Jesus, I am so confused right now. I don’t know what to do, what to pray, how to even begin writing. I do know I have friends across this city all hurting for various reasons and in a huge variety of ways and spaces. All of them need You! In fact they are desperate for You, even if in this moment of hurt, grief, sorrow and confusion they don’t realize it – they need You! We all do. So today I pray, with tears in my eyes because I so very much want to take away the hurt, fix all the broken things, just sit and cry with each and every one of these people you’ve placed in my life during this season. We both know I don’t have the words Jesus. Thankfully, Your Spirit does, we know this because Your Word tells us –He intervenes for us with “inexpressible groanings”. Holy Spirit, will you please intercede for us like never before. We are under attack in so very many ways, we have a strong enemy Jesus – but You are stronger!! Please fight for us, fight for our families, our marriages, our strained relationships with family members. Fight for the hearts of our children, the health of our churches, the strength to put one foot in front of the other when it seems so very very hard! Fight for our schools, and leaders and work places. Fight, like we can’t Jesus!

Jesus, this is supposed to be a season of joy, hope, peace and love. A time when we celebrate You coming to save us from ourselves and the sinful lives we’ve found ourselves in. So, I also pray for conviction Jesus, because with conviction comes repentance and restoration. The restoration that only You can bring! In the words of Isaiah Lord, I pray “

“And now listen, Jacob my servant,

Israel whom I have chosen.

This is the word of the Lord

your Maker, the one who formed you from the womb:

He will help you.

Do not fear, Jacob my servant,

Jeshurun whom I have chosen.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land

and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants

and my blessing on your offspring.

They will sprout among the grass

like poplars by flowing streams.

This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;

another will use the name of Jacob;

still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’

and take on the name of Israel.”

God, we are still Your people, those You alone have chosen to make Yourself known to. That wasn’t an accident or mistake. And You didn’t save us to leave us now and watch us hurt. If pruning is necessary Jesus, prune away – but then I beg that You also gather us together like the Good Shepherd You are, chasing after us and holding us close to You!  

God I pray for clarity of heart, mind and soul. I pray that we wouldn’t lose You and the reason we celebrate in the midst of trying to make everyone around us happy, provide them with great memories and special events. God, will You give us the courage to just stop, to say no, to simply choose to make You and the sacrifice You made, coming to earth our one and only focus? Father, so many are already tired and weary this month. With more on our lists than there is time in the days we have left – Jesus, would You just fix it for us, doing what we can’t and filling us with Your Spirit. Jesus we surrender all of it and all of us to You, knowing You and You alone are the way. Please accept our meager gift of our broken and beat up selves and save us from the enemy and his attacks. 

It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

I hadn’t intended on sharing this today. It started as a broken-hearted prayer this because so many of my people are hurting right now. Honestly so am I. Please do NOT hurt alone! Reach out, make the phone call, send the text, cry out to God! If I can pray for you specifically, will you please, please, please let me know.