7 Prayers That Work

Oh, Lord, I pray and ask for your presence . Draw near to me, to be with me in my troubles, to comfort me in my sadness. Is that a silly prayer? It's helpful to me, but I guess it's not accurate. You never leave me. You're always present. I'm the one who wanders, who gets lost , who struggles to find my way back to you. I feel the unrest, anxiety , and turmoil of being a soul out of sync with your Spirit. When I feel tossed about, it's not because you're not here. It's because I've taken my eyes off you; I'm looking at the storms all around me; I'm asking for peace while I welcome chaos. Lord, I fix my eyes on you. There is peace in your presence because you are faithful . Everything else is a wicked and pointless pursuit of self. Forgive me and change me, O God. I'm yours. Heal me,  use me, guide me, restore me, change me. In Jesus' name, Amen. "I have sen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to h...

Hallelujah! I needed some joy today in my outlook, so I scrolled through Spotify and found The Messiah done by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir . Then I searched YouTube and found a ton of videos. This production is more than a Christmas program. It's glory come down to earth. I listened, and The Messiah lifted my spirits. Of course, when I got to the "Hallelujah Chorus," I started to cry.  That's what happens to me when the Holy Spirit falls on me. I cry. Tears of joy , gratefulness, humility, conviction, calling . All the things that remind me who I am and who God is. How great and mighty God is! Take a listen to this song and pray a little prayer of praise .  (I picked their latest world-encompassing virtual version. How cool is that?) We belong to a victorious God! Lord God, You are Wonderful! You're a Mighty God, an Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace ! You are not swayed by the chaos of this world or worried about the choices I made in my life. You lead me...

Hello, Jesus. I'm a bit scattered and rushed . Stressed and overwhelmed. But you already know that. I'm turning to you because you're the only place to turn. You have the words of life. You know my future and my past. Steady me, Lord. Speak to me. Re-orient me. Calm me. Help me see what you're doing in and around me. I trust you, and yet, I don't . You know that about me-- it's so hard to believe that what I'm doing is right when I don't see results. But you are faithful . You are always faithful. Steady my heart. Clear my mind of the confusion and anxiety that the enemy plants in me. Breathe in me and through me. I want to be a whisper of your presence, an image of your Son, the breath from your lips. Use me however you want  and build a faith in me to endure what I don't understand. In Jesus' name, Amen. "He stilled the storm   to a whisper;   the waves   of the sea   were hushed.  They were glad when it grew calm,  and he guided them...

Oh, Lord, I'm taking off for two days. I don't want to take off from you. I want to lean into your Spirit, enjoy your world, fellowship with your daughters. I feel my heart settling down in happy silence and peacefulness . Thank you for creating a beautiful world for me to enjoy. Thank you for friends . Thank you for mental and emotional breaks. Refresh me. You are my majestic mountaintop, my vast ocean, my fragrant garden, my lush meadow, my quiet forest, my rushing river. You are in everything and you sustain everything, including me. I praise you and thank you. Amen. "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul." - -Psalm 23:3

Dear God of all comfort, You get grief. It sucks, doesn't it? Grief interrupts the joy of living and suffocates you. It's like dying but knowing you will eventually come up for air, and you will not pass out. You will live through it. You get it. You felt grief in the sharpest way possible. You were betrayed and rejected by the object of your love and sacrifice. And then you were rejected by your Father. You bore the weight of the sins of the whole world--the horrific acts of violence, cruelty, and debauchery. You felt them and You wore them as You died. And because You know what grief is, You are the only true comforter. So comfort us. Spread Your peace like a quilt over the shoulders of those who grieve parents, children, and the lives they hoped to live. Give each of us hope and confidence that You have a plan for us--You will prosper and keep us in Your perfect will. Grief is just a part of Your will. It's just not the part we wanted to experience. To und...