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!
Dear Lord – I pray that I am filled with your love so that I am a light for you. May my words and my actions reflect you Jesus in my life. I pray for your peace to fill me. In Jesus Name Amen
Heavenly Father, how these words ring true that I do not stop and sit in your presence enough to refresh, refill and restore my own soul in order to fulfill that which you would have me serve out for you. Help me to be more disciplined with my time in prayer, in your word, and practice listening more in your presence. All in Jesus precious name, Amen.
Father God, I thank you that you have a perfect plan for my life and that it is way better than anything I could ever dream up. Please help me to trust you and your perfect plan COMPLETELY. Help me to know which way I should turn. Lord, I want to be so lost in you that you are the only thing people see when they see me. Thank you that you hear me and you know every worry and every doubt. Help me to know your truth.
I ask this in Jesus name.
Lord, help me know your will for my life. Help me to fulfill you purpose for my life and keep my focus on You. I often feel like I am sinking in quick sand and I don’t even know what to pray for, but in those times remind me all I need is the power of Your name, Jesus. Thank you for your many blessings.
Holy Father, remind me to pray against the deception the enemy uses to block my vision of your will for my life. Don’t let Satan keep me in the dark about my position and authority and protection which is my inheritance in Christ. I pray continually that Satan’s smoke screen of lies will be blown away and that my vision into the spiritual realm will be crystal clear.
Father, I come to you all the time for so many sisters and brothers and family needs. I love to come before you with these requests, becasue i knwo what an awesome God you are and how you love us and hear and honor our prayers for others. I am always telling others of your promises, but I do not pray these as often for myself. You know me so well and knwo that i don’t, but through this devotional today, I am reminded that I must call your promises to mind with my name attached. I read your word and several scriptures pop out for me on a regular basis. I read them and understand them, but do not PRAY them,
Thank you Father, for your wonderful WORDS to pray that you desigend for each of us to personalize drawing us to you.
Father, thank you for filling me up yesterday when my family forgot my birthday! Thank you for the devotional reading that reminded me that you are always there to fill the holes in my heart created by people or circumstances! Thank you that I could wake up this morning feeling you so close and able to go through the day with joy in my heart!
Father, may Your favor go before me where I go today. Keep me always focused on You. May I love You more and more. In Jesus name, Amen
Heavenly Father, I come to you with praise and thanksgiving. I ask for strength, physically and spiritually, to encourage and bless others. I want to be obedient and serve you, Lord. I pray that you will heal my body. Thank you Father for hearing my prayer. In your name I pray, Amen
Father, I am in constant need of you! More of you! Please give me a discerning spirit, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Lord, I need Your blessing of healing for my health so I can continue on with spreading your Word. As the song says: “Empty me and fill me with You!!!
Praying for myself was extremely difficult, but in recent weeks, has become so essential that it is like brushing my teeth 3 times a day. “Dear Father, Please guard and guide my thoughts, my heart, and my tongue; keep me close to You and align my life with Yours; banish the devil from my life; help me to be loving and kind to all I come in contact with today; please bless me with a new heart-felt love and respect for my husband and restore our marriage in Your will and in Your timing. In Jesus most holy, precious name, Amen.”
Lord God, you have been so careful to plan my path. Please strengthen me to have patience to wait to receive your power so that I will have the ability to do what you’ve prepared for me to do. I believe you’re going to do it, Lord so thank you in advance. Amen
Lord, you know what’s been weighing heavily on my heart lately. You know how stressful this situation has been on me for the past few months. Thank you for giving me the wisdom to know what to do, even in the silence, and Lord, thank you for giving me peace. Peace to let it all go and give it to you. In Jesus name, amen.
You know how overwhelmed I am.Help.In Jesus name.Amen
Father, You are the Great Healer and I just ask that you would continue to heal me from the pain that
I have had for these last 7 months. I know that my improvements are because of You and You alone.
I pray that you would work in all these ladies lives along with mine so we can shine as stars in the sky for You.
In Your name I pray.
Oh Lord, thank you so much for Renee and her friend Julie. As always, you know exactly where I am (front burner prayer) and unless I know I am messing up, I never think to pray for myself. Oh Lord, I am so excited about this book. I can think of about 10 women I want to give this to as a gift, for we all need ‘permission’ if it were, to pray for ourselves. Lord, Help me become the woman of God you created me to be. May the Holy Spirit let me know what to pray for . In Jesus name.
