Faith Affirming Thoughts to Pray & Treasure for Your Life

"I am both a masterpiece and a work in progress"—Ephesians 2:10

Dear God, sometimes my emotions feel overwhelming. I might have difficulty catching my breath, or, at times, I feel as though everything is collapsing around me. I am feeling overwhelmed, anxious, painted in a corner, panicky…

When that happens, I've learned to lightly touch my fingertips together, feel my heartbeat through them, take deep breaths so my lungs fill up, and whisper to myself words of affirmation. I give myself permission to feel my feelings. And remind myself that I am allowed to feel feelings. I am allowed to have emotions. I am in control of my emotions even when my emotions are uncomfortable. I remind myself that even if others judge me because of my emotions, I don't judge myself. And I’m okay.

Lord, I've discovered that even if my emotions are strong, I can welcome them and open my heart to receive them with kindness. I don’t have to live by anyone else’s design of how I should be. My strong emotions don’t indicate I’m not handling things well or that I’m being childish or immature. Emotions are just tools I have been given, and I do not need to be fearful of them, or fearful of feeling their intensity.  

When my emotions are running high, I can be at peace knowing I have the right tools to handle them and when I stop and breathe even my uncomfortable emotions will simmer down and my spirit will become quieted, like the clouds that pass in the sky. 

I've discovered that when I give myself over into Your care, God, I am alright and can continue whatever task is mine to accomplish. I am a woman and there's nothing I cannot do through You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!—2 Corinthians 5:117 (NLT)

Dear Jesus, I am work in progress and that’s not a bad thing. In fact, that’s more than okay. Aren’t we all a work in progress; don’t we all change from what we once were? I’ll be changing and evolving and morphing my entire life. It’s more than being a feminine creation; it’s the condition of all humanity. We enter into this world as babies and from that point on we’re on a path that never stops changing. As a woman I can change up my looks, change my mind, change directions, change my friend-group, change my environment; even my relationship to Your Holy presence is changing. As I grow and mature and learn and understand I’m changing from being shaky in my faith to being on a more solid footing. You show me daily that nothing is so sacred it cannot be changed.   

Thank You, God, for the ability to make changes. Thank You God for accepting me in my seasons of change, for being super patient with me and loving me through all my seasons of change. You remind me every day that change is not only natural, but also good and inevitable. We don’t need to be so rigid we cannot change. Even as You worked with the clay pot it changed. Even while it was being worked in Your hand and responding to Your fingers, it was changing shape, yielding to Your touch. 

I won’t resist change, Lord. Instead I’ll welcome it and look forward to it. I am in Christ and therefore I am a new creation; always changing. Amen