A Prayer for God to Show You Where You Need to Change - Your Daily Prayer - September 15

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A Prayer for God to Show You Where You Need to Change
By Christine F. Perry

Bible Reading
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

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I picked this topic from the list of possible blog topics, not realizing I’d need to pray this prayer more than I initially thought.

You see, I thought I was doing fine in managing my relationships, responsibilities, and life until someone spoke up. Things had gotten out of order.

How? I’d tried to be so careful not to schedule too much, yet not cut everyone and everything out. I felt like I’d checked with all my people, but I had failed the check with the Lord.

I struggle with pleasing people. I also find a lot of my identity wrapped up in helping others. This isn’t a bad thing, unless I've gotten my priorities out of line. Who needs to come first? The Lord. Who needs to come second? My family. Who needs to come third? My extended family and then friends.

I’d gotten a few of those out of line, and the outcome was disappointing some of the people I care about most. I’d been too busy — again!

Just this morning, as I was reading “Keeping a Quiet Heart,” by Elisabeth Elliot, she said, "When Satan came to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, his bait was intended to inspire the lust to do more than the Father meant for Him to do — to go farther, demonstrate more power, act more dramatically. So the enemy comes to us in these days of frantic doing."

I find myself there a lot. I want to jump in and help before even asking God if He even wants me to help. At the root of this is pride. I want to do more than I should, or even am sometimes able to. When I crash or let other things slip, it ends up being more on the people closest to me. That’s not fair to them, and it’s not loving them well. Even more than this, it’s not honoring the Lord because I’m not doing what He’s asked me to do. I’m doing what I think I should do.

I don’t know if you’re like me in this area, or if there’s another area that hasn't been pleasing to the Lord in your life. But I know I can’t do the changing on my own.

Chip Ingram often says this phrase, which brings great comfort.

“I can’t.

He never said you could.

He can!

He always said He would.”

The Lord isn’t up in heaven condemning us for getting it wrong the first time or the four hundredth time. Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He is there to help guide, help, and change us to be more like Him. He has all we need. He is all we need.

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please forgive me for taking things out of Your hands and putting them into my own. Please help us and those reading this blog to stop and listen to what You want us to do and where You want us to go.

Father, You know us better than we know ourselves. You know the harmful ways in us. You know our propensity to wander away from You and Your commands. Please keep us close. Please draw us back when we’ve strayed. Please change what needs to be changed and strengthen the weak areas.

Lord, we need You more than the air we breathe. Please help us. We are counting on You because apart from You, we can do nothing.

We love You. Help us to love You more.

Amen.

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Jantanee Rungpranomkorn

Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website:  Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.

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