How to pray for just what you need
And how to be okay with giving up your future security
This isn’t a fun conversation, but it’s one I’ve touched on before and need to reiterate for this week.
Part of the spiritual journey with Jesus is about reliance on God.
“Give us today the food we need” is a difficult prayer, but one that is constant throughout all of scripture.
Knowing how to pray that prayer well and empty yourself is a tricky one, though.
And it isn’t one I have figured out, but I have had plenty of experience having to be at the end of what I can do and seeing how God can provide when all hope seems lost.
…
Back in 2020, I had to resign from a ministry position because it wasn’t a good fit for me any longer (that’s the nice version). But that meant leaving my family in a lurch in terms of finances and making ends meet.
But, it also meant leaving me in a spot where I didn’t know what I was going to do next for my career.
My whole life had been spent preparing for ministry.
And then that all seemed to be pulled out from under me.
…those were some of the most difficult prayers I’ve ever had with God because, if I am being honest, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to go back into ministry or not…and it broke me in a lot of ways.
And it took me finally being able to pray, “Father, whatever you have next for me, I’m here,” before I finally could get out of that funk…
…and that wasn’t until 2022…
…
All of this is to say that, to pray what you need, you have to be able to get to a spot where you are okay with giving up your future security.
You have to be able to pray, “Whatever is next, I’m here.”
And, more than likely, that isn’t going to be an overnight transition.
So, don’t try to “master” this type of prayer over night.
Instead, start small.
Start by praying, “Our Father, help me prepare my heart, my mind, my body for whatever is next.” And that doesn’t have to be your total prayer. You can still want whatever you want…but growing towards being able to give up your future security is a process.
And this is just the first step in that process.
My prayer for today
Our Father, thank you for being understanding in my desire to what the things I want. Jesus, help me prepare my heart for what you have next in store for me. Spirit, give me peace when I don’t feel at peace. Amen.
Remember
It’s not a race. It’s a process. And even when you think you are “there” you probably aren’t. And that’s okay.