That Prayer

This blog post is based on a prayer. Literally! I have seperated this prayer into sections and tried to describe what they mean to me. I hope you enjoy this blog and the full prayer will be at the end.

Thank you for your amazing love for me! Thank you for always being by my side and never giving up on me. I want to know you more, walk in friendship with you, and let you shape my heart to be more like you. No matter what God’s loves will never change no matter what you do, even if you try your best to live the way He wants you to. Sometimes when you have a good day, the thought that you and God are close is prominent on your mind. When we fail, we tend to believe He is angry at us and has distanced Himself from us. However, this is not the case, even we were at our worst, Jesus still chose to die for us and He never will distance Himself from us, even when we fail. Just like a good father, He will stay right by our side whatever happens, His heart filled with love and forgiveness, the same love and forgiveness He had the day He gave His life for us. However, the best part of it all, is knowing that there is nothing we can do that can change His love for us and to know that Jesus is calling us into a friendship with Him. That’s right, a friendship with Him, not a servant relationship where we simply follow rules and fulfill duties, but a friendship, one where we get to know God as we live our lives for Him. I want to live a bold life for you. Give me confidence to follow where you lead and share your love with those around me. I want to see your love spread like a wildfire and change people’s lives around me. God wants us to live a bold life for Him and to let His light shine in all we do. He has called each and every one of us for a purpose, not a calling, like one to be a singer or a pastor, but a purpose. The definition of purpose according to the Websters dictionary is: the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. One of the main reasons God created us was to follow Him, and in doing so, shine His love to a world that desperately needs it. Everyday we open our doors to a world filled with hate, murder, theft, deception, and on and on. We could go overseas to share this hope and love, but to be honest, we don’t need to go far to find someone that desperately needs the hope we have and the love we receive from being His. This person could be a family member, a friend, a coworker, or even a complete stranger! Sometimes we can feel uncomfortable or even terrified to step out and strike up a conversation about Jesus with someone. It can feel random or awkward to step out in a way we haven’t before, but one small step of faith can change a person’s life forever. All we have to do is share why we have the hope we do and the love we share, to share the good news of what Jesus did for us, and how that person can have the same hope and love. We are supposed to be the light, to shine our lights bright, and to live we have nothing to hide. Our God is always for us, so we don’t need to be afraid, and we don’t need to feel paralyzed. The world is behind us now, with all its lies and harmful ways and the cross lies before us, with all its promises of life and love. As we live this bold life for God, there is no stopping what He can do with us and through us, and the gospel will spread like a wildfire with people glorifying God for His amazing love. Thank you for running to meet me no matter where I am. Even when I wander off and make mistakes, I could never run beyond your grace. You always welcome me back with open arms. I want to understand your heart for me in a deeper way. Many people feel as if they need to “clean” ourselves up before going to God with our sins or needs. Sometimes, after we sin, we tend to feel alone or isolated, and begin to doubt that God could accept us or that He is far off and ashamed of us. However, the truth is you are NEVER beyond God’s grace no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, and God loves you so much that He welcomes you into a relationship with Him. God does not want to condemn you and make you feel more shame for the choices you’ve made, that is not what He desires to do, He wants to save and redeem you from your past. We see an example of God’s amazing love and grace in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. As the story goes, the youngest son asks his father for his portion of the family inheritance and sets off on journey to a distant land and begins to waste his money. As what happens when you spend money foolishly, it quickly it ran out and the son finds himself in a bad situation. The son had nothing, no home or food, no family or friends, he was deep in a pit, literally! At one point, he grows so desperate that he even longs to eat the pig’s food. Eventually, the son realizes how foolish and irresponsible he has been and longs for his home. He decides to return home and ask his father for forgiveness, and to his surprise, his father runs to meet him with open arms. The father had been watching and waiting for his son, and welcomes him back with open arms of compassion and is overjoyed by the return of his lost son. The son tells his father that he had severely sinned, and was (in his mind) no longer worthy of being called his son. He even goes as far as to ask his father to bring him on as a hired servant. His father ignores his sons sins and asks his servants to prepare a celebration feast in honor of his son's return. The son knew he didn’t deserve to be loved or accepted after the way he deeply hurt his father in the way he lived, however, the father did what none of us would have expected. He forgave his son! This is the same way God loves us, when we fail and make mistakes, he doesn’t isolate you from His love. He is ready to run and meet you right where you are.

I want to surrender everything to you. Highlight the areas of my heart that I still have to give to you. I don’t want to live in fear, I want to live in faith. I trust your love for me and I will follow wherever you lead. It’s so easy to hold on to our earthy things in life and give up what God has given us. Due to our human nature, we desire to be in control and remain in what we’re used to, our “safe spot”. However this way of living prevents us from experiencing the amazing and fulfilling life God has in store for us. Just like the story of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14, Peter was moved to step off the boat and into the raging sea to walk with Him. Peter would have never done this on his own strength, but he understood and believed that if Jesus called him to walk on water then there was no reason to fear. Even though Peter only walked a few steps on the water before the waves distracted him and Jesus had to save him from sinking, it still remains one of the greatest acts of faith in the Bible. It’s the love of God which gives us the option to step out on the water and accept this relationship, and in doing so, leave behind our fears. Will you give in to the stirring in your heart to surrender and fully trust God with your life, and step out in faith to follow Him?

