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!
Father,
You know my heart, You know my will better than I do. Lord I ask that You help me to know Your heart and Your will as if it were my own. I know I haven’t done the best with this but Lord, I ask with Your help that You show me what it is that You want for my life. Help me discern Your will from my desires. I know You have plans, Lord, and I want to follow them. Help me see the way You have for me. Thank You Father for who You are!
Dear Lord, you know my pain and my broken pieces. I pray for your healing on my broken heart today. I ask for you to give me peace and comfort during this season of life. May you wrap your loving arms around me and help me through this struggle and may I find myself on the other side victorious. I ask for you to show me what you would have me to learn from this emotional journey. May you give me the strength each day to put one foot in front of the other and to tackle each day. May you help me to recognize the devil’s tricks as temptation and flee and resist those temptations. I need you, dear Lord. I humble myself at your feet and ask that you help me to be the wife, mother and daughter you created me to be. I am a mess and I lay my junk at your feet and ask that you take this burden from me. Cast all your cares upon me for I careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7.
Abba Father,
I hate where I am, who I’m becoming and the anger that burns deep within. You say I need to forgive her for betraying our friendship but I’m finding it hard to let go…I want justice. You tell me that if I seek You, I’ll find You in this desert I’m in. Father, help me to forgive through Your strength. Help me to see what You see in her because right now…I’m so hurt and alone. Jesus Name Amen.
Guide me Lord.
Thank you, Lord, for directing me to various Christian women’s blogs this week where I keep being reminded of the same important message: Lean not on my own understanding, but acknowledge YOU in all things and YOU will make my paths straight.
Help me to remember that you can not be confined to human descriptions and that your love is not flawed like the “love” we know here on earth.
Thank you that your love transcends anything I’ve experienced or can understand.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Heavenly Father, thank you for your unending love. Please help me to be the woman, wife, and mother You would have me to be. Please show me that Your ways are not my ways. May I rest in Your peace today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Dear Lord, help me today and every day to remember that you love me as a tender Father and help me live my life out of an overflow of my love for you.
Lord, I think so often of friends and family who want and need prayer and I think so quickly that they need it more than I do. Forgive me for this pride or lack of knowledge. I am reminded today that I need to remember to be soaked in prayer and your Word just as much as the person next to me at the store, at church, and so on. Direct my paths and prayer; thank you that your Grace has prepared me for the good and the answers for today. Thank you that you are with me and no height or depth could separate me from You. Go before me this day, Lord. Amen
Heavenly Father, I come to you today with a heavy heart and a never ending to do list. Today I feel like I will never get this thing called life right. Lord I bring my brokenness to you and ask for your reassurance that I am loved. I need to see evidence that you are a part of my healing and ministry. I ask for your guidance and direction as I move forward in faith. Thank you Lord for one more day to serve you. It is in your name I pray. Amen
Dear Lord,
You’ve said that if we delight ourselves in you, you’ll give us the desires of our heart. Well, my problem is I’ve lost touch with those desires. I’m trying not to lose touch with You. Help me want what you want…help me want you more … help me know what it is to truly delight in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Lord, it feels like my world is crashing down around me – my own health issues, my overwhelming bills, the heartbreaking end of a 7 year relationship with my boyfriend telling me he doesn’t love me, my parents health declining, the fall out of a recent accident, and my son’s estrangement from his father are taking over my every waking thought. Please give me your peace, your clarity, and wisdom to believe that things will get better. They just have to. Thank you.
Father some days are so hard. I feel myself pulling away from the people I love and my life. Please help me turn to you instead. I know that with your help and protection, I can face any situation. But, I can,t do it without you. Help me to turn over everything to you and to wait expectantly for your guidance. Thank you for forgiving me all my transgressions. And, in spite of them, I know I am loved.
