My sweet friend Julie Gillies is here to share with us the story behind her new and beautiful devotional book “Prayers for a Woman’s Soul.” It’s resting on my bedside table and God’s using Julie to remind me how important it is to pamper my soul with prayers. Julie and our wonderful friends at Harvest House Publishers are giving away two copies of her book here today.
I didn’t start praying for myself because I was holy or wise. I started because I was desperate.
My marriage often felt like an emotional torture chamber. Negative and critical thoughts consistently bombarded my mind. And my emotions felt as shattered as a water goblet dropped on a cement driveway.
The hardest part was I felt stuck. It seemed like nothing was ever going to change, and I felt myself longing to give up on the inside. And that is when I sensed God nudging me to start praying for myself—regularly. Daily. I sensed that if I didn’t heed that holy nudge, I wasn’t going to make it.
So I began to pray for myself.
Initially the only uninterrupted time I could find to pray for myself was in the shower, so I prayed while I scrubbed, emerging to face each day with clean skin and an equipped heart.
That was the beginning of my soul-transforming prayer journey.
The truth is there are a lot of women facing incredibly hard circumstances right now. There are women enduring miserable marriages, women whose hearts still reverberate with pain from the past, and women who are in stressful situations that make them want to give up. Maybe you’re one of them.
Or maybe you simply have a sagging plate and a really long prayer list. Perhaps life is good for you, but both your to-do list and your prayer list are as long as your arm.
Or maybe, like most women I know, you’re a nurturer and a caretaker, a front-burner prayer woman who prays for whatever is boiling over at the moment—and there is always something boiling over—but you neglect to pray for yourself.
It’s counter-intuitive, praying for ourselves. I mean, we’re hard wired to help others—and that’s good. But God never intended for us to help others to our own detriment. He never intended for us to pray for our spouses, our kids, sick pets, our friends, and world events but not to take time to pray for ourselves.
Amazing things happen when we pray. I started praying out of sheer desperation, and God moved. He not only transformed my mind and healed my emotions, He transformed my marriage. I truly believe in the message of Prayers For a Woman’s Soul: that praying—for ourselves—is absolutely essential. Without it, we will languish. Equipped through prayer, we can soar through our days. As we take time to pray for ourselves, we partner with God and can watch in amazement as He moves and brings hope, healing, and transformation to our lives.
Enter to Win: Click on the words “Share Your Thoughts” below this post – to enter. All you need to do is practice what Julie’s preaching and leave a little prayer for yourself. I know that won’t be easy or natural for us girls, but we need this :). I’ll go first. You can find my prayer below when you leave yours. {If you’re reading this via email, click on the post title and hop over to my blog to leave a comment.}
Prayers For a Woman’s Soul is a holy invitation for busy, overwhelmed women with long prayer lists to take time to pray—for themselves. It’s a 52-week devotional that gives you one week to pray about a specific topic—like your emotions, your mind, or the guilt you’re hauling around. These short devotions contain personal stories, powerful biblical teaching, and specific prayer. And bonus: there are 365 topic-relevant, personalized scripture verses. One for every day of the year. So you can infuse your heart with God’s word while you pray.
Julie Gillies is the author of Prayers for a Woman’s Soul (Harvest House Publishers/January 2013). Healed from a traumatic childhood and awed that God saved her seriously troubled marriage, her message helps women pray with boldness, confidence, and the certainty that God hears. Julie is the Critique Groups Director for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and serves on the editorial team of P31 Woman magazine. She’s the wife of Keith, mom of two soldiers and one civilian, and grammy of four. Connect with Julie at: www.JulieGillies.com
Last week’s winners are: For the Husband Project – Jill, Patrice and Erin. For the Purpose Driven Mom Gift pan – Lana. Congratulations friends!
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Almighty Lord, at times I feel overwhelmed and unpurposeful. Give me your perspective to see things the way you do Lord, fill me up with the fruits of the spirit. Help to overcome my weakness and give me a heart’s desire to fullfill your needs for me. In your precious name Lord, Amen
Heavenly Father you know my struggles and I thank you for speaking to my heart through this message. I want to give up because I don’t see a change but I don’t because I know others depend on me for strength and encouragement. RENEW MY SPIRIT LORD and please revive me Lord. I love you and thank you for your mercy.
Lord, please help me deal with the stresses of my job. I so want to know your plan for me. I need a renewing and refreshing in my spirit and soul. I fight discouragement and depression resulting from circumstances I have no control over. I give you these situations and ask for strength and courage.
Lord, thank you for reminding me that not only should I pray for myself daily, but I need to pray for myself. I am at a rough place in my marriage (been here for several years now); I am having surgery next week and have children who really need mom to get it together. Help me Lord to keep my trust in you and know that I am resting in the palms of your hand even though I don’t feel like I am. I love you Lord. Amen.
