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A Prayer Collection

25 Prayers
for Everyday Life

by Rick Warren

25 prayers for faith, relationships, healing, growth, and everyday decisions

Welcome

A Word from Rick

God longs to have a conversation with you. He loves simple, heartfelt prayers that express your love, desires, and deepest needs. When words don’t come easily, a prayer can help you say what’s in your heart.

These 25 prayers are real prayers I’ve prayed at church at the end of my sermons. They speak to everyday life: growing in faith, strengthening relationships, seeking healing, becoming more like Christ, and making wise decisions. Let them help you begin talking with God, then make them your own.

Whatever you face today, God cares. He knows how you feel and what you need. He is your loving Father.

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you”

James 4:8 NLT

Keep the conversation going. You’ll discover a faithful Friend and a good Father who will give you everything you need today.

Pastor Rick

Contents

A Prayer for When You . . .

Prayer 01 of 25

A prayer for when you want to ask God for big things

Have you ever considered that prayer can do anything God can do? If that’s true, why pray small prayers? Why limit what you believe God can do in you and through you? Maybe you asked God for something and think he didn’t answer. But maybe he did, and you simply didn’t notice his answer. Or maybe he’s still working behind the scenes and is about to do something better than you could have imagined. No matter how God answers, you can dream big, pray with confidence, and trust him to answer in ways beyond anything you could imagine . . . and always for your good.

You can talk to God right now:

Pray

“Jesus, thank you that you love us and do not want our lives to be barren, that you created us to bear fruit. And thank you that you created the whole idea of prayer so that we could talk to you. What a privilege! The fact that you, the creator of the world, would want to listen to and answer my prayers is amazing. Forgive me for my prayerlessness, for treating prayer like the spare tire that I use when I get in trouble instead of using it as a steering wheel for my life. I pray that my life would bear much fruit through my prayers as I pray boldly and expectantly and give you glory in every answered prayer. Let me be known as a person of great faith because of how devoted I am to prayer and because of my joy in knowing you. Teach me to remain in you so that I bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to love and trust you more as I get to know you through prayer. I pray this in your name. Amen.”

Prayer 02 of 25

A prayer for when you are torturing yourself over a decision

Are you facing a difficult decision right now? You don’t have to agonize over it. Here’s the truth: If you love God and truly want his purpose for your life, you won’t miss his will. Even if you make a wrong decision, it’s as if God says, “That’s okay. I’ll bring good out of it. I’ll fit it into my plan and use it for good. You can relax. I’m your safety net.” That’s an amazing truth to remember when you have a tough decision to make. If you love God, trust him, and seek to live for his purposes, he can use even your mistakes for good.

So let God help carry your load. Start with this prayer:

Pray

“God, you know the difficult decision I have to make. I trust you with my life and want to put you first in my life. I need your wisdom and ask you to show me through your Word and through your people and through my circumstances how you want me to move forward. Guide me and direct me so that I make wise decisions. And then, Lord, I need you to help me trust you in every area of my life so that I don’t second guess or torture myself over my decision. I know that even if I make a second-best decision, you can still bring good out of it. What a comfort! Thank you for the assurance that you have a plan for me and you work all things together for good. I pray for your will to be done in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Prayer 03 of 25

A prayer for when you need clarity to see your blind spots

Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NLT). Don’t you want to be free? I want you to be free from deception—not only from the lies the world tells you but also from the lies you tell yourself. You may see yourself as incompetent, unworthy, unlovable, or unforgivable. But those things simply aren’t true! Here’s what is true: When you base your life on lies, you’ll never be happy, healthy, or holy. But when you face the truth and live in light of how God really sees you, you’ll experience freedom.

