I do not need to be anxious about anything because I can bring everything to You. You long to hear from me and to listen to my requests. You want me to tell You about my needs. And my response to your invitation is to thank You for everything. I thank You right now!
How wonderful that You hear me when I call to You for help. You hear my call and rescue me from every trouble.
May we, Your people, wake up and call Your name. Help us to put our pride away and to look into Your face. Help us to turn from our sinful ways. When we do that, You will answer. You will forgive our sins and heal our land. So we urgently seek You and ask that You heal our land now.
I bring this and all the things on my heart to You because I know that whatever I ask from You and believe I will receive, You will give to me.
Give me the vision to ask, and give me the faith to believe.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Make your life a prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 TPT
Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come.
Philippians 4:6 VOICE
The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
Psalm 34:17 NLT
If My people who are called by My name put away their pride and pray, and look for My face, and turn from their sinful ways, then I will hear from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NLV
So listen to what I’m saying: Whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will.
Mark 11:24 VOICE
Regret
Dear Lord,
I haven’t won my race yet, but I praise You because I’m still running! So I pledge to keep running as I lengthen my stride. I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that You offer in Christ Jesus.
As I run this race, I will give You all my worries about my past mistakes as well as my missteps. I find it amazing that You want to carry the weight of these regrets because You care about me.
Sometimes I think I’ve discovered shortcuts, but when I get off track I trip and fall. Sometimes I stumble when my way is rocky. But you are there to pull me to my feet.
But even when I fall flat on my face, You do not reject me. You use these times to teach me more about Your grace because You are powerful enough to allow my missteps to be part of my journey to You. Looking back, I see it’s all for my good.
You allow me to help others who stumble over the pitfalls that tripped me. Because I belong to You, You make every step and misstep a part of my race.
So, Lord, right now, I give You all my regrets and ask that You turn each one of them into a miracle of Your love and grace. Let me use my regrets as a way to serve You as I continue to run into Your arms.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus. Whoever has a mature faith should think this way. And if you think differently, God will show you how to think.
Philippians 3:13–15 GW
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Within your heart you can make plans for your future,
but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.
Proverbs 16:9 TPT
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIV
Come back to the place of safety,
all you prisoners who still have hope!
I promise this very day
that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.
Zechariah 9:12 NLT
Remorse
Dear Lord,
Though my spirit belongs to You, I still make mistakes. When I fail, I know that I can come to You and confess my sins. I battle my selfish desires as I continue to realize that all of me belongs to You. You have called me to be a temple where Your Holy Spirit rests. This means I no longer belong to myself.
I was bought with a price, so help me to glorify You in the way I use my body and care for it. It’s not a sin to be out of shape, but I realize that being out of shape does not honor You.
I repent from the mistakes I’ve willfully and carelessly made and turn back to You so that my sins may be wiped out and so that I can be refreshed. Fill me with the gift of Your Holy Spirit.
Jesus, thank You for the gift of remorse. Thank You that now that I have repented and turned back to You, You have refreshed my spirit and restored our relationship.
My repentance and baptism with water represents that you have forgiven my sin and have filled me with Your Holy Spirit.
I embrace Your message of forgiveness. I know that I will never face Your condemnation because I am in You. You have raised me from death to eternal life.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Don’t you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don’t belong to yourselves. You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 GW
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
Acts 3:19 NIV
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38 NIV
I speak to you an eternal truth: if you embrace my message and believe in the One who sent me, you will never face condemnation, for in me, you have already passed from the realm of death into the realm of eternal life!
John 5:24 TPT
Sad
Dear Lord,
Sometimes my soul is troubled with sadness. But because You are my help and my God, I know that I can praise You anyway. I call out to You, and You answer me.
Things happen in life that are sad, and at times my sadness is an appropriate emotion. However, when that sadness won’t quit or when a dark spirit tries to chain my heart to despair, it’s time to place myself under Your authority. It’s time to shoo that dark spirit away. So I say to any dark spirit trying to attach itself to my emotions, “Shoo! Leave now in the power and authority of the name and the blood of Jesus. I revoke any agreement I may have made with you that allows you to torment me.”
Lord, I also know that You never place darkness into my soul because You give me the light of Your presence. You allow me to trade my ashes for a crown of beauty, my sorrow for the oil of joy, the spirit of hopelessness for the spirit of praise. I make that trade now!
Because of all You’ve done for me, I will be like a beautiful oak tree planted by You.
Fill my mind with beauty and truth instead of darkness or dark media. Lead me to meditate on those things that are honorable, right, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy.
My sadness will dissolve, and I will praise You for the joy You have restored to my life.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Why are you sad, O my soul? Why have you become troubled within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my help and my God.
Psalm 42:11 NLV
In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
Jonah 2:2 NIV
So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.
James 4:7 GW
To those who have sorrow in Zion I will give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes. I will give them the oil of joy instead of sorrow, and a spirit of praise instead of a spirit of no hope. Then they will be called oa
ks that are right with God, planted by the Lord, that He may be honored.
Isaiah 61:3 NLV
Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.
Philippians 4:8 VOICE
Self-Conscious
Dear Lord,
I hate it when I am self-conscious, when I feel as if everyone is looking at and judging me. That’s when I want to run and hide!
Your Word reminds me that fearing others is a dangerous trap but trusting You means safety.
Help me not to be afraid of the faces that look my way, for I know that You will deliver me from being self-conscious.
