Some of us are blessed to have been born into families with a strong heritage of faith.
Some of us have been wrapped in prayer even before we were ever wrapped in our mother’s arms. Grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins have prayed for us throughout our life.
Some of us have several friends to turn to when we are in need of prayer.
And some of us don’t.
Some don’t have many people–if anyone–praying for them.
Some have never heard the these words spoken: Can I pray with you?
This might be the reality of someone walking past you in the store, someone sitting next to you on the bus, someone standing next to you in line.
But we can change that reality; we can pray for the ones no one is praying for.
Today’s Prayer Prompt:
Let’s a take a moment to think of people we know who may not have anyone else praying for them, and let’s lift them up in heartfelt prayer.
Every year on Independence Day we celebrate the freedom we’ve been given in our country.
Amidst the parties, the fireworks, and the laughter of friends and family, it’s a wonderful time to be thankful not only for the freedom we have in this country, but also for the freedom we have in God.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
He sets us free from our past. Free from condemnation. Free from our fears. He breaks the chains of addiction. He gives us strength to follow Him, grace to pursue Him more every day. He gives us His love for one another.
We are free.
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (Romans 6:22)
Not only on Independence Day, but every day, let’s celebrate the freedom He has given us.
Thanking God for Our Freedom
Yahweh, thank you for the freedom you have given me. Thank you for setting me free from this world. Thank you that no one in this life can steal my joy, my peace, my faith, because it’s grounded on you. Thank you that I am free from the clutches of the enemy, and free to follow after you with a whole heart. Thank you for the freedoms that I so often forget, the things that I take for granted, that you’ve so graciously given. Thank you for this freedom to talk to you. Thank you for sending your Son and setting me free today and forever, amen!
What are some freedoms in your life that you are thankful for today?
One of my favorites songs by one of my favorite singers is the song “Whatever It Takes” by Matt Papa.
It’s a hard song.
It’s about surrending all.
Whatever we prize more than Him is an idol, and my flesh doesn’t want to sing this song, because I want to cling to my idols.
And as much as it hurts my comfort, the truth is, true comfort is in Him and He’s worth so much more than anything I let go of.
Prayer is where we wage war with our idols.
Are we willing to say “Your will be done?”
What if that means letting go of a big part of our hearts, because we’re wrapped up in an obsession?
What if that means moving somewhere else?
What if that means taking a giant leap of faith?
This is uncomfortable faith.
That’s the faith that Jesus (Yeshua) lived. The crown of thorns on his head wasn’t comfortable. The road to Calvary wasn’t easy. But for the joy set before Him He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).
He wants to fill us with that king of joy.
He wants us to step out of our comfort zone, and trust Him more.
He wants us to pray…
Do whatever it takes me to make me more like Jesus This is hard, and I might break But I mean it when I say Lord, do whatever, whatever it takes
I truly don’t know where I’d be today without the effect that beautiful songs of truth have played upon my heart. It’s amazing how a song can resonate with exactly what my soul needs to pray. One of those songs that has touched my life is “Lord, I Need You” by Chris Tomlin. When I need to feel the peace of God, often it will come to mind:
Lord I come, I confess Bowing here I find my rest Without You I fall apart You’re the one that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, oh I need You Every hour I need You My one defense, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You
–“Lord, I Need You” by Chris Tomlin
In our times of need, we can be propelled to despair or propelled to prayer.
A prayer here or there is not enough to get us through the challenges of life. Even when we are in an easy season of life, if we’re not connecting in a continual way with our Maker, we’ll find success or happiness going to our head in an unhealthy, prideful way.
The more we come to face our human limitations and faults, the more we experience our desperate need for Him.
It’s okay to be in need. it’s okay to feel drained. This is where we learn to casts our cares on Him, to pray without ceasing, to cherish our dependence on Him.
To keep on the straight and narrow path He has for our lives, prayer must be a part of our lifestyle.
How we make it through the day matters because days become months, months become years, and years become a lifetime.
Let’s keep turning to the One who created the galaxies, music, words, personalities, and our very hearts.
Don’t be afraid to admit you need Him every hour.
Let others see Your daily dependence on Him. He longs for you to be a living example of the truth that His power is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Admit that prayer changes your life, that you’d be lost without Jesus, and that you need Him every hour.