If you’re ready to live in that freedom, pray this today:

Pray

“Lord, first, I’m asking you for clarity. Show me what I so often can’t see: the weaknesses, the faults, and the blind spots in my life. And then, Lord, give me the courage to ask the people around me to help me grow. I don’t want to have blind spots in my life. I can’t work on something or change it if I don’t know it’s there. Give me courage to ask the people that I trust for advice and to help me see my blind spots. Please transform my life and make me more like you. Help me to face the ways I have deceived myself and to work on each one of them. I live in your light and your truth. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Prayer 04 of 25

A prayer for when you find that life is heavy and hard to take

God knows every frustration in your heart. He sees every situation that feels unfair, unreasonable, or simply not the way you want it to be. He knows what you’ve resisted, resented, and even rebelled against. But you don’t have to carry those frustrations another day. Give them to God, and shift your focus from your pain to his love.

Tell God what’s on your heart. Pray:

Pray

“Lord, when life is heavy and seems hard to take, I want to do what Jeremiah did in Lamentations 3: enter the silence, bow in prayer, and wait for hope to appear. You have said hope returns when I remember that your love and mercy and compassion will never fail me. Thank you that your love for me is sure and strong. Thank you that you don’t take pleasure in my grief or pain. Today, I ask you to relieve my fears. When it feels like I’ve been thrown into a pit and the water’s rising and the stones are falling down on me, I will call on your name from the deep. I know that you listen to my pleading, you hear my weeping, and you come when I cry out in despair. I don’t have to fear. Whatever the problem is, you are the answer. Restore me, and bring back the joy I once had as I remember your goodness and unfailing love. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Prayer 05 of 25

A prayer for when you feel like fatigue is your normal way

Have you been living without margin for so long that you can’t remember what it feels like to face the day without constant fatigue and pressure? You were never meant to live that way! And it’s not too late to change. God wants to help you restore balance and health to your body, your schedule, and your relationships. The first step is simple: Ask him for help.

You can start with this prayer:

Pray

“Father, I’m tired of being rushed and late and exhausted all the time. I’ve got too many irons in the fire, and I need your help to get out of the mess I’ve made. Please help me to recognize and accept my limitations. Show me how to put some space in my schedule and margin in my life. Lord, I know I can’t do it all, and I need your wisdom to decide what matters most so I can give those things priority. I don’t want to waste my life. Please give me courage to say no to the things that don’t serve your purpose in my life and courage to say yes to the right things. Most importantly, help me to trust you. Forgive me for thinking and acting as if everything depends on me. It doesn’t! It all depends on you. I want to have greater faith in you and less reliance on myself. I want to live with less stress and more margin. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Prayer 06 of 25

A prayer for when you want to live with integrity in every area, including your finances

God is looking for faithful people he can bless and use in his mission on earth, but faithful people can be hard to find. If you want God to bless your life, show him he can trust you with the little things: the behind-the-scenes choices no one sees but that reveal your character. One way you do that is through generosity. Anyone can be generous when they have a surplus. But faithful people give even when they are short on time, energy, or resources. If generosity feels difficult right now, ask God to help you refocus.

Ask God for help with this prayer:

Pray

“Jesus, please forgive me for the ways I have sinned against you and not lived the way you want me to live, with integrity. I admit that I don’t always keep my promises. I admit that I have gossiped and slandered others, in small ways that still count. I don’t want to do those things. Help me to speak with love and think of others before I think of myself.

“God, I ask you to help me to have integrity in my finances, to stop spending more than I make so I can start paying off my debts. Help me to put you first in my finances by being faithful to tithe. And I admit that I don’t always work hard and work cheerfully. Help me to remember that, even if no one at work notices, you see me.

“I need you to give me the courage to be real with other people so that I don’t play games or manipulate others. I want to live my life as an open book—not perfect but authentic and whole. Today, I commit to living with integrity and studying your Word every day so I can become the kind of person you can bless and use for your purposes. In your name I pray. Amen.”

