7 Prayers That Work

Lord, I have so much to do today. This week. This month. My spirit feels rushed and anxious. Calm me and remind me that all I have to do is worship You. Just listen, obey, observe, act. I just need to be You today to someone else. So what do You want to do today? Who needs Your Spirit and Your love? I am Yours today. Amen.

Dear Lord, I'm speaking Your words over my crazy, jumbled life: Peace, be still. I can't calm down on my own, so help me breathe in Your beauty and Your calm. Peace, be still. I can't control the things around me, so give me the courage to stop trying, stop striving, stop worrying. Peace, be still. You guard me, around and before me. You designed me perfectly to carry out Your will. You have marked out my way. So why am I afraid? Peace, be still. I wallow in discouragement and negative thinking, and I turn aside from You, searching so many other places to find motivation, assistance, encouragement, affirmation, and love. Help me hear Your words: Peace, be still. Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? You, Prince of Peace, are the answer. Amen. "A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher...

Dear King of Kings, You are the ruler of all things and all people, yet you don't wield your authority or intimidate us into doing your will. So I know that I can ask you for help. I need your direction to  prioritize my day in a way that advances your kingdom. This is difficult. Because even the good things I do, I often do because they benefit me. They make me feel better about myself, and they build better relationships with other people, which also benefits me. That's not building your kingdom. It's building mine. Although the process will be uncomfortable, make me selfless. Although it will hurt, teach me to sacrifice my desires. Although serving others will mimic failure, help me to see that true success only occurs in the kingdom of God. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Ah! There it is! A perspective change. Oh, to live life with another kingdom in mind! Lord, help me to be heavenly, even during my earth...

I just read 2 Thess. 3:5 this morning on my Bible app. This is what is says, in a few different  translations: ESV--"May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." NIV--"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." NKJV--"Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patience of Christ." This passage sounds like a prayer to pray over my children. Dear Lord God of heaven, Your grace and providence astounds me. I thank you for my children and the rich challenge and reward that parenting them brings to my life. Use me to be an effective and authentic example of your love and grace. Somehow, let them catch a glimpse of You through me, even when I'm messing up and beings so profoundly and sinfully human. And now I pray that you will direct and guide their hearts on a course toward loving You completely and whole-heartedly. As they experience Yo...