When Life Laps You

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest.

Matthew 11:28-29

"It feeled like 3 laps, Mommy."


Monday our six year old, Clara, decided she would join the ranks of runner. Filled with determination and energy, she wanted to stride right into a three mile run. With thousands of miles under my soles, I started her with a 1/3 mile lap around our neighborhood. Day one she outpaced me and never had to stop. Day two she struggled a bit and wanted to come home after 1/3 mile.


Have you ever had a day that clocked 1/3 mile but "feeled" like 3 laps? Have you ever wondered how to breathe rest on trying days? Prayer is the fuel for life's run.


Last fall we joined in prayer to get PrePrayed. We learned how to energize our ordinary days so we would be prepared for life's big events not just logistically but spiritually. Specifically, we prayed rest in four areas:


Rest for your heart


Rest for your soul


Rest for your mind


Rest for you body

Do you need to re-fuel? Why not take the next 30 days to recharge your heart and refresh your soul? You can download the complete free prayer guide, PrePrayed, here: http://www.shannonmilholland.com/free-resources.html

Please allow me the privilege of praying for you on your journey. Tell me in a comment specifically how I pray for you today.

Day 14 of Prayer Guide - Health for Your Mind

Day Fourteen

Health for Your Mind

Romans 8:6b To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (ESV)

Oh how you long for the fog to vanish. You reach for clarity and focus, but it eludes once more. This season has aged your mind like never before. Could altering the object of your thoughts, restore life to your mind?

Withered one, reach out your hand and clutch health for your mind.

Today I Pray for You:

·         To gather close to the warmth of God’s own heart, as your fog lifts.

·         To focus on God, so He can focus your mind.

Today You Pray:

Sustainer, the tension of my brain slides out as I am shrouded in Your presence. I park my mind on You and allow the particles of my confusion to slip away. Life and peace blanket my mind.

Gone is the tension and strain. No throbbing; no pain. As I fill my mind with the Your fullness, it is emptied of stress. My mind is clear.

Prayer Guide Day 9 - Confidence for Your Mind

Day Nine

Confidence for Your Mind

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things

My mind is a vortex; my confidence a downward spiral. When did the switch throw from believing I could do all things through Christ to believing failure was imminent? I yearn for the thrilling days when I advanced in faith without consideration of setback.

Fearful one, come declare confidence for your mind.

Today I Pray for You:

·         To remove the cloak of doubt which veils your thoughts, so your mind is clear to focus on Christ

·         To experience an explosion of faith based on God’s goodness not your competence

Today You Pray:

My Cornerstone, I build my thoughts on You. Layer my mind with bricks of Your grace. Hold my brain together with the mortar of Your love.

In these moments of quiet, I recount Your goodness. You never fail me and You won’t start now. Fixed on You, my mind is secure once more.

Rest for Your Mind - Day Four of Prayer Guide

Day Four

Rest for Your Mind

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Your usually organized thoughts jump one to the other like a pinball machine.  At moments you can’t distinguish where one thought ends and another begins.  Life seems like an endless train never reaching the station.  Frazzled one, come receive rest for your mind.

Today I Pray for You:

·         To focus your mind on the most important tasks and lay unnecessary things aside

·         To declutter your schedule and find spots of sweet serenity and hear from the One who loves you.

Today You Pray:

Prince of Peace, I slide my mind into Your hand. Reign there and eradicate the strain. Invade my brain with Your serenity.  Gather my scattered thoughts to Your heart.

Help me free my calendar and my mind to enjoy these days of preparation. I focus my mind on You, Prince of Peace. I trust You with every detail. My mind is set free by Your perfect peace.