Lord, I thank you for this post today. I often feel guilty for praying for myself , like I’m being selfish. I pray that you will help me overcome this and take time for myself. I pray that you will help me in my marriage and the decisions that need to be made. It is going to be a time of change, for the good, but change nonetheless. I pray that you will teach my husband and I to work as a team during this time. Guide me in my words and actions today and every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Lord God, Please bless me and give me wisdom and courage as I meet with my church council this weekend. My only desire is to help them in the budgeting process, to see Your will done, Father, that the decisions made will build Your kingdom. Lord please help me to love one another, please open me up to be more outgoing, to approach others to love them. Please help me to show mercy and not judgement. Please take judgement out of me, Lord. Thank you Jesus, Thank you Father, I love you Amen
Dear Lord,
I come to you with a heavy heart. You know the struggles I’m facing in my marriage and in my faith. Lord, I pray that I can develope a stronger more intimate relationship with you and strengthen my faith to completely trust you. I pray that the things I know in my head to be true would sink deep into my heart. I pray that no matter what trials I go through in my marriage or in my life that I can know in my heart that you are with me, you love me and have a plan for me. Help me focus solely on you and not on my circumstances and my feelings. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Lord,
ThankYou for not letting up on me. Te past few days/weeks, I’ve been struggling with trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I have all these dreams inside, but I don’t know where to begin. Waiting was so uncomfortable, so decided to try to take matters into my own hands and help You along. Needless to say, that only made things worse…way worse. This morning, I was reminded that You are the one who orders my steps. I don’t want my life to be average, Lord. I don’t know all the details, but I surrender everything to You…my dreams, the process, everything. Being out of control is scary, but doing things on my own wihout You, is even more scary. Forgive me for not trusting Your timing. Forgive me for not taking better care of myself so that I could be equipped to take better care of others. Thank You for never leaving me and for not treating me the way that I treat You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Father God, I thank you for loving me and carrying me through these days when I can barely keep moving forward. Help me to put aside the seemingly impossible situations and the time I dwell on them. Replace those thoughts with your joy, confidence and peace as I move through the day. I want desperately to be where you want me to be and doing what you have called me to do. Help me to be confident that that is where I am.
Dear Jesus,
I so needed to read this today. I feel so tired I am crabby. Please revive me today.
Lord Jesus, you know that my marriage is in ruins right now, and I am tired. But I know you are holding me in Your hands. You are revealing to my heart, not just my mind, that you love ME, personally. I thank you so much for that. I don’t have a good daddy image to take guidance from. Please help me to see you as daddy. Please help me to release my marriage and husband and children and job to You, God, knowing that you have a better plan for me than what I thought life had to be. I was stuck in numbness for so long God. Awaken my soul. Be the fire in me. Make me the worshipping warrior princess that I feel you anointed me to be. Make me a warrior for you. I leave my life in Your hands. I trust you God. Please renew me daily.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the wisdom of the ladies that have posted. It makes me realize that I am not alone in my struggles and fears. I pray that you guide me in difficult times to wait for your guidance. I love you Lord and thank You for peace and grace in every action and word I speak. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Thank you, Lord, that you created me for a purpose. I
Realize that sometimes I get so focused on others
That I forget to take care of myself like I should.
Please encourage all of us to do what your word says,
To seek your kingdom and your righteousness first.
We praise you for all you are doing & all we have
Been created to do THROUGH you. We love you!!
Dear Father:
I ask for patience and grace as I live out this single season in my life. I pray for my future husband and that you work to prepare both of us for a relationship with each other. Help us forgive and heal from hurts from past partners and families. Help me be wise, strong, and gracious as I finish out the week at work. Help me work to keep watch over my mouth and speak gracious, uplifting words to friends, families and coworkers. Help me walk closer with you. In your precious name, Lord, Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father, Please help me see Your plan for my life. I have a bad attitude because I feel my life and job have no purpose. I have a bad attitude because I feel my gifts and talents aren’t being used. I have a bad attitude because I feel my husband is pursuing his dream while I’m stuck paying the bills. I forget to see that Your Hand is in everything. I forget that You put me here. I forget that You are molding me into the person that You want me to be. Lord, help me see You in all things. Help me to serve You and others in my path – today!
I am learning what a difference it can make in my marriage to pray over my husband. Thank you for also
showing me how important it is to pray over myself. I look forward to getting your book.
Thank you father for this message today. It spoke to me as you do when I really need it. Father, today I ask for your wisdon, Your guidance and Your continued strength as I feel I have so little left. Father, please be with me today as I have so many things on my mind and my heart literally hurts and needs your healing. Please be with every woman here and father, I thank you for places like this where we can share and see we aren’t alone. In Jesus name, Amen.
Lord, I thank you for this ministry through Proverbs 31 and how it has blessed and encouraged me. So many times I feel that no one has the hardship and the heartache that I go through and yet every day there is some verse or some devotion that shows me “Look, Janet…you’re not alone on this journey.” Forgive me for the times that I doubt your presence in my life. Renew your spirit in me and direct my path. You know my heart and my struggle, Lord. I pray for your guidance in finding my “place” in your ministry. Thank you for loving me when I am so unworthy. Amen.
Dear Lord,
You are my help, my fortress, and my refuge. Help me to overcome my sins of laziness. Lord, I want to be intentional with my time and not waste anymore of it on unimportant things. Help me to spend my time in ways that are pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord, I love you and I thank you for loving me. Continue to hold me and hold me into the woman You will me to be. Help me see the things in my life that are a hinderance to Your guidance. Let the Holy Spirit pour into all those dark recesses and fill them with Your light. I love You. I need You. Help remove me in order to improve me. In Jesus’s Holy name, Amen.
Heavenly father,
Thank you for this amazing privilege to have your ear and your heart’s attention. I need you today. My soul is weary, my heart is anxious, my body is worn out. I need to hear you and see you today. I need to know that you really do know what is going on with my baby boy and that you will provide everything I need to be the mama he needs right now. God I need your strength and encouragement. I need your power to well up on the inside and wash over me and my circumstance. God even in the midst of all of this, I trust you and know that at just the right time you will move, you will answer my call, you will come to my rescue!!
Father God, I thank you for always, always providing me with what I need exactly when I need it. Father I ask that you teach me to be a woman of prayer; to not just pray for others but to learn how to pray for myself. I pray that you will continue to give me a confident heart in You and that with Your guidance I will continue to look thru my eyes of faith and speak those things that be not as though they were. Lord I thank You and I declare victory over every area of my life. Thank you God for never giving up on me and for continuing to mold me and shape me into the woman of God You created me to be. Continue to keep me in your ever lovin care in Jesus Mighty name, Amen.
I pray that I will recognize the truth that you bring and the lies of satan for what they are. LIES! protect my mind and my heart. keep my eyes on you. thank you Jesus!
Dear Lord, my heart is burdened with the finances that we don’t have. I have helped put us into this hole, please help me to dig out. Please give me the resourses to help my family to get back on our feet.
Thank you for being my redeemer. In Jesus name I pray, Amen, Amen, Amen.
Lord Jesus, You are my Alpha and my Omega and you are at the beginning of my day and the end of my day. You know how many things I have to do today. I ask you to order my day just as you have ordered the stars in the heavens. Thank you, that you are a God of order. I need it in my life: order in my thoughts and my words and my actions. Lord, I purpose today to be aware of your Presence in my life, and where I go your Kingdom, your wonderful Kingdom goes, too. Thank you! I love you! I pray this is Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you in working through these other wise women to share Your intent for my life. Forgive me father when I neglect myself and relationship with you. Praying for others is important but I also need the communication with you to hear and know your will for my life in just today. Thank you for not giving up on me. Please work on my heart and attitude today Lord that I may become more of who you want me to be and less of who I think I should be. Help me to become the wife you are calling me to be. May I be one to bring healing, love and peace back into my marriage Father. Forgive me where I have failed and hurt one I love so dearly and desire to reconcile with. I surrender my heart and marriage to you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Lord, you know my heart, my worries. Most of the time i come to you in prayer, i tend to come along with other people’s burden that i am left with few space for mine. You said the spirit make intercession on my behalf, give ear to the silent groaning of my heart – the burdens in my heart and speedily come to my aid. Thank you for the grace and hope that has kept me going. Let the peace you alone can give flood my heart and take away every worries i have presently.
Lord, thank you for Renee’s post today. Lord I am so nervous and scared about my wedding tomorrow. What if I mess this marriage up? What if he ends up hating me years down the road? What if I break his heart? What if, what if, what if? I know Lord that all of these doubts are a result of my first marriage and that you have brought me to David for your glory. I KNOW that Lord but I am still SO scared. Please give me peace today. Hold me Lord and remind me that you work all things together for good to them that love you.
In Jesus name
Amen
Jessica, I know this was your private prayer to the Lord, and I don’t mean to butt in. i just want to encourage you – my daughter is getting married soon, and she has these same fears weighing on her heart. You WON’T mess this up…..all things happen for a reason. You are where you are today because of things that have happened in your past, but these things brought you to your fiancee. Trust in the Lord, and have peace in knowing that He will guide you and your new husband with your loving hearts. Again, I’m sorry for intruding, but I pray that tomorrow will be a wonderful wedding day, full of peace and love – love for each other, and love for the Lord. God bless you!
Sherri
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for all that you’ve done for me, and all that you’ve given me. I pray that you will be with me as I go through my day. Lord, please place your guiding hand upon me, that I may be the mother, the sister, the co-worker, the employee, the friend, but above all, the Christian that you want me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I look forward to diving deep into this book. I am just finishing another devotional book and was looking for anotherone to start and here it is. What timing. and, yes I do need it:)
God, allow me to forgive myself for past mistakes, to let them go and not continue to recall them, so that I may deppen my relationship with you. In your Son’s name, Amen.
