“From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2 (NIV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Lord God,
At times—truthfully, most of the time—I feel too anxious, too compelled by my demanding schedule, to pause and pray. I feel too pulled by social media’s strings, work’s demanding emails, and all forms of numbing entertainment to invite You into my life and the messy person I am, to simply be still and let my wrestles heart speak words my soul and mind have quietly echoed for some time.
I don’t have the words to pray, and I’m too intimidated to begin.
Most days, I’m not only running errands but running from the words that I need to say to You for fear of what You might speak in return. After all, to be convicted is to be called to repentance, to say that I am in the wrong and not only confess my faults but flee from the feelings that stir me to sin.
What’s worse is how comfortable these feelings are—albeit chaotic—but compelling to my flesh. These feelings feed my ego and affirm why I’m right and they’re wrong. But to pause and respond to Your conviction with a confession and desire to do better command that I do just that—lean in deeper with a forgiving, empathetic, patient love, pull the reigns tighter on my tongue, and cling fast to those who have given me reason to let them go, inviting bitterness to distort my perception of all people.
Lord, grant me the bravery to respond to your voice, give me the wisdom and comfort to fumble through scary prayers, confess comfortable sins, and speak bold prayers that will align my heart with Yours.
In Your Gracious Name,
Amen
