Prayer For God To Change My Life
Prayer began changing me when I came in out of the cold and found God ready to embrace me as my loving heavenly Father.
I was in the last semester of my senior year in high school. Along with the rest of my family I had drifted out of church when I was in the 7th grade. I was literally wrapped up in my music. I headed for Central High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee every morning with a Sousaphone wrapped around me, my books were stuffed in the bell of the horn and I carried a bass fiddle under my right arm. I walked two blocks to the corner where I squeezed into a trolley car with 80 students on board. I sang in the high school glee club. Music was my life.
I was enrolled in an elective Bible course, but I paid little attention to it. In fact, I lied about doing my homework in all my classes. The Bible class was no exception. When the teacher called the roll, I lied and said "prepared." Since I didn't read the assignments I was failing. I intercepted the letters the teacher sent home to notify my mother.
Lying about reading the Bible eventually troubled my conscience. I could lie about doing algebra without the slightest concern, but lying about reading the Holy Bible led me to wonder what God thinks about my handling His sacred Scriptures that way? I began to wonder if I was in serious trouble with God and what I could do about it?
About that time my world began falling apart. One day the Bible teacher just happened to meet my mom downtown. "How is Oliver doing in your class?" mother asked. "He's failing. Haven't you been getting the letters I've sent you?" Mother confronted me that evening and I had to confess I had flushed the letters down the commode.
For the first time I realized I might not graduate!
Even more disturbing was what happened at the big band concert. I was scheduled to play a solo, but I was so upset I ended up with a poor performance.
My hope of a professional career in music was in jeopardy. Music was my life. If I failed in music what would I have left to make life worth living?
My conscience kept reminding me that I was in serious trouble with God. What on earth was I to do? I figured I was out in the cold with God. How could a sinner like me find His mercy? I was too proud and ashamed to ask anyone for advice.
One afternoon while I was alone at home I decided I better try to talk to God. I knew I didn't deserve any favors. I saw myself as a beggar out in the cold badly needing help from the God I had offended.
Nevertheless, I knelt down beside my bed speechless. What could I say? Then I remembered an old hymn I had sung in church as a young child. So I began:
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of
Jesus. O, precious is the flow That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
My mentor asked God for something I had never heard before. He prayed that I would love to pray. He prayed that I would enjoy praying. He prayed that it would be easy for me to pray.
His words blew me away. I had never before thought about praying about my prayer life. But I've been praying about it ever since.
The prophet Isaiah spoke an amazing promise to Gentiles who embraced the God of Israel: God would bring them to His holy mountain (a metaphor for His holy presence) and would make them joyful in His house of prayer (see Isaiah 56:67). What a beautiful image! For many of us, prayer is drudgery, work, and flat-out boring.
Most Christians would rather endure a root canal than be forced to spend an hour in prayer. But it doesn't have to be that way. Prayer doesn't have to be an hour of hard labor.
Start praying for God to help you love prayer. Use the language of Isaiah and ask God to make you joyful in His house of prayer. God will honor your request. I know, because over the last 20 years He has answered mine.
I can trace my desire to pray and my joy in prayer all the way back to those few moments in that Bronco. God honored my mentor's prayers for me, and He's been honoring mine ever since.
O God, give me a heart of prayer. Let prayer be easy for me. Help me see it as a joy, not labor, and a privilege, not a chore. Precious God, do as Your Word promises. Make me joyful in Your house of prayer!
Dear Lord, I want to love You with an insatiable love. Answer my prayer immeasurably more than I can think of or imagine. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Heavenly Father, I look up to you in this time of change. Allow me to have the courage to change my life for the better. Allow all my burdens to be risen up to you as I know that You will see me through. Forgive those who have done evil and allow me to do the same. Teach me to love with an open heart and open spirit. Take time for me today to help with all the trials you have set out for me and allow me the strength and energy to follow you. Give me the blessings to find a new home, keep my family together, and bless those who are away, may they be strong and know how much love is out there. Let them know you and I are thinking of them and missing them dearly. Bless me with love, strength, wisdom, health, courage, forgiveness, and a willingness to learn.
I am a work-in-progress, Lord and all I ask of You today is that You cleanse my heart. Shape me and mold me into who You want me to become.
Reveal Your great plan and will for my life. Use me to fulfill my destiny and spread Your message across the land.
I declare and decree that from this day forward, Your never-changing, genuine, undying, never-failing love, will envelope my heart.
I will gain compassion, hope, faith and love for humanity and I shall follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Amen and Amen!!
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Lord God Almighty, the path You have set before me is a long and narrow one. There are bridges to burn, mountains to climb and oceans to cross.
I know it's not going to be easy. But, Lord, the toughest roads lead to the most beautiful destinations. And, with You by my side through it all, I will make it to Your heavenly kingdom, where I will dine with You at Your table.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans for peace and not of harm, to give you a future and a hope.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint.
Lord,
I struggle with _______ and need your help.
I thought I was walking the correct path
But I have failed again and again.
Please Father,
Help me hold to faith in You and Your plan for
My life.
Give me faith to believe that when you stand with me,
Nothing can stand against me.
Thank you for your blessings, Lord,
Help me recognize them when they come my way
And keep my heart from straying from Your Truth.
Thank you, Father.
Amen.
Lord God,
Please give me patience in times of hardship.
Grant me peace in the face of stress
And understanding when things don't go my way.
Father God,
Forgive me for being impatient,
Forgive me my faults.
Give me strength, Lord,
To wait.
Calm my heart and soothe my frustrations,
These I lay at the foot of the cross.
Help me stay calm, maintain a positive attitude and be patient.
Thank you Father,
Amen.