SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE


The Christian prayer life can sometimes feel stale. It doesnโ€™t mean your faith is weak, or that youโ€™re doing something wrongโ€”so donโ€™t get hung up on it! It just happens. But if you want to connect with God and donโ€™t know how to pray, or simply donโ€™t feel like praying…then these everyday prayers are for you.ย 

 

Today Just Sucks

Nothingโ€™s going right at work. Your friendโ€™s mad at you. And thereโ€™s still so much on your to-do list. Todayโ€™s justโ€ฆrough.ย 

Whereโ€™s God in this? Is he just as present here as he is at church? Itโ€™s weird to think of God having a bad day alongside usโ€ฆbut 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.

Itโ€™s so freeing to know that our struggles, frustrations, and limitations donโ€™t separate us from God. He isnโ€™t confused by our tears or put off by our anger. The author of Hebrews tells us Jesus โ€œunderstands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we doโ€ (4:15, NLT).ย 

Going to God in the midst of our feelings, not once weโ€™ve โ€œcleaned them upโ€ is actually a mark of spiritual maturity and confidence in Godโ€™s character. So hereโ€™s a quick prayer to help you invite God into this hard day.

โ€œSo John was beheaded in the prisonโ€ฆLater, Johnโ€™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 townsโ€ (Matthew 14:10-13, NLT).

A Prayer for Hard Days

Comforter, you donโ€™t require all my days to be good days. And thatโ€™s good news because today was really hard. Iโ€™m burned out, frustrated, and tempted to think that Iโ€™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. Thatโ€™s me right now. To be honest, I donโ€™t have the energy to say much else. I know I donโ€™t have the best attitude right now, but if itโ€™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!