prayer Archives - Sharla Fritz

Sharla Fritz

discover soul rest

What to Pray When You Don’t Know What to Pray

Sometimes I struggle with prayer. How to pray. What words to say. When to find time to pray. What do I pray when I don’t know what to pray?

Recently I discovered a short prayer that has been used for centuries. This short prayer is derived from the words of Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:47 and the tax collector in Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:13. The prayer is simply,

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy on me, a sinner.

This short prayer expresses the heartfelt need of God’s grace. It voices the confidence that Jesus, the Son of David and Son of God, can pour out His mercy upon us. It is a prayer to be prayed in times of great need and in small ordinary moments of the day.

I read about this prayer in several books about Christian spirituality. A couple of friends told me how praying this prayer throughout the day kept their thoughts centered on God. But I bristled against this prayer at first. Reminding myself that I am a sinner didn’t seem particularly comforting. But in breathing out this prayer I remember I can do nothing without God’s grace. Offering this petition opens my heart to receive the mercy and love I so desperately need every minute of every day. Author John Kleinig’s words in his book Grace Upon Grace makes this clear:

In our spiritual life we are much like helpless babies…Apart from Jesus, we can accomplish nothing spiritually…However, unlike babies, we do not outgrow our helplessness before God…If there is one thing we discover as we grow older and gain in experience, it is that before God we are nothing but beggars…we can only cry out to Jesus, as beggars did in the ancient world: “Lord, have mercy!” (p, 182-183)

The more I use this prayer, the more my spirit soars to the love of Christ. The more I repeat these words, the more I realize how vast God’s mercy truly is. The more I plead, “Have mercy on me” the more I realize there is nothing I can do to earn the Father’s mercy. It is all a gift. I can stop striving to get it. He longs to give it to me. I only need to open my hands to receive.

Just as we can do nothing physically without breathing, we can do nothing spiritually without Jesus. Breathe in your Savior’s name and breathe out a desperate prayer for grace. Receive what you need in the moment.

Next step: Try praying this simple prayer throughout the day. Receive God’s love and mercy. He longs to give it to you.

7 Habits That Promote Soul Rest: Perpetual Prayer

each whispered wordof petitionor thanksgivingconnects us tothe Giver of soul rest1

This post is part 4 in my series on 7 Habits that Promote Soul Rest. Click to read Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3.

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

The first time I read Paul’s command in 1 Thessalonians I was incredulous.

I mean, how could you possible pray all the time? Life demands things like paying attention in a class or writing a detailed report for work. If you have little ones running around you need to make sure that they don’t empty the garbage can all over the floor or feed the dog chocolate. How can you be on your knees and still do the everyday stuff of life?

Paul’s words not only inspired skepticism. It also produced…guilt. Just reading the command made me all too aware of my mediocre prayer life–often lacking in frequency and length. (Which is another way of saying, I’m lucky if I get in five minutes of concentrated prayer daily.)

But I know prayer brings rest for my soul and peace for my spirit. In another one of Paul’s letters he wrote:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

So how can we learn to pray without ceasing and find soul rest?

I realized that when Paul wrote that command in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 he didn’t mean I had to stay on my knees with my eyes closed and my hands folded all day. Praying without ceasing becomes possible when I pray short prayers throughout the day. 

Here are three ways I use short prayers to connect with God:

7 HABITS #3

Turn every worry into a prayer. One day I decided to take these words of Paul literally. I realized that when I’m worried about something, I don’t think about it once in the morning and once again at night. It is on my mind constantly. The concern pops into my brain while I’m driving my car or having a conversation with a friend. So what if I turned every one of my worrisome thoughts into a prayer? 

I would be praying without ceasing.

Pray short prayers of thanks. My worries became the catalyst for my first experience with short prayers. But soon I began to add short prayers of thanksgiving to my repertoire of short prayers. When I saw a beautiful sunset, tasted an exquisite strawberry, or heard the sweet song of a bird, I whispered a quick prayer of gratitude to my awesome Creator. When I found my lost keys or got a string of green lights on my way to an appointment, I said, “Thank You, God.”

