Monday hit hard this morning. It wasn’t so bad while I lay in bed thinking over my day but as soon as my feet hit the floor, all the pressing needs and things left undone loomed large. My phone started dinging and what started as re-direction for one of my kids turned into a long reminder of where I need to focus as a parent.
The day began to get ahead of me before I could get to my quiet time. By the time I shut the car doors of my war room, I felt unsuccessful, overwhelmed, incapable.
My eyes caught on a journal entry – apparently I felt the exact same way five months ago and then again a few weeks later.
I admit that I usually do come to my quiet time in desperate need of a fresh filling. This morning was no different and I began to pray that God would fill me from the top of my head to the tip of my feet.
We need that every day. If you need it as well, here’s a prayer for fresh filling today:
Take my mind, Lord. Demolish every argument and every pretension that sets itself up against Your truth and help me take every thought captive to obedience to Christ. Let my self-talk preach truth to me today. Let me dwell on your Word and on your character and on your promises. Let what I know rule how I feel.
Take my eyes, Lord. Help me see you in every circumstance today. Give me eyes to see the world as you see it, to notice Your good gifts and the grace that you lavish. Help me to see the logs of my own sin rather than the splinters in others.
Take my ears, Lord. Today, allow me to hear your voice behind me saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Give me ears that hear and respond. Keep my ear inclined to you and do not let the din of this world drown it out.
Take my mouth, Lord. May I speak of You today; may I praise You. When a rebuke is needed, help me find words that will train my children and not tear down. Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Keep me from an easy lie and hasty gossip. Give me Your words, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Take my shoulders, Lord and the burdens I am carrying. I give you all of it – my future, my worries, my fears, my needs, my shame. I give you my weakness and my incapability. I give you the tasks that overwhelm my plate today, that wear me down before I’ve even started. I take up only the yoke you’ve put around me for my good and guidance and I rest within it.
Take my heart, Lord. May it be Yours alone. Help me root out every idol, to discern when I’ve set one in my heart and to do the hard work of cutting it out. Chisel out every trace of self-worship, of self-glory, of self-actualization. Anchor my emotions in your truth and keep my heart steadfast. Give me a zeal for You, a passion for Your kingdom and a heart that beats for the things that you love.
Take my hands, Lord. I release control to You. Help me to trust You completely. And whatever You’ve put in my hands to do, give me the energy and the ability to work hard at it and to accomplish it.
Take my stomach, Lord. Give me a craving for pure spiritual milk. Let me seek satisfaction only in Your Word and not with any quick or easy substitute. Do not let me skip a meal or try to work from yesterday’s provision. Help me understand Your Word, to dig deep for it and to rightly apply it.
Take my feet Lord. Order every one of my steps today and let me by okay with where You direct, with what gets done and what doesn’t. Keep me from walking ahead of You and give me courage to follow where You lead today.
So, hello, Monday. We commit every bit of ourselves and our day to you, Father. In the powerful name of your Son, Amen.
*This post appeared originally at TrueandFaithful.net. Click here to get updates delivered to your inbox.
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