Prayer 07 of 25

A prayer for when you struggle to fill your mind with the best thoughts

Your choices shape your life far more than your circumstances do. So if you need a life reset, start by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (NLT). You don’t need a new address to get a fresh start. Right where you are, you can choose to focus on what is true, right, pure, and beautiful (Philippians 4:8). You can feed your soul with God’s Word every day. God will change your life as you let him change your thinking. Tell him you’re ready.

Make this your prayer today:

Pray

“Dear God, you gave us our minds, and you’ve given us instruction on what to do with them. I realize that my thoughts direct my life and that the struggles going on in me are actually happening in my mind. Your Spirit is working in me through my mind, so I ask you to help me choose to feed my mind with the best thoughts, to free my mind from destructive thoughts, and to focus my mind on what matters most: you, other people, and eternity. Fill me with your presence. Fill my mind with your love, your grace, and your mercy. I open my life totally to you and ask you to help me reset my life in a new direction. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Prayer 08 of 25

A prayer for when you are listening to voices of doubt

Noah spent about 80 years building the ark. During all those years, no one outside his family understood the assignment God had given him. But Noah didn’t quit. He stayed faithful to God’s mission, and God stayed faithful to him. Maybe God has given you a dream that no one else understands. Don’t let that stop you! You don’t need everyone’s approval to obey God. Dare to be different. Listen to God’s voice instead of your doubts, and trust him to provide the strength and resources you need to do what he’s called you to do. Whatever challenges lie ahead, you can trust God with them.

Tell him today:

Pray

“Father, I know that in our broken culture today, you’re looking for people who will choose to trust you, obey you, ignore the critics, and go the opposite way that culture is going. I want to make you smile. I want my life to bring you pleasure. Help me fulfill the mission that you have for my life. Please forgive me for all the times I’ve worried about what other people think and I’ve listened to the voices of doubt rather than your voice. Give me the courage to be different so that I can fulfill my purpose. I want to get near to you so I can hear you and do exactly what you tell me to do with my life. Even when it doesn’t make sense, God, I will trust you. And when I’m tired and discouraged, fill me with new energy and enthusiasm, and help me to never give up your dream for my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Prayer 09 of 25

A prayer for when you want your marriage to flourish

Good marriages don’t just happen; they don’t automatically grow. A healthy marriage takes effort and commitment and God’s wisdom. The Bible says in Proverbs 24:3, “Homes are built on the foundation of wisdom and understanding” (GNT). A home will only grow stronger when it is built on the foundation of God’s Word. As you pray this verse for your marriage, you can also use the prayer below to think of specific ways you want your marriage to grow in wisdom and understanding:

Begin with this prayer:

Pray

“God, I need your help to become more Christlike in these areas of my marriage:

“I want to pay better attention to my spouse, giving my full attention and focus when we talk so I can better understand their needs.

“I’ve been stubborn and unbending, expecting my spouse to adapt to my needs and schedule. I want to be more willing to adapt and make adjustments for the good of our marriage.

“I’ve let my relationship become stagnant by not showing as much affection as I used to. Now, I commit to giving daily affirmations and encouragement to my spouse.

“I want to be an encourager and stop nagging. Please help me remember every day to affirm my spouse’s value, strengths, and ministry.

“Most of all, I want you, Lord Jesus, to be the center of my life and my marriage. This is the only way to keep going and growing! Help me to become the kind of husband or wife you made me to be as I try to follow you faithfully. Please bless my marriage with joy and unity so that it points others to you and your love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Prayer 10 of 25

A prayer for when you need to surrender control

The struggle for control is real. You try to control other people, your circumstances, and even yourself. Yet you still do things you know you shouldn’t do, and you fail to do things you know are right. At the root of those struggles is a conflict with God. You doubt his wisdom because you still want to be in control. Maybe, like Jacob in the Old Testament, you’ve spent your life wrestling with God and waiting for his blessing. But real change begins when you stop wrestling and surrender. God can change the way you see yourself. You no longer have to be defined by your sin or your struggle. You can live as a child of God.