Father, you always know just how to reach me in areas I didn’t even think I needed. Lord you know the outcome of all that is happening in my families lives right now, and I want to thank you that nothing comes to us except through you. Thank you for walking through this with us and for being our wise counselor. We are so blessed even through these difficult times. Please be with us today as we make decisions that will effect our family, and please be with my husband today as he goes through his day starting something new. Thank you for continuing to love on us and guide us. Amen.
Please renew my strength & spirit today to be refreshed and follow the path you choose.
Lord, I have watched you work miracles, and I have been the recipient of many of those blessings! Thank you! It is hard to pray for myself, but you, Lord, know my heart. I pray for healing in my situation and peace from the guilt that I feel, some of it warranted, some not. I pray, too, for a return of closeness to you, Lord, because I feel that I have drifted away much too far. I pray for new understanding and wisdom, Lord, that I may glorify you in all that I do. Thank you, Lord, for holding me and never leaving me–I know that you are there, but please re-open my eyes and my heart so that I may, once again, feel your comfort and healing. In your name, I pray, Amen.
Dear Lord Please help me!!!!! I am very down on myself Lord I need uplifting.The last few weeks I’ve been doing good,been getting up early putting on my armour by reading my bible and praying but this week I feel I have let you down I havn’t got up early to read to give you your time.Please help me feel your grace and not to be so down on myself and please help me in the weeks ahead to do what you want me to do and not what I want to do.I want to walk in your ways Lord not my ways!!!!!
In Jesus name I pray Amen!!!!
Lord, thank you that you are strong when I am weak. Help me to remember your truth in the midst of the world’s noise and the lies in my head. Please move me out of the way so you get glory. Help me to lay down my plans and ask you for your guidance and wisdom for my every step of the day. Help me to see others as you see them not how i want to see them. Help me love you and others well. In Jesus’ holy and amazing name, Amen
Lord, I have been feeling sad and forgotten lately.
Sometimes I really don’t feel motherly and I just pray
I’m not really screwing up my kids. Help me today to be able
To take things slowly. To not rush through my day and forget
I am shaping two little ones. Give me strength to get through this day
With very little sleep. Help me to me kind and not snappy to my husband
When he gets home from work. And thanks for blessing me with another birthday.
Lord,
As I read in Your Word today that You put a large stone on the road to Mt Zion, a stone I cannot get around and that stone is You. As I walk with You today may I look for You and see You along my way. May I pause throughout my day before I speak or act that my word/actions will bring honor and glory to You only. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father
You always know exactly what I need and you make sure to always give abundately to me. Lord I pray for peace and grace in every thought, action and word I speak. I’m tired and worn with life and know this is not how you want me to be. I pray that I may keep my eyes on you Lord and not take control of circumstances, but rather do what you have commanded and lean on you. Lord thank you for hearing me and never giving up. In your name I pray, Amen.
Dear Lord,
Please help me take better care of me so I can do a better job of doing your will.
Amen.
Good morning God! Thank you for this wonderful day. I also thank you for the continuous opportunity to read your word and to learn what you really have intended for my life. I have been lost for quite a while. I have come to believe that it is very important to feed and nuture my soul for the purpose of more fully living your word and to live this example. Please continue to fill me with the desire to seek you. I love you! In your name, amen.
Dear God,
Help me let go of everything that is not mine & everything of mine that I don’t need.
In Jesus name Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father, I give my weaknesses to you today. Let me live in your strength and truth. I aske you to come into my heart and fill it with the love that only comes from you. Love and belief in myself to do the things you have called me to do. Let me be a little glowing light in this dark and evil world that draws others to you. I thank you for your love and your precious gift, in Jesus precious name. Amen.
Oh Lord be gracious to me. My salvation in time of distress.
Lord Thank You for the wisdom that is ours. Thank You that you are Jehovah Jireh and that in this time of deep financial need You will provided for my family in ways that are exceeding and abundant. Help me at this time to remember my physical limitations and to lean on You for strength and wisom. In Jesus name
Dear Lord, you know how this hits home for me. Lord, you know how desperate I am and how much I want to receive your blessings of peace, healing and transformation. I can see the effects of not taking care of myself and how they are manifesting themselves spiritually and physically. Please help me make the choices that honor and praise you. I ask this in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen!
