Tag Archives: prayer

3 Quick Prayers for When You Feel Overwhelmed

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Dear Jesus, I am overwhelmed. My mind is racing as I contemplate my to-do list and decide where to start. Reveal what I should prioritize, and give me the wisdom to know if there is something I should clear from my schedule. Bring clarity to my mind. Help me feel confident about my choices regarding how to spend my time. Help me put forth my best effort in all my upcoming responsibilities.  Thank You for caring about even the most minor details of my life and for being beside me every step of the way. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Dear Jesus, my schedule seems almost unmanageable right now. I feel unprepared to tackle my numerous appointments, commitments, and obligations. Remind me that You will give me the ability to accomplish all You have called me to do. Keep me encouraged through complicated times. Please take away the fatigue I am experiencing. Refresh and revive my soul. Energize me as I complete my tasks. Thank You for being who You are. I am grateful for Your promise never to fail or forsake me. You are so good, and You have good plans for me. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Dear Jesus, keeping a positive mindset with all the chaos and confusion around me is challenging. When I fix my eyes on the world’s problems, please help me focus on You instead. I am so grateful that You promise us peace beyond our understanding. Empower me to embrace Your perfect peace and allow it to radiate from my speech and actions. Direct my thoughts, guide my decisions, and help me calmly respond to crisis situations as they occur. Thank You for the blessing of Your nearness and for loving me so perfectly. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Setting Our Minds

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Before a sprinting race begins, we typically expect to hear specific instructions: On your mark and Set, followed by the starter’s gun. Imagine if the starter omitted the set command. Runners would potentially begin with a split-second of confused hesitation rather than a confident take-off. A slow, unsure start causes a disadvantage and can negatively affect the race’s outcome.

Similarly, when you and I are at the starting line of a personal race, such as a new assignment or adventure, it is valuable to purposely set our minds. Focusing our energy and effort on the task before us is vital if we desire to do our best. Setting our minds will positively affect the following steps and, ultimately, the outcome.

Philippians 4:8 provides a complete list of what to set our minds on specifically. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Romans 8:6 reminds us that what and Who we set our minds on makes a life and death difference! “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” 

Prayerful intentionality is required to remove thoughts from our minds that do not belong in these categories. Before we start our next pursuit, let us encourage each other to set our minds on what is most beneficial by thinking about who God is, who He created us to be, and how we can glorify Him through the races we run.

Prayer: Lord, may we not rush into any endeavors before deciding to set our minds on You. Please give us the ability to be focused and intentional. May we not breeze mindlessly through life moments and subsequently miss opportunities to glorify You. Help us honor You in all we do as we strive to put You first in our lives. In Your holy name, Amen.

A Few Thoughts From Ladies Bible Study

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For the last few months, I have had the privilege of leading a Ladies’ Bible Study at my church. When the former leader asked me to consider taking her place because she would be moving out of state, I prayed and soon believed God gave me the green light to say yes. Confidence in my Bible-Study-leading skills did not accompany that belief; however, God reminded me that He never puts a task in front of us without promising to give us the ability to fulfill it as He walks right beside us.

As I gain experience facilitating our weekly Bible Study, I also gain knowledge and insight from the dear ladies who attend each Tuesday morning. We have been studying different names and attributes of God. I want to share a few of the thought-provoking points from our discussions, and I pray it is meaningful to you!

The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:1-51: David willingly stepped up to fight Goliath, who was brazenly mocking the Israelite soldiers and their God. (Isn’t it surprising and disappointing that absolutely nobody in the army was willing to put themselves out there as David did?)

David’s eyes were not on himself. He did not think he could defeat the giant using his own strength and implementing his own methods. His eyes were not on Goliath either. If he had dwelled on the fact that Goliath was almost 10 feet tall, nearly 400 pounds, and was wearing a coat of armor well over 100 pounds, he would not have had the courage to take on that intimidating giant.

Where were David’s eyes? They were on God – His almighty, all-powerful God who protected him when he fought a bear and a lion. His eyes were on the God he had complete confidence in to help him in this wildly daunting feat.