Use Scripture prayers. Recently I’ve begun another way to use short prayers throughout the day. I choose a short prayer from Scripture that I whisper back to God whenever the Holy Spirit prompts me. The first prayer I used like this is called the Jesus prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.” At first, I felt uncomfortable with this prayer. I didn’t like reminding myself that I am a sinner, but every time I spoke this petition, I felt peace. I knew God answered my prayer with His grace. I felt soul rest because that prayer reminded me how much I need my Father and how little my own efforts mattered in the grand scheme of eternity.

Here are a few more short prayers from Scripture that you can use:

Not my will, but Yours be done. Luke 22:42

Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on You. 2 Chronicles 14:11

Show the wonder of Your great love. Psalm 17:7

We find soul rest in perpetual prayer because each whispered word of petition or thanksgiving connects us to Jesus–the Giver of rest, peace, and soul stillness.

Each whispered word of petition or thanksgiving connects us to Jesus--the Giver of soul stillness. Share on X

Next step: Choose a short Scripture to pray throughout the day. Click to get a free resource of 15 more short Scripture prayers. Write the prayer on a card to carry with you. As you pray this prayer in small moments of your busy day, it will become a habit. And this habit will draw you closer to God–the Provider of soul rest.

And if you’d like to learn more about soul rest, check out my video course, Discover Soul Rest. Through 10 video lessons, 10 interactive worksheets, and 25+ soul rest practices, you’ll learn about God’s definition of rest and how you can find this kind of peace an wholeness for your own life. Click the link below and scroll through the page to learn about this helpful course.

Find Out More About Discover Soul Rest

Spiritual Disciplines: Palms Down, Palms Up Prayer

This post is part of my Spiritual Discipline series where we will explore practices that connect us with Jesus in His Word. If you want to find out more about Spiritual Disciplines you can look here. 

In her wildly popular book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo encourages her readers to get rid of any belongings that no longer spark joy. That cardigan you loved, but is now worn and pilly? Discard it. Those shoes that took you all over town, but are now looking rather sad? Toss ’em. Kondo encourages us to keep only those things that bring joy. (Note: Kondo’s book is helpful, but I cannot wholeheartedly recommend it because she also talks about treating your belongings as if they are living things.)

I admit that I need to sort through my belongings. There are clothes in my closet that I wish I had never purchased and items that are well past their prime. My books outnumber the spaces on my bookshelves and documents spill out of my filing cabinets.

But even though I should tend to my overflowing possessions, this season I want to tend to my heart. I want to take the time to sit quietly with Jesus and allow Him to point out what needs to be tossed. I want to ask: Lord, is there a sinful attitude that I’ve been hanging onto? Is there some anxiety or fear that I haven’t let go? Am I still grasping onto self-sufficiency? Or an illusion of control over my life?

So I am using Spiritual Disciplines to guide my time in the Word. I’m using these ancient practices to spend time with my Savior. Spiritual Disciplines have been used by faithful Christians for centuries, even millennia. They are a way to focus our attention on our Savior and to receive His gifts.

Palms Down, Palms Up Prayer

One Spiritual Discipline that has helped me in the past is the Palms Down, Palms Up prayer. This prayer helps me sort out the stuff in my heart. To release what is sinful, harmful, or crippling. And to receive what is comforting and encouraging.

Palms Down: I begin this prayer by sitting in a comfortable chair and placing my palms down on my legs to symbolize my desire to release my concerns to God. I ask the Holy Spirit to show me what I need to let go. Is there anything blocking my relationship with Christ? What anxieties have I unconsciously been hanging onto?

My prayer might go something like: Lord, You know that I’m concerned about John’s health and about our kids in China. I confess that I have not trusted You completely in these areas. I’m anxious about my work. I’m stressed out about my long to-do list. But I now release all of these concerns into Your loving hands.