Maybe you’re at a defining moment in your life, choosing between following Him or following the world.
Maybe you’re desperate.
Whatever it is you’re facing, I want to encourage you today.
You’re not alone.
Your Creator sees you where you are, and sees your future. There’s a beautiful promise in Psalm 9:10 that says, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
You can place your heart in His hands, knowing that He is a loving Father who will carry you through.
Your prayers don’t need to be elegant. The Bible actually warns us about vain repetition in Matthew 6:7. Your prayers can be as simple as, “Yahweh I need You. I want to trust You. Please help me.”
These three simple sentences, when spoken in honesty, reach a God that’s far bigger, far stronger, and far more capable of bringing you peace than anyone or anything else.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
Today, let’s hold onto the peace of knowing that there is no one more powerful and no one more loving than our heavenly Father.
Let’s let our prayers be honest, simple, and heartfelt–even if they’re short.
Today let’s hang onto Him.
You see my anxious heart You see what I am feeling And when I fall apart You are there to hold me How great Your love for me Now I see what You’re thinking You say I’m beautiful Your voice is my healing
Without You I just can’t get by So I’m
Hanging on to every word You speak ‘Cause it’s all that I need Hanging on to every word You say To light up my way Even every little whisper I’m Hanging on as if it were my life I’m hanging on
The other day, I was singing along to the song “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath. I’ve listened to it many times over the years, but this time, I was struck by how powerful a prayer it is.
Give me your eyes for just one second Give me your eyes so I can see Everything that I keep missing, Give your love for humanity. Give me your arms for the broken-hearted The ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten. Give me Your eyes so I can see.
This kind of a prayer can change your life.
It’s dangerous, but in the best kind of way, because it’ll break you free from the bondage of a man’s view and show you God’s view. It’s hard to pray that kind of prayer, but it’s liberating at the same time. It’s the kind of prayer that’ll make you take crazy leaps of faith, and trudge through lonely valleys just to love Him and love others as yourself.
Because the truth is that His love is so much greater than mine.
I must die to my earthly desires for Him to make me more like Him–more like love.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Please give me that love, Yahweh.
Dear God, give me your eyes so I can see. Give me your love for humanity. Give me your arms for the broken-hearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me your heart for the ones forgotten. Give me your eyes so I can see.
In Luke chapter 18 we find a powerful parable of two men praying.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
Which payer is accepted?
Today let’s admit who we are, and how desperate we are for Him.
Each of us faces it. Sometimes it’s worry, and sometimes it’s full blown anxiety.
When fear is attacking our hearts, where can we turn?
Who can bring us peace more than the Prince of Peace?
Where can we find sweeter words of comfort than the Word of God?
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
His words are powerful.
And when we look to His words, we see His character. We see how He is a good Father who loves His children. There is a beautiful quote that goes, “It’s not how much faith you have that matters, but Who your faith is in.”
If your faith is in Yahweh, the Maker of the heavens and earth, you can rest in knowing that He is with you no matter what.
As long as we live in this fallen world, we will battle with fear, doubt, and sin. But the good news is that we are overcomers. The battle does not define us. As children of God, He lets us run to His open arms for refuge in the storm.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
These Bible verse-inspired prayers bring such comfort to my heart, and I pray that they will encourage you today as well:
The fact that Yahweh is in control is the reason why I pray. I wouldn’t pray to Him if He wasn’t all-powerful, because prayer is not about changing God, it’s about allowing Him to change us, our circumstances, and our world through His Holy Spirit.
Prayer is not about control. It’s about surrender.
Our heavenly Father is the only one that can hear the cry of our souls.
He’s the only one who can feel our greatest joy and our deepest hurt. He sees the beauty that we’re blinded to and the sins that we try to hide. He sees our past, our present, our future, our hopes, our fears, and our deepest longings.
How are we going to see the light if we don’t open our eyes?
How are we going to feel hope, if we don’t open up our hearts?
How are we going to commune with Him without prayer?
Let’s pray when our heart can’t contain everything inside. Let’s rest in His presence when we don’t know where to go. He hears the cry of our soul even when we don’t know how to put it into words.
