My pastor has been talking about the Lord’s Prayer, phrase by phrase, for the last month. The very last line is, “...For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever, Amen.” My pastor talked about the Glory being, our “crisis redeemed.”
I was struck by that, as I am a crisis redeemed in my story of victory over alcohol. But, my story is a “so what” unless it is told. That is where the Glory part comes in. God gets the credit for the crisis redeemed and others get to be helped when I talk about it.
Prayer is one of my most powerful tools. People often get intimidated about prayer, thinking they have to “know how to do it” before actually praying. No. Just open your mouth and let the words fall out. God knows your heart and will hear and receive all that you need to ask Him or tell Him.
Start simply by trying these three two-word prayers,
“Thank you.”
“Help me.”
“What’s next?”
Prayer is talking to God. When I go to meetings and hear others tell their stories, God talks to me.
I start the day in prayer by thanking God for everything in my life—sometimes writing down a gratitude list in a journal. I ask for the courage to say yes to all the things that God puts in my path. I ask Him to guide and direct my thinking and to be mindful of others and for where I might be of service—how my crisis redeemed can help someone else!
At the end of the day, I thank God again for awakening me to my new purpose. I pray for forgiveness for the things I should have done, but did not do out of fear. I ask God for the strength to be bold, more ready to walk into situations where He wants me and to know when to stay silent and pray for people in need.
So powerful. Prayer works. Prayer heals. Try it. Practice it.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
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