Call out to him today:

Pray

“God, you know all the things I struggle with: my fears, my weaknesses, my relationships, my regrets, my addictions, my compulsions, and my temptations. And I know now that I need to be at peace with you before I can find peace in these other areas. I have doubted your wisdom, and I have tried to convince myself that I am in control. Like Jacob in the book of Genesis, I have tried to manipulate things to feel more secure. I realize that your blessing comes not from trying harder but in surrendering to you the things that I don’t understand and that I can’t control. Thank you for your goodness to me, that you care about my struggles and want to help me cast my cares on you. Today, Lord, I surrender to you my disappointments, my sorrows, my hurt, all my expectations and dreams, the good and the bad. I want you to be the manager of every area of my life, and I want to live for you from this day forward. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Prayer 11 of 25

A prayer for when you want to apply the Lord’s Prayer to your daily life

The Bible tells you to pray without ceasing. But how do you do that? There are two simple ways. First, talk with God throughout your day. Prayer is a conversation, so you can speak to him anytime and anywhere. Second, set aside specific times to check in with God. Because the Lord’s Prayer covers every major need in your life, it gives you a perfect pattern for those daily conversations. The prayer below follows that pattern. When you make this kind of prayer part of your daily rhythm, it can help you make better decisions, have more energy and less stress, become more productive, and grow closer to Christ.

Use this prayer as a guide:

Pray

“Heavenly Father, your name is holy. You are a good God, and I want to be grateful. I want to bless your name in the morning. Help me to learn and memorize Scripture so I can know what you’ve promised to do in my life and claim those promises. I will bless your name today and every day.

“Your kingdom come, Lord. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. I want to seek first your kingdom and make your plans and purposes for the world and for my life my top priority.

“You give me my daily bread—just enough to get me through today and keep me trusting you, one day at a time. As I feed my body at each meal, please remind me that only you can satisfy my soul. Please give me strength and wisdom for today.

“Whatever hurt I have suffered, I ask you first to forgive my sins and also to give me grace to forgive those who’ve sinned against me. Thank you for your grace that covers all the shame, guilt, and bitterness in my life.

“Lord, you know the things that tempt me and that I’m not good at handling on my own. As I face those temptations during my day, please deliver me from myself and help me to move forward in the freedom of your grace and mercy. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Prayer 12 of 25

A prayer for when you struggle to launch out in faith

What are you doubting God can do in your life? When you stand before Jesus to give an account, today’s doubts will seem wasteful, especially if they kept you from obeying God. People sometimes use prayer to procrastinate: “I’m praying about joining a Bible study,” “I’m praying about tithing,” or “I’m praying about using my gifts to serve.” But prayer should move you to action, not delay obedience. Do you doubt you have the time, ability, or strength to do what God asks? Don’t let doubt hold you back. Pray in faith, trust God to work in and through you, and take the next step.

If you’re ready to obey, pray:

Pray

“Jesus, I admit that I often have doubts about my abilities, about you, and about how you want to use me in your kingdom. Forgive me for all the excuses I’ve used to cover up my lack of faith. I’ve said that I was too busy. I’ve said that others were better qualified. I’ve said that my hurts and my past prevented me from serving you. I’ve compared myself to others and believed I came up short. Today I want to let go of doubt and launch out in faith. Use my life. Please take the little seed of faith in my heart and make it grow into a life totally surrendered to you. In your name I pray. Amen.”

Prayer 13 of 25

A prayer for when you realize your tank is running low

You can’t run on empty forever. You need to take time for whatever activity emotionally recharges you. Maybe you enjoy walking, gardening, stretching, or tinkering in your workshop. Instead of doing these things once a week, carve out time for them every day, or even a few times a day. And as you do, ask God to renew you. The Bible says, “Even young people grow tired and become weary, and young men will stumble and fall. Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the LORD will be renewed” (Isaiah 40:30-31 GW). Are you weary? Waiting on the Lord means focusing on him, his love for you, and his promise to give you everything you need to do what he has called you to do today.

