Praying through Every Emotion Read online

  I place my burdens in Your care and thank You for carrying them. You have saved me, and You also show me how to help others with their burdens. I will do all You show me to do because I belong to You and because doing what You ask always turns out to be a blessing.

  In the name of Jesus, amen.

  Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

  Matthew 11:28–30 MSG

  Give your burdens to the LORD,

  and he will take care of you.

  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

  Psalm 55:22 NLT

  Praise the Lord,

  who carries our burdens day after day;

  he is the God who saves us.

  Psalm 68:19 GNT

  Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings.

  Galatians 6:2 GW

  Compassionate

  Dear Lord,

  You love me and call me to funnel Your love into everything I do.

  Help me to live the kind of life You’ve called me to live with Your gifts of humility, gentleness, and patience so that I can lovingly accept others the way You accept me.

  Help me to be kind and also forgiving, just as Christ forgave me. Help me to love my brothers and sisters with tenderheartedness and to be courteous to all.

  I ask You to help me see the needs around me so I can share compassion with those I love and those even beyond my own circle. Show me when and how to reach out to the hungry and the hurting. Pure religion is not practiced in church but whenever I see and attend to widows, orphans, and others in need.

  Help me to remain uncorrupted by the world. Keep me from becoming jaded. Show me how to use compassion as a secret weapon to help others defeat the devourer. May those with whom I share compassion grow in love so that they can turn and share Your compassion with others. In this way, allow Your gift of compassion to become an endless gift throughout the generations.

  I want to live my life in and through Your love.

  In the name of Jesus, amen.

  Do everything with love.

  1 Corinthians 16:14 GW

  Live the kind of life which proves that God has called you. Be humble and gentle in every way. Be patient with each other and lovingly accept each other.

  Ephesians 4:1–2 GW

  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

  Ephesians 4:32 NIV

  Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.

  1 Peter 3:8 NKJV

  Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

  James 1:27 NLT

  Confident

  Dear Lord,

  When I imagine myself alone, without You, I lose hope. What power do I have to win life’s battles without You? But why worry about such a thing when You are always with me?

  I am traveling through this life with You, my powerful God who is living on the inside of me. What a wonder and a miracle that is!

  You are the God of peace who protects me from the schemes of the devil. You crush him beneath my feet because the grace of my Lord Jesus is over me. And for this reason alone, I have the strength to face anything that comes my way through the power of Christ.

  I am confident that You have already begun a good work in me. I know You will carry this good work to completion until the day I meet Jesus face-to-face.

  This is why I have the confidence to say, “Lord, You are my helper. I have no need to fear. I am under Your power and authority. My soul cannot be touched by anything anyone tries to do to me because I am in You and I am Yours.”

  Even though I cannot yet see You face-to-face, I know You are with me. Because I know You and because Your grace has covered my sin, I will enjoy Your peace that quiets my soul. My confidence is in You forever.

  In the name of Jesus, amen.

  The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

  Romans 16:20 NIV

  I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

  Philippians 4:13 GNT

  Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

  Philippians 1:6 NIV

  So we can confidently say,

  “The Lord is my helper;

  I will not fear;

  what can man do to me?”

  Hebrews 13:6 ESV

  To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.

  Hebrews 11:1 GNT

  The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;

  its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.

  Isaiah 32:17 NIV

  Confused

  Dear Lord,

  Your Word says that there’s more than one spirit in the world. I know the Spirit of truth comes from You. But there’s another spirit who comes to confuse me, who schemes to steal, kill, and destroy my soul. Help me to avoid that evil imitator so I can stay under Your guidance, my true and loving God.

  Your Spirit is easy to discern because the Holy Spirit acknowledges Christ as Lord. He guards my heart and soul from the enemy. O Lord, You give me wisdom instead of confusion. You give me peace instead of fear.

  Your Holy Spirit comes to guide me in all Your truth. My spirit hears from Your Spirit and tells me the insights I need to know to take the right paths.

