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!
Lord, I thank you for bringing me to this blog post today. I truly do believe that every single thing we do is for a reason, and this was directed right to me. I felt like You were speaking directly to me. Thank you for the reminder that I need to pray for myself as well as everyone else, and I need to do it daily. I ask You to help me remember to take time to pray for myself, and to keep You first in every single thing I say and do. In Jesus name, Amen.
I need to feel comfortable praying for myself…..that’s the first prayer….
then the battle in my head that puts me in discouragement even when
I’m trying to be a more faithful prayer and study God’s Word.
Lord, we often turn to you when we reached the end of ourselves and don’t know what to do. Help me to reach out to you first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. I never thought of praying for myself, except for you to keep me in the center of your will. Help me to be the help mate that my husband needs. I never been very outgoing, but I don’t want others to think I think I’m better than they are. If they could only see what you see in me. I find it hard to reach out to others. Your word says for a person to have friends you must show your self friendly. Help me to start being friendly. You guide me and help me to follow. Amen.
Heavenly Father, I just want to praise you for the work you have been doing in my heart. You’ve known the heart-break I’ve suffered in my marriage and you’ve endured my temper tantrums because you wouldn’t change my husband. But this month, while my husband has been away, my heart has been opened by your gentle nudging. It seems every devotional arriving in my inbox has been about how I must change me in order to have a blessed marriage. Thank you Lord for showing me in your word that my job is to RESPECT my husband; I had no idea!! Thank you for the book that shows me HOW to do this! Thank you for opening my eyes to realise all the nastly little things I did that only hurt my marriage, and I had no idea I did them. Thank you for a long-suffering husband who never complained, and actually did a lot of things right. Father, my prayer for me today is please help me to stay on this path. I am desperate to believe that my husband truly does love me, and isn’t just jumping through hoops to placate me. Help me to let go of the ‘record of wrongs’ I guard so closely. Please Lord, as I begin to incorporate the tips from the book into my marriage, help me to not expect any great changes in my husband in return. Help me just to love him, just because You love him. I have 30 hours to prepare my heart before he’s home and I so desperately want to do this right. I pray your Holy Spirit would continue to fill me with your Word and guide me in this journey, and keep me safe from falling into the pit of despair again. Amen.
Heavenly Father, I am burdened by my daughter’s infidelity and her young children having to sacrifice their normal life to be without their mama as they knew it. I am grieving for the loss of her happiness. I am afraid for her future having to make it on her own. I have been unable to see things her way even the slightest little bit. I am unhappy with her mistakes she is making but I need your help to avoid attempting to control the situation. Kind Jesus, I pray that I can overcome my need to control. I ask Your forgiveness for the hurt that she and I have caused each other. There have been harsh words, wrong assumptions and accusations. I pray that You will help me with a better way to communicate during this troubling time. Give me the right words to say and take away the need for constant criticism. Fill me with the peace that only comes from You, the peace that passes all understanding. Amen.
Lord, I pray that you would help me to stop complaining and focusing on the negative, but focus on You and on the promises in Your Word. I pray that I would be encouraging to my husband and lift him up and show him love. I pray that I would be a good example for my son, and that I would be the best mother I can, lifting my son up and not tearing him down. Help me to keep my eyes on You and grow closer to You. Amen.
Lord, Empty me of me and fill me with You. Thank you for all the blessings in my life.
Thank you dear Jesus for your word and that its true and that we can come to you any time. Lord help me to remember daily to do that and remember that I can’t do this without you or on my own strength. Lord give me the strength and the courage to do the things that I need to do daily. Lord I need you so much and espically right now when hubby is working overtime and the load as a wife and mother seem even more overwhelming. Help me to go to you instead of others and to know that you are there when no one else seems to be and that you will help me even when no one else is. Lord help me to hear from you when I don’t know what to do and give me the words to know what to say when I don’t and help me to be patient and forgiving and teach me how espically when I feel I can’t Thank you Lord i could not imgine life without you and thank you for never leaving me even when I may h ave forgotten or left you alone
I Love that the book provides a focus for prayer for each week. My life can be so overwhelming with an autistic 5 year old, full time job, a neglected husband, a neglected prayer life, stressed., lonely – that I often fall to my knees but struggle to focus on what to pray on or for. I guess I am a “front burner” prayer but I want more. I should not be online right now, I am supposed to be working but I believe it is a blessing that I found Renee’s page and the introduction to Julie’s book. Thank you!
