See if you can relate to this scenario. It is five minutes before a big presentation, an important conversation, or a major event, and you find yourself praying, “Oh, God, please be with me here. This is such a big deal, and it really needs to go well. If you would just supernaturally intervene right now, I would be grateful.” Then as an afterthought you say, “Oh, and help those who need you around the world, and be with my brother while he travels. Amen.”

Does that kind of prayer resonate?

If you tend to pray selfish prayers, you are not alone. We all like to talk about ourselves to God–what we want, what we need, what we think he can do to help us. And here is the good news: God is okay with those kinds of prayers. David wrote, “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul” (Ps. 138:3 NKJV).

God wants you to go to home with every need, no matter how large or small. He will answer you. He will calm your mind. He will give you comfort and peace. Now, if every one of your prayers sounded like the one above, that wouldn’t be good, but there is nothing wrong with praying for yourself. As you do, make sure you pray confidently, boldly, humbly, and faithfully.

– Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson

The above excerpt is from p. 194 of The New You: A Guide to Better Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Wellness.

With your copy of The New You, you will come away with specific strategies on how to lose weight, get more sleep, lower stress, nurture better relationships, connect with God and much more! Anyone who wants to trade in the frustration of average living and less-than health for the hallmarks of the new life God promises will find The New You an effective personal guide for the journey.

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

P.S. My health and wellness book can help you discover how you can live up to your full God-given potential in 2023 — The New You: A Guide to Better Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness. Click here to order it now.

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.