Thank you, Julie & Renee! This looks like a fabulous devotional. I’m continually blessed by P31 and find it such an encouraging gift. This new devotional seems so timely for me. I need help learning how to pray for myself so that God can enable me to do more for his glory. It’s such second nature for me to pray for others but I really struggle asking for prayer for myself when I’m overwhelmed, discouraged or just need to know he sees me right where I am 🙂 Please help me to stop shouldering the weight of my responsibilities alone and hear Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Dear God, my Father,
I need you today. I need your grace, mercy, forgiveness. I need your ever-present help in my time of need. Thank you for showing me every day that your love never fails. Help me to walk in that truth today, Lord, and keep my eyes focused on you.
Dear Jesus,
please continue to help me to deal with anger appropriately. You know my struggles with this issue.
Dear Jesus…. I come before your presence this morning…seeking your presence… Lord empty me of me… Fill me with your spirit… Align my thoughts today… Give me wisdom and direction…. Order my steps that I may follow you and do your will and fulfill my purpose… Let me have eyes to see the goodness you have before me… Let me surrender control of all that’s weighing me down… Change my worry to trust…. Give me courage to crush my doubts.. Increase my faith so that I may please you… Oh Lord I do believe you keep your promises and I claim them for myself today…. I know you will provide and you will never leave me nor forsake me… Now help me to remember this throughout the day… I thank you Jesus for your love, your mercy and your grace!!! Amen!!
Heavenly Father, thank you for these wonderful women who minister to and bless so many. Their words guiding us directly to You have soothed my soul and heart many times. I’ve been to many of the places they have in their lives and I thank You every day for the healing You have blessed me with. I am encouraged to hear that I should pray for myself and want to share that with other women who are weary in their lives. Thank you for the restoration you offer through Your Son, Jesus. Help me to minister to those around me like these beautiful ladies minister to me. Help me to Pray It Forward. In Your name I give thanks.
Lord your Word reminds me to Cast all my Cares on You and it also reminds me that You will give me the desires of my heart. My true hearts desire is to have joy unspeakable. Sometimes I feel that I lack joy in my life not because I am unhappy but because I have lost that feeling of true joy that only comes from You. Help me today to find your joy in the little things of life. Help me to take time to remember what it is to have that unspeakable joy. I want to find joy in all of my daily chores and daily responsiblities so that others will see that joy that only comes from you and that I can be a blessing to someone today.
Thank you for answering my prayers and for making me a blessing to someone today. In your precious and holy name. Amen
Jesus, I need you. Desparately and always, I need you. Hold me up. Make me strong. Mold me into the woman, the mother, the wife, the friend, the daughter that you need me to be. Give me open eyes to see as you see. Help me to always open my heart to the needs you need me to meet. You promise me that when I am weak, you make me strong. You promise me that you will carry my burdens. You promise you are with me always. Thank you, Lord. Thank you that I don’t have to do this alone. Thank you for your faithfulness, your promises, you everlasting, unchanging love. For loving me – just as you created me – and making me into the person you need me to be in order to accomplish what you call me to.
In your precious name, Jesus. Amen.
Thank you for telling me I can do this. It has brought tears to my eyes. I am needing to take care of myself so much – but am to busy. I copied your prayer because it speaks to my needs right now.
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.
Father, I feel trapped. It seems that my whole world is caving in on me. I KNOW that you love me but I don’t know if I can stand much more! How can I be strong for my family when I am soooo depleted within? We are experiencing attacks on every front…life-threatening health issues, financial, wayward teens. Father, give me wisdom. Restore your joy back into our lives, back into my heart. Wipe away the tears that I cry in secret. Despite my moments of despair, I know that you are working all things for my good. Thank your your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
God promises that His grace and mercies are sufficient. Even when the walls are caving in. Even when you owe more than you make. Even when your children are rebelious to the way they should go. I’ve been in your shoes and I can tell you that God is faithful in every situation. His promises DO NOT FAIL! He will see you through every hard moment. One moment at a time. And bring you to a place of renewed strength, renewed hope. Praise Him through these storms of life. (Casting Crowns). He is with you always. Even to the end of the Earth. He will be your strength when you are weak. He is your provider. He is your healer. He promises that when we train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old, he will not depart from it. Praying with you, my beautiful sister in Christ, that You see Him move mightly in all of these issues that are weighing you down.
Love in Christ, Vanessa
Lord teach me to take the time to pray for myself.
Dear Lord, you have taken me on a journey these last few years, filled with pain, struggle and tears, but I wouldn’t trade any of it becuase of the hope I have in you and what you have promised for me. You continue to test me and give me opportunities to seek you and I continue to thank you for that. In my daily attempt to do everything, to be perfect, and to be everything for everyone, help me to remember not to forget about taking care of myself. Help me to remember that time with you, Lord, is what I need to fill myself up every day so that you can live through me.
Lord, help me to be still so I can hear your voice.