7 Prayers That Work

  "Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of  bitterness  grows up to trouble you, corrupting many." (Hebrews 12:15) An observation: If we care for one another,  God gives us grace . If we don't care for one another, we don't get grace from anyone. Bitterness is a weed that overtakes a garden until it has choked out every plant that was once beautiful and productive until the garden becomes useless and ugly. Bitterness prevents blessing . A prayer: Oh, Lord, I confess my bitterness  and my lack of trust in you to direct me in all things. I've resented you allowing weeds into my life. My heart has not been fertile or  productive lately. It has been a garden of weeds instead of a garden of flowers. Please forgive me and help me develop the courage to rip out every weed and prune back every thought and habit that doesn't honor you . I confess holding grudges, distrusting your care, and pr...

Lord, I need some grace in my life. Not for me--I know I already have that in excess. You lavish your grace and mercy on me, when, of course, I don't deserve it. Thank you for that. It's truly incomprehensible. I must not be living in consciousness of your grace all the time because I am often ungracious towards other people. Me, who's highly flawed, finds time and energy to judge other people who are also highly flawed. I get annoyed, impatient, frustrated , upset. I know that makes me human. Your grace has told me you understand my frailties and you love me anyway. (Once again, thank you.) If your power is made perfect in weakness, why do I rebel against my own weakness and criticize other people's weaknesses. It's so hypocritical. I want your power to flow through me, yet I pretend and fight against the weaknesses that make your power visible. I think the antidote to gracelessness is humility. My flaws should do the trick the...