This morning I found myself writing a friend who is hurting deeply right now. God led me to pray for her in my email and as I wrote it out, I found myself feeling compelled to share it with you, too. I know I’m not the only one struggling, and I know she is not either. Perhaps you follow my blog because the words resonate with you…perhaps because you are facing struggles yourself. Here’s my prayer over you, over myself, over anyone in need today, and over anyone who deems themselves as someone who is not in need. 
We are all in need of this truth…daily…over and over and over again.
Lord, today may we be overcome by your grace for us so that we might be able to extend it to others, including our spouses, families, friends, and enemies. May you fill us with your love in the dark spaces of our hearts…where the gaping wounds lie. May your love fill us to overflowing. We know that we have a part in that. We must take time to receive your love. It is up to us whether we choose to accept it. Help us. Guide us. Open our hearts. Open our hands to you. Overwhelm us with your love. Remind us of your sacrifice on the cross…the extent of your love displayed for us. Make our hearts wrench with appreciation for that…that we might be able to offer gratitude and thankfulness for EVERY small thing throughout our days- the good, the bad, the ugly. That we would offer thankfulness to you even when we don’t feel like doing so or believe the words. I pray that our hearts would grow to allow our grumblings to turn into gladness through gratitude. Would you be with my friends and those hurting today, God? Would you open our ears, our eyes, our hearts so that we may see you clearly? Would you give us the strength to seek you even when we feels too tired or too busy to? We know that’s when we need you the most. We know we can’t live this life on our own. When we try, it feels too hard…too overwhelming…too much. It is in those moments that you remind us that we can only do hard things with your strength. We need you, God…desperately. Thank you that we do not have to walk through hard times alone. We know that the presence of Satan’s voice is thick when we are in struggle. Help us to replace those lies with your biblical truth. Help us to stop each day enough to listen and to receive the truth of your words. Thank you for the bible- for giving us something tangible to hold onto when we feel our world slipping from underneath us. Thank you for dying so that we may live. Show us how to live fully in the grace you have given to us. Help us to receive your forgiveness for ourselves and others. Help us to receive the blessing of the gift of your holy spirit…may we walk in the power you have given us. Thank you that we are more than conquerors with you by our side. Thank you that even when we turn away or don’t acknowledge you, you are still there. You never leave. You are always waiting for us to turn towards you, to let you hold us, to let you hold the umbrella above us so that we might find rest in our spirit and peace in our minds. Thank you, Lord, for a day set aside to thank you and offer you our gratitude. May we hold the power of this spirit deep within our hearts throughout every day of the year.
May our grumblings turn into gladdess through the power of praise…
-Thank you, God, for the dirty dishes that are stacked on my counters and in both sides of my sink…it means we have food to eat and I have a family to share the food with. For that, I am grateful.
-Thank you, God, for my messy house and the piles in every room…it means you have blessed us beyond measure with money to buy stuff and there are people in my home to enjoy it. It also reminds me that I have a lovely home to put stuff in…and for that, I am incredibly thankful.
-Thank you, God, for the piles of stuff I need to organize in my office and things to do for Raindancer Studios…it means I have been busy taking pictures and doing something I love. It means you have blessed me with a gift I didn’t know was inside me and that you have given me something that fills my heart with joy. For that, I praise you!
-Thank you, God, for rejection and even times when I feel alone…it causes me to lean into you more, God. It means I get the opportunity to practice letting you love me fully and purely. For that, I thank you.
-Thank you, God, for all the things I do not have and for all the struggles I face each day in my home…without them I would not be as thankful for what I do have. I need struggle to force me to run to you, to remind me to receive your love and your grace. For that I rejoice and sing praise to you…I lift up my sorrows to you and let you replace them with thanksgiving and joy. You give and take away. May a heart of gratitude and our offerings of praise today help to turn our grumblings into gladness…not just today but every day.
Love this…thankfulness is a powerful tool in our lives! What a wise woman you are becoming. Keep sharing your heart. You are making a difference!