I will always keep my eyes on You. With You beside me, I cannot be shaken.
You are my helper, so what do I have to fear? There is nothing anyone can do to me, no judgment or wrongdoing on their part that could ever take me out of Your hand.
So, Lord, I’ve decided that I want to push back against the fear that has kept me from doing all that You are calling me to do. In exchange for my self-consciousness, I ask that You wrap me in Your perfect love, for when I am wearing Your love, fear has no way to attach itself to me.
Besides, my focus shouldn’t be on myself anyway. My focus should be on You and the love You have put into my heart for others.
When I am living in Your light, it’s easy for me to have fellowship with others. And as for others judging me, I have nothing to fear. You have already cleansed me from all sin.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
but trusting the LORD means safety.
Proverbs 29:25 NLT
“Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:8 NKJV
I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:8 NIV
So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6 ESV
No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn’t have perfect love.
1 John 4:18 GW
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7 NLT
Selfish
Dear Lord,
How many times have I imagined how much better my life would be if only I had more—more money, more things, more attention, more power, or more than my neighbors? How many times have I pushed and shoved to get more instead of praising You for what You’ve already given me?
I am sorry. Please direct my heart to Your Word rather than to get-rich-quick schemes.
You have blessed me. I should trust You, not my bank account, which has already betrayed me a time or two. You richly give me what I need.
Lead me to use my money to do good, being rich in good works and generous to those in need, always ready to share with others.
I can’t take my earthly possessions to heaven with me, so why do I strive to get even more junk? I would do far better to serve others, ensuring that You will provide treasures for me in heaven.
You will bless me when I give, for it’s not true that You help those who help themselves. Instead, You help those who help others.
Teach me to be concerned about not just my own well-being but the well-being of others. Let me be devoted to those you have put into my life so that we can become a loving family, showing love and kindness as well as respect to one another.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Direct my heart toward your written instructions
rather than getting rich in underhanded ways.
Psalm 119:36 GW
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
1 Timothy 6:17–19 NLT
The man who gives much will have much, and he who helps others will be helped himself.
Proverbs 11:25 NLV
People should be concerned about others and not just about themselves.
1 Corinthians 10:24 GW
Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.
Romans 12:10 GW
Shamed
Dear Lord,
When I feel shamed, I look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of my faith. How remarkable that He found joy in enduring the cross, in bearing its shame for my sake. Because Jesus bore my shame, He will lift my shame off me whenever I ask.
I’m asking now, because Your Word says that anyone who believes in You will never be put to shame.
I confess my sins that caused my shame. I know that through You I am forgiven. I know that You have cleansed me from all that I’ve done wrong.
As I give You my shame, I know that You will remove even the stigma of my shame.
And that’s it. My sin is gone, covered, meaning my shame has disappeared. The case is closed.
Because of Your work on the cross, no one can accuse me because I am joined in a life-union with You, Jesus.
Because I’ve turned to You, not only have You freed me from my shame, You’ve also given me radiant joy. My face will no longer bear the shadow of disgrace. When people see me, they can whisper about my past if they’d like, but it’s all meaningless because that is not who I am anymore. I am Yours. I am forgiven, and I am shame-free.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 ESV
As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
Romans 10:11 NIV
God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong.
1 John 1:9 GW
So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One.
Romans 8:1 TPT
I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
Psalm 34:4–5 NLT
Shocked
Dear Lord,
How can I not be shocked by what happened? But just because it was so unexpected doesn’t mean You have forgotten me. You will soon come to my rescue. You will get me through this.
I have hope because I have experienced Your great mercy before. I will not be wiped out, because You will wipe away my tears.
I can count on Your unlimited compassion, which arrives fresh every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.
I will not yield to fear because I know that You are near. I know that You never turn Your gaze from me because You are my faithful God. You infuse me with Your strength and help me to survive and thrive in every situation. Soon, You will hold my hand high in victory! But for now, You are holding my hand tight, and You won’t let go.
That’s why I will not be afraid of the terrors of the night or the arrows that fly in the day. I will not dread disease that stalks in darkness, nor will I fear disaster that strikes at midday.
Because I am liste
ning to You, I can live without worry. I can be free from the dread of any disaster that has fallen.
You care for me and carry me when disaster strikes. You carry me through it all. I am safe in Your arms.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
The reason I can still find hope is that I keep this one thing in mind:
the Lord’s mercy.
We were not completely wiped out.
His compassion is never limited.
It is new every morning.
His faithfulness is great.
Lamentations 3:21–23 GW
Do not yield to fear, for I am always near.
Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God.
I will infuse you with my strength
and help you in every situation.
I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 TPT
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Psalm 91:5–6 NLT
But whoever listens to me will live without worry
and will be free from the dread of disaster.
Proverbs 1:33 GW
Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries.
1 Peter 5:7 VOICE
Stressed
Dear Lord,
You have given me the gift of peace straight from Your heart to mine. This peace is not fragile, like the peace the world gives, but solid, strong, and perfect. It is a peace I can wear daily, and it never wears out.
Since I have access to peace like this, why should I yield to fear or let my heart be troubled? Give me the faith to be courageous so that I will not lose my peace.
When my stressors arise, I will call to You, and You will answer me and set me free from a stress reaction. You will remind me that I already possess Your wonderful and beautiful peace. Knowing this, I will slip Your peace on. I will wear it in front of all my stressors, and stress will have no choice but to disappear.
Praying through Every Emotion Page 8
