I want to share with you a prayer that I wrote, my personal version of The Lord’s Prayer with verses that mean something to me and reminders that I need. And then I will explain this prayer over the next few posts. I call it My Everyday Prayer. It’s the one I go to in the morning, especially when I can’t think of where else to start. (I don’t manage to do it every day, but I try to say it often.) And then I just continue to talk to God spontaneously the rest of the day. But I like to say this one first because every line means something to me and is there for a reason, and I’ll explain later. So here it is, My Everyday Prayer:
Heavenly, Holy, Gracious Father,
Thank You for another day. And for loving me enough to send Jesus to die for me. May my life be a Thanks offering for that beautiful, priceless gift. And I truly, deeply thank You for the wonderful blessings of a good marriage, good children, and our good health. Life is sweet! You have been so good to me to grant me these things. Anything else is just bonus. Please protect them! Protect my marriage, my children, and our health. With these, I am rich beyond belief!
Guide me today according to Your Will and for Your glory. Fill me anew with Your Holy Spirit. Help me discern Your leading and grant me the strength to obey. Help me walk in wisdom and gracefulness.
Give me eyes to see and ears to hear what You want for me and from me. And help me to notice and be thankful for the blessings and gifts You have given me. (*Thank Him now or after the prayer for specific things.) Help me also to notice how I can be a blessing and a help to others.
Search my heart and reveal any sins or obstacles between us. (*Pause and listen now or after the prayer.) Forgive my sins as I forgive others. Create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Provide all we need for today. And help me to be content with it, for You have decided that it is enough. You are enough! Help me to glorify You with what You provide today, with what You give or take away.
Pour out on us Your love, grace, and mercy, for we are bankrupt without these. Protect us from evil and surround us with Your Heavenly angels, for we are desperate for Your care and protection. We cannot fight this battle without You!
Help me to follow and not lead - to surf and not ski - as I humble myself under Your mighty hand, trusting that You will lift me up in due time. And may I never “shorten Your arm,” but help me rest in Your wisdom, power, and timing.
Take the little that I can do and offer, and multiply it for Your glory and Your purposes. Make something beautiful and useful out of my shortcomings and weaknesses. And help me be more like Jesus!
I once again commit my family and my path to Your gracious, wise care. May Your Will be done in and through our lives. And may all we do be for Your glory. Help me remember to live for eternity, and not for the temporary.
Guide and protect our country and call us back up to being a nation “under God.” Have mercy on us and do not give us what we deserve. But send Your Spirit to start a revival, for we are in desperate need of You!
Be with my boys as they grow, and with their future wives. Guide them all to being humble, wise, intelligent, strong, godly adults. Keep them all safe and pure until marriage. Help them to find each other at a young age and to commit to godly marriages. And help them to discover what it is that You want for them and for their lives. Bless their families. And I ask that You bless Jason and me with many more healthy, enjoyable years.
Is there anything right now that I need to commit to Your hands? (*Pause, listen, and pray it over to God.) And speak to my heart right now about anything that You want me to know, do, or pray. (*Pause and listen.) And I pray all of this in Jesus’ most holy name, Amen
(And then, I try to spend some time praying for other people and just talking my thoughts, feelings, and fears over with God. And I do this all throughout the day because I need to talk things over with Him. I just can’t face the day, the discouragement, the Enemy on my own.)
So now over the next few posts, I’ll tell you why these lines are so important to me.