Lord, I thank you for the daily reminders to come before you in prayer, and especially for being there as I talk to you about my innermost thoughts! I thank you that regardless of what I divulge to you, you will never leave me nor forsake me, you will forgive my transgressions, and remind me that you love me and I can trust you. Father, I seek your help with my negative thought life right now – I so want to just focus on and believe your truth, yet I keep finding myself spending time believing the lies of the enemy. I think step one is just what Julie is getting at – I need to not only be on my knees for others, but need to remember to come to you for myself as well. I thank you Father for your gentle reminder, and your open arms! I lift my prayers to you in the sweet name of my Savior Jesus! AMEN!
Lord, thank you for this ministry. I come to you asking for a clear mind and direction for priorities with my family. I feel like when I’m faithful and making progress in one area, I’m failing in another. I can’t get it all straight. Help me get my priorities aligned with you. Make me the wife and mom you intended me to be and rid me of the negative emotions I carry. Fill me with your love so it pours out to others especially my family. In Jesus name, Amen.
Dear Lord,
Please guide and direct us in the decisions we need to make this week about our daughter’s and my care. Please heal our family. Please help us to be more honoring to you. I love you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Dear Father, forgive me for not sitting at your feet today. I realize I have become distracted again. Another move is looming and this time I am preparing for surgery first. Please help me, Father, to keep my eyes on you as I move forward one step at a time, in faith and in preparation. Thank you, Father, for the blessings of friendship and family. Help me not to take any of my blessings for granted as I get absorbed in all that is going on. Remind me, Father, to ask for help when I need it. Give me wisdom as I deal with my son each day. Help me to be the wife and mother and friend that you would have me be. Help me to prioritize as you would have me to do… Thank you, Lord, that you have already gone before me. I know that you will see me through the difficulties ahead.
Self, Please remember that you’re not in this life alone. Every thought, every need, every heart break is already known. Know that situations and problems are not up to my own understanding but all things work together for my good. Self, remember that in times of trouble and doubt about my abilities prayer is the only true solution. The LORD knows before I even ask what my needs are and how things are going to turn out. I need only to obey his word and leave everything up to him. It’s sometimes giving up the control and leaving everything up to him that is the hardest. I practice that everyday. I have to remember, He’s got this!
Father, this book sounds like it was written for me at this time in my life. I feel like taffey at a taffey pull. So many huge life changing issues and my breast cancer on top of life. I want my life to honor and glorify You, it seems I fail more than I succeed. I neeed You, and would treasure this book to help. Thank you Father that you hear all our prayers. Amen
Dear Lord…I sincerely pray and ask you for wisdom and perseverance in my serious troubled mariage.
I am being ignored and rejected…help me to focus on you only and not on my problems…remind me that
you are bigger than my problems….i beg you to increase my faith and help me to not walk by sight.
Help me to cast all my fears and worries upon you….thank you because you hear more than i say and you
will do abundantly more than i ask….you are the Lord of all miracles…i need you so much my Lord…thank you for never abandoning me.
In Jesus mighty name i pray these things….Amen.
Lord, help me to keep my eyes fixed on you and not the circumstances around me. For when I am weak, you are strong, and Lord I need your strength. Illuminate the path before me and make my path straight. I want to walk on the path you have for me and not my way. Help me to always acknowledge you when life seems overwhelming and burdensome. I love you Lord and want you to be my everything. Amen
Please pray for me as I am struggling greatly! My husband & I have taken back into our home my 21 year old daughter & her 9 month old daughter. We already have at home a 16 year old daughter & a 12 year old son living with us. This has put a HUGE strain on our entire family. My daughter (21 year old–Krystal) was being abused in all ways by her boyfriend. But having them in our home has completely put our home in an uproar!! There seems to be no space, no quiet time for me anymore, a lot more work in the house (I have heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure & many other complications). I am feeling like I am at my end!! Please pray!!
Lord,
Help me to rest in You. Help me to take a breath and give it all to You. In Jesus name Amen.
Lord, teach me the balance between bettering myself and letting go to allow You to work through me.
Dear Lord, thank you for ministries like this….Renee and Julie. Help me to put all my stress concerning health issues, family worries, into your Hands. Help me to claim your promises and trust you.
Dear Lord, use me today. Let others see You in me. Help me be a better wife, mother, and friend. Thank you for saving my soul. Help me respond to life’s difficult problems with grace.
Lord, please help me through my day, and all my stress, to focus on you. Thank you Lord for being there for me always. Help me to handle anything that comes my way with grace.
Dear Heavenly Father ~
Thank you for the many blessings that you gift me with. I thank you for the Proverbs 31 Ministries and for bringing it into my life. Lord, I thank you for Renee and Julie. I am so very thankful they followed your will and for the works they are allowing you to do thru them. Please let them feel your arms wrap around them in a tight hug today and let their heart overflow with your love. And Lord, I thank you for the reminder today, that while praying for others, I need to pray for myself also. And that it’s ok to pray for myself without feeling greedy. Thank you Lord for all that you do for me. In Your Holy Name I Pray, Amen!