Palms Up: After I have released my worries, confessed my sins, and unloaded my self-sufficiency, I turn my palms up to symbolize my desire to receive from God.

Now my prayer might be something like: Lord, I praise You for Your love for me and all those I care about. I thank You for the peace You so faithfully give–peace that passes understanding.

I invite you to try the Palms Down, Palms Up prayer. It’s a simple way to come humbly before God and empty our hearts of our fears and our sins. Turn your palms down and unload the burden of guilt. Let go of anxiety. Give Him whatever is bothering you and whatever is stressing you out. Then turn your palms up to receive God’s forgiveness, peace, love, truth, or rest.

Give God whatever is bothering you and receive His forgiveness, peace, love, and rest. Share on X

Let Go

Maybe, like me, you need to clean out your closets. But even more important than hiring an organizational expert to sort through our closets, is asking the Holy Spirit to sort through our hearts.

Philippians 4:6-7 says:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

It is so reassuring that God invites us to give Him all our worries, anxieties, doubts, and fears. He is willing to hold them for us and give us His peace and love in return. And the more we allow Him to carry our bag of uncertainties, the more His peace will guard our hearts and minds from Satan’s attacks.

Let go of your concerns and receive God’s peace.

Here are some Scriptures to guide your prayer:

Palms Down: Psalm 55:22, Palms Up: Isaiah 26:3

Palms Down: 1 Peter 5:6-7, Palms Up: John 15:9

Palms Down: Hebrews 12:1, Palms Up: Jeremiah 31:3

Palms Down: Psalm 51:3-6, Palms Up: 1 John 1:5-9

Palms Down: Philippians 4:4-6, Palms Up: Philippians 4:7

Next step: For the next five days, practice the Palms Down, Palms Up prayer.  Experience the joy that comes from unloading the burden of your fears and guilt and receiving the Savior’s love.

Practicing Lent: Gratitude

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Every week a dozen young people pass through my home for piano lessons. I help little fingers push black and white keys so that they make beautiful music. At the end of each lesson–if the student has reached the practice goals–I give him or her a small prize.

And every week the parents remind their children, “What do you say?”

“Thank you.”

Why do we always have to be reminded to say thank you?

When Jesus healed the ten lepers in the Bible, only one returned to say, “Thank you” (Luke 17:11-19).

In the Old Testament, King Jehoshaphat appointed a special group of people to sing to the Lord and to remind the people of Israel, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 20:20-21).

The Bible reminds all of us to say, “Thank you.” The book of Psalms alone has fourteen verses with the command, “Give thanks to the Lord.”

I, too, need reminders. My prayers more often resemble a to-do list for God than a litany of thanks.

Often I take God’s blessings for granted. As I write this, I am especially thankful for my furnace. My daughter lives in a part of China where they do not have central heat. Even though they have space heaters, sometimes the temperature in their apartment only gets up to 54 degrees! Here in Chicago, the temperature outside today is only 20 degrees. Without our furnace, we would be shivering. Yet, I often forget to thank God for the luxury of central heat.

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The Spiritual Discipline of Gratitude is another form of prayer. This discipline opens my eyes to all the blessings God has already given. It helps me appreciate God as the Giver of Blessings and to remember His generous, loving character. Instead of continually wanting more, I find I have enough. Gratitude leads to contentment.

Here are some simple ways to practice Gratitude this week:

  • Keep a gratitude journal. Each day, write down three things for which you are thankful.
  • Thank God for the little things. Thank Him for your furnace (or your air conditioner, depending on what you need today!). As you go through your day, thank Him for your comfortable bed, your coffee maker, your amazing cell phone.
  • Use social media. Use this modern tool for good! Each day post a picture of something you are thankful for.
  • Try Bible journaling. Record prayers of thanksgiving in the margins of your Bible next to verses on giving thanks. Put a date beside the prayers as a record of God’s faithfulness throughout your life.
  • Make your own gratitude psalm. Read Psalm 136 and use it as a model to thank God for all He has done in your life.

I pray that I will not be like my piano students who need to be reminded every week to say, “Thank you.” God has given me so many blessings. May I forever praise Him for His gift of eternal life. May I thank Him for His abiding presence. May I express my gratitude for gifts large and small.

Next step: Download this resource with Scriptures about gratitude. Read and meditate on these verses. Decide how you would like to practice this Spiritual discipline this week. If you choose to keep a gratitude journal, the resource has a place for you to record your thanksgiving.

Practicing Lent: Prayer Walking

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Several years ago, one of our church members suggested that our congregation try prayer walking.

Prayer walking?

I had never heard of it. Mary explained that prayer walking was simply walking through a neighborhood and praying for the people who lived there. She suggested that we do it as a ministry to the people who lived near our church.

So one Saturday morning we gathered at the church and divided into groups of two. We divvied up the area around the church and two by two each group walked a few blocks, praying as they went. We didn’t stop and bow our heads and fold our hands. People observing us would have thought we were simply talking to each other. But we were doing something much more important.

We were talking to God.

“Lord, we pray for the family that lives in this house. May You grant them health.”

“Holy Spirit, draw the people in this neighborhood to You. Help our congregation be a mirror of Your love.”

“Father, where people are hurting, show them Your peace.”

The simple act of prayer walking helped us connect to God and to the people we were praying for. Our hearts were more aware of the people who lived in the houses we passed by each Sunday on the way to church.

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Prayer is an important Spiritual discipline. God gives us the privilege of approaching Him in prayer.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

He instructs us to pray for others.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. 1 Timothy 2:1

He tells us that our prayers make a difference.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

He invites us to pour out our hearts to Him.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:8

Why try prayer-walking? Perhaps you feel your prayer life needs a jump-start–prayer walking can give you a fresh perspective. Or maybe you are an action-oriented person–prayer walking may seem more engaging than sitting with your eyes closed. Perhaps God is calling you to pray for a certain group of people–prayer walking in their environment will open your eyes to their needs.

Here are some ways to try Prayer Walking:

  • Prayer Walk through your neighborhood. Like my church did, pray for the people who live near you.
  • Prayer Walk through your workplace. On a coffee break, walk through your office space or work area, silently praying for your coworkers.
  • Prayer Walk through your church. Alone or with a friend, walk through the spaces of the church praying for the pastors, the musicians, the people who sit in the pews, and the kids in the Sunday School rooms.
  • Prayer Walk in or around city hall, court buildings, or other places of government. Pray for public officials, that God’s wisdom would be upon them.
  • Prayer Walk in nature. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). Praise God for His creative genius as you walk in a park or hike in a forest.

Walking in nature is one of my favorite things to do. Somehow I feel closer to God away from manmade things. In the quiet of His creation, I am refreshed in His love.

This week–take a walk. Embrace the privilege of prayer and talk to the God who hears.

Next step: Block out a period of time this week for a prayer walk. Decide where you want to walk. Download this resource with Scripture verses to inspire your prayers.

Practicing Lent: Prayer of Recollection

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I settled in my cozy chair, ready to open my Bible and hear from God. Ready to open up to God and tell Him all that was in my heart.

But even as I sat in peaceful quiet, my thoughts left the pages of Scripture and ran to my to-do list. As I spoke to my Savior, my conversation was interrupted by thoughts about upcoming teaching responsibilities, the embarrassing incident that happened yesterday, and the laundry in the dryer.

No doubt about it, I am easily distracted.

During this Lenten season, I want to take time to focus on Christ and the sacrifice He made for me. To do this, I am going to use Spiritual Disciplines–practices Christians have used for centuries to grow closer to God. No doubt, you already use some of these practices–like Bible study, prayer, Holy Communion, and Christian service.

During the next few weeks, I am going to explore some specific forms of these Spiritual disciplines and invite you to do the same. All of these practices will be based on Scripture. As we read, pray, and meditate we will do so using God’s own words to us.