Wait on the Lord, and pray:

Pray

“Lord, you know how empty I feel. You know when my tank is running low—emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically—and I need to be recharged. You’ve given me principles that you’ve put in your Word, but I can’t do them in my own power. And right now, I’m so tired and don’t have the energy. I need you in my life. I need your strength and your power. Jesus Christ, I need you to empower me to be able to do what you’ve called me to do. So God, I will make the right choices, but I’m asking you to give me the power to do them. I’m asking you to fill me with your spirit and your love. I pray this in your name. Amen.”

Prayer 14 of 25

A prayer for when you want to get back on the right path

Nobody has it all together. We all have areas of our lives that need healing and growth. Maybe you know you’re not growing emotionally, relationally, spiritually, or mentally. Perhaps fear or a secret is keeping you stuck. Maybe a relationship is strained or broken, or you’re struggling with out-of-control anxiety or a habit or hurt. Some pain may be so deep that you can hardly stand to think about it. If you need courage to take the first step in making the hard changes in your life, you can talk to God.

Tell him what’s on your heart:

Pray

“God, I want to learn the truth and know the right path to walk on. I want to know when I’m off the path, how to get back on it, and how to stay on it. I want to begin spending time in your Word every day so I can learn the foundation of truth and have the same mind and attitude as Jesus. There are some things that I’ve got to let go of, some thought patterns that need to shift. Give me courage to let go of those things, and give me your power that is greater than willpower. I know I can’t do this on my own. Holy Spirit, help me walk in step with Christ. As you work within me, I want to become more and more like Jesus: stronger, more stable, and more effective in the work I do for you. I want to be part of an honest community of believers so that I can find help and encouragement. Please teach me the skills of overcoming temptation so that my struggles and defects don’t become a foothold for the devil in my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Prayer 15 of 25

A prayer for when you don’t feel like you have enough love and grace for others

Generosity is about more than your finances. It’s about how you live. You can be generous with your attention, encouragement, forgiveness, service, and love. In fact, do you know how you spell love? T-I-M-E. When you give someone your time, you’re giving them a part of your life you’ll never get back. Everything you have is a gift from God, and he wants you to use it to bless others. That’s how obedience to God shows up in the little things. Maybe some days you feel like you have nothing left to give. God knows that, and he can supply what he asks you to give. Ask him to help you live faithfully and generously.

You can start with this prayer:

Pray

“Lord, please use even the little things in my life to grow my integrity and be obedient to you. For all the areas where I have a need, I ask you to use it to help me grow in generosity. Help me realize that my giftedness and my abilities are not for my benefit but for the benefit of others. I want to be generous with my time, with affirmations, with my talents and skills, and with my money, even when I can’t afford it. Some days I feel like I don’t even have enough love and grace to show everyone. Help me to be generous with my love! I believe that as I obey your vision for my life, I can trust you for the provision. As I do what you tell me to do, you will make up the difference. Where I have a need, help me plant a seed. And when there’s a delay between the seed and the harvest, help me to realize that you are still good and still in control. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Prayer 16 of 25

A prayer for when you need to let go of people who have hurt you

God expects you to love even the destructive people who’ve hurt you. But how? He doesn’t expect you to ignore the hurt. He doesn’t expect you to pretend it doesn’t exist. He’s not asking you to gloss over it or deny it or repress it or make excuses for the people who’ve hurt you. God doesn’t want you to fake it; he wants you to face it! You’ve got to stop running, and you’ve got to stop blaming. You’ll never be free until you forgive, and you can’t move forward until you face your hurt, release it to God, and ask for his help.

