Jesus

Prayer for change

/ Vincent Chough / Leave a comment

Are you facing a complicated situation in your life right now? It might be a family issue or problems at work. Or maybe your church community is going through a crisis.

During these moments, you typically experience a wide range of emotions. You might feel anger, sadness, frustration, or even the desire to run away from it all. But what you want most of all is for things to change. You want things to get better.

How the situation will be resolved is anyone’s guess. It might take a long time for healing and reconciliation to occur — if ever. So what can you do? For starters, you can pray for everyone involved — even for those who frustrate you.

And you can change too.

It might not be your fault. It might not be anyone’s fault. Or maybe many are to blame. But when facing a complicated situation — if you feel confused and anguished — then the best thing to do is go to God.

Instead of getting tangled up in your feelings, lay it all at his feet. If needed, ask for forgiveness. Ask God to change you so you can see clearly. Then you can act if needed — and wait patiently if not. This doesn’t mean you don’t care. Instead, you seek and trust God to show you how to navigate the stormy waters.

Don’t let your feelings get the best of you. This only leads to actions you’ll regret later or feelings of depression and despair. Instead, find the healthiest perspective possible. Let the Lord show you how.

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:11-12

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Prayer for change

O blessed Lord,

 Contradiction and confusion surround me. Conflicts and petty rivalries rise up.

My heart aches to see all the hurt around me.

Won’t you send your help, O Lord?

Even though it doesn’t all depend on me, even though I can only do so much, I ask you, O Lord, change me first.

Open my mind and my heart. May your Spirit do his good work.

Let me let go of my selfish desires. Let me give up my preferences.

May I accept things as they are, and remain steadfast in the Lord.

I may not understand. I may not like it, but you can change me.

Clear away my confusion.

Covert my doubt into confidence.

Replace my anguish with your peace.

Reveal to me the clarity of Christ.

From there I will rest, as the Lord is my refuge.

From there I will act when you call me to serve.

From there I will go forward as the Lord prepares the way.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Prayer for rest and strength

/ Vincent Chough / Leave a comment

Who doesn’t need a break these days? We’re all burdened by the responsibilities and trials of life. Everyone, sooner or later, faces a major personal crisis. And some of them may last a long time. Maybe you feel like you just can’t take it any more. You feel tired and drained.

Part of the reason we might feel exhausted is because we rely on people too much. We might expect too much of them. Then, when they disappoint us, it’s devastating. Yes, we should expect certain things from certain people, and some people deserve our trust. We need each other to survive and thrive in this world.

But if you expect too much from people — or if your deepest inner peace depends on individuals or situations — then you set yourself up for a major let down. Because anyone can fail or make a mistake, including you. And this can make you bitter or sad. It can make you feel tired. But maybe you need to seek the best place for rest to find strength.

Only God can give us true rest for our souls. If we depend too much on people or circumstances — or ourselves — sooner or later we’ll be let down. Don’t place anyone or anything on a pedestal. Don’t expect them to give you what only God can provide.

True rest and peace for your soul can only come from your Creator. So rest upon the Lord. Regain your energy. Regain strength in the love of God.

For we who have believed enter that rest…

Hebrews 4:3

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Prayer for rest and strength

O blessed Lord,

I’m weary, tired and drained. I seek rest. I seek your peace.

Come to me, O Lord. In your mercy, give me comfort.

Show me, O Lord, that my rest depends on you. Reveal to my heart that only you can give me what my soul desires.

Free me from the temptation to let people or circumstances determine my peace.

For nothing is perfect. And no other can restore my spirit, only my Savior, only my Lord.

Only Jesus, the Lamb of God, can save my  weary soul.

And even if I may still worry and get tired sometimes, may I return again to you.

May your Spirit lift me up. May your Word nourish me.

And may the Body and Blood of Christ make me whole again.

You are my rest, O Lord. You are my love, my life & my faith.

In you, I am made strong again.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen.

Prayer for a new beginning

/ Vincent Chough / 4 Comments

Do you feel stuck in life? Does everything seem stale? Or maybe you’re dealing with a difficult situation that’s been going on for a long time. Either way, maybe you feel like you need a fresh start.

Of course, there’s no way to erase the past. The things that hurt you and the mistakes you made cannot be undone. But that’s the past. Meanwhile, the future is wide open. Do you have any courage left to hope?

What if you decided to begin again? But this time, you’re a bit wiser, more humble — and the scars you carry show why.

What if you decided to seek God with all your heart to move forward? But this time, you leave behind the things that don’t let you grow as a person.

What if you summoned all the strength you have left — and then completely trusted God to do the rest?

Do you dare to hope again? Do you dare to let his Spirit change you on the inside? Do you dare to live your faith as if your life depended on it?

If you have real-world experience, you’re not looking for a quick, magical change. You’re not interested in living in a fantasy world. Instead, you’re vision has matured. You understand life is full of limits and difficulties. But this will not hold you back from moving ahead. Your faith remains intact.

So step forward. Begin again. And again and again if you have to. Upon the love of God you can re-build as many times as it takes. Do your part with confidence — and leave the rest in God’s hands.

Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

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Prayer for a new beginning

O merciful Lord,

Here I am before you. I’ve been though so much.

Still, your love shows me, my life is not over.

My story is not finished yet.

Only you can make all things new. In you, I hope against hope.

Fill me with your Spirit, O Lord. Lift me up to you.

Give me clarity. Open my mind.

Let me begin again, no matter what it takes.

Let the lessons from my past teach me. In my struggles may I find strength. And may my mistakes keep me humble.

Cleanse me with your mercy, O Lord. By the blood of Christ, I am free.

I do not seek a perfect life. I know more trials await me.

So make my spirit strong, O Lord. Give me a kind and steady heart.

May I walk in grace with your Spirit. Prepare the way for me, O Lord.

Lead me to new, wide-open spaces. Let me rise with you and start again.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen.

Prayer for deeper strength

/ Vincent Chough / 3 Comments

Some life circumstances call for a deeper, maybe even supernatural strength. Are you facing something like that now? Is your back is against the wall? Do you feel like your entire world is falling apart? In these moments, a deeper strength is needed.

How do you stay strong when everything seems to be working against you? How do you rebound when you feel attacked or feel like a failure — or maybe even both? It’s never an easy process. But there is a way to regain your strength.

You might not feel like praying at all. You might feel like it’s impossible. But don’t ever give up on prayer, especially when facing extreme circumstances. Remember, everything is in God’s hands. You might wonder why you have to face such a painful experience, but if you remain firm in your faith, a deeper meaning will be revealed to you.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. This doesn’t mean you don’t have faith in God. Everybody needs help from other people from time to time.

Part of Jesus’ message is that we all will face incredibly tough situations at some point in our lives. Even the Son of God was not exempt. But if we get through the hard moments trusting in God, then the final result will be amazing — maybe even miraculous.

I can do all things in him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

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Prayer for deeper strength

O merciful Lord,

So many trails rise up at once, aggression appears on all sides.

My life hangs from a thread. Can you help me, O Lord? Will you?

Let me find my strength again. Let me dig deeper into prayer.

Let this weary soul be nourished by your Spirit and your Word.

And even if the enemy unleashes a horde of demons against me, let me not be afraid.

I will not fall. I will stand firm.

As you defend all those that praise your holy name.

Strength is purity.

So free me from any pride that blocks your loving grace.

Strength is patience.

So let me wait upon you, O Lord, as long as it takes, come what may.

And strength is love.

 So even if I feel torn to pieces, let my hope remain. As I know I am loved beyond all measure by Almighty God.

In Christ, I regain all strength, moment by moment, day by day, until your holy will is done.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Prayer for baby Jesus

/ Vincent Chough / 2 Comments

Merry Christmas to all! May our good Lord bless you and your loved ones abundantly.

And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

Prayer for baby Jesus

O merciful Lord,

Let me see with your eyes, let me hear with your ears, let me touch with your hands, and let me kiss with your lips the newborn baby Jesus.

Let me come to see the small, fragile child in each and everyone of us.

Let me not hurt those who can easily be hurt.

Let me hold those who desperately need holding.

Let me serve those who need my loving service.

And let tenderness be born again within me.

Let me be tender even with myself, as baby Jesus lives within me as well.

I too, like him, am fragile. I too need holding and kisses of love.

O sweet Jesus, born in a manger, let me hold you, as you hold me.

Let me make my heart your home.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

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Prayer for pure thoughts

/ Vincent Chough / 7 Comments

Do you ever catch yourself thinking about something terrible? You might even be shocked at your own thoughts sometimes. Or you find yourself obsessing over things that you know aren’t good for you.

What can you do about invasive thoughts? Maybe it feels like the more you resist, the worse it gets. And like ghosts, those thoughts appear in your mind and torment you. It takes away your peace. You might even begin to feel ashamed about yourself.

Maybe you don’t need to fight it. Don’t let bad thoughts frighten you or make you feel bad about yourself. Instead, open up to God’s mercy. He will never reject you — especially not for thinking bad thoughts.

If you are going to fight, then fight to stay close to the Lord. Even if you are thinking something horrible, stick close to God anyway. Then watch as he casts out the phantoms that haunt you.

Stay close to Jesus. And let him take care of the rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29

Prayer for pure thoughts

O merciful Lord,

My head is filled with so much noise and clutter.

I can’t focus. Or I focus on things that lead me away from you.

Do you see my struggle? Do you see my hurt? Won’t you help me, O Lord?

Let me move ever closer to you, even when I feel like a failure, stained or shamed.

Let me know my victory is found in surrender to your mercy.

Even when terrible thoughts fill my head, give me the courage and confidence to remain close, to seek you.

For I know you will never turn me away.

Let me not be tormented by my thoughts.

Instead, I will cling tight to you.

For only you can purify my heart – and bring rest to my weary soul.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

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Prayer for a love one who suffers

/ Vincent Chough / Leave a comment

Everyone has someone in their lives that isn’t doing so well right now. Some might even be facing enormous, life-changing challenges. And even though it’s not about you, it still hurts to see someone you care about suffering so much.

