7 Prayers That Work

Oh, Lord,  What is true anymore? It's hard to tell. I can make entire worlds out of what makes me comfortable and justified, instead of what is actually true. What you call true . I make excuses for taking the easiest path, for the sins I commit and the sins I explain away. Show me where I listen to voices that speak lies. Forgive me for my willful ignorance. You are Truth. I look down on people for their sins while ignoring my own. Forgive me for my pride. You are the Way. Show me where I elevate my desires over your will and change me. I labor to build my own kingdoms and elevate my own popularity. Forgive me for my ambition. You are the Life. Show me where I deviate from the life you've laid out for me. Disrobe my deceptions and excuses. Reveal my insecurities . I want to lean into you-- into all of you-- all that you require of me and all that you want to forgive, if I'll just admit what's actually true in my heart and mind. Lay bare my defenses. I will confess ...

I'm reading I Kings 17 this morning. The country is in a massive famine. It's a pandemic of starvation. Everything is dried up. There is no food anywhere. The widow of Zarephath is picking up sticks to make her last fire, for her last meal, for herself and her son. Elijah approaches her and asks her to make him some bread. He promises that God will bless her if she obeys and feed him first. She believes. And her oil and flour don't run out. She keeps Elijah alive, and God keeps her and her son alive. They survive the famine. But then the widow's son dies. Look how Elijah prays and how the woman responds. "O Lord my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?...O Lord my God, let this boy's life return to him!" And the boy begins to breathe again. Then she says, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord is truth." Oh, Lord, God, Reveal your power and ...

Lord God, the Way-maker, Open new pathways for me. I feel like I'm at a dead end, like there's no way out of this problem. I'm trying not to look around me, not to see the forces of criticism, procrastination, confusion, fear, misapprehension, self-doubt, and down-right evil that assault me from all sides. I'm trying to look ahead, to follow your voice and see your face. To put one foot in front of the other in terrified obedience. Are you out there? Where are we going? I can't see you. I can't even see the path. Remind me of you promises: You go before me. You go behind me. You go with me. You live inside me. You feel my pain. You created me to handle this. You made me for this purpose. You use everything for your glory. You are growing me. Where you lead me, I will follow. You make a way, where there is no way. I believe you can do it again. And so I follow you. That's what you've told me to do. Amen. ...