Ask God for the strength to forgive through this prayer:

Pray

“Father, I’m tired of the pain. I’m tired of being stuck in the prison of the past. I’m tired of wasting emotional energy on the people who’ve hurt me. I need that energy for the future. Today, I’m asking you to fill me with your Spirit so I can be filled with love and forgiveness. I invite you into every area of my life. Please forgive all my sins, all the ways I’ve hurt other people when I was demanding instead of understanding and judgmental instead of gentle. As I’m filled with your love, I want to be able to freely share that love with others and not be stuck in the pain of the past. So today, I want to let go of the people who have hurt me. In faith, I’m choosing to forgive them and let them go. If it takes me a thousand times to do this until the pain goes away, I’m going to keep forgiving. Every time I remember the pain, I’m going to choose to show grace. When people hurt me, help me to not repeat it but to delete it. Show me how to be tender without surrender to the people I need to set boundaries with in my life. Lord, I want to become a loving person with your help and your grace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Prayer 17 of 25

A prayer for when you want to learn how to be happy

Many people think happiness is a matter of luck—that if their circumstances are right, they’ll be happy. But happiness isn’t about luck; it’s something you learn. God wants to teach you how to be happy by helping you look out for others instead of only yourself, become someone people can trust, keep your promises, work well with others, and live for something worth dying for. Learning to live this way takes a lifetime, but you’ll become happier as you grow.

Ask God to help you begin with this prayer:

Pray

“Jesus, I want to learn to be happy. I want to develop character that leads to happiness because it makes me more like you, and that leads to true joy. Help me to get the focus off myself and start looking out for others more. Help me to become reliable and trustworthy and to keep my promises. I know I could be much happier if I learned how to get along better with others and work with people who are different from me. I need to learn how to cooperate and be considerate. I want to be like the apostle Paul who said in 1 Corinthians 10:33, “I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved” (NLT). I want to be like that, to always be looking out for others because that’s what you would do. Stretch my faith, and help me to live for something bigger than myself. Do all this in me because it makes me more like you, and I know that’s what is going to make me truly happy. In your name I pray. Amen.”

Prayer 18 of 25

A prayer for when you need healing

God is the source of all healing. He may work through a doctor, medicine, counseling, rest, or a miracle, but he is always the source of healing. You can’t bribe or bargain with God for healing, but you can pray. Anytime you’re hurt, sick, or tired, you can pray and expect him to hear you and to care about your needs. He will answer in his time, and he will grow your faith when you trust him to take care of you in his best way.

Pray this if you need healing today:

Pray

“Lord, no matter how many needs I bring to you, you’re never too busy. For my specific need of healing in my body or my mind, I’m going to believe that you will provide the healing, even if it doesn’t come right away and even if I have to suffer for a while. I know that my suffering brings me closer to you, and that is the greatest gift. I believe that you are the Good Healer and the only way my body can be fully restored is through you. You’ve said in your Word to believe and to pray for healing in faith, and so I’m asking you to keep your Word. Like Elijah who prayed for rain and it came and made everything grow again, I’m asking you to pour out your grace and mercy and bring healing and growth to my life. Most of all, I want your will in my life. I won’t stand in the way of the gift you want to give. I pray that, whether through a miracle of healing or in my testimony of faithfulness, you will get the glory. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Prayer 19 of 25

A prayer for when you’re holding on to a grudge

Holding on to a grudge takes you out of God’s will because human anger cannot produce the righteous life God wants for you. Resentment steals your happiness and shrinks your heart. When you breathe bitterness, you suffocate your spirit. And your anger hurts you far more than it hurts anyone else. Bitterness causes you to miss God’s grace and can even affect your health. God’s Word says, “To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do” (Job 5:2 GNT).

If you’re ready to release the resentment you’ve been carrying, begin with this prayer:

Pray

“Lord, I want to be willing to forgive other people as much as you have forgiven me. Today, I take that person, that event, that thing that I have thought about a thousand times, and I give it to you. Instead of lifting angry fists, I want to lift holy hands in prayer. I’m not going to avenge myself. I’m going to leave it to you. Please help me be compassionate and forgiving, just as Christ forgave me. When I feel weak and think I don’t have the power to forgive and let it go, help me remember that your power works best in weakness. Help everything that I say to be kind and full of grace.

