Do you pray for yourself?
I recently added to my daily prayer time, extra time praying for me. I don't know why I never use to pray for myself, but a few years back I heard a message from Bill Johnson right before his book came out, Strengthen Yourself in the Lord, then we got the book of course, and he was talking about praying for yourself.
He used the example of when you are on an airplane and they show you the demonstration of how to use the air masks, you are always supposed to put on your mask first before helping others. I have myself used that example when it comes to young moms getting time for them selves so that they are strong for their little ones. Though I believed, I honestly was not practicing, and I have felt it. Man, have I felt it.
I'm going to be really candid, I have lacked in my prayer time recently, and it's not been good. Somedays, the only prayer time I have is spent praying for God's strength in my inner man. Ephesians 3:16-19 has become my prayer over myself... I read it like this:
"Father, grant me, according to the riches of Your glory, that I would be strengthened with might by Your Spirit in my inner man. That Christ would dwell in my heart through faith, and that I would be rooted and grounded in love."
Honestly, I need strength, I need help. I can't even pray without His help. Really, I can't! I am so desperate for His strength to rule in my life, I surrender daily to it.
We have a great little book in our bookstore, but you can get it at IHOP-KC too, called Prayers to Strengthen Your Inner Man. I use it every week, I read right from it, and it really helps springboard me. I highly encourage this resource, and I would love to hear what you do to strengthen yourself in your inner man! Please leave me some tips from your walk with God!
Blessings!
gina
I love the hunger, the desire and the ache of wanting to spend time with God. We need the oxygen of his presence in order to live successfully. For me I structured a Morning Workflow. I have a list of things to achieve each morning. I have to get up before my family in order to get it done. The Prayer Room is an essential added bonus to go further and deeper
ReplyDeleteI neglect myself in prayer all too often. But I love what you shared about putting the oxygen mask on yourself first. I must first have fuel so that I can bring fuel to others. I must first go get my oil, so that I can bring oil to others. I am going to carve out time in my day to make sure I pray over myself. I want to be strengthened in the inner man. I agree with PG, the prayer room is a vital element to going deeper in God.
ReplyDeleteHi Gina,
ReplyDeleteI love that visual of the oxygen mask, how true!
Years ago, I decided to live a life of prayer 24/7. Everything I do, I do it in prayer. It is hard at first but slowly as the Spirit guides, you remember to pray continually. I guess you would say it is like worshiping God all the time with prayer thrown in. In all we do we are to worship God, so this way of living really keeps you accountable to Him for the Spirit is there to check you when you are tempted to sin.
Blessings,
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this is great. yes! i can say amen to this so fully. a lot of times my main prayer is a prayer for myself, and man do i need it. i was so thrilled when i first found out that it was actually a "legal" prayer.
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Hi Gina,
ReplyDeleteI resemble this post :) Often times, I am so focused on intercession for others that I easily forget (or run out of time) to pray for myself. One of the things I have been asking God for lately is simple discernment - that I would see what God sees in me and in others and then for the strength to do what He tells me to do. I am often aghast at what He tells me!
I am going through a 40-day devotional called Love To Pray by Alvin VanderGriend - it is fantastic!!!
Blessings~
thank you all for the comments; @Nena, I am gonna check out that devotional, thank you for sharing! @Charis, thats totally how I felt, like this is 'legal' and then to find out it's 'valuable prayer' to the Lord on top of that? wow.!
ReplyDelete