Thank you for the blessings you pour out in my life and for the good life you promise me. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me a brand-new start. Help me seek your guidance and hear your voice so that I move where you want me. I choose to follow your leading so that I can live out the purpose you have for me. “For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” - Deuteronomy 30:16 As humans, we are always chasing what society deems the “good life”, we’re always looking to other people to make us happy and earthly things to fill us up. It’s easy to look for fulfillment from things that the world has to offer, but they only satisfy us for a temporarily time and then leave us feeling empty and longing something more. We can only be truly satisfied and fulfilled by the Holy Spirit - that is how we will truly live the “good life”, with God wanting to give us EVERY blessing. Just like James 1:17 says, every blessing comes from Him! “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17 Sin often makes us feel broken or not good enough and it often causes us to want to hide from God. However, this is farther from the truth, when Christ died on the cross, He wiped away EVERY sin and not only did He erase those sins, but He gave us strength to overcome them. “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” -Philippians 4:13 God has given us a brand-new start so we don’t need to feel heavy and guilty because of our sins, we have been forgiven and can now look forward to the wonderful plans God has for our lives. He gives us guidance and the power to move forward into a life full of true love, joy, and purpose that will never change no matter our circumstances. Start shaking and cleaning off the dirt and the rust from your weary heart and don’t ever look back because you have been forgiven from your past, you have a brand-new page for your story.

I promise to turn my eyes to you and give over every worry that clouds up my mind. I thank you for the peace and strength that only you can give. I know who to run to every time the rain pours down, and I know where to find that solid ground. I will turn my eyes to Jesus. There are so many things in this life trying to catch your attention and distract you, whether it be our phones, friends, or just everyday little problems. We often become overwhelmed and lose sight of what really matters, and we turn to worldly things in hope of them to satisfy us, but ultimately none of it does. Remember, we need to turn our eyes toward the Lord and go to Him in prayer with EVERYTHING instead of stressing about what is happening around us. All of us in have personal experiences of when the struggles of the world have become too much to bear, but few of us have memories of when we gave our worries over to the Lord and He gave us peace and strength to overcome them. Some people tend think that praying is just too simple, that it is the “easy way out”, however refocusing on the Lord is the only way that all those struggles will truly fade away. When you do, He will give you a peace that is like nothing you will ever experience on this earth. "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” - Isaiah 26:3 This verse in Isaiah reminds us to turn our eyes to Jesus where our hope comes from, & to keep our heart and minds focused on the Lord and the truth and hope only He can give.

I will not listen to the lies of the enemy anymore. I choose to believe the truth of what your word says. Give me understanding to discern the lies I am currently believing so I can cast them off my heart and receive your truth. Thank you for being my hope and my victory. I turn my eyes to you only. There's a voice that's calling me to a distant shore and it says,” If you just take a step, you will find what you are asking for.” Even though this world keeps telling me that I'll sink beneath the waves, I will remember that He is my courage and He is my faith. Every day of our lives we encounter the unseen battle going on inside of us trying to take hold of our hearts, the one between truths and lies. One of the battles we see many struggling with is the one of self-worth and self image. Are we pretty enough or do we look good enough? Do we deserve to have friends or are we too weird? Are we talented enough or are we so unskilled that we don’t deserve any recognition? The reality is everyone has all of these thoughts run through our minds at some point in out lives things, and many fall victim to their tight grip. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” -Genesis 1:27 God has created you in His image, you were modeled after the Almighty God with greatness and perfection. He designed every part of you, from every freckle on your face to how many hairs are on your head, and He chose each and every thing for a reason. You were made with greatness because you were created by greatness. Don’t let the world tell you that you aren’t good enough or that you need to change, instead find strength and confidence in the hands that created you. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” -Ephesians 2:10 Your life has a special purpose that was created before you were even conceived, you are His beautiful creation and were made to worship Him. Don’t get discouraged in your weaknesses, but find God’s greatness in your strengths, you were given them for a reason and they will guide you to the place the Lord has waiting for you. The lies of this world say, “You can’t…,” “You aren’t…,” and “You will never…” and sometime these lies can get so loud that we can no longer hear Jesus saying, “I can...,” “I AM,” and “I will...!” Even though the enemy tries to tell us we will sink beneath the waves and never amount to anything, we know that God is the One who is in control and He has created us for an incredible purpose! Fix your eyes on Jesus and believe the truth that He has told you and cast off the lies of the world.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your amazing love for me! Thank you for always being by my side and never giving up on me. I want to know you more, walk in friendship with you, and let you shape my heart to be more like you. I want to live a bold life for you. Give me confidence to follow where you lead and share your love with those around me. I want to see your love spread like a wildfire and change people’s lives around me. Thank you for running to meet me no matter where I am. Even when I wander off and make mistakes, I could never run beyond your grace. You always welcome me back with open arms. I want to understand your heart for me in a deeper way. I want to surrender everything to you. Highlight the areas of my heart that I still have to give to you. I don’t want to live in fear, I want to live in faith. I trust your love for me and I will follow wherever you lead. Thank you for the blessings you pour out in my life and for the good life you promise me. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me a brand-new start. Help me seek your guidance and hear your voice so that I move where you want me. I choose to follow your leading so that I can live out the purpose you have for me. I promise to turn my eyes to you and give over every worry that clouds up my mind. I thank you for the peace and strength that only you can give. I will not listen to the lies of the enemy anymore. I choose to believe the truth of what your word says. Give me understanding to discern the lies I am currently believing so I can cast them off my heart and receive your truth. Thank you for being my hope and my victory. I turn my eyes to you only.

Amen