It’s the first official day of spring and I. AM. HERE. FOR. IT.
The winter was a rough season – I shared about how challenging it had been since the start of the new year in my last post – and honestly, I am not sad at all to see it go. It’s just not a season I thrive in; and therefore, I’m looking forward to the longer, warmer, sunnier days ahead and being able to enjoy more of the great outdoors to the fullest.
But I’m not here today to write about spring. I’m here today to share a prayer that’s been on my heart. On March 1st, I started the Made for This devotional by Jennie Allen and it has been challenging me and spurring me on in the BEST way these past 20 days.
One of the exercises within the first few days of starting this devotional is to write out your personal “anything” prayer. “What does that mean?” you ask. Well, if you’re feeling a restlessness in your soul and a call to MORE, and you’re ready to surrender it all and dive into this adventure with Him, we are invited to pray “God, I will do ANYTHING to go where You want me to go and do what You want me to do.” It’s a risk. It’s a dare. It’s a leap into the dream God has for our lives. And I am so at this place in my life right now where I’m READY for that! I’m thirsting for this and want what He has for me.
So with that, here’s the prayer I wrote out and have been praying just about every morning since the start of this month …
Father God,
Your Word says that You are “the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)” which means that ANYTHING I am seeking, wanting, desiring, longing for, or hoping for is found in YOU. My head knows this to be true, but so often my actions and attitude tell a completely different story. And I am sorry for that because I know deep down in the marrow of my bones that I am made for MORE. I have been made for YOU. For Your love, for Your Kingdom, for Your purposes, for Your glory.
I want to live a life of PURPOSE, PASSION, and IMPACT for You. I want to live a life full of meaning and one that builds Your Kingdom in the here and now. I want to be a woman who trusts and believes and is filled with faith and hope because I have experienced You and lived an audacious, wild, and bold adventure with You. But I don’t always know what that looks like for me. Is it being content and staying put where I am right now OR is it wrapped up in some of these crazy BIG dreams I have?
Lord, what do You want for my life? What small or even big steps do You want me to take so I can live the life You desire and dreamed for me since the minute you created me and brought me into this world?
You see, God, I’m tired of living a life where I settle for less because it’s comfortable or easy. I’m also tired of being tired and too often overwhelmed, and emotionally and mentally drained. I want the life You came and died to give me – abundant, beautiful, wild, and free life!
I’ll admit, it’s a little scary to put all of this down in writing and say it out loud. I know Your way isn’t safe, but risky. But I also know that You are worth all of my comfort and safety and “life of ease.” I know You will provide for me and care for me and bless me when I choose a life that is all about You.
So, Lord, help me to let go and surrender what is not of You and serving Your plans for my life. Help me to wake up every day, and hour-by-hour, CHOOSE YOU.
Father God, I will do ANYTHING to live the dream – the God-sized dream – You have for my life. I will do ANYTHING to experience more of You and what You want to do in my heart, my mind, my home, my marriage, my work, my family and friend relationships, my health, my creative pursuits, my hobbies, and gifts. I will do ANYTHING to have your grace and abundance transform me from the inside-out. I will do ANYTHING to be made like new and made whole, complete, put-back-together, and restored to the person and place You desire me to be. I will do ANYTHING to have others in my life come alongside me and join me in this journey.
God, help me to live a life ROOTED in Your Good News, the Gospel of grace. To love You and love others. To serve You and serve others. To produce good fruit and display Your glory in my corner of the world. I want to follow You and be led by You all of my days. Spirit, move me. Do Your work in me. I am ready for a new path. You have me, I am Yours. Anything You want to do with me, I am in.
“God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis-week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw my out with the trash, or fail to breathe Your holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails (Psalm 51:10-12, MSG).”
In Your Name, I pray, Amen.