7 Prayers That Work

Lord Jesus, Somehow, help me to live a life worthy of you, to please you in every way. Produce fruit from my life through good works. Give me wisdom and insight to grow in the knowledge of God. Strengthen me with power according to your glorious might. Help me endure and be patient, give joyfully. Thank you, Father, for qualifying me to share in your inheritance of the saints in your kingdom. You have rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of the Son you love. Thank you for redeeming and forgiving my sins. Transform me. Make me wise enough to be satisfied with you. That's when the fruit will ripen. Amen. Col.1:9-14 image by  Petr Kratochvil

Dear Lord Creator, Life is hard. Are you growing me? I want to grow strong and straight and sure,  but I feel safer when I'm not growing, not changing,  not venturing out into new territories.  Somehow, you know what's best for me.  You gently peel away my tough exterior, like white bark from a birch tree that hovers over the water's edge. You unmask my pretense, my pride, my accomplishments-- You tear away what I wear to hide my shortcomings that actually keeps me from maturity, beauty, and destiny.  You know that I will not grow unless you pull away my bark and uncover the tender trunk underneath.  Then you can broaden my perspective--  expand my territory--  raise my branches heavenward to provide shade and protection for others. You give me the chance to grow  a little straighter, a little taller, a little more beautiful. But if I resist the peeling, I will not grow at all. Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is ...