Candid confession: Even though I’m the Candidly Christian Prayer Team Liaison, I feel anxious about my own wimpy, distracted prayer life.
If you’ve ever felt burdened by your not-so-spiritual prayer life, then you will love today’s featured post by Carlie Lake.
Just like you, I truly mean it when I say I will pray for someone. But even if I actually remember, I can’t come up with much beyond “Lord, please be with them. Please give them peace, discernment, strength…” whatever it is I think the person may need to get through their trial.
And that’s about the end of it. As I try to think of something more elaborate and spiritual to say, I usually wind up mentally reviewing my editorial calendar again.
When I want to just spend time with Jesus, I begin with gratitude, but before long, I’m mentally listening to Christian music. Even though God speaks to my heart through music, I’m not sure trying to remember the words to “My Defender” really counts as prayer.
So then there’s guilt.
I’ve consistently failed at one of the most precious gifts God gave us. Not only do I fail God, but I also fail the loved one I promised to lift up in prayer.
Instead of approaching prayer as a time of stillness and intimacy with Jesus, I feel anxious because I can’t get it right.
A Different Perspective…
But Carlie Lake’s post gave me a different perspective.
In her post, “When You’re Guilty of Being a Prayer Procrastinator” I learned that even small and scattered prayers are a sweet aroma to God “Not because I’ve gotten it right, but because He has, and my heart sees that.”
The most beautiful thing about Carly’s post is that she’s not trying to turn you into a prayer warrior. Instead, she encourages you to release the burden of getting it right to instead just savor the sweetness of time with our Savior.
If you have ever felt inadequate in your prayer time, I promise you will find peace and encouragement on Carly’s blog lcasvi.blogspot.com.
Click Here To Read This Week’s Featured Post
When You’re Guilty of Being a Prayer Procrastinator
I’d also encourage you to consider signing up for the Candidly Christian Prayer Team. You would receive an email from me once per month with the Candid Gals’ prayer requests and updates in our lives. It’s a fun way to support this ministry and get to know us a little bit. Short and distracted prayers are welcome and appreciated!
Carly, thank you for linking up with Grace & Truth. You are more than welcome to grab the “I’ve Been Featured” button for your post so your readers can celebrate with you.
Now For This Week’s Link Up!
Let’s bless and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord…
We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each week. If you are a Christian blogger, we invite you to link up and meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader, we encourage you to visit new bloggers and discover women who love Jesus as much as you do. Whoever you are, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.
Join us each Friday for the Grace & Truth Link-Up!
Heather Hart & Valerie Riese
Maree Dee
Aimee Imbeau
1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!
2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent Christian Living posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.
3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!
4.) All links are randomly sorted – feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!
In order to be featured next week:
5.) Grab a button and/or link back to one of our hosts to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.
6.) Each host will choose one blog to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.
Grab a Badge and Link Back to this Post.
Now Let’s Link Up!
Have you checked out this week's #GraceandTruth link-up? Click To Tweet
P.S. Don’t forget that Christmas is coming. Prepare your heart for the holidays with these Christ-centered devotions written by Heather Hart. Get your copy from Amazon or click here to learn more.
P.S. We will never send you SPAM. We don’t have time for junk, and we know you don’t either.
Valerie is a wife, mother, blogger, breast cancer survivor, and the co-director of Candidly Christian (as well as our Prayer Team Liaison). After suffering years of debilitating anxiety, she learned that victory over anxiety comes only through surrender to Jesus. Now she writes to help women overcome anxiety through faith. You can find her on VictoryThroughSurrender.com.
- Valerie Riesehttps://candidlychristian.com/author/vgrace/
- Valerie Riesehttps://candidlychristian.com/author/vgrace/
- Valerie Riesehttps://candidlychristian.com/author/vgrace/
- Valerie Riesehttps://candidlychristian.com/author/vgrace/
2 Comments
Oh Valerie, thank you! So many of us struggle with comparing our prayers with others and feeling guilty and anxious, while God longs for us to embrace the sweetness of time with Him instead. Thank you for featuring my post; I pray it will encourage others to shake off the guilt and enjoy each time they draw close to God in prayer.
Carlie recently posted…When You’re Guilty of Being a Prayer Procrastinator
Thanks so much for linking up with us, Carlie. Your post resonated with me so much, and I know it will with many others. I’m so happy to feature you today!
Remember: From our side of the computer screen, we can’t see your tears. We can’t see your beautiful smile. We can’t hear the emotion behind your words or the tone of your voice. All we get are your words. Write them with love.