Take hope in the knowledge that you are cherished by the One who made you—you are sheltered in the shadow of His wing, close to His heart. It is my prayer that as we get to know one another you, too, will see beyond the veil and will learn to say, “Even so, I walk in the Presence of the Lord”
With joy,
Nan
Fill My Hungry Soul Lord, I’m Running on Empty
I love You, Lord. I am astounded by Your goodness to me, Your faithfulness that reaches to the heavens. And yet, I’m overwhelmed. Will You fill my hungry soul Lord?
Like deep calls to deep, I call to You as difficulty washes over me. I know You won’t let me drown, and yet some days I feel like I’m gasping for air. The enemy’s taunts are relentless, his lies often believable. His flaming arrows hurt, and my arm grows weary from lifting high my shield of faith.
I Need a Breakthrough Lord. Rescue Me From Sadness
Lord, the Christmas bells are still ringing, twinkling lights still dot the landscape. Sanctuaries still announce Your birth with red, gold, and silver raiment laced through the evergreens, and yet a spirit of heaviness weighs me and many others down. I need a breakthrough of joy, Lord. Rescue me from this sadness.
It has no rhyme or reason — this sadness. It just is. Perhaps it’s an accumulation of sadness — sorrow upon sorrow until now it is beginning to consume me.
Quiet Me With Your Love Lord. My Heart is Struggling
Lord, I am so thankful that when I walk thorough the fire, I won’t be burned because You are with me. When I walk through the turbulent water, I won’t drown because You will carry me safely to the other side. I believe this, and yet my heart is struggling. Please quiet me with Your love Lord.
Your peace is all about me and settles me in my times of need — but I’m struggling beneath the burdens of others. I see their pain, the injustices, the devastation of lives lost, and my heart breaks. I want to fix it for them, but I can’t.
You can, Lord.
Peace is a Gift Lord. Help Me Unwrap it in My Overwhelm
Lord, I sense Your presence, Your delicate whisper calling my name. I know that in Your presence is joy unspeakable. In Your presence is perfect peace. Peace is a gift, Lord. Your gift … but I’m overwhelmed.
Steady my heart to receive Your gift. Guide me to stillness away from the chaos where beneath the light of Your glory I might unwrap Your gift of peace and clasp it to my heart.
My Hope is in You Lord, But My Heart is Hurting ~ Prayer
Lord, I appreciate Your faithfulness so much. You are my sure place — I know I can depend on Your love. My hope is in You Lord … truly. And yet my heart hurts because of the sorrow I see around me.
You are the long-awaited Messiah. You came into the darkness of the world to bring light and love and grace.
I have confident expectation — hope — that You will come into my broken places too.
Sanctify Me Lord, But Does it Have to be Right Now?
Lord, I know You have called me to be holy as You are holy — to represent You well. You have called me to be Your image-bearer to this fallen world. I long to be Your hands and feet, but I also know that requires sanctification. I want you to sanctify me Lord, truly I do — but does it have to be right now?
Sanctification requires dying to self, yielding to You at ALL times not just when it feel good. Being set apart for Your glory and for Your kingdom work requires pruning and sculpting … and LOTS of grace.
How to Have a Thankful Heart in the Difficult Places
The evening sky burned with the fiery orange of a setting sun, reflecting the anguish within me. I watched as God’s consuming fire seemed to melt away the hard edges of the day. Colors intense. Brilliant. Ablaze. I found myself caught up in its glory while I wrestled with how to have a thankful heart in my difficult places.
My wrestling led me to the Lord.
Let Peace Rule in My Heart Lord. It’s a Free-for-All in There
Lord, Your Holy Spirit within me has planted the seed of Your peace deep in the recesses of my heart. It’s there. But I must LET peace rule in my heart — You don’t force it on me.
Let. That’s a big word contained in just three letters.
It tells me that I have a choice — to let peace rule in my heart … or not. It’s up to me.
Wounds of the Heart Produce Bitterness or Fruit. It’s a Choice
Wounds of the heart can grow bitterness. Ugliness. Anguish, or distress.
Or … wounds of the heart can grow good seeds of grain, crushed to produce life-giving bread to feed others. Deep faith can grow with roots steady and strong. Eyes can open to see abounding grace and the abiding presence of the Lord.
It’s a choice.