Lord God thank you for all your blesings, thank you for this another day. I come O God seeking to be in your holy Presence, I need your guidance and always your strength. Lead me to the place today where my heart is connected with yours, where I can spend time in prayer with you, I need to hear your sweet voice, open my heart to receive. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen
Abba Father, I thank you for Your love and grace. Most days, I feel so broken but I know You love me every day. Bless these ladies for seeking Your face and help us to see the needs around us so we can love more like You!
Lord, Your Word says that if I lack wisdom, all I need to do is ask You and You will give it to me. LORD 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 want 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 God, I cry out for help. I feel like I cry out the same prayers year in and year out with no change in my life. Lord, I am to a place of desperation. I am dying inside and only You can bring life. I’m struggling to believe that my home can ever be a place of godly love and peace. Please help me and show me what I need to do. I know I can’t change others and I’m not called to do that. I’m called to change, please show me how. I don’t know how to stop this downward spiral. Grant me Lord wisdom and strength, joy and peace. Thank you Father for Renee and all of these honest women who share their hearts. Meet their needs. Minister Your grace to us, In Jesus name, Amen.
Dear Lord, Thank you for this day. help me to do a better job of “let go, let God” in my life each day. you know the path for me..open my heart and my eyes so that I can better follow Your Way for me.
Funny timing. I’ve struggled with an important coworker since I started my job three years ago. I am tired of the unnecessary stress and have realized I can’t fix it. As I was walking into work yesterday undecided to get brave and bold and ask God for favor in this persons eyes. Near the end if the day this person stopped by my office to tell me I am doing a good job and handling a tough situation well. I have nerve heard any positive statement in three years. God is good! Glad in prayed for myself. 🙂
Father, thank You for the reminder that it is not only okay to pray for myself, but essential to do so. Lord only You know what the outcome of my situation will be. Please give me Your strength & peace to make it through one moment at a time, looking to You. Help me to some how be a witness to You through this.
Dear God, help me to do more than just go through the motions of living. Please show me the path you would have me take and five me the strength to take the first step.
In Jesus name, Amen
Lord, I will get straight to the point. I need peace and patience and most importantly faith and strength to deal with the things I may come against to build me up in these areas. I need you to help me to know what to do next since I graduate in May. Help me to not continue to procrastinate and have the motivation and determination I need to finish this 20 page paper by Monday that I have to do to graduate. Help me to keep pushing even when I am being pressed on every side. Help me to totally trust in You. I love You and I thank You in advance for answering this prayer. In Jesus name Amen!
dear Lord, please help me to remember that your “no” does not mean rejection but redirection.
Dear Jesus,Please help me to wait on your perfect timing for things to happen in my life. I love you Lord. Amen.
Father, give me wisdom.
Feeling like I don’t matter and that I am a misfit, the Prayers to Pamper Your Soul came at the right time. Our God is so faithful to speak to us in many ways in addition to His Word. Thank you.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this wonderful day! I love you and praise your Holy name. I need you, Lord. I want to be like you. I pray that you will shape me and mold me into who you would have me to be. I need your help, God, to teach me and guide me and to love me through every situation. Please take all my fears away dear God. Give me the words to say when speaking to my children. Help me to be a good example of how to live for you. Help me to have self control and to speak words of kindness and encouragement. Help me to persevere when my body hurts, my mind is overwhelmed and when I feel like giving up. Help me dear God to stand on your truth and promises that you so freely give. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Dear Lord,
Why do I find it so hard to talk to and with you? You have said so many times that you WANT to listen to me. Please give me the wisdom to know that you are my best friend and want to help. Please help me to know that the abuse that happened to me as a child wasn’t my fault and shouldn’t be my shame. I don’t have to tell you how much I still struggle with that. I will continue to read your poignant words and pray that a time comes when your loving promises permeate the wall I put up so long ago….
In Jesus’ name I fervently pray, Amen
Father, you know I have warn myself down trying to care for others in my family. Help me to find your strength in order to give myself time to heal and give control of the things I am not to control. Thank you for helping me get the correct perspective. The one you keep pursuing
Lord, give me a Heart for You & Your Word, the rest will fall in to place. In Jesus’ name.