Sometimes, a person that suffers can get angry or bitter. They might even take it out on you. Or they put a distance between the two of you. And that just makes the pain even worse. Even though you know their wounds can cause strong or even irrational reactions, it still hurts your heart.

You might get angry or feel distant too. But deep down you feel sadness more than anything, because you know your loved one is struggling and hurting so much.

May this prayer accompany you while you stand by a loved one who suffers. Lean deeper into your faith, and give up your loved one’s suffering — and yours — to the Lord.

“So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.“

Matthew 18:14

Prayer for a loved one who suffers

O merciful Lord,

My loved one suffers. My loved one hurts.

Can you see my beloved?

Do you see our hurt and pain?

How can it not affect me when my loved one struggles so much right now?

Harsh words, silence, misunderstanding… it all pours out from the wounds of my beloved.

And my heart feels sore, my soul weary and wounded.

Still, if there is one thing you have shown me, if there is one thing I believe, it is this:

Love endures.

Let my love grow wider and stronger.

O Lord, let it cast deep roots into the love of Christ Jesus.

And even if the hurt grows deeper, may my love burn even stronger.

I may not always feel happy. I may even cry sometimes.

But my love will not fade. I will not abandon my beloved.

Let my love stay, O Lord, as your love stays with me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen.

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Prayer to stay solid

/ Vincent Chough / 2 Comments

Staying steady and solid is a huge challenge these days. Sometimes the pressures of life get too intense, and you might be tempted to give up or run away.

Whatever your situation might be, remember this: if it has value, it’s worth the struggle. Don’t give up! Seek the Lord and he will provide you with his Spirit to remain perseverant.

The presence of God is the best and safest place. In the Lord, you will find your strength and salvation.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12

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Prayer to stay solid

O blessed Lord,

Even when everything seems to fall apart,

Even when powerful temptations arise,

Even when I feel like I can’t move forward,

I will seek refuge in you.

Lift me up, O Lord!

Give me your peace and calm.

Fill me with courage.

Keep me solid and steady against the howling wind.

The enemy sets a trap. He seeks my destruction.

But I will not falter. I will not fear.

I will wait upon the Lord.

With a Word he sends the demon far, far away from me.

I confess my sin. I humble myself before Almighty God.

I can do nothing without you.

On my knees, I  will fight the good fight.

And in my life, all victory is the Lord’s.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer to stay focused

/ Vincent Chough / 1 Comment

Do you have trouble staying focused? Maybe you have a lot of responsibilities or many chores you need to get done. Remember, you can only accomplish one thing at a time. Trying to multitask might only increase your stress. So let the Lord give you the focus you need.

Many times when we have trouble focusing, it’s because our inner peace is disturbed. You might be worrying about something else in the background, and this makes it hard for you to concentrate.

Take a moment to seek the presence of the Lord. Let him give you the right perspective. Let him establish his order in your heart and mind. Let the Lord give you his peace. Then you can focus on what you have to do and finish each task, one by one.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 

Zacharia 4:6

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Prayer to stay focused

O merciful Lord,

The pressure mounts. There’s so much to do, and the distractions multiply all around me.

Give me focus, O Lord. Give me your clarity.

Give me your calm. Let me enter into your peace.

Establish your truth in my heart and mind.

The victories in my life will not come from my efforts alone, but from the power of your Holy Spirit.

Let me humble, O Lord. Let me be patient.

Let me focus on the task at hand.

Let me trust in your providence.

Then I will complete each task as you make it holy.

You are my Creator. You are my Lord.

Keep me focused. Keep me nimble and sharp.

Your Word is the final word. All honor and glory are yours.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Plenty to give

/ Vincent Chough / 3 Comments

Are you facing a situation that causes you great suffering? Everyone deals with hurtful situations, but some are especially painful.

How do you deal with things that have hurt you for a long time? What do you do when someone you care about engages in self-destructive behavior? Maybe you’ve tried to talk to them. You’ve done everything you can, but things haven’t gotten better.

Even Jesus experienced what you are feeling. Even the Son of God faced limitations, just like every human being. Jesus had no control over the hearts and minds of others. And some of those closest to him made disastrous decisions.

None of that stopped our Lord from completing his mission. He continued forward with deep trust in his Father’s will. He continued to serve lovingly and faithfully. And the final result was glorious.

Let Jesus’ example show you the way. Follow him.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

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Plenty to give

The hard things. The tough times.

Sometimes it hurts so bad. The pain eases then returns.

And you wonder, how can I keep going?

You want to run away and hide. You wish it would all just go away.

For you have tried everything you can think of to make it better.

But what if you found a new way? What if a new path was revealed to you?

Consider the Lord. Consider his ways.

Even he could not control the hearts of others. Denied, betrayed, and abandoned by those closest to him.

But he didn’t take it personally. Resentment did not poison his heart. Instead, he transformed his sorrow into service. He embraced the hurt to bring forth the greatest good, the deepest joy.

Run away and hide if you want to. Ignore the pain. Or lean into it and carry your cross. Find new ways. Open up new spaces in your heart.

Wait upon the Lord. Unite with him.

Be fed and filled by the One that gives you eternal life.

Then discover you have plenty of life left to give.