world—my soul. I experience fear, sadness, anxiety, anger, grief, frustration, confusion; and sometimes I don’t even know what emotion or set of emotions I’m feeling. That’s not always the case. I feel calm, joy, excitement and happiness as well. But it’s those moments of emotional distress that get me. I can get stuck in it, or I don’t know how to navigate through them.

Others experience this as well. I see it on the faces of family, friends and strangers.

Thankfully, You have not left us to go through it alone. We have You. I know this; You remind me in the Psalms.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

And leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul.

I can rest in You. You lead me to peace when I trust You. It’s not always a straight line, but I eventually get there—my soul restored and renewed. Many times You do this through other people. It could be friends, family or even strangers. Thank You for never forgetting me, for always providing.

Lord, use me to help others. May I notice when someone is in emotional need, whether it’s something simple or complex. Open my heart to be like Yours, wanting no one to feel abandoned and left alone. Holy Spirit, help me to know what to say. Give me the desire, the courage, and the compassion to walk with them through the desert they are experiencing.

May Your light shine through in those times. May I remember to call upon You, to ask You to give me the words and the way. Holy Spirit, drench us in love, kindness, faithfulness and peace.

Thank You for always rescuing me from my emotions. May I do it together with You for another.

In the Faithful and Compassionate Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

3/24/25 Prayer

Lord Almighty, You are the God of all humanity, everything that has breath, and everything that is. You are compassionate, so kind and gentle. Nothing escapes Your view; You see it all.

Nothing is too trivial, nothing too small. It’s pretty crazy … You created everything that exists—the sun, the moon and stars, our universe, the galaxies—yet little ole me matters to You. And that’s the same for every person you made. Nothing and no one is insignificant to You.

Give me that heart. Give me that mindset. Illuminate that truth into my soul. I pray to see the world as You do; to see people—all people—as you do. There are so many left out, so many forgotten, so many dismissed. It shouldn’t be. When You walked the earth, You always had time for those who were overlooked. In fact, You sought them out. May I do that. Holy Spirit, move in me in such a way that awakens my own spirit to seek out those who are left out, forgotten and dismissed. And may I encourage others to do the same. 

Also … 

You sought me out, may I share the good news of You with another. May I lay a Jesus seed in their heart and be a part of Your amazing plan in their life. Because, truly, that’s the way to not be left out, forgotten, or dismissed. When someone knows You, they learn and accept in their heart that they are of infinite value; that they are a beloved child of the Almighty God!! That arouses something in our souls, that gives us hope and promise. And with time, walking with You brings more peace into our lives.

In the Glorious Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

3/17/24 Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are a Friend to the lonely. You are always with me, even though I may not realize it or feel it. Yet, it only takes a moment to be with You. I need only whisper Your Name, in my mind or softly out loud.

I am so grateful that I can talk to You whenever and wherever. I don’t have to be in a special place or in church. Wherever I am, there You are. I also don’t have to be formal or rehearsed in talking to You. You don’t want fancy words or elaborate prayers. You simply want to hear the plain truth of what’s on my heart, even if it’s that I am mad at You or unhappy about my situation. I can be happy, or I can be sad. You have no expectations of me when I come to You. It’s a heartfelt conversation. You simply love that I come to be with You. 

Not everyone knows this, and I even sometimes forget; or I simply don’t act on it. Lord, You made me in Your image, and Jesus came and demonstrated Your unfailing love and mercy. I pray that in my walk with You, The Holy Spirit works to transform me more and more into the person You made me to be. And in that transformation, may I seek to be with the lonely, the needy. May I seek to make them feel seen and loved. May I stop, take the time to be with them, to show them that they are worthy and of infinite value. May I listen to them intently as You do to me. May I not want to make them feel “better,” but instead, hold their hand in whatever they are feeling or experiencing. May I make it about them, and not me.

You see me. You see us all. I pray to remember that in my time of need or loneliness. And I pray that I may share this gift of grace with another.

In the Beautiful Name of my Friend Jesus I pray.

Amen

3/10/25 Prayer

I was lost, but now I’m found. You found me, Jesus. It’s humbling because I didn’t even realize that I was lost or that I needed saving. I didn’t realize how much I need You. But that’s how beautiful and merciful You are. That’s how grand Your design is for my life. Your Word tells me.

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. … Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”

And this is not just for me; it’s for every person who lives. You want Your Kingdom full, brimming over in joy. “You will search for the lost and bring back the strays. You seek to bind up the injured and strengthen the weak.” How beautiful and perfect is Your Heart. How ceaseless is Your work in bringing the lost to Yourself.