Lord, this is unnatural asking help for myself today. So many others near and dear to me need your help. Please help those on my mind, first. Also, God, I need wisdom today about some burdens that are weighing me down and big problems we are having–especially financial. Please help me to Let It Go–and Let You work in our lives! Guide us in the way your path wants us to go! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Lord, I come to you with a thankful heart for all the blessings, known and unknown, that you bestow upon me. I ask you today to give me wisdom, knowledge and understanding in every situation, conversation, and opportunity that comes my way. I pray that you will help me make healthy choices. And I pray that I will see through others’ eyes, not just my own often narrow view. I ask that you help me show your loving kindness in all I do. Give me a renewed hunger for your Word.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Lord you have told me to trust in you and I will be helped. I need your help today. As I prepare myself for this surgery that is before me, I pray you will help me to accept whatever outcome you deem necessary. My prayers reach out to you to calm my anxious heart and continue to feel the peace of the Holy Spirit that you have blessed me with this past year. Bring this peace and trust to my marriage Lord as we deal with the many changes before us. In your name I pray with love.
RIGHT NOW I WOULD APPRECIATE PRAYERS FOR HEALING FROM A SINUS INFECTION AND CROUPY COUGH THAT I HAVE HAD FOR TWO WEEKS ALREADY!!!
Heavenly Father, I thank you for all of the blessings you have given me! Lord, you know what I have been going through with my 85 year old Mother’s dementia and now recovery from surgery for a broken Femur. I am trying to leave at your feet the burden of deciding what her future holds as far as the best nursing home to fit her needs. I know I talk to you and say I am leaving this at your feet, but then the next thing I know is that I have this heavy burden on my shoulders. I am praying to you for me to let it go and let YOU! Amen
Dear Lord,
It is not logical to pray for myself, and as a woman, I think many of us struggle with that, as we consistently pray for others.
Thank you that you will guide me in this. Amen
My Big G God, I have to admit it is hard to pray for myself when I’m not in a crisis. Thankfully, right now I’m not in one and so I begin by thanking you for that! Lord, I want to follow you and love you all the days of my life, so I ask for your help in obedience to you, help me love you even more. Lord, give me YOUR wisdom and illuminate the path you want me on, then give me the courage and obedience to be on it, regardless of what others say. My #1 relationship, my eternity rests in You, not my kids, boyfriend, co-workers, etc., but you and you, alone, so let me not be so concerned with what they will think. Let me love you and feel your love in return. Continue to seek me as I seek you. I love you, Lord with all my heart….may that be true all the days of my life.
~Your Daughter, Diane
Father God, help me to never walk where you are not leading!,
Lord, you know what I have been going through lately with Bob diagnosis of Prostate Cancer and then Dad passing away so suddenly. I felt you telling me today that I try to be strong for everyone else and don’t give myself any attention or even time to grieve. Help me to Lord to turn to you and prayer for myself so that I can be even stronger to help others but also able to let others help me. Thank you Lord for all that you have given me and will continue to give me.
Father, I feel so unworthy and unlovable, please help me to see myself the way that you do.
Dear Lord and Heavenly Father-Please be with me as I progress through life-as you only know what is next, please help be be prepared as you will is yours. Amen
Heavenly Father, you see the Dr’s appointments and tests that are ahead of me. Please give me the courage to face whatever the future holds. Grant me your perfect peace that surpasses all understanding and may Your name be glorified as you carry out your will for my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for your nudges. Thank you for not giving up on me despite my weakness and hard headiness. That in itself should be enough to respond to You but I continue in my foolish way. I pray for me to break that self destructive behavior and be free in You. My burdens are MANY. The weight slows me down and makes is almost unbearable. But through Your grace, I somehow make it to the next day with a speck of hope. May you make that speck grow daily, strengthened in You to do Your will. I want to stop this helpless dark feeling. Let me be open to Your change for me. In Your precious name, Amen.
Dear Father, I pray for healing in my Brain. My desire is to serve you with all my heart and soul & mind
Lord, I come to you today with a glad heart for the blessings you’ve placed in my life. I thank you for them and only ask that I use them for your glory. Beyond the blessings, fill me with your love and compassion. I can get wrapped up in myself, and that’s not where you want or need me to be. Thank you for taking me outside myself to the world around me. Amen
Dear Lord,
I need patience! Patience with what the future holds, patience with my husband and my kids! Lord, not being patient brings out the worst in me! Only you know what the future holds and I need to wait for your plans to unfold. I need to remember that my kids and husband are a blessing and not to get angry with them when they don’t do things how I would do it or they are having a bad day and in turn I have a bad day!Help me to be a light that shines for you! Help me to raise my kids to know you and let THEIR light shine!! Lord you are amazing and I thank you for all of the blessings I have in my life! In Jesus name, Amen!