A New Way to Pray...

Pray continually. 

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Four kids, five schedules and one mom can leave your life in perpetual chaos. Most mornings I faithfully opened my Bible to drink in God’s word. I talked to Him, listened to Him and left that place contented and ready to face my day.

But many days my Jesus ran out before my hours did. I’d read Paul’s words to pray continually but with four daughters chattering throughout daylight, how could I even manage to get a word in? It was from a place of complete desperation I began to call out to God in one sentence prayers. Turns out short really can be sweet.

I wrote about this today at Encouragement Cafe. Would you join me there? http://www.encouragementcafe.com/2012/09/10/prayer-wimp-to-prayer-warrior/

Life Transforming Prayer - Lord Lessen Me

These eight weeks we have been diving into life transforming prayer have been some of my favorite. I can't believe our eight weeks has come to a close but look for a new Tuesday series starting next week - Life Lessons Learned on the Road. Until then, enjoy our last of the Life Transforming Prayers...
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He (Jesus) must become greater. I must become less.

John 3:30

Do more. Get more. Be more. These messages bounce around my life like a pinball machine gone mad. Sometimes the more within my reach isn't the one I should grasp. What if instead...

I do more with Jesus.


I get more of Jesus.


I be more like Jesus.


Trying to follow a long list of rules or live up to never-ending expectations covers my life with a cloud of less-than. I do want to live in a way that honors God. I do desire to encourage and energize my family. But the key for me is not to pray over my multitude of perceived flaws but to pray Lord, Lessen Me. 


Less of me makes room for more of Him.


Lord, make me less so my life makes much of You.


What is one way your life needs to be less?

Life Transforming Prayer - Lord Reveal Me

When Ryan Seacrest mouths, "Your next American Idol is...", I scoot to the edge.


When Ty Pennington shouts, "Move that bus!", I reach for a tissue.


The big reveal is thrilling...as long as it isn't mine. It is safer to keep my emotions and thoughts bussed in. No risk is required when I watch someone else reach for their dreams.


For too long in relationships I chased expectations. I tried to do, be and say the right thing to please my parents, men, girlfriends and even strangers. I would not risk revealing my true inner self. 


I know I'm not alone in this. How often have you heard someone utter, "She shared too much," with a look of pity. Sharing too much. Getting too emotional. These receive quick criticism. I've rarely heard someone denigrated for sharing too little. 


Are we satisfied with plastic relationships? Do stilted, measured conversations meet our heart needs? 


As we continue our series on life transforming prayer, what if we dared to take the lead in authenticity? What if we prayed for the courage and boldness to say, "Lord, reveal me?" He will be our shield as we expose our inner self. He will protect and guard our hearts. We will experience the joy of authentic, God-intended relationship.


What is your go-to mask?

Life Transforming Prayer - Lord Lead Me

She brought home a C...it feels like the teacher graded my parenting.

He walked away from his Christian upbringing...I sense judgement.


She threw herself into the floor of the department store...every scream surfaces in my heart as failure.


I used to keep a ledger of my performance as a parent. Every day and moment my mood vacillated with my imaginary standard of perfection in parenting. I'd been taught to hold my children with an open hand but appearances kept clenching a fist around my heart.


How did I loosen my grasp? With allowing these words to slip from my lips - Lord, Lead Me.


Lord, Lead Me...keeps my gaze on the One who establishes my worth.


Lord, Lead Me...keeps grace at the forefront of my heart.


Lord, Lead Me...keeps God in His rightful place.


Will you join me as we continue this Tuesday series of Life Transforming Prayer? 


Lord, Lead Me.


Lord, Lead You.


Lord, Lead Us.


What is the area of parenting you most need to turn over to God's care?

Life Transforming Prayer - Lord Teach Me

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2

I graduated high school with a 3.98 GPA. I graduated college with a 3.92 GPA. With my good grades came a big ego. I thought myself capable to think and reason myself through any situation. My good grades and big ego came at an astronomical cost. For me GPA should have stood for God's Presence Absent.

