A Prayer for Guidance

Dear Jesus,

     I want to thank You for being so near to me.  Thank You for leading me through this life safely thus far.  You've been so good to me.  And in my own merit, I don't deserve to be blessed the way You have blessed me.  Thank You.  As You know, I'm still going through some trials.  And my family is still not sure how we all should feel about the loss we've recently experienced.  I ask that You would continue to lead and guide us through this time.  I ask that You would use this to call my brothers and sisters back to You and even back to each other.  I know that all of us, at some point, have made a decision and commitment to live for You.  Please help us get back to that point.  Please help us renew that commitment.  Help us to grow together as a family.  And press forward into the destiny You've set before us together - as a family.  Help us to find the common ground between us so that we may rebuild strained relationships.  And help us to feel the peace that You alone give in all things.  Remind us to do everything with prayerful consideration.  And help us serve others as we serve You, Lord.
     I love You, my Lord and my God.

Amen

Grieving Prayer

Dear heavenly Father God,

     You know what's on my heart and mind.  You know how sad I am inside.  I'm not even sure if it's "OK" that I am as sad as I am over my Uncle Mark.  I know we were never really close.  But I would've liked to be closer.  And I'm afraid for my dad.  I worry about him a lot.  He and Uncle Mark haven't been very close since they both left high school, according to my dad.  But I know they were the closest and best of friends growing up as little kids.  I know they've shared many memories, both good and bad.  And because of the emotional distance that has come between them, I know this loss hasn't really sunk in and hit my dad yet.  I pray that You will help us all get through this.  I know that there has to be a grieving process.  And I pray that You help us through that process.  Help us not only to grieve but to heal.  Give us peace through this.  Give us constant reminders that You are in control.  Help us to find the answers to the questions that lie heavy on our hearts.  And teach us the lessons You have for us.  Help us to learn the most from this.  Help us to reconcile the relationships with our own relatives that have grown strained.  Let us not waste time on things that don't matter. But invest ourselves in the things that do.  Help us to build up each other.  Remind us, especially me, to focus and build upon, our similarities and other things we have in common.  Do not allow me to dwell on our differences and things that divide.
     Lord, we love You.  And we trust You with our present even as we trust You with our future and eternity.  Be near to us.  Let us feel Your presence.

Amen

A Prayer for the Hotshot Firefighters

Dear Lord Jesus,

     We lift up the firefighters and their families to You.  We thank You for all these heroic men who, when put to the test, gave all they could give.  They gave their lives not only for the ones they love but for many they don't even know.  They illustrated Your kind of love to and for others by paying with their lives so that many may be safe.
     We ask now that You would watch over and provide for their families in their absence.  And help us all keep our focus on You, Lord.  Move Your people to care and provide for these families.  Remind us all that You are with us and have not forsaken us, even during these struggles.  Guide us as we keep pressing on and moving forward into Your promises.
     We love You, Jesus.

Amen

A Prayer for Kara's Uncle Doug

Dear Lord Jesus,

We come to You bearing up Kara's Uncle Doug.  We ask that You would see him through this surgery.  We ask that You would instruct the doctors and nurses trusted with his care.  Guide their hands and sharpen their minds to give only the best care to Uncle Doug.  We thank You and praise You as we recognize that You alone are our healer and the holder of the future.  We love You, God.

Amen

Praying for Michelle's guidance

Dear heavenly Father,

     Tonight, we just want to thank You for Michelle and the heart that You've given her to be such a blessing to everyone around her.  As You already know, she is facing some big decisions right now regarding the her career and ministry of service to You.  And she just needs Your guidance as she seeks to honor You with the decisions she makes.  Help her to know with confidence what to decide.  These opportunities have the potential of being very exciting, but the thought of change can be intimidating at times.  We pray that You give her the wisdom to make the right decisions and the peace that comes from knowing that You are with her in all that she does.  We ask for your continued blessing on her life.  We thank You for blessing this world with Michelle!  We love You, Lord God.

Amen

Hi, God. It's me again

Hi, God.

It's me.  I know it's been a while since we talked like this.  I know it's been a while since I've REALLY set aside the time to hang out with You.  I'm sorry.  I know You know all my excuses and other reasons... too busy, got a lot going on, etc.  But I ask for Your forgiveness.  I want to be close to You like we were before.  I want to come back to You, Jesus.  I know it wasn't You who moved from me but me who's drifted from You.  I hear Your voice, Lord.  I feel You tugging at my heart, whispering, "I'm here".  Well, God, I'm back.  I know that I'm not back under my own strength.  But it is You who gave me the strength to come back.  And it is You who kept me from drifting too far.  I love You, Jesus.  Help me find that passion for You once again.  Help me rekindle that fire.  I long for Your embrace, Lord.  Show me Your glory.  Teach me how to prioritize my life.  Teach me to bear fruit.  Purge this branch, my God.  Cut away those things in my life that don't belong.  Cut away anything in me that isn't like You.  I love You, Jesus!
Thanks.

Love,
Me

A Prayer for Melissa

Dear Lord Jesus,

     I want to thank You for Melissa.  I thank You for the person she is and the heart of gold You have given her.  Right now, I ask that You would touch and heal her from this cold and congestion that is making her feel so bad.  I ask that You would make her feel better so that she may enjoy the rest of her break and feel up to accomplishing the tasks she had planned to do over this break.
     Nevertheless Lord Jesus, we pray that Your will be done in all areas of our lives.  We only pray that You will teach us whatever it is that You want us to learn through the trials You bring us through.  If there is more of a lesson to this ailment than Melissa has perceived, we pray that You would reveal it to her.
     Thank You Jesus for hearing us.  Thank You for helping us through these times.  And thank You God for allowing us the privilege to come before You will all of our concerns.  We love You!

Amen