  Lord, I want more of Your presence. I know that when I ask, I will receive. You are found when I search for You. When I knock at Your door, You open it wide.

  As I become more intimate with Your Spirit of truth, I will flourish in Your love. I will have better understanding and will be able to make better decisions because I will recognize the difference between the evil one and Your Holy Spirit. I will be able to follow You and remain pure and blameless for Christ.

  Please give me more of Your Holy Spirit so that I can always discern Your truth.

  In the name of Jesus, amen.

  Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

  1 John 4:1 NIV

  For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

  1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV

  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

  John 16:13 NIV

  Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.

  Matthew 7:7 GW

  And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

  Philippians 1:9–10 NIV

  Content

  Dear Lord,

  You taught us to watch out, to keep away from wanting things we should not have. This is because our lives are not about the stuff we collect but about distributing Your love.

  My life has far more importance than the knickknacks I’ll leave behind when I die. Your kingdom has no need for my trash. I am called to expand Your kingdom in ways that have Your stamp of approval, like loving my neighbors, caring for those in need, telling the good news, and loving You with all my heart.

  You promise that if I work for You, You will provide everything I need. The apostle Paul taught us to be content in every situation, whether having noth
ing or everything, whether fed or hungry, whether having plenty or little.

  My wealth does not come from gathering more things but from the godly contentment I experience when I am satisfied with what You provide.

  There is a beauty in recognizing Your provision instead of focusing on what I want. When I focus on Your blessings, I am satisfied, but when I focus on what I want, I am always in need.

  It’s impossible to love money and be content, for my wealth is not in a bank account but in You. I am wealthy because You promise that You will never abandon or leave me.

  When I have You, I am rich indeed.

  In the name of Jesus, amen.

  Then Jesus said to them all, “Watch yourselves! Keep from wanting all kinds of things you should not have. A man’s life is not made up of things, even if he has many riches.”

  Luke 12:15 NLV

  But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.

  Matthew 6:33 GW

  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

  Philippians 4:12 NLT

  Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

  1 Timothy 6:6–8 NLT

  Don’t love money. Be happy with what you have because God has said, “I will never abandon you or leave you.”

  Hebrews 13:5 GW

  Cynical

  Dear Lord,

  Sometimes I see the dark underbelly of situations, people, attitudes, and behaviors, and when I do, I want to explain what I see—so that others will see things my way too. I convince myself that my insights paired with my grumbled whispers and complaints will improve everything.

  I mutter, “Why don’t they see it my way, do it my way, or ask me my opinion?”

  When I act like this, I’m pointing to my own pride and hypocrisy as well as my own bitter heart. This unwise behavior opens a door for You to judge me.

  I am so sorry, and I turn away from this behavior. Create a loving heart in me, and forgive me so that I do not judge others or forget to speak in love. Help me to show mercy and grace so that I can receive Your mercy and grace. Otherwise I am blinded by my own pride.

  I call for mercy and grace over all whom I have grumbled against. I ask that You remove my bitter words against them and remove Your bitter judgments against me. Give me eyes to see Your love and grace in every situation and individual You have called me to influence. Help me to love others as You have loved me.

  I invite You to turn every situation that has annoyed me into a situation that honors You. I pledge to encourage others instead of condemning them. I pledge to speak words of love.

  In the name of Jesus, amen.

  Speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.

  Ephesians 4:29 GW

  Brothers and sisters, stop complaining about each other, or you will be condemned. Realize that the judge is standing at the door.

  James 5:9 GW

  Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

  Matthew 7:1–5 ESV

  Depressed

  Dear Lord,

  I know that everyone gets tired and depressed at some point in their lives, but I don’t want to live in the state of depression. So, I choose You. I choose to trust You, not my feelings.

  You promise that if I hope in You, You will renew my strength. Lord, by faith, I am hoping in You now. Help me to soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, and walk and not faint.

  Lord, You are eternal, and Your arms are not only holding me close but also helping me to soar above my hurting emotions.

  Your Word says three things: first, You go before me; second, You are with me; and third, You are faithful to me. You will never leave me to face life alone. That’s why I don’t need to be afraid, depressed, or troubled.

