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 could 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).
[bctt tweet=”God wants you to go to him with every need, no matter how large or small.” username=”nelsonsearcy”]God wants you to go to him 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.
God is for you. He loves you and wants to give you good things. He wants your life to have maximum impact and fulfillment. When you pray, pray with the confidence that comes along with that reality. Don’t expect anything less than God’s best. Know that your prayers will be heard and answered because you are his child. Look at what Jesus said:
You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (Matt. 7:9–11)
[bctt tweet=”Good parents build their children up and encourage them.” username=”nelsonsearcy”]Good parents build their children up and encourage them. They focus on their children’s strengths rather than their faults and do their best to provide them with everything they need. In the same way, when God looks at you, he is not fixated on your flaws or focused on your deficiencies. Rather, he is proud of you, fiercely protective of you, and focused on helping you live the abundant life he has in store. Why?
Simply because he is your heavenly Father and you are his child. When you are walking in that truth, you can approach God with renewed confidence, knowing that he is for you and working everything together for your good.
– Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson
The above excerpt is from p. 121-122 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
Share This Post
© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.
About Nelson Searcy
