When we truly face the shape of our hearts, we feel a lack that may overwhelm us. Sinful, weak, and weary are thoughts that easily come to mind as we carry such weights from our days. Yet, we have a Father who loved us so deeply that He sent His Son to be our Savior in those weakest places. He teaches us to pray.
Our Savior felt every weakness we have ever faced, and took them all to the cross for us. In His Resurrection power, He longs to save us and carry us close to His Father’s heart.
What if we pause today and speak out the words that Jesus gave to us? His Words wait for us on these days when we have none of our own.
He will teach us to pray.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for teaching us how to pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Thank You for showing us that we can lift up each need in our lives to You, and You will hear us. Lord. We admit that on some days our needs feel too heavy and too many to even be voiced. Help us to lay them before you, and to receive Your daily bread. Thank You that Your Kingdom will come, and Your perfect will be done in our lives. Help us to trust You, our Holy Lord.
In Your name we pray,
Amen.
PRAYER
Dear Father,
Thank You for giving us Your Word, helping us to know how to pray for those we love:
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. (Ephesians 1:18)
Will You open our eyes to know the hope of Your calling, even as we pray for those we care about? Open our hearts to know that we have been called to a glorious inheritance with Your holy people. Remind us that the trials we face will fade away when we stand in Your presence, fully rejoicing in our inheritance with You. Thank You for the beauty of Your hope that can never be taken away.
In the name of Your son, Jesus, we pray,
Amen.
PRAYER
Dear Father,
Thank you for those that You have given us to love:
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. (Ephesians 1:16)
Thank you for their lives. Thank you for the ways that they have impacted our lives. And now we lift them before You, and ask that You would meet every need that weighs them down. Carry our loved ones through their hard days. Stir their hearts to be filled with thanksgiving for Your love also. We are flooded with the joy of being able to pray for those we love.
In the name of Your son, Jesus, we pray,
Amen.
PRAYER
Dear Father,
Thank You for the prayers uttered by those who have gone before us:
Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. (Psalms 80:3)
What a comfort to know that we are joining with the saints as we cry out for restoration! Thank You that we are not alone as we long for the shining of Your blessed face upon us. And thank You that our salvation comes from You alone. Hear our cries echoing through the ages, O God. We are looking to You, our true Lord.
In the name of Your Son, Jesus, we pray,
Amen
Bettie Gilbert
Chronic Joy Contributing Writer
You can find Bettie blogging from her home in the far north suburbs of Chicago at bettiegsraseasons.com. She is walking forward with Jesus in the middle of her pain and weakness from multiple chronic illnesses. The beauty of nature and her family (including nine young grandchildren) are Bettie's joys. She and her husband have been married for over 40 years and take great delight in their weekend coffee breaks together.
Devotional Guide
Chronic Joy® devotionals are an invitation to take one gentle step, to pray in a comforting and familiar or perhaps new-to-you way, or to cry out on behalf of one precious life today … maybe even yours.
Prayer Pond
You're invited to the Prayer Pond, your safe harbor. This is where you can share your prayer requests, updates, and shouts of praise. Whether a request, praise, lament, loss, hope, grief, joy, or plea for release from suffering or pain, each prayer ripples far beyond this day and the boundaries of our world. #PrayItForward by praying for others.
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