SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE
Matthew 14:10-13 The Christian prayer life can sometimes feel stale. It doesn’t mean your faith is weak, or that you’re doing something wrong—so don’t get hung up on it! It just happens. But if you want to connect with God and don’t know how to pray, or simply don’t feel like praying…then these everyday prayers are for you.
Today Just Sucks
Nothing’s going right at work. Your friend’s mad at you. And there’s still so much on your to-do list. Today’s just…rough.
Where’s God in this? Is he just as present here as he is at church? It’s weird to think of God having a bad day alongside us…but in the gospels, he had quite a few. In Matthew 13-14, we get a glimpse into a low point in the life of Jesus. He traveled home to Nazareth only to have his identity questioned and message rejected. Then, his cousin was killed. So, understandably, he just wanted to be alone. What happened next? A bunch of people heard where he was going and followed him, asking to be healed and fed. I wonder, as he was performing miracles for all these strangers, if he had a tear in his eye, thinking about his beloved cousin who just died.
It’s so freeing to know that our struggles, frustrations, and limitations don’t separate us from God. He isn’t confused by our tears or put off by our anger. The author of Hebrews tells us Jesus “understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do” (4:15, NLT).
Going to God in the midst of our feelings, not once we’ve “cleaned them up” is actually a mark of spiritual maturity and confidence in God’s character. So here’s a quick prayer to help you invite God into this hard day.
“So John was beheaded in the prison…Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns” (Matthew 14:10-13, NLT).
A Prayer for Hard Days
Comforter, you don’t require all my days to be good days. And that’s good news because today was really hard. I’m burned out, frustrated, and tempted to think that I’m alone. But you know what it feels like to be misunderstood, lonely, angry, and left behind. You know what it feels like to get to the end of the day exhausted, discouraged, and wanting to be by yourself. That’s me right now. To be honest, I don’t have the energy to say much else. I know I don’t have the best attitude right now, but if it’s okay, I just want to be with you. Amen.
Visit this page for more practical, everyday prayers to help you connect with God in the ordinary, extraordinary, everyday moments of life!