I think You want me to a part of this story, to participate. The lost are everywhere. Just as Your Heart breaks for the lost, I pray mine does too. Give me eyes to see them and a desire to point them to You—to talk to them about how You’ve worked in my life. Help me share my story so that they may hear, and then believe, that You love and deeply care for them and me. I pray they are inspired to look up, to seek You.

Holy Spirit, please give me the courage to do this, and lead me when these opportunities present themselves. Soften my heart, my mind and my soul, to feel Your gentle prompts. Give me a desire to listen intently for Your voice.

I pray to be a part of Your plan, Lord, to bring the lost to Your loving and merciful Presence. And I thank You with all my heart, for calling me, one that was lost, to be one of Yours.

In the Ceaseless Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

3/3/25 Prayer

You, God, want to provide all that I need. That was Your original intention, Your original design. You cannot deny Your heart for humankind. Indeed, You made me and all humankind in Your image. Your love abounds.

Then why is my heart not like Yours? Why am I so self-focused? I like to think that I’m not, but if I truly reflect and am honest, it’s me first and then others. Help me Holy Spirit to have a heart like Yours. Help me to see the needs of others. Help me to not only see what is on the surface, but to explore more deeply. Some needs are apparent, others not so much.

Prompt me, convict me, move me to do the inconvenient. Move my heart to share what I have, whether it’s food, water, clothing, care or time. Maybe someone needs financial support, please help me open my wallet to share. Maybe someone needs to wrestle through a difficult situation. Open my heart to take the time to spend with them figuring it out. Maybe someone is lonely and needs a friend. Open my eyes to see their loneliness and to have the conviction to do something about it.

You meet me where I am. May I meet someone else where they are.

In the Caring Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

2/24/25 Prayer

Our Majestic God and Creator of all things, were I to count the awesomeness of Your doing, I’d run out of numbers and time. No one and nothing can capture the expansiveness of Your Beauty and Being.

I look at the beauty of the sunrise, You are there. I look at the majesty of the mountains, You are there. I look at the intricacies of another person’s eyes, how they are formed, how they capture light and sight, You are there. I look at the vastness of the ocean and the endless cresting and crashing of the waves, You are there. I look at the innocence of how a small child looks up at me in wonder, You are there. Anything that is true, good or beautiful, You are there.

How am I to respond to such magnificence and splendor? There is only one way — to worship You. 

When I experience or encounter a true, good or beautiful thing, may I look heavenward and just pause. May I stop for a moment and just say Your Name, recognize You and Your grandeur in that moment. May I not only thank You for it, but praise You for opening my eyes to see it. May I contemplate Your Beauty and Majesty.

I pray that I live my life worshiping You. Oh, how You deserve it and so much more! I pray Holy Spirit that You give me eyes to see You throughout my day, every where I look, and even within. And in this experience, I sing to You in joy. I thank You in the moment, when something simple goes my way. I give You credit when You answered my prayer, and I have the courage and opportunity to tell someone else about it, so that You may be glorified.

When I see something beautiful or awe striking, may I remember You as the Alpha, the Creator from whom all good and beautiful things flow. May I never become complacent or dulled so as not to be in wonder of the people around me, the place in which You set me, the things that I encounter, and the moments that I experience.

How beautiful You are. How gracious You are. How amazing You are. And You thought to bring me into existence to experience life with You. Thank You!

In the Magnificent Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen

2/17/25 Prayer

Hello Almighty God! Thank You for making me, for drawing me to You. Thank You that I am Yours and can never be snatched away. There is peace and safety in that.

Thank You for always being with me, that I can be with You at anytime and anywhere. There is no limit on our relationship. I pray that I invest my time and energy into growing it, to spending more time with You. It’s cool because I don’t just have to be sitting and reading my Bible, but I can be walking about, doing everyday chores, talking to You. You love when I do that. Yes, You are holy, but You humbled Yourself to be a man, to do ordinary things. So, You’re just fine doing ordinary things with me.

And yet, You provide even more than Yourself. You put people in my life who also walk and talk with You. Not only do You convict and speak truths into me, You do so into others as well. Your Word tells us that we, Your followers, constitute the Body of Christ. We are Your hands and feet. You use each of us in very specific and intentional ways to accomplish Your purposes.

May I remember these truths as I venture through life. May I not just put my head down to do life alone or with those in my household. As I confront decisions, encounter challenges, consider choices, may I seek the counsel of those who follow You—those who seek to live their lives Your way, surrendering to Your will. You speak into my heart when I ask (and many times when I don’t—thank goodness!!). And You speak into the hearts of those following You. Your Wisdom and intentions cannot be captured by just one, that’s why we have the Body of Christ!

