Prayer to end Striving

Lord, we confess to you that while our minds believe salvation is by grace, our hearts drive us to earn favor, to be "good enough" to present ourselves to others and to you. We admit that we cannot change ourselves. We admit that we have had trouble receiving love with no strings attached. We ask you into our hearts to do the work in us, for us; End our poor health.

Lord, we confess that at times we have been angry with you for putting us into our families and positions in life. We don't want our anger to keep us from you, and we ask that you restore our hearts. Help us by your Grace to forgive our families for the wounding that we experienced with them. We ask your forgiveness for our angry responses, our fears and insecurities, our impure motives and for not believing the truth.

Lord, we resign from managing the universe. We give to you our compulsive need to control people and situations. We recognize that we have wounded people around us by not affirming their contributions; we've had a need to edit, add or correct. Forgive us, Lord, for both our insecurity and our arrogance; also for the wounds we have caused.

Help us to fall in love with you, Jesus, so that what others think of us is not important. You say in your word that it is you working in us that enables us first to will and then to act according to your good purposes. We choose to rely wholeheartedly on you, so that all our work may spring from your heart, your will, your strength. Amen

A Prayer for a Heart of Flesh

Lord, sometimes it feels like we have a heart of stone. Lord, we have developed defenses to protect ourselves from hurt. These defenses also block out the love, warmth and nurture we need. We come to you now because we are helpless to change by ourselves. We invite you in...Come into our lives to take down the walls. We choose you to be our defense, you alone are our Hiding Place.

Lord, help us forgive those who have wounded us. Help us forgive ourselves for our sinful reactions to hurt, and for building this heart of stone.

Father, please forgive us for our sinful responses, and for the unhealthy ways in which we have kept others out of our lives.

Now Father, by an act of will we choose to be connected to others and in the Body of Christ. Help us to see and appreciate the gifts of others as from you. Help us enter the vulnerable position of receiving ministry, not just offering it, knowing that you are in charge. We ask you to bring people into our lives who know how to love unconditionally and still have the courage to hold us accountable.

Bring to death our hearts of stone, and give us hearts of flesh.

thank you, Lord, for your great sacrifice and precious promises; Thank you for your love everlasting. Amen

Prayer for Healing of Abuse

Father, we confess that we have not seen ourselves as you see us, nor have we seen you clearly. Instead, we have often believed lies and taken on false guilt for the hurtful behavior of others.

Lord, you alone can release us from this false shame and darkness. Set us free indeed from this wrong thinking, cleanse us of defilement and displace our fears with your perfect love. Send us your Holy Spirit to fill us with your truth and light, especially in those inner recesses of our hearts.

Finally, according to your command, we pray a blessing on those who have wounded and violated us, that they might turn and be healed, and the pattern of hurtful behavior be broken. Help us forgive those who have abused us, as we look to you alone for wisdom and protection in our relationships.

We praise you, Lord, for you make all things new!  Amen

A Prayer for Bitter Roots

Lord, we recognize that we have judged others for things they've done that have hurt or offended us, in turn locking ourselves into similar behavior. We choose to forgive these people for hurting us, and we choose to release our right to hold this offense against them, knowing it is up to you alone to judge all of us.

Please forgive us for the sinful ways in which we've reacted to hurts. Forgive us for judging those who have hurt us. We release our anger and bitterness to you, Lord; cleanse our hearts and cut off any bitter roots so that we won't be a source of defilement for others. Forgive us also for our part in tempting those around us to do the very things we hate by the power of our expectancies and judgments.

We ask you to replace the old judgments with blessing. Give us new awareness so we will catch ourselves before reacting negatively, and give us opportunities to practice new responses and sow good seed.

Hallelujah, you have come that we might have life, and have it abundantly! Amen

A Prayer to Honor

Lord, we have heard your commandment to honor our mother and our father, that it may go well with us and that we may have a long life—yet we have not always obeyed, and we see areas in our lives where things are not going well with us.

Forgive us for judging our parents where you alone are Judge. We ask that you break the power of this judgment against mother and father, and lift this pattern of behavior out of our lives. We repent of our ingratitude for the life they have given us, and we break any vows we have made, such as to "never" be like our parents. Bring to death on the cross these old habits that dishonor both you and them.

Father, give us new eyes to see our parents as you see them. Help us to also see and appreciate the gifts we have been given through them. We acknowledge the hurts we have experienced. Heal our wounds, and make us whole. Strengthen us in spirit to fully obey your commandments, which are right and good.

Thank you for mothering and fathering us in this new life. We praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen

Prayer for Overcoming Addictions

Lord, we acknowledge that we are helpless to change our lives in our own power. We confess that we have attempted to numb ourselves to the pain in our lives through substance abuse and other addictive behavior.

In our attempts to maintain control, we have lost control and fallen into bondage. Whether it has been alcohol, drugs, food, sleep, pornography, rage, overwork or any other addiction, bring us to a point of unflinching honesty before you. Help us to be entirely sick and tired of being sick and tired—we want to hate the sin and choose life.

Father, forgive us for defiling ourselves, your temple. Forgive us for the pain we have caused others by our addictive behavior. Because of your mercy and love, give us the desire to break old habits that made us vulnerable to enemy takeover. Give us courage and strength in our spirits to not only resist the sin but also go through the pain that we might be healed. Give us determination and new hope.

We ask you to cleanse our bodies and our minds, that we might be holy temples of the Living God. Instill in us new habits, so that we will walk in divine health and be a habitation for your awesome presence. Thank you, Jesus, that you went before us to set us free from bondage. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, who empowers us to become over comers. Teach us to trust your will for our lives.

Transform our addictions, Lord; make them into a holy addiction to you. Let all our appetites bring us into greater dependence on you, O God.  Amen

A Prayer for Choosing Life

Lord, I acknowledge that I have not chosen this life. I never would have chosen my circumstances, my family, my personality, or my body. I have not understood nor appreciated how You have formed me, and I surely never would have chosen to come into the pain of this life. I confess I am angry, having consciously believed You could have done better for me. I have judged my family and authorities as lacking in ability, wisdom, and sensitivity, and I have judged You for creating me as deficient.

I have come to see how others have wounded me, and I choose to forgive listpersons for their actions . My sinful responses have created trouble for myself and others. I can see the damage that my rebellion has caused, and I ask You to forgive me for list specific ways of fleeing back from life.

I know I have wounded You by not receiving Your gift of family and life. Even though I don't feel like a gift, nor do I feel gratitude for life, I choose by faith to accept myself and the life You have given me as a blessing to You and to others. Jesus, I choose life. Help me to continue choosing You, choosing to be here.

Lord, I ask You to open my eyes to see the gift of life. Release me into that abundant life You promise, that joy that comes from knowing I am "wonderfully made," a blessing to You, and to my family and friends. Help me know the abundant joy that comes from moving toward the destiny You have planned for me. Lead me into the joy of my birthright, the blessing of my inheritance in your kingdom. Amen