Dear God…

Dear God,

The week that You just brought me and Ab through has definitely not been the easiest. You called us to minister in the midst of rejection, disappointment and disunity. And it was no wonder that emotions ran high. There were times when we questioned You and the call You gave us; there were times when we disappointed You and shied away from tasks that seemed too difficult; there were times when we were disobedient and faithless. And while no two persons are in the same exact situation, I’m sure that those who are reading this prayer can relate to some of our experiences this past week.

God, where we lost sight of You, we are sorry. Please forgive us for seemingly forgetting the God whom we serve, if only for a moment, and allowing the problems of this world to deter us from the call You have given us.

But even when we turned away, You were still right there and for that, we say thank you so much. We are so grateful that You, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, love us so much and are so merciful and compassionate that even when we don’t deserve it, You are working things out for our favour. Thank You for the things that did work out over the course of this week and the amazing moments You provided in the midst of the heartache.

Omniscient God, You knew how this week would go before time began, just like how You know exactly how next week will go and what will be our peaks and where we will stumble while in our valleys. Help us to not take your mercy for granted because You are also a just God. Instead, give us the courage and the strength not to make the same mistakes twice, or three times, or even four.

While this week for us all might not have gone according to our plans, we pray that they went according to Yours and we thank You for the miracle that was today, for the silver linings on every storm cloud and for the persons that You have blessed through us, the ones we knew about and the ones we didn’t.

Help us to remain available to You and strengthen us for the next task that You are setting up for us. Give us an obedient and willing spirit so that You can have Your way.

In the matchless and holy name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray,

Amen.

Give Me Your Eyes, Lord

God, so often I’m tempted to judge success by the world’s standards. I focus on quantity instead of quality, outward appearance instead of the heart. Maybe that is why it’s so easy for me to become discouraged because I can’t see what You see.

I am not able to see how that one person’s heart is slowly being changed by my actions and words or how every time I do Your will, no matter how hard or how easy, I am growing stronger in my faith and closer to You.

But that is how I want to see life Lord because that is when life will be all the more fulfilling! Please give me eyes that see the heart behind someone’s actions, that see the victories within every perceived ‘failure.’

I want Your eyes God. Exchange my limited, worldly eyes for Yours.  In this way I won’t be discouraged when I can’t see change in my life or the lives of others right away. Instead I will see the growth and development that is so hard to see and I will be more able to praise and thank you in every situation.

Give me Your eyes Lord.

Prayer: Take It Away

Lord there are so many times when I find it difficult to surrender

Not because I don’t want to give up my own will, but I’m just too lazy

So strength, Lord,  is what I call for

I need You to resupply me so I can throw this all on You

I know You want my burden and You want to sustain me (Psalm 55:22)

But God I have nothing left

Discipline me Lord, let me feel what You feel

I trade this fleshly burden for Your burden of compassion

Make me right and reveal to me Your plans for me

For I know they are many

Use me Lord, for I know I must have a purpose

And God,

Take this laziness AWAY

Take my slumber AWAY

Take my weariness AWAY

Take me AWAY

Take it AWAY

And draw nigh,

Encouraging me, sustaining me, strengthening me,

Equipping me for your service and for your will to be done

I’m ready Lord, so take it away.

 

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

Prayer for Lent

Oh God, You are my God and I praise Your matchless name!

Lord, I have decided to make a sacrifice for this Lenten period. You know what I have decided to give up and how much it really means to me to abstain for the purpose of growing closer to You. I am doing this because my soul thirsts for You, my entire being longs to draw nearer to You and do Your will. I know it will be hard and there will be temptations, but I also know that every time I am tempted, You will provide a way out. So please open my eyes so I can see the deliverance that You will provide for me.

Please help me to keep the focus on You during this period of fasting. I don’t want to just substitute a new activity for the one I am giving up. Instead, I want to use my free time and I want to make time for You to delve deeper into Your Word, hear from You and speak to You.

Jesus, please remove all distractions and give me the strength to do Your will. Help me to remember to not rely on my own strength but to know that I have unlimited power that comes from You and I CAN overcome. Give me a support system for when times get hard and give me a gentle reminder whenever I lose sight of why I am fasting or how I should fast.

Thank You for hearing me, delivering me and purifying me.

This I pray, in the holy name of Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Starter Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for making me a member of your royal priesthood freely by Your grace. Even though I do not deserve this privilege, I thank you for giving it to me.

In the past I’ve had my sinful desires and my desires for You all confused. I thought I could live just pretending like I was whole, but I know now that I can never truly be whole without You.

I sincerely desire to live each day in conformity to Your will because I know that You have greater plans for me which are more abundant than anything I could ever dream of.

So please make me knew, God. Help me to avoid earthly minded decisions and show me Your way. Give me the courage to boast in You and what You have done for me. Use my life as You see fit and don’t let me go even when I seem unsure.

I thank you in advance for your faithfulness.

In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, I pray

Amen.