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Prayer of Recollection

This week we will explore the Prayer of Recollection. There are many forms of this prayer, but the purpose is always the same. In the Prayer of Recollection, I recollect–remember who I am in Christ.

Too often I forget this. I see myself as a wife, mother, daughter. I define myself by the work I do. I look in the mirror and see someone who said something insensitive to her spouse. The person who was too busy to help a grieving friend. I wish I could change the mistakes of yesterday.

Too often I forget who I am in Christ. I fail to remember that I am more than my mistakes and flaws. I am more than what I do.

That’s when I need to go to God’s Word. There the Spirit reminds me:

  • I am accepted.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7

  • I am chosen.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16

  • I am loved.

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

  • I am made new. 

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

As I meditate on these truths, I recollect–remember–who I really am.

Dealing with Distractions

But even as I pray and try to direct my thoughts to God’s Word, my mind seems to wander off to other destinations.

Even as I meditate on Christ’s acceptance of me, I wonder if my new boss has accepted me. As I contemplate what it means to be chosen by God, I start to hope I will be chosen for a position that would garner a lot of public attention. Even as I remember Christ’s sacrificial love for me, my thoughts traipse through my to-do list.

I can berate myself and tell myself to get my act together, or I can recollect my soul–bring it back to God by taking note of my distractions. As I pray, I notice my rambling thoughts so that the Holy Spirit can gently deal with any distractions of my heart.

Adele Calhoun writes in her Spiritual Disciplines Handbook:

In the prayer of recollection we pay attention to our wandering thoughts and attachments so that we can be transformed….We open ourselves to seeing how secondary things have become idols of the heart–how our agendas, possessions, appearances and comforts matter more than keeping God first in our lives.

I find it helpful to keep a journal or a simple piece of paper nearby to write down any distractions that come to mind while I’m praying. Putting the reminder to make that dentist appointment on paper, gets it off my mind so I can refocus on Christ. But as I make note of these distractions, I may also discover the “idols of my heart.” Do my thoughts continually travel to an upcoming vacation? Do they constantly turn to my long to-do list? Do I spend more time thinking about my job than God?

I can take all of these diversions to God. I confess any idols. I give Him my concerns and anxieties. As I confess, I receive His forgiveness because of Christ’s work on the cross (1 John 1:9). I am comforted, knowing that the Father is in caring control of all that is happening in my life.

And then, I once again remember that I am a beloved child of God.

Next step: This week practice the prayer of recollection. Download a resource of Scriptures to guide your prayers.

Recollect who you are in Christ

Record any distracting thoughts

Recieve God’s forgiveness and comfort

And again, recollect who you are in Christ.

 

 

A Simple Way to Pray When You Don’t Know How to Pray

a simple way to pray

I have to admit. Sometimes I struggle with prayer. I don’t know how to pray.

At times the struggle is to simply make time for prayer. Other times the problem is keeping my wandering mind on the prayer.

Sometimes I simply don’t know how to pray. I don’t have the right words to express my chaotic thoughts. Or I’m not sure how to pray about a complex problem. Or I’m feeling defeated in an area of my life.

That’s when I start praying Scripture. Taking my words from God’s Word helps me to focus on His will, His strength, and His care.

A few years ago I discovered a little book that Martin Luther wrote on the subject of prayer. The short volume, titled A Simple Way to Pray, was written as in response to his barber’s questions, “How do you pray?” (Interesting topic to be discussing while getting that little bald spot shaved.)

Luther’s “simple way to pray” was to pray Scripture, specifically the Ten Commandments. In the book he told his barber, “I divide each commandment into four parts, thereby fashioning a garland of four strands. That is, I think of each commandment as, first, instruction, which is really what it is intended to be, and consider what the Lord demands of me so earnestly. Second, I turn it into a thanksgiving; third, a confession; and fourth, a prayer.”

This method can be used with any Scripture. For instance, lately I have been struggling with my mouth again. Too many harmful words have been tumbling out of my mouth. And the verse that came to mind was Proverbs 25:11:

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

My words have not been gold or silver, but more like ashes and dust.