Lord, your word says that if I lack wisdom, all I need to do is ask You and You will give it to me. God, I need wisdom today about some burdens that are weighing me down and big decisions I need to make. Please give Your insight into my situation and help me respond and not react no matter how tired I am or how tender my emotions feel. I walk to walk in Your ways, in Your truth, in Your peace and in the center of Your purpose for my life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Lord, thank you for bringing ministries such as Renee’s and Proverbs 31 to remind me that I am indeed not alone with my struggles and fears. Thank you sending these honest and real women into my life. I need your strength, peace and wisdom to make the best choices through You. I am scared, and I am weak. There are many medical tests in my horizon. But you promise that you will be my strong tower, and my comfort. Help me to stay focused on You for your promises of Peace in whatever the circumstances.
Thanks you Jesus.
Heavenly Father:
Sometimes the only words that I can seem to muster are “help me!” Thank you that the Holy Spirit intercedes for me during these times – You know what I feel and what I need long before I do and I pray that You would help me to see You working in my life even while I feel trapped in the depths of despair, depression and hopelessness – I know that this world is not my home and when everything within me screams that this is all there is, You remind me that You are my Light and Hope and that I am never alone or trapped – that this too shall pass; joy comes in the morning! There will be an end to all my suffering and pain and depression – I love You and thank You for saving me from myself and giving me the only Hope that has the power to save. In Jesus’ precious and Holy name – Amen!
This is how I have been feeling also. It has been very hard to ‘control’ my anxiety..I have battled with it for many, many years. I pray a lot to ask for the Lord’s help. Sometimes I feel like I am never heard, but I know from some things that I see that do occur in my life that he does. I know this is a LONG process.
I am praying for God to see me through my struggle with anxiety and worry that keep me from being the person I need to be for my family. Lord give me the strength to let go and give to you my
worry just for today and replace it with some measure of peace and joy. I have struggled many years
and been a prisoner of always feeing anxious, overwhelmed, and unworthy of hapiness having so many challenges to over come the past few years. Please deliver me from the guilt and burden of constant anxiety and worry. I pray for rmany women who are stuggling with the same issues of trying to do everything for everyone for acceptance… never feeling it is good or sufficient enough. I know God loves me a broken, tired sinner just as I am…sometimes it is hard to remember this.
Blessings to all!!
Dear Lord, let this be the way ahead for me. Without You I’m nothing but “I can do all things in You who gives me strength.” Make me the person I am meant to be in Jesus name I pray.
Renee, your words are always so pure; from the heart; real – and relate able! Been goin thru a tough spot in life; I know God; I know His word, and stand on it; but there are days – oh my my! If it weren’t for knowing His grace and love in my life, I would be a terribly lost soul;
With Him all things are possible; I can lean on him in all situations – and taste and see that He is IS IS good! HIs promises are yes and AMEN – and that I hold onto;
Thank you for sharing! It encouraged me today! 🙂
Dear Lord, remind me daily to help me empty me of myself and fill me with you! Phil 4:13 has always been what I fall to and you are always there to comfort me and give me gifts of your smiles on me throughout the day. Thank you Jesus!
BOY DO I NEED YOU IN MY LIFE THEIR ARE TIMES WHERE I NEED MY HEAVENLY FATHER TO SHOW ME HOW TO LIVE A LOVING PERSON IN MY SELF SO I PRAY EVERYDAY FOR HIS SON JESUS TO SHOW ME HIS PRAYERS ARE POWERFUL I WANT TO LIKE MY SELF AND SPEND TIME WITH HIM IN PRAYER AMEN
Dear Lord, thank you for saving me. Thank you that I am not alone in this life….that you love me inspite of me. Lord help me to see myself the way that you do……to silence the critic that lives in my mind constantly telling me where I am lacking. Your word says in Romans 8:28 that YOU work ALL THINGS together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose! Help me to remember that even in my weaknesses….You are working them all together for the GOOD!! I don’t want to fear failure or weakness….because in my weakness YOU are strong! Lord, I want to be the woman YOU created me to be…..full of strength, power, compassion, love, kindness, wisdom, and everything else that is of You. I love you Lord!!!! Praising you for who you are in me. 🙂 Amen!
Lord Please be with me today through my hard times i am having and with others too. I love you Lord
It’s Monday and I’m tired. The whole week is ahead of me but I am still in last week wth the broken cars and sick people and unfinished everything.
And grumpy. And quick to anger.
I need you Lord to lift me out of this place.
Amen!
Lord, I praise You, because your lovingkindness and faithfulness is so good. You are so gentle with me, especially when I have struggled to follow the path of righteousness. Please forgive my wandering heart. Thank you, Lord. And thank you for my new job. You know how I am operating on the learning curve; therefore there are more opportunities for my inadequacies to surface; however these are also opportunities for you to prove your faithfulness. I know that each situation my inadequacy presents me with a choice: deep dependence on you (faith) or deep despair (fear). Help me choose dependence (faith). Thank you that your perfect love casts out all fear. I want to love you not only in word, but in deed. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.