“Father, today I want to take all my sins, including this grudge, and I want to nail them to the cross. I don’t want to be pridefully stubborn or irritated by other people or be jealous of them. I want to live in peace with others and reflect the peace in my heart that comes from trusting in you. In Jesus’ name I ask this. Amen.”

Prayer 20 of 25

A prayer for when you need to make peace

You can’t avoid conflict. God made us all different, and that means we’re not always going to agree. You see evidence of conflict everywhere—in the news, at work, and even at home. Jesus never ran from conflict. He knew how to defuse tension, resolve differences, and restore relationships. James 3:18 says, “Goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace” (GNT). Every time you choose peace, you plant a seed that can produce a harvest of goodness. And when you follow Jesus’ example by working to restore a relationship, you show that you are a child of God.

Take your first step toward becoming a peacemaker with this prayer:

Pray

“Jesus, you know the conflict in my life: with people, with you, and with myself. I’m tired of it. I want to make peace with you, have your peace in my life, and offer peace to others. You said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9 NIV). So I accept your peace and forgiveness today. I open my life to you. Fill me with love, patience, joy, and peace. Help me be a bridge builder, not a wall builder. Help me take the initiative, find the right time and place, and confess my part of the conflict. Help me be humble so I won’t stumble. Instead of attacking the person, help me attack the problem, consider their perspective, and listen for their hurt. Help me speak the truth tactfully, fix the problem—not the blame—and focus on reconciliation, not resolving every disagreement. I ask this in your name. Amen.”

Prayer 21 of 25

A prayer for when you want to be more like Jesus

You don’t have to wonder how you should live in this world. God gave you the perfect model in Jesus Christ. Jesus shows you how belief becomes behavior and how truth shapes everyday choices. It starts with changing what you think about. The only way you’re going to find yourself is by forgetting yourself and focusing on God. It’s the most counter-cultural idea in the world, but seeking God’s kingdom before everything else, even before yourself, will give you character and perspective that is more like Jesus’. As you look to his example, use this prayer to focus on how you can trust God with your life.

Begin today:

Pray

“God, I want more than anything else to be more like Jesus. I want to live with discernment and integrity, with my whole life exposed to you so I can live in your light. I want to learn to live with humility as I depend more on you. Forgive me for the times I get stressed out and try to control things. Help me to come to you and give up control and learn to trust you. I want to live a life of simplicity, with a focus more on relationships and less on a to-do list. As I look to you for direction, I will believe you for great things in my relationships, my ministry, my family, my job, and in every area of my life as I live by faith. Lord, remind me what I do for other people is just like doing it for you. I need this especially when I encounter people who disagree with me or put me down; help me treat them with civility. Help me to be forgiving and show grace and cut people some slack. You’ve been so generous with me, and that’s how I want to be with others. Be first in my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Prayer 22 of 25

A prayer for when you have hurt others with your anger

We often get the angriest with the people we love most. Why? Because we expect them to meet needs only God can meet. Anytime you expect another person to meet your deepest needs, you set yourself up for disappointment—and anger. But you don’t have to stay angry. If you struggle with irritability or a short temper because you feel hurt, frustrated, insecure, or afraid, God offers you hope and healing. The first step is to tell him what you’re feeling. Then confess your anger and ask him to meet the needs no one else can.

Start with this prayer:

Pray

“God, I admit that I have a problem with anger and that I need you. Today, with your help, I resolve to learn how to manage my anger. I’m aware of the way it has hurt other people. Please forgive me for trying to control things and then getting angry when I can’t. Help me to reflect before reacting. Help me learn to release my anger appropriately. Help me to re-pattern my mind with your Word. Fill me with your love that pushes out all the irritability and all the anger. Make the changes in me that only you can make. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Prayer 23 of 25

A prayer for when you face temptations that trip you up

When you want to defeat temptation, don’t focus only on your behavior. Instead, identify the doubts and deceptions in your thinking that stir the feelings that cause you to give in. That’s how Satan hooks you. Satan knows the battle begins in your heart. That’s why God tells you in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (NIV). Your heart is the center of your emotions, and any unchecked negative emotion can give Satan a foothold to tempt you. But God knows exactly how temptation works, and he has given you everything you need to turn away from temptation and look to him instead. Walk with his Spirit and stay in his Word.

And pray:

Pray

“Lord, you know all the habits and temptations in my life. You know everything that trips me up and the tempting situations I’m facing right now, even the ones I don’t know that are coming. So I’m asking for your help to see the thought patterns, emotions, and desires in my life that lead to temptation. Give me the strength to avoid the situations that get me in trouble. And when I’m hit with temptation, help me to remember to cry out to you and to quote Scripture to myself. Help me to refocus my attention on other, better things when I’m tempted. I know I can’t handle this by myself. Give me courage to step out and commit to finding a group of believers that can encourage me and whom I can encourage. Help me find a friend who will check up on me and help keep me on track. Most importantly, Lord, heal the hurts that make me vulnerable and replace them with your love and forgiveness. I want to follow you completely and trust you every moment. Thank you for saving me from sin—not just from hell but from myself. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Prayer 24 of 25

A prayer for when you can’t keep promises you’ve made to yourself

What do you struggle with—impatience, self-control, honesty, pride, or laziness? You want to do right, but you keep doing wrong. That’s because good intentions are never enough. You cannot defeat your old nature—who you were before Christ—on your own. So be honest: “This isn’t working. Trying to live a good life in my own strength is like flapping my wings against gravity.” Do you feel defeated? Good! Give up trying to change yourself. You can’t live like Jesus in your own strength, but he can live through you. Let the Holy Spirit lift you out of the cycle of sin and empower you with new life.

Are you ready to let God’s Spirit empower you? Start here:

Pray

“Dear Jesus, you know the confusion in my life. You know the frustration I feel. You know the guilt and the shame. You know the compulsions and habits and addictions, and you know how many times I’ve made promises to myself and to you that I haven’t kept. Today I realize that I have two natures inside of me and they are at war. I ask you to help me have victory. Deepen my understanding of what you’ve done for me. Show me how to let go and how to let your Spirit live through me. Help me to challenge the lies that Satan puts in my mind, and to challenge the lies that I tell myself. I want to know the truth about myself, and I want it to set me free. I want to learn to trust you, love you, follow you, and, most importantly, let you live through me by your Spirit. I pray this in your name. Amen.”

Prayer 25 of 25

A prayer for when you need to remember what matters most

Are you overloaded? Maybe you feel stretched beyond your limits physically, emotionally, financially, or in your schedule. How does that happen? You try to do too much. Instead of focusing on the few things that matter most, you try to do everything—and end up overwhelmed. So what matters most? The answer may sound like a cliché, but it’s true: Love matters most. The Bible says, “Let love be your highest goal” (1 Corinthians 14:1 NLT). Make love your greatest ambition and your life purpose. The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is giving your time to people you love. And the best time to love is now.

Ask God to help you begin:

Pray

“Heavenly Father, it is so easy to get distracted from what’s most important in life: knowing and loving you and knowing and loving those around me. Forgive me for being task-driven instead of love-driven. Forgive me for valuing things and accomplishments and the praise of others more than people. I know that the people who love me are a gift from you. Please forgive me for taking them for granted. Please forgive me for allowing other things to crowd out my relationship with you and with others. I want to change. I want to slow down. I want to make time for loving relationships. I know that this may mean making some personal sacrifices. But, Jesus, you modeled real love when you sacrificed yourself for me. Thank you. I want to be like you, and I want to make love the primary aim of my life for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”