Holy Spirit, please give me the courage and opportunity to invite other followers (or even just one) into my life to consider the road ahead, to help me make sense of things when I’m confused or lack confidence in how to proceed. Gosh, even when I think I know best, give me the humility to “check myself,” to make sure I’m making the right choice or going down the right path. Remind me that Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts, and that when two or more of Your followers are together, You are there. I want You to be there when I’m making my decisions and even everyday choices!

Thank You Heavenly Father for the community in which You have placed me, indeed blessed me. May we walk together, spurring each other along, sharing with each other the Wisdom and Truth that You speak into each of us. May I do that for another.

In the Wise Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

2/10/25 Prayer

Heavenly Father, You created the heavens and the earth. You. You to me generally means one, but in Your case, it means three. The Trinity—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—all three were there at creation.

My mind can’t wrap itself around how three can be one. But with You, it can be.

I am thankful that with You, You means three. You are my loving Father, always faithfully loving and providing—so much so that You sent Your Son to save me. You are Son; a man who walked the earth and felt, experienced, and lived as I do. You relate to me in a very personal and experiential way. You are Holy Spirit, God within me, so close, so intricately involved and aware of my inner being as my outer experience. Mind blown!

In this world we have a choice—to live by the flesh or with the Spirit. Paul describes it in Your Word. “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” I pray that I choose to live with The Holy Spirit and to be focused on Your way and what You want.

But it’s not that easy. I am flesh! I am inherently sinful in nature and my first choice will most always be to do what is easy, what is instinctual. I want what I want when I want it, because I want it. Sigh, I need help.

Thank You for not leaving me here, sitting on my pity pot, feeling helpless and giving into the flesh. No, again, I have a choice.

I choose to ask You Holy Spirit to move me, to prompt me, to do whatever You need to do to awaken within me the daily choice of following You, living with The Spirit. Open my soul, my mind, my heart to feel Your promptings, to remember that when I’m failing to be more like Jesus, that I can’t do it on my own. After I make that daily choice, it is in Your, The Spirit’s power, that it is accomplished. Help me not strive but to work with You, The Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, You are my Guide on earth. You can increase my desire and give me the strength to live as Jesus—the Jesus way, not the earthly, flesh way. You can convict me when I go off path. Please do that. Please be gentle.

Please prompt my heart and reveal to me the right choice, the right path. Strengthen me, give me the courage to make the Jesus way choices. Change me(yikes, what will that mean!). While that is so scary to think about because it’s an unknown, I trust You more than me. You are the Maker of all things!

When I’m trying so hard and failing, remind me Holy Spirit that You are but a gentle whisper away. Holy Spirit help me—prompt me to say that.

In the Ever Present Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

2/3/25 Prayer

My loving God, I praise You. You are amazing—so righteous and pure. You are Wisdom and Truth. You provide all that I need. But …

I seek my life to go “right,” problem free and as I envision it. Then “life” happens. Problems and challenges occur. Problems are usually resolvable but challenges, they must be endured. 

Why? I sometimes ask. Then I remember Your Word … I don’t live in the Garden of Eden, rather in a broken world. You don’t cause these “bad” things, though You may allow them. A quick read of the opening chapters of the Book of Job reminds me.

You love me unconditionally. You love me more than my mind can understand and that’s part of why (I think). Sometimes You’re protecting me from myself. If I got everything I wanted and never had a problem or challenge, how caring would I be for others? Not so much. It would be much harder to emphasize, rather I may only sympathize or even worse, pity. Would I be a brat, never satiated and always wanting more? Probably. 

I remember a painful truth that Your Word tells—“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening-it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” It’s kind of like my kids, I love them so much that I can’t allow them to make bad choices. They are young and inexperienced; not seeing the bigger picture, not understanding that there will be disastrous consequences. I love my kids too much to allow that! You love me too. And even more.

But what about disease and tragedy that has no discernible good outcome? Well again, I live in a broken world. I remember the good You made of my past hurts. I remember how it worked out for the better—for me and/or for others. Sometimes I saw it soon, other times, later. Even others I’ll only see when I’m in heaven.

I surrender! 

And as difficult it is to do—PLEASE, PLEASE Holy Spirit help me surrender—I trust You. I trust that You know what You’re doing. I trust that there is purpose and meaning and that none of my pain is in vain! I trust You!! Your Word is full of good promises and of wonders and miracles—good things. You do not change. The God of The Bible is the God of today! I’m going with that. I know that.

I am secure with You. You are my fortress. I am safe with You, You are my refuge. I am seen by You, never alone. I am soothed by You. You are with me, loving me and making things easier than they could be, widening the path.

You are my God and I am Your beloved child. One day I’ll be with You where there are no more tears. Hold me, help me focus on You rather than my problems, until I am there.

In the Ever Caring Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen