A Prayer

October 30th, 2016

Sunday

Dear God, 

Tonight, I surrender to You. My plans, my thoughts, my actions, my pride, my ignorance, my arrogance - take it all from me, and replace it all with Your truth. Replace it with Your grace. Replace my visions of worldly things with visions of You. Remind me of what my chief end on earth is - to glorify You and to enjoy You. Remind me that You are good - You have already proved this to me, and You will continue to prove it to me over and over. Comfort me, God, and let me know that Your plans for me are always good, even when I can't see them unfold. 

Tonight, I let go. I let go of whatever I'm holding onto so tightly that is not You. I let go with strength, and You comfort me. I let go with humility, and You comfort me. I let go with wisdom, and You comfort me. I let go in tears, but I am reminded of the pain that You suffered for me on the cross and how it is absolutely incomparable to the pain that I am feeling right now. I let go knowing that You are my only place of security. I let go, and I am reminded of Your love for me that surpasses all understanding and knowledge that a created mind could ever acquire. 

God, embed a desire in my heart to know You more and more each and every day, and to not only love others, but to share the gospel with them, with words that come only from the Holy Spirit. Give me the strength, motivation, and grace to breathe my each and every breath for Your glory, and to live each and every day for Your glory alone. God, use me in ways that challenge me. Take me out of my comfort zone and use me in ways that I would not expect You to - only to remind me that You're the one who works through me, and I can do nothing out of my own strength. 

Give me the strength to surrender. Remind me that surrendering is not a form of weakness, but rather, a form of strength and trust. I trust You. Lord, uncloud my mind and point my thoughts towards You and the ways that I can glorify You. Let me never focus on myself and my heart's selfish desires, but rather, let me focus on Your desires for me. When I face trials of many kinds, give me peace and comfort to sing your praises in the middle of whatever prison cell I'm in. 

Give me a doubtless faith; a faith that allows me to look You straight into the eyes while this storm swallows up everything around me. And if I look away from You, I  know that I will surely be swallowed up by the storm as well. But if I keep my eyes on You and Your goodness, You are glorified and I am fearless. Lord, You are my strength when I am weak. You make me brave. Faith is not something I can produce for myself but rather, faith is something You give to all those who ask. Neglecting to entrust my hopes and my plans to You is evidence of my unbelief. Help my unbelief, Lord. Help my unbelief.

You are always good, and You are always sovereign. Your love always remains. And You will always be holding me. You have always held me. You hold my future and You hold my past. And as I walk through the darkness, keep my eyes on the small steps that You light up in front of me, instead of on the unknown path ahead. Remind me of the joy that comes with being present, and rid me of the dread that comes with focusing on the future. Surround me with Your love until I am able to see and experience You face to face once I'm finally home. Until then, give me a faith free of wavering emotions. Clear my heart and my mind and reveal to me Your promises and Your everlasting, precious truth. 

Love,

Mackenzie