The story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22:1-14: What did Abraham think when God commanded him to take Isaac to Mt. Moriah? I had never noticed before that in verse 5, Abraham tells the men with them to stay there with the donkey, as he and Isaac were going to worship, and then they would be back. They would both be back. Clearly, he was obedient to God; he had the knife raised above Isaac when God told him to stop. Immediately he saw the ram caught in the thicket, which became the sacrifice instead of his son. He must have had a good feeling that God would somehow give his son back or not have him go through with it, or…something, because he said they would both be back. There is faith in God, and then there is FAITH in God! Abraham had incredible faith and trusted God’s ways, even when they did not make sense in a human way of thinking. 

God provided at the very last second – when things looked the darkest. Again, Abraham had the knife raised in the air, ready to follow the command that God had given him. And at that moment, God said stop. God came through. Again. God provided. Again. And that story is not just for that time and that place. It is a promise of continued providence for all believers.

A Prayer for Your Children

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One way to invite blessings into the lives of your children throughout their lives is by praying for them to grow and thrive in their faith. I would like to share a prayer to lift up to the Lord on your child’s behalf. Please feel free to print it and put it in a place where you will see it often. What a blessing to serve a God who hears and cares about everything and everyone we bring to Him in prayer!

Click here for a printable version of this prayer.

Dear Lord, thank You for who You are. Thank You for hearing my prayers and caring about every concern I have. I am beyond grateful for Your unfailing love and forgiveness.

Lord, I lift my children to You in prayer. 

Please come alongside them today in a way they can feel powerfully. Let there be no mistaking Your presence in their life today! Replace any loneliness and abandonment with a tangible assurance of Your perfect love. 

Remind them that You are not only with them but also for them. Change their perspective in any situations where they are not sensing Your closeness. 

Lord, increase their faith in You and Your incomparable power. Enable them to rest in that faith, especially when life is complicated. Remind them that You make all things work together for good for those that love You.

Give them Your indescribable peace as You help them surrender to Your will for their lives. Renew their excitement for the plans You have lovingly orchestrated for them. 

Lord, help them desire a deeper relationship with You. Empower them to understand more fully Your character and holy nature. Give them a hunger for studying and understanding Your Word and a yearning to spend more time with You in prayer. 

May they listen for and readily recognize Your Holy Spirit’s voice. Help them become remarkably sensitive to Your voice, and may Your voice compel them to immediately and lovingly obey. 

Give them the courage to pray bold prayers as they approach You with expectancy. Help them to believe for miracles in their own lives and in the lives of those they pray for.

May they reflect Your light in all of their encounters. I pray that Your love will spill out of their lives and that their words, actions, and attitudes will give others a glimpse of Your character in this world that desperately needs to see more of You. In Your name, Amen.

Powerful Scriptures to Pray for Leaders in Our Lives

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Just last week, I had the privilege of having a guest post shared on ladiesdrawingnigh.org. The link to that article, “Powerful Scriptures to Pray for Leaders in Our Lives” can be found here. It also includes a free downloadable prayer that you can print out.

While you are there, take some time to look around on the website and you will find many features that will interest you! She has online Bible studies, a shop with prayer journals and scripture cards (and much more), Bible reading plans, and many articles on faith that will bring encouragement and provide teaching.

Take a few moments to read the article and let me know what you think!

Let’s bless the leaders in our lives by lifting them up in prayer!

Thank you, Friends!

Lord, You Make All Things Work Together

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Dear Lord, thank You for faithfully listening to our prayers. You care about every single one of our requests and heart cries. Your Word says we can confidently bring our burdens to Your throne and that You will equip us with Your mercy and grace. Enable us to release bitterness, unbelief, or anything else that might prevent Your mercy and grace from having their full impact. Help us remember that You are ceaselessly concerned about our lives and that while You might intervene in an entirely conspicuous manner, there will also be times when Your work will be behind the scenes and, therefore, not as visible. When we can’t see Your hand and the wheels You are setting in motion, may we still have an unwavering belief that You are actively moving. Open our hearts to what You are teaching us in the midst of trials.

In our world today, confusion and chaos can sometimes threaten to overwhelm us. When we find ourselves in that position, Lord, help us to set our minds on You, the Prince of Peace, instead of the problems. Remind us that You have given us access to Your matchless, perfect peace. Empower us to wait expectantly for Your peace to wash over us and to protect us from strife in even the most difficult circumstances.

Help us to rest in the promise that You always cause all things to work together for our good. Remind us that what we think is good might be different from what You know is good and that Your definition of good supersedes our definition. Assure us that You are sovereign, have everything under control, and are for us, not against us. 