Pride choked God's presence from my mind. 
Pride squeezed relationships from my heart.
Pride crowded God's best from my life.


Thought doesn't originate in the mind...it springs from my heart (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). I had to open my heart to God's guidance so my mind could follow. I had to embrace humility before I could own my ugly hidden sin. A key step on that journey was praying this one sentence prayer: Lord, Teach Me. 


The disciples once asked Jesus to teach them to pray. I need God to teach me in all areas. Like a blank tablet, I want His wisdom scrawled across the pages of my heart.


Do you struggle with focus? Or like me, does your mind wander the wrong things? As we continue on our journey of life transforming prayer, let's pray this simple prayer together and allow God to transform our minds.

Transforming Prayer - Lord Direct Me

My husband and I are contemplating building or buying a new home. It’s not the lengthy process of packing and unpacking that boxes my heart in distress. It’s not the mound of decisions and details that pushes my emotions to the edge. It’s two words – show condition.

Show condition.

Has my house ever come close to this standard? I’ll give you a hint. My first name isn’t Susie and the bunny doesn’t just hop by our home on Easter. The six of us have occasional rabbit visitors of the dust variety.

The amazing thing is I’m okay with it.

I’m a natural goal setter and achiever. A paper with every item crossed off is beauty. Honestly, I’d rather get an “A” than a “10”.

For years I lived in a constant state of panic – too many tasks and too little time to complete them. I fretted over keeping my hampers empty and my pantry full. I stressed about holidays and ordinary days. My emotions and outlook rode the wave of my daily “to do” list. The more I accomplished, the better I felt.

With so much achievement my life had absolutely margin. There was no room for God to work in my home because I was too busy doing it all for Him. I decided to make a radical change.

I began to pray a simple daily prayer – Lord Direct Me.

I gave Him the pen to my notepad.

I offered Him my time to manage.

As I breathed this sentence throughout my day, He breathed peace into my home.

As I prayed Lord Direct Me, my home became less type A and more type Him.

Does your home need an extreme makeover? What would change if you breathed this prayer into the space of your home and heart?

Transforming Prayer - Lord Change Me

Welcome to a new Tuesday series - Life Transforming Prayer. For the next eight weeks we will look at eight areas of life and the single sentence prayers that radically transformed my life. Are you tired of an unsatisfying marriage? Does your health reveal inner struggle? Do struggles in relationships gnaw at your joy? 

Then this series is for you (and me!) Join me for this thrilling journey as we tap into the power of single sentence prayers. Fasten your seat belts...new life awaits!

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Each one should test his own actions.

Galatians 6:4

I blubbered my way down my first aisle. Deep within I knew a colossal mistake waited at the other end. Eight years of striving in my own power led to divorce.


That second walk down the aisle was not taken without thought and prayer. The love I felt for my new husband made my prior marriage look like puppies were exchanging vows. I was certain. I was resolved. I was invincible.


I was wrong.


My second marriage wasn't much easier than my first. About a year in we faced our first marriage trial. Stress nibbled at our foundation. My husband's flaws surfaced with every bite. 


I knew if he would change, I would be happy.


Out of sheer desperation, I began to take long walks with God. Every step surfaced a new complaint. I could cover miles with the imagined short-comings of my spouse.


One ordinary walk, I felt the tug of God to stop talking about him...and start talking about me. Only I couldn't see my own faults. Scott's grace-filled heart wasn't listing mine. I didn't even know where to start.


I muttered the only prayer I could conceive.


Lord, change me.


Step by step, walk by walk, week by week, God transformed my heart. Heart change led to life change. Grace conquered criticism. Mercy triumphed nagging. Compassion covered callousness. 


Some things about my husband did in time change. Some things did not. The temperature and tone of our marriage set by my thermometer did. My heart warmed to his. 


Lord, change me.


Do you dare to pray it? A renewed, revitalized marriage will be your reward.