Lord right now I ask that you bring full healing to my heart, healing from all the hurts in my past and healing from all the negative things said over me. I pray that you strengthen my heart with your love and let me see who I am to You. I pray for the freedom to walk in boldness as the woman you created me to be. Free and whole, complete in your healing!
Lord, thank you for the way You love me everyday and give me words of encouragement! Please give me wisdom and help me be a blessing for everyone around me!
Father, my prayer life seems to just be scattered through the day, help me to gather them together when spending time with you. May my prayers be sincere, honest and not habitual. Thank you for the comfort the name of Jesus floods me with. In His name, Amen!
Dear Lord, I come to you with a heart of love & gratitude for all of your blessings. I ask for forgiveness of my sins. Cleanse my heart, renew my soul & make me what You want me to be. I lift up all the ladies who are coming to you in prayer & ask for your blessings upon them. You know our hearts, Dear Lord, renew in all of us your love. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen
Lord,
There are days lately I only make it through, because I KNOW you are there. I may feel alone, afraid, uncertain, exhausted, but You have already told me you are at my side, you will give me the strength I need to make it through,You will shelter me from the storms. Thank you~ 2013 has been a very challenging year so far between health concerns, my husband needing to find a job, financial stress. I have another medical test on Wednesday, and i am praying for wisdom and healing before they do find something.
I need your love, peace and wisdom Lord, and I need you to infuse me with your peace, You alone are in control Lord, and I thank you!!!
Amen
Lord, I pray that some of the good things will start happeneing from the bead in my life….In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Yes, Lord I need your perspective and wisdom, sometimes I become weary from all the concerns of others and neglect myself. Fill me Lord, Amen
Lord, like blind Bartimaeus who was sitting by the road when you passed by, I too cry, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Master, I want to see!” I want to go down the road with You, Jesus. Thank You for never passing me by, but always listening to the cry of my heart: Lord have mercy on me.
Lord, in my weakness You are made strong. I cry out for peace that passes all understanding, wisdom to walk to the left or to the right, hearing Your voice to guide me. Give me confidence to hold my head up, my arms up in praise and my words to be pleasing to You God my Lord and Savior.
Sweet Jesus,
Please help me to stay focused on you and not all the things on my “to do” list today.
Lord, I thank you for your love and mercy. I thank you for what you are doing in my life and my husband’s life. I thank you for answered prayer. I ask you to please continue the healing process and the growing closer to you process for both of us. I ask for wisdom and confidence to continue on life’s journey. I thank you for our children, their mates, and our precious grandchildren. I pray that they will all know you as their Savior and become godly men and women. Thank you for all your blessings. I love you, Lord. Please help me to be the woman you would have me to be and to be a blessing to those I meet.
Remind me Lord, to talk with You. It’s easy to remember to pray for my needs and the needs of others–and to call out for help–but I want to praise You and thank You and just talk with You.
Lord, I pray that I will draw my strength from You and not try to do things in my own strength, that I will trust You and put You first in my life! In Jesus name, Amen!
Dear Lord God above,
Thank you for all that you have given me. Help me seek you more and learn how to stop and listen for your answers without my input. Thank you for authors such as Renee and Julie and everyone at Proverbs31 Ministries that give such encouraging words and wisdom. Thank you for all you have done for me and my family. Amen
Lord,
As I seek your face, reveal yourself to me. I long to know you in a deeper way than I’ve ever know. Thank you for loving me as I am, but loving more to have me be more like you. I want you to look down on me and say “You make me proud”.
Lord,
I pray that you will help me continue in the path you have drawn me on: the path of forgiveness and the path of healing, the path of growing spiritually. I pray that you open my eyes to your will for my life. I pray that I can be the wife, mother, sister, and daughter that you made me to be and that when I fail you open my eyes to that and lead me to your healing. I praise you, Lord for the many blessings you have brought into my life.
In your holy name I pray
Amen
Last night, I was at the point where all I could muster up to say was “God, I’m tired!”. Being a single mom (without any help), working full time, raising two beautiful girls, trying to be involved in ministry, and keeping friendships alive is exhausting. They are all things I want in my life (well, except for working a secular job full-time – my heart is full-time ministry, but for now I know I have to work or my bills won’t get paid). I want to pray … and try to ….. but don’t really know how. I know this isn’t how he wants me to live ….. Exhausted ….. so possibly this book could help me learn how to pray for myself!
Dear Lord,
I pray I can become the holy woman and wife You want me to be. I pray for healing in my body so I can be fully functioning again. I pray for my marriage and children. We need You as the center of our life. Things cannot go on as they have. Amen