Lord, thank You for Your unfailing love for us. Help us surrender to Your will, way, and wisdom. 

In Your holy name we pray, Amen.

Hebrews 4:16, Philippians 4:7, Romans 8:28

The God of Hope (Romans 15:13 Free Printable)

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Romans 15:13 is a beautiful verse that can be a brief, heartfelt prayer for your loved ones. Often when a specific person comes to mind, or I see a particular person in a hallway or grocery store, I feel compelled to say a prayer for them. It may be as simple as “Lord, help her to feel Your presence today,” or “Lord, remind him that You are in control and can always be trusted.” 

I’m praying Romans 15:13 for you today, Friends! Would you agree we could all benefit from being filled with more joy, peace, and hope? The Holy Spirit is ready to fill all of us with all of that when we ask Him! I pray you will be encouraged when you think of the joy, peace, and hope God has in store for us. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

Click here for the printable!

Post 2 of 3: Praying through Galatians 3 and 4 with your spouse

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When it comes to marriage, I firmly believe praying for each other (and with each other) plays a vital part in strengthening the husband-wife bond!

The following prayers can be prayed as a couple or separately. I hope that you and your spouse will be blessed and encouraged through these prayers based on the book of Galatians!

Here is a link to the PDF of the following prayers.

Prayer #1 based on Galatians 3: 1-3, 5, 10-14, 23-29

Dear Lord, we praise You for being a miracle-working God. Broaden our belief in who You are and what You can do. Let our confidence in the gospel be unwavering, especially in challenging times. May we be known as people who continually exalt You. Help us always be thankful that You died for us and redeemed us from the requirements of the law. Remind us that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not something we earn – it is a gift of grace directly from You.

May we be eternally grateful for Your sacrifice on the cross and for making a close, personal relationship with You possible. Your Word reminds us that Your Law provided protection, but when Christ came, He made it possible to be saved from punishment because we place our trust in Him. I pray that we will trust Your guidance as You show us the path to avoid temptation and sin. May we clearly discern Your voice and have the wisdom to respond obediently.

Thank You for being a promise-keeping God. Your Word affirms that we are one in Christ regardless of differences. Please give us the ability to see people through Your eyes and enable us to act with dignity, sincerity, and respect toward everyone we encounter. May people catch a glimpse of You in us as we help our family hold firmly to the truth that all Your children are precious in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer #2 based on Galatians 4: 3-7, 9-14

Lord, we thank You for being our Heavenly Father. May we fully embrace the sacred magnitude of being known as Your child. Remind us that freedom is only found in You and prevent us from embarking on a futile search for any substitute. Fill us with a genuine appreciation for the generous gift of Your redemption. May gratitude naturally exude from us and assist in creating an atmosphere in which people praise Your name openly. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to reside in our hearts.

Lord, we pray we will enjoy a renewed thankfulness for no longer being a slave to rules and regulations. Please generously impart Your wisdom to us as we navigate our faith journey. Grant us Your insight when worldly temptations entice us. Help us to rely on Your lead as we make decisions. May we always strive to honor You with our choices. May we rest confidently in our relationship with You.

Bestow on us a natural tendency to display Your life-changing love to everyone we meet. Disclose to us the physical and spiritual needs of people around us and the numerous ways we can be Your hands and feet in each situation. Help us be obedient to Your call and refresh us with Your strength and fortitude when we are fatigued. Sustain us and spur us on. Bless our efforts and allow others to recognize an authentic representation of You through our words and actions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Praying Through Galatians 1 and 2 with Your Spouse

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When it comes to marriage, I firmly believe praying for each other (and with each other) plays a vital part in strengthening the husband-wife bond!

The following prayers can be prayed as a couple or separately. I hope that you and your spouse will be blessed and encouraged through these prayers based on the book of Galatians!

Here is a link to the PDF of the following prayers.

Prayer #1 Based on 1: 6-17, 22-24

Dear Lord, we praise You for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In a world moving further away from the truth, may we refuse to allow our faith to falter or fade. Place in us a sincere longing to make You known. Help us display the unmatched hope found in living for You. Embolden us to consistently convey the meaning of the gospel through our words and actions. Please help us be concerned only with Your approval and unfazed by the opinions of others.

