7 Prayers That Work

Lord, I have so much to do today. This week. This month. My spirit feels rushed and anxious. Calm me and remind me that all I have to do is worship You. Just listen, obey, observe, act. I just need to be You today to someone else. So what do You want to do today? Who needs Your Spirit and Your love? I am Yours today. Amen.

I've been wrestling with some big decisions. So I opened my Bible, and there was Psalm 145. Incredible! Just what I needed. Here's a snippet: "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fufills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but the all wicked he will destroy." (Psalm 145:17-20) What are you wrestling with? The Lord is near and listening for your voice. You can pray this prayer: Lord, I need you! Help me believe that You are loving and gracious, and You have good plans for me. My desire is toward You. May that desire intensify rather than wane. Watch over me and guide me to speak truth to You, to believe truth about my life, and to leave everyone and everything else in Your care.  Amen. image by  alex grichenko

Lord God, the Holy One-- You are gracious and full of awesome power and purity. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. I come today on behalf of someone else. I want to pray for ________'s repentance, so first I must ask you to forgive me of my wrong-doing and selfishness. Convict and remove all the little pet sins I shelter in my life, the things I say aren't a big deal. Root them out. I'll brace myself. I know it will hurt a little to be honest with myself and change my will and behavior. But when I do, I will have peace. Forgive me, please. So now I ask you to forgive __________. I confess on his/her behalf. Forgive him/her for rebellion, selfishness, pride, and ignorance of Your laws and Your expectations. Moses confessed for Israel, and even though they rarely repented, You had compassion on them, for Moses' sake. You showed grace and mercy and lovingkindness. Because someone cared enough to ask You for it. Show Your lovingkindness to

*(If you're a husband, switch all the him, he , and his to her, she, and her !) Dear Lord God Almighty, You've created my spouse with special care. You've fashioned his mind to process and his temperament to respond in the exact way You want it to. You've given him the ability to lead and follow, to be patient and impatient, to be confident and worried, to wait and to act. Your wisdom tells him what to do when. Protect him from discouraging influences, from critics, cynics, fools, and braggarts. Send Your angels to guard the mission You've designed for him and guard his heart from discouragement and disappointment. When he sees the enemy, may he give those souls over to You. May he love his enemies with Your love. Speak to him. Send whispers of hope shivering through his soul. Touch his memory and imagination with creativity that can only come from You. Make his heart feel light and happy, even while it carries a heavy weight. Only through