Imagine you’re sitting across from a close friend, your most trusted confidant. You’re opening your heart to her and sharing a current struggle in your life. This is a comfortable conversation because you know she’ll listen, and she’s loyal. You have no fear of judgment, no hesitancy to disclose it all. As you confide in her, your burden already starts to feel a little lighter because now you’re not in this struggle alone. Your friend is there with you and for you.
Now I want you to think about your last prayer. How do your conversations with God feel right now? I have closed my eyes to pray before and not had the words to say. I know my God knows my heart. In moments of despair, scripture tells us we don’t always need words for our pain. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26, English Standard Version). Sister, I am so thankful that in our darkest moments we don’t need perfect words to find the light.
Even with this reassurance, I longed for my everyday day prayer practice to feel natural, comfortable, and close. A dear friend shared Priscilla Shirer’s book, Fervent, with me; through it, I learned how to write my prayers and find my prayer voice. Today, I’ll share those four steps with you.
- Start with thankfulness. In all things God is good. Enter your prayers with a spirit of gratitude.
- Ask for forgiveness. Recognize each day is an opportunity to surrender control of how you think something should work itself out. Walking in His way means giving up my way.
- Make your requests known. Let God know what’s weighing heavy on your heart and in your mind.
- Believe His word is truth. Adding God’s word to your prayers is a way to pray boldly and with the confidence of a believer.
With this strategy, I am building a prayer library. I invite you to join me. Each prayer you write brings more ease and honesty into your conversations with the One who loves you the most. He is near to you when you seek Him with all your heart, and you can trust Him with it. Sister, get a notebook or index cards, and lay your burdens down. There is power and freedom and light waiting for you.
Each day this week, I’m taking your requests and sharing a prayer using the strategy from Fervent. Here is a prayer for your anxiety:
God,
Thank you for caring for me and being close to me when I feel overwhelmed and anxious. I know there are times I try to carry my burdens alone, but that is not what you want me to do. Lord, I ask that you help me to remember to give it all to you. You know my worry. You know the reason for my unease. I come to you for peace. Lord, settle my heart and my mind. Fill me with your Spirit that reassures me and comforts me. You say I am to cast all my worries and cares to you, and I’m here to do just that. Thank you for carrying it for me. I trust you with it and may your will be done today and always.
Amen.
SisterShred 