So using Luther’s model, I prayed:

Father in heaven. Your word instructs me that my words have value. They can be precious to the people in my life.

I offer thanksgiving for the gift of speech. Of all creation, you gave the ability to speak to humans alone.

I confess that my words are not always like gold and silver. Sometimes they are not something to be cherished and treasured, but something to be thrown out and forgotten.

But I want to change. Lord, give me appropriate words for every situation today—words that are as valuable as gold and silver.

When you are struggling with finding the right words to pray–try drawing your words from the well of God’s Word.

It is a good thing to let prayer be the first business of the morning and the last at night. Martin Luther Share on X

Next step: Pick a Scripture (try Psalm 56:3-4 or Psalm 57:1) and use Luther’s simple method to pray through the Scripture.

7 Habits That Promote Soul Rest: Prayer Journaling

in the morning I lay my requests before and wait expectantly.

When my mind is filled with confusion and agitation, when my heart is filled with anxiety or disappointment, there is one habit that I turn to again and again: prayer journaling. Pouring out my soul to God on paper untangles my thoughts and connects with the Father who calms my soul.

Why journal my prayers instead of just voicing them or thinking them? Putting a prayer in a little book does not mean God is more attentive to it. Writing it out does not make it more spiritual. But there are three reasons that prayer journaling is helpful to me:

7 HABITS #6Using a prayer journal keeps me focused. I don’t know about you, but when I try to pray silently, it doesn’t take long for my mind to wander off. I start thinking about what I’m going to make for supper, an odd comment a friend made, or even the strange dream I had the night before. Writing out my prayers helps my mind concentrate.

Using a prayer journal helps me untangle my thoughts. When I put pen to paper, suddenly things seem less confusing. The Lord helps me see solutions and ideas that I never thought of before.

Using a prayer journal gives me a record of my prayers. When confusion starts to creep in again, I reread my prayers and regain peace. I can also use the journal of a written record of my prayers and rejoice in God’s answers.

I encourage you to try prayer journaling. You might be thinking: But where do I start?

Using the book of Psalms for inspiration, I came up with eight journaling prompts especially designed for soul rest.

  • Psalm 5:3:  Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Lord, today I bring my requests to You and lay them at Your feet. What I need most today is…
  • Psalm 4:1: Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! Father, I thank You that You hear me when I call. What I am distressed about is….
  • Psalm 22:11: Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Oh Lord, trouble is near. I need Your presence now more than ever. Let me tell You about all that is happening…
  • Psalm 25:4: Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Father, I am feeling confused. Right now I need Your guidance about…
  • Psalm 51:1: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Jesus, I messed up. I need Your mercy and unfailing love. Forgive me for…
  • Psalm 56:3: When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Spirit, help me put my trust in You. Fear is threatening to take over my emotions. I am afraid…
  • Psalm 31:14-15: But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand. O God, things are not looking good. But I’ve decided to leave the matter in Your hands. Today, I give You my concerns about…
  • Psalm 31:19: Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. Father, I thank you for the many blessings You have given me out of Your abundant goodness! Right now I thank You for…

Give prayer journaling a try. In prayer we give our burdens to the Father and the Spirit gives us peace through God’s Word.

Next step: Find a journal. Grab an empty notebook. Or open up a Word file. Pick a prayer prompt and start writing. Don’t worry about proper grammar or pretty handwriting. Just pour out your soul to a loving Father.

One Selfish Reason to Praise God

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I woke too early. My body was still tired, but my internal clock was still on Central Time even though I was in Hawaii. We had arrived the night before, tired from travel, and flopped into bed.

But now I was wide awake. I made my way to the windows and pushed open the curtains. I gasped at the beauty of the sun just peeking out of the gray Pacific. The sky was a spectacular painting of pink, purple, and mauve.

My heart swelled in praise and I couldn’t help singing “10,000 Reasons.” The sun was coming up. A new day was dawning. It was time to praise the Creator.