  You, O Lord, are the wings beneath me and a shield around me, protecting me from the evil one. Because I ask You in the name of Jesus, You cancel the enemy’s plans of depression over me and lift my spirit as I look into Your loving, peaceful eyes.

  I seek You now. I give You my burdens now. Thank You for carrying them so that I can rest in You.

  I choose to stop focusing on my wounded emotions and choose to focus on Your love for me. I will bask in Your love as I open my spirit to more of You.

  In the name of Jesus, amen.

  Even youths grow tired and weary,

  and young men stumble and fall;

  but those who hope in the LORD

  will renew their strength.

  They will soar on wings like eagles;

  they will run and not grow weary,

  they will walk and not be faint.

  Isaiah 40:30–31 NIV

  The God Who lives forever is your safe place. His arms are always under you.

  Deuteronomy 33:27 NLV

  The Lord is the One Who goes before you. He will be with you. He will be faithful to you and will not leave you alone. Do not be afraid or troubled.

  Deuteronomy 31:8 NLV

  But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,

  my glory, and the lifter of my head.

  Psalm 3:3 ESV

  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

  Matthew 11:28 NLT

  Devoted

  Dear Lord,

  Thank You, Jesus, for dying in my place for my sins. Thank You for calling me to belong to You. What an honor and a privilege to have my sins removed so that I can not only walk with You but also know You.

  Lord, I respond to Your marvelous mercies by totally surrendering myself to You as a sacred, living sacrifice. I devote myself to You and pledge to live in holiness, turning from darkness to light and surrendering my old way of life to You. Because I devote myself to You as my true worship, I will experience all that delights Your heart.

  I will worship You alone. I will not worship both You and the god of money. Worshiping money would only lead me to resent You and to become a slave to my desires or ambitions.

  I declare that You are the one I serve. And to prove it, I will honor You with my wealth and the first part of all my income. I will fear only You, Lord, and I will be faithful to keeping my focus on You, the one I worship. I will meditate on the great things You have done for me.

  You have given me salvation, love, and even Your very presence. You are my God, and I am devoted to You with all my heart.

  In the name of Jesus, amen.

  You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.

  Romans 1:6 GW

  Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.

  Romans 12:1 TPT

  How could you worship two gods at the same time? You will have to hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t worship the true God while enslaved to the god of money!

  Matthew 6:24 TPT

  Honor the LORD with your wealth

  and with the first and best part of all your income.

  Proverbs 3:
9 GW

  Only fear the Lord and be faithful to worship Him with all your heart. Think of the great things He has done for you.

  1 Samuel 12:24 NLV

  Disappointed

  Dear Lord,

  If You have all these great plans for me, plans for peace that include a future and a hope, why do I have so much disappointment?

  I love You, Lord, but sometimes I fail to understand Your Word. Romans 8:28 declares that You will take all that happens to me and work it for my good. But aren’t You supposed to be a loving God? Why would You want to torment me with so many disappointments?

  Still, I can’t help but wonder . . . what if it takes the roadblocks of disappointment to prompt me to seek Your help or to consider Your direction? What if You are loving and powerful enough to turn the very details of my disappointments into miracles?

  I believe in You, so I surrender to You. I will be strong and courageous as I wait on You, the one true God.

  The dark rulers of this world do not love me; they intend to use my disappointments for evil and distraction. But You intend to use my disappointments for purpose and good.

  So I will trust in You. The vision You have for me will happen at the appointed time. The aim is already set. Your goal is to hit the bull’s-eye. Even if I must wait for now, I will wait with You, because Your promises are true and Your aim and Your timing are perfect.

  In the name of Jesus, amen.

  I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.

  Jeremiah 29:11 GW

  We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan.

  Romans 8:28 NLV

  Wait patiently for the LORD.

  Be brave and courageous.

  Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

  Psalm 27:14 NLT

  No one has ever heard,

  no one has paid attention,

  and no one has seen any god except you.