Lord, show us witnessing opportunities and help us to be passionate about telling others about Your love. Enlighten us and provide Your divine revelation as we strive to become more devoted and dedicated to You. As our faith in You deepens, may we powerfully sense Your presence. Thank You for lovingly forgiving our transgressions. Reassure us that You do not define us or anyone else by sins we have committed. Inspire us to cling tightly to the identity You have given us.

Draw us continually closer to You. Reveal how we can proclaim the incomparable power and peace found in having a relationship with You. We pray that others will see Your light shining through in how we conduct ourselves. Broaden our influence and expand our impact as we live lives that courageously honor You. Lord, may our lives inspire many people to learn more about You, become more like You, and follow You fearlessly. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer #2 Based on Galatians 2: 4-5, 10, 16, 19-21

Dear Lord, we are so grateful that You gave Your life for all of us. Guard our hearts against falling into the bondage of sin. May we be genuinely thankful for the freedom You offer in a life lived for You. Let our generosity toward others be an admirable example for our family and friends to follow.

We pray to become progressively more sensitive to the promptings of Your Holy Spirit. Enable us to discern Your voice above all others. When we hear and acknowledge You, compel us to respond with immediate obedience.

Your Word clearly states that justification comes by faith and not works. Remind us that Your grace is a gift that You offer to all of us. It is our choice to accept it or not. We cannot earn grace by accumulating works or by checking items off a list. May we be completely confident that we are justified in Your sight simply because of our faith in You. Please help us spread that message to others.

May we be alert to opportunities to share our faith openly with a hurting world. Reveal how we can be ambassadors for the freedom we gain when we put our trust in You. Help us grasp the life-changing impact we will have on others when we choose to live for You and love others in a Christlike manner. May we continue to be aware of and amazed by Your extravagant grace. Empower us to offer it to others generously. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayers For Your Children (1 of 3)

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Friends, I would like to share some prayers with you.

  1. A prayer for parents of adult children.
  2. Three prayers for adult children based on Romans 12.

As a mom of four children who are all in their twenties, there are some specific things that I pray about. The first prayer below covers those…the desire to be there for my children, but to not interfere. It’s a fine line, isn’t it? I’ve crossed it, straddled it, and avoided it etc. at various times.😀

The next three prayers found below are based on Romans 12, which is a passage that summarizes how to live a Christ-like life, which is something my husband and I long for regarding our kids. Of course, these can be prayed for your children no matter their ages, but they are geared toward a little bit older age group.

I have also included printables…so please feel free to download, print, post etc. these prayers and/or share them. Thank you!

Prayer for Parents of Adult Children

Dear Lord, please give me the wisdom to know how much and when to offer assistance to my adult children. Help me discover ways to express and demonstrate that they can call on me for advice and support and that they can also count on me to know when to step back, even when there is potential for them to fail. Stop me from picking up pieces from situations they are assigned to learn from. Please do not allow me to interfere in their maturation process. May they always know that I trust them, pray for them, cheer for them, and love them dearly.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayers for Adult Children Based on Romans 12

Dear Lord, inspire them to become transformed by You. Help them to grow in their relationship with You consistently. Enlighten them as they strive to understand Your will. May they be unwavering in their belief in You and remain undeterred by worldly influences. Move them to live out their faith boldly. May they realize the incredible worth You have placed in all people as they humbly serve others in Your name. Thank You for the wonderful talents and unique personality traits You have given them. Give them a longing to use those talents and traits to demonstrate Your character confidently. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Based on Romans 12:2-8)

Dear Lord, may they understand the meaning of Your genuine love. I pray they will reject the world’s definition of love and truth and instead diligently cling to all that is good. May they show love and respect in all they say and do. Equip them with a servant’s heart as they enthusiastically represent Your characteristics to all those they encounter. May they be hopeful and faithful in praying for Your blessing to be upon everyone – even those who have hurt them. Empower them to empathize when people are hurting.  Please give them the ability to bring harmony to divisive situations. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Based on Romans 12:9-16)

Dear Lord, teach them to treat people with grace and humility consistently. Give them a desire to be honorable when dealing with others. May they realize how necessary it is to have a teachable spirit, which will spur them on to pursue Your wisdom and apply it. May they radiate Christlike peace even when they are taken advantage of, and may they depend on You to make everything right, instead of defaulting to the natural response of repaying evil for evil. Instruct them how to model generosity in even the most challenging of circumstances. Aid them in displaying Your love to a hurting world. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Based on Romans 12:17-21)

***For printables of the prayers: Click here