Sometimes it’s easy to praise God. The beauty of creation inspires thanksgiving. God sends overflowing blessings into our lives and we are grateful. We recognize His power in our lives and we are in awe.

But sometimes praise doesn’t come easy. Life is difficult. Problems sprout like weeds. Instead of having “10,000 Reasons” to praise, we struggle to come up with one.

That’s when we need to remember to praise God for who He is and not simply for what He gives us.

Psalm 95 gives three reasons to praise God:

Because He is the God above all gods. We praise Him for His Kingship. We praise Him for His ruling power.

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:3)

Because everything on earth was made by Him and belongs to Him. We praise Him for His omnipotence and creative power.

In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (Psalm 95:4-5)

Because He cares for us. We praise His love, His compassion, His provision, and His protection toward us.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. (Psalm 95:6-7)

SelfishReasonPraiseGod deserves praise. And that should be enough reason to shower Him with honor and adoration.

But praise also brings a side benefit to those who are doing the praising.

In the middle of verse 7 the psalmist takes an abrupt turn from praising God to remind his readers not to harden their hearts.

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, (Psalm 95:7b-8)

We all need this reminder. At times we all stubbornly insist on our own way and steel our hearts against God’s gentle nudges. Or we get so busy and preoccupied with life’s little hassles that we don’t even hear His voice.

Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary on this psalm, “Hardness of heart is at the bottom of all our distrusts of God and quarrels with Him.”

But maybe in looking at this psalm we can see that praise can be preventative medicine to a hard heart.

We praise God for His sake, but a wonderful side-effect happens when we do. When we extol God’s mercy and power, God rewires our souls–reminding our stubborn selfish hearts just how wonderful He is. 

When we extol God's mercy and power, He rewires our souls--reminding our selfish hearts how wonderful He is. Share on X

Praise keeps our hearts soft toward God as we praise Him for His goodness.

Next step: Write out your own psalm of praise. Praise God for His Kingship, for His creative power, and for His compassionate care.

 

Three Steps To Take When Life Punches You In The Gut

Romans 15-13

What do you do when life punches you in the gut? When circumstances deliver a devastating blow?

2014 was a joyous year for us. Our son got married to a wonderful young woman. Our daughter and her family flew from China to join in the wedding. They spent two months here in the states–we had abundant opportunities to play with our grandchildren.

Then 2015 arrived–with news of cancer. My husband John was diagnosed with lymphoma. For months we reeled from this punch. Sometimes life hits you hard and you are totally unprepared.

I know that we are not the only ones who have been hit hard. Some of you have experienced your own illnesses, chronic pain, job losses, and financial difficulties. Maybe even all of these at once.

This leg of our journey wasn’t our most joyful, but this is how we tried to handle this devastating blow. In addition to finding the best doctors and medical care: I:

1. I found comfort in God’s Word. I searched through Scripture, hunting down all God’s promises of His presence and peace. Some of my favorites:

  • May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. Romans 15:13
  • My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14
  • Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

2. I called on others to stand with us in prayer. It was hard to tell people the difficult news. We often broke down in a puddle of tears. Yet we felt incredible love and support from our church, our family, and our friends. One couple invited us over for chicken soup with a side of prayer when we first heard the news. Church members gave us innumerable hugs. A simple request for prayer on Facebook drew 100 comments.

3. I took time each day to focus on what really matters. Each year I choose one word for the year. Ironically, that year I chose the word focus. Well, there is nothing like shocking news to make you focus on what is truly important. At times, this was as simple as just sitting with my wonderful hubby and holding his hand. It was as uncomplicated as sitting quietly and soaking in God’s love.

I pray that our heavenly Father will strengthen you in whatever you are going through today. When life punches you in the gut, may these three simple steps help you find strength in the One who loves you and is holding your hand.

And if you’re interested in learning more about how to find focus in troubled times, check out my book Distracted: Finding Faith-Focus Habits in a Frenzied World. This book is a compilation of all the lessons I learned during that difficult year. The e-book is only $3.99!