Have you ever felt like you get in the way of all God has for you? I know my thoughts can drift, my attitude can get sour, my eyes can wander, my mouth can say things I wish I could take back, and I can do things I know I should not?
Romans 7:14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
So here the Apostle Paul, who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament understands the struggle we share. I find a lot of comfort in his vulnerability. I am not the only one who struggles and neither are you. So every morning I pray over the different parts of my body. Here is a sample of my prayer:
Jesus I need you today. I give you my mind. My mind wanders and is easily distracted. Your Word says that You are renewing my mind. So I ask you today to give me the grace needed to think thoughts that are good and thoughts of You and others. Teach me to think less often about myself and more about Your Kingdom!
Today I give you my eyes. They tend to wander and lead me to places you have given me victory over. I ask that you would not just lead my eyes from wandering but you would open my eyes to how you see. Show me the broken and wounded and give me insight to make a difference. Open my eyes to my family for what they need from me.
Today I give you my ears. My ears tend to listen to the wrong voices which shape the world I see and how I engage with others. Open my ears to hear your voice and quite the voices of the world. Tune my ears to hear you and where you are leading me.
Today I give you my mouth. Oh how my words can wound without intention. Today would you help me to control my tongue. I want to listen more than I talk. May the words that come from my mouth be used to speak life and build up and not tear down. Give me the courage to speak the truth in love. Would you use my words to heal, give home, and comfort! May praising Your Holy Name be the first and last words on my lips.
Today I give you my heart. How my heart is so easily led astray by how I feel. Today put courage and love in my heart. Open my heart to love those that are not easy to love, and to love my family that is easy to overlook. Teach my heart to trust you when it doesn’t make sense and walk in faith at your leading.
Today, I give you my hands. My my touch be gentle and strong. May my hands be used to bless and encourage. Increase the work of my hands, they are infinitely more capable when your blessing shapes what they do. Teach my hands to rest and trust you for the increase. Take the gifts and talents you gave me and use them to build Your Kingdom and not my own.
Today I give you my feet. Lead me to where your hand is leading. I do not want to get off the path you planned for me. Forgive me for following the wrong path and getting distracted by the world. Set me again on your path and light it with Your word. Give me the courage to obey you when it is scary or I think I am not capable.
Amen
Helping People Live a Better Story
Brandon Sereg
www.thevibrant.church
@brandonsereg
