A Prayer Over My Writing

1 Corinthians 4:7

For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

1 Peter 4:10 ESV

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Romans 12:6-8 ESV

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Lord, You know I have always, my whole waking and able life been of a mind that God made me to write and tell stories. And You know that once Alice was born I was finally able to write and self publish my first novel. But, Lord, You know as well that I am intimidated and feel futile about writing because as much as I’m finally able to get words on page and out into the world, I see no earthly returns and no recognition. Remind me, Lord, that the gifts You give are for Your Glory, not mine. I need to keep using my gifts and talents because You find pleasure in knowing I am doing what I am called to do, but also because You have a plan much more intricate than I can see. Remind me I am sewing seeds, Lord. Remind me that this novel may sit mostly unread on a virtual shelf for what feels like ages to me, but You gave me the dream to write it, the ability to do so, and the reason for it is beyond me because it is Your reason. Please, Lord, bless that work to Your purposes, guide me onto Your path for what to use this gift for. Lord, I know You can make any request a reality and I pray You will allow me to someday help support my family with this gift and be able to share my stories with the world a large in a much grander way. I Thank You, Lord, for the gift of language and the love of it I have been given and I Thank You so so much for how this gift nourishes and refreshes my Spirit!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I hesitated to add this part, but feel like I need to: If you’d like to read my first novel please click here: http://tinyurl.com/ojq5yvw

A Prayer For Those Waiting on A Child

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Genesis 1:28 ESV

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Psalm 113:9 ESV

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!

Lord, I pray today remembering that You do not make idle promises or proclamations, and that You have put the dream of a woman’s heart there for her good. I know You are working to bless my friends and family who are waiting on children. I can see, Lord, that it is so hard for them to wait, and to be patient in their Faith. But we know You put the dream of parenthood in their hearts for a reason, and so tonight, we pray you’ll show them if there is anything blocking their paths to that dream, just like Balaam and the donkey. We pray, Lord, that You provide them strength and hope in their waiting time, and keep their hearts open to where You are leading them. Don’t let fear blind them from seeing if You have an alternate plan or a different way of delivering their dream, Lord. We Thank You that You are so faithful, so steadfast, that we can count on Your providence here. We Thank You that we know You can heal anything in them that is preventing this physically, and we pray specifically that You provide that tonight, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

A Prayer In Thanks For Friends And Fellowship

Psalms 55:14
We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng.

It is my friend Wendy’s birthday today and I was thinking about her and what a wonderful influence she’s been on me for my whole life. Wendy is actually the mother of a friend from school but she has always seemed like a friend to me too. I remember well always feeling peaceful and calm around her and really liking and looking up to her sweet demeanor when I was a child, and as an adult I’ve had many good chances to fellowship with her. In the surprising way that God works, I think we’ve actually become better friends since their family moved four states away and we have spoken only on Facebook, even. So, today, inspired by Wendy, my prayer is in thanks for the friends and fellows like these that God puts in our lives.

Lord, I am so grateful for the people you have put into my life to be friends to me in my good times and my hard moments. I can see looking back that You have put the right people near me to sow seeds of faith and right behavior. I am so happy to have yet another reminder that You have always watched over me and had such a loving hand in my life. I can not express in words how sweet it feels to look back over my life and see people like my friend Wendy, and the many others who you have put in my path to bless me and to allow me to serve You by blessing in return. I hope I have done an adequate job of returning their favors and I pray You give me the tools to be more like these great friends, blessing people in the example of Christ. Lord, today I pray a special blessing on Wendy and my other friends who are out in the world sowing seeds for You. I pray you be with all those in my life who have been a blessing to me, bring them all closer to You, Lord, and bless their lives in the monumental ways that only You can do. I love them all so, Lord, and I know they are Your special messengers here on Earth.
Amen.

A Mother’s Prayer

Proverbs 31:25-30 ESV
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

Isaiah 49:15 ESV
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.

Psalm 127:3 ESV
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Lord, I am so weary at times. You have blessed me with the dream of my heart, given me this little person to love and care for, who I longed to be a Mother to. Oh how I prayed to be a Mom, how I ached to have tiny arms around my neck and drooly kisses on my cheek. And I am so awed that You have given me this gift, Lord, so humbled that You would trust me with this tiny soul You cherished and created. Please, Lord, be a reminder to me when I am weary, let me see her through Your eyes when I am frustrated and tired. I do not want to speak harsh words, Lord, and yet sometimes I find I do. Soften my tongue to her, Lord, soften my ways. Make them as soft as my heart is for her. Allow me to be loving even in my discipline as You are for us, Lord. Show me how to take a breath before reacting, how to remind myself that these moments are fleeting and soon I will want them back. She is already growing so fast, Lord. Write these moments on my heart, let me never forget the sweetness of seeing my baby grow and become all You have called her to be. Let me never forget as she is growing to take the time to appreciate even the most wearying of days, because someday I will wish that I could relive them. She is sweetness and light and life and laughter and love, Lord, and all wonderful things You’ve created her to be, don’t let me be the dampener of that wonderful spirit. Do not let my complaining tongue injure the precious times we have together, Lord, or that beautiful light in her. Help me be generous with my time, always recalling that she will grow too fast. Help me be unselfish of my body and my space, always recalling that she will soon feel too far away. Help me to be humble and show her grace, as You have always shown to me. Lord, You’ve called me to Mother, now I call on You to help me do it better. Give me patience for every hard moment, Lord, and let me teach her to Praise Your Name.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen