prayer

Prayer for tough times

/ Vincent Chough / 2 Comments

It seems like the whole world is a mess sometimes, doesn’t it? And on top of it all, you have your own personal problems to deal with. Widespread confusion, chaos, and anger make things harder for all of us.

Some of us turn to social media for answers. But TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram won’t solve your problems — especially the hardest ones in your life.

Or maybe you shut down and try to ignore it all. But when a crisis arrives at your doorstep, what then? While it’s important to ask for help, there comes a time where you feel completely alone in your struggles.

This is the season to get closer to God. He’s crying out to you to since he loves you. And even though it might be hard to accept, the toughest moments in life lead to the greatest growth. Your faith gets formed in the fire.

No, it’s not easy at all. It can even be painful. You don’t have to like it. But if you seek and trust in the Lord, he will deliver you. You might not understand it at first, but be patient and remain firm in your faith. And then you will see the glory of God at work.

But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion…

Jeremiah 20:11

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PRAYER FOR TOUGH TIMES

O merciful Lord,

There is trouble all around me!

I feel trapped and choked. No one comes to my side. I feel so helpless and alone.

Nobody understands me, not even friends and family. And I feel like the whole world is falling to pieces.

But you, O Lord, see clearly the deepest part of my soul, the secret desires of my heart.

Rise up, O Lord, rise up!

Cast out the evil one that tries to destroy all hope.

Make my faith strong as steel and my confidence in you unbreakable.

In my trust, you purify my heart. You draw me ever closer. 

My Lord is a mighty warrior.

And even though I worry, even though I suffer and hurt – I will not let go of my Lord.

I will hold tight. I will keep trusting. And I will wait upon my Savior.

Keep me focused. Keep me sharp.

Let me continue forward, as my Lord has prepared the way.

In Jesus name, Amen.

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 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 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 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.

Prayer for all the hurt you see

/ Vincent Chough / 4 Comments

You see them. They could be family members or friends. Or maybe you hear about them on the news. You see so many people hurting, and it affects you. You have a human heart after all. You might go for days, weeks, or even years witnessing the hurt.

Instead of keeping it all bottled up inside, let the Lord help you process it all. Let him take the anguish off your shoulders. Let him give you his restoration. This doesn’t mean you don’t care. It doesn’t mean you won’t help. It simply means you need God’s help to deal with and process all the hurt you see in this world.

Fear not, for I am with you,
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

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Prayer for all the hurt you see

O blessed Lord,

So many struggle and strive.

Many wander far from the light.

It hurts to see them all, for my heart has been made tender by your loving grace.

Do I wish it could be different? Do I spend all my energy worried and afraid?

But you have shown me, O Lord, you have taught me to fear nothing.

You show me a more excellent way.

So I bow down now, I seek you. I surrender to your will.

You rush in. You remove worry. Only you can set me free.

And all the pain and suffering I see, I give it up to you.

I invoke your holy name to heal my eyes, ears and heart.

Cast out the evil one, O Lord. Silence his lies.

I appeal to your mercy. Forgive us and set us free, in Christ, our Savior.

For we all have sinned and we all need salvation.

Let us come home to you.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Prayer to trust in the Lord

/ Prayer for Anxiety / 4 Comments

It’s easy to trust God when things are going good. But what happens when we face complications or uncertainty? What happens when you are being pushed to the limit due to family or financial problems? Or maybe someone you love is facing an illness.

In hard situations, it’s not uncommon for your trust in God to be shaken. You might wonder why you have to go through such tough times. Maybe you feel like your entire world is falling apart. Or maybe you even feel abandoned by God.

In the hardest moments, trust in God is essential. If we only have faith when things are going well, then we really don’t need faith. But when things get complicated, or even brutal, that’s when you have to stay closer than ever to God.

Cry out to him. Seek him. Things might not turn out exactly how you want, but the process will teach you to trust in the Lord no matter what. This will serve you for your entire life. You will grow in steadiness and wisdom. You will gain patience. And you will walk with your Lord, even through the fire, as you know heaven awaits you.

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“Behold, God is my salvation;
    I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation.”

Isaiah 12:2

Prayer to trust in the Lord

O blessed Lord,

I can’t shake the doubt and worry. Obstacles rise up all around me. I have too much to do.

So I run around in circles even if it’s just in my mind. I feel trapped and choked.

Rise up, O Lord, rise up!

Cast out my doubts and fears. Silence the lies of the enemy that tell me I am lost and alone.

For the Lord is my strength and my energy. You are my stronghold, the Almighty in whom I trust.

So I return to you again. I return to your presence.

I know I am your child. I know I am beloved. I know I am blessed.

I will continue forward as the promises of God go before me.

May the obstacles in my life and in my mind come tumbling down.

I will trust in my Lord, my God.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Prayer for an important meeting

/ Prayer for Anxiety / 2 Comments

Do you have an important meeting coming up? It might be a family meeting. Or it might be work related. Maybe it could be a meeting at your church or with another important group. If you are nervous about it, then the meeting certainly has meaning for you.

You might be hoping for a specific outcome for the meeting, like landing a job or getting approval. Perhaps you have to deal with complicated people or situations as well.

The narrative inside your head might be very cluttered right now. So let God put things into order. Let him show you the proper perspective for it all. Yes, life is sometimes messy. The contradictions and disappointments in life can be hard to handle. And sometimes, we need to widen our perspective also.

But if you seek the Lord honestly and earnestly, everything changes — because you change. So prepare for that meeting. Saturate the moment with prayer. Then no matter what happens, you are ready.

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We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Prayer for an important meeting

O mighty Lord,

Even though the world pulls me away, I stop here and now. I seek your presence.

Prepare me, O Lord.

Bring calm to my heart and clarity to my mind. Fill me with your Holy Spirit.

Let me know that no matter what happens, I am at peace with my God.

And from that place of security let me move forward with confidence.

May the meeting’s outcome be favorable to your eyes. Pour yourself out over all of us.

May I see with the eyes of Christ, hear with the ears of the Lord, and speak with the words of the Spirit.

Mold my desires, O blessed Lord. Let me want what you want.

Let me trust and believe that in all things, you are at work for my good.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.