I was once told not to drag my past into my future. But, wait, isn’t my past part of who I am today? And while there are plenty of things from my past I wouldn’t care to repeat, including hard times and heartaches, there were also wonderful times and even joy. Yet I can see there are emotional weights I should stop dragging around, including worries, problems, burdens, failure, regrets, shame, grief and despair.
Dear Lord,
It’s time to take off every weight. I give You each of my worries, problems and burdens including (fill in the blank), and present them as a gift to You. Thank You for taking them. I feel lighter already because You can carry, resolve and turn them into miracles.
I also give You my failure, regrets and shame, including (fill in the blank), and lay them at Your feet. Please turn these weights into healthy seeds of miracles.
Lord? May I also present my disappointments, fear and hopelessness to You, concerning (fill in the blank)? Even if the enemy of my soul brought these burdens and weights into my life, You can cover them with peace and give me hope as well as a future. Help each of my former weights become stepping stones into a brighter future.
Lord, to sum up this prayer with a paraphrase from Hebrews 12:1 — Lord, I ask that You help me lay aside every weight and sin, which clings so closely to me. Help me to run with endurance into the days You have placed before me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Linda Evans Shepherd is a nationally known Christian speaker and a best-selling author of over 30 books. She’s the president of Right to the Heart Ministries, founder of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) and the founder of GodTest.com. Her latest book is Winning Your Daily Spiritual Battles.
This article originally appeared at gottopray.com.
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