Thinking About A New Year

Hey, Sweet Things! I’ve been praying for you this very day. I’ve especially been praying for those of you who’ve commented about how much you want to do the Scripture memory but you’re scared of failing. First of all, I pray that God is going to give you a glimpse of what your brilliant little mind is capable of doing when doused in His Word. Second, if you spend the year meditating on 24 verses, I pray that you’ll realize that you cannot fail. It will produce a harvest whether or not you get each Scripture down word for word. The captivated mind that tears down strongholds is what we’re after. Keep that before you. Pray for a supernatural unction to internalize Scripture then thank God for it in advance. He makes a way for us to obey what He wills for us to do.

Now, on to something that I keep pondering this morning. Like many of you, I’m a thinker. Years don’t come to ends or beginnings without me getting caught up in what’s behind or in front of me. That’s good if it leads to change. That’s bad if it leads to dread. We’ve all heard this definition of insanity: doing the same thing the same way and expecting something different. Yet, for the most part,  we live life in that maddening loop. One of the things God has taught me along the way is to try to hear from Him about one area at a time that He’s pinpointing for change. Much more than that is too overwhelming. Anyway, He’s a God who’s into process with the lives of His children. We need look no further than Philippians 1:6 for proof of that. What He may begin in an instant He may complete over a lifetime. Instead of making a list of resolutions for 2011 that are broken by the time they’re spoken, is there simply one thing about us we really wish to change? I could think of a dozen things I’d like to change but this is the one I think God is pinpointing as our joint effort for the top of 2011: a mental loop I tend to get into when I get offended or hurt by someone I love. I have come to believe that my first minute’s reaction is what determines the cycle of the next (usually miserable) two days. So, here’s my specific prayer for the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011.

My Dearest Abba Father,

I’ve lived long enough to know that any 12-month period of time on Planet Earth winds a pathway through thicket and thorns. It’s just too long a period of time not to get hurt or offended. I also know that You have tucked many joys in the oncoming year and I don’t want to miss them because I can’t quit obsessing over what’s hard. You’ve gone to measurable lengths in the last year to show me how the enemy of my soul operates in one specific area: he can’t block You from blessing Your children so he tries to block Your children from enjoying it. I do not want him to cheat me of reaping from anything rich You send my way this year. Even the treasures hidden in darkness. As this year ends and a new one begins, I am so thankful that I have Your Spirit without limit in my life and that, with You, change in a long pattern really is possible. You’ve done it before in my life. Come do it again. I am asking You in particular, Abba Father, to run to my aid in that first moment when an opportunity for offense happens and urge me by Your Holy Spirit to head into a thought-loop that spirals upward rather than downward. Simply put, help me to get over things fast. Honestly, Lord, sometimes I just make life harder than it has to be. Some things that wound me aren’t even about me. Help me to see where I’m jumping into somebody else’s loop and to quit getting hung by my own. I choose joy in resting this petition at Your feet, Lord, and I refuse self-condemnation or fruitless regret. You never would have brought this to the forefront and called for it in prayer if You didn’t have something good in mind. You began this work. Now come and take it to the next level. I’m excited about it, Lord, and see a glimpse of liberty on the horizon. Thank You, Father.

If you also want to post a prayer about ONE THING you’re asking God to do in you toward a more victorious 2011, feel free. There’s something about writing it down in a public place that makes it memorable. A record you can go back and read can be a beautiful thing. Try to resist wallowing and writhing in these  public requests. It’s Satan who tries to make prayer a dreaded exercise in self-loathing. In God’s economy, even when our prayers are mostly pleas of repentance, they lead us to relief.

Hey, Siestas, let’s not respond to each other’s comments this time. By all means, let’s pray for each other but let’s leave the response space to God.

I’m honored to walk with you into 2011, dear sisters. We’re getting closer to the 1st! Hold your head up or you might miss your new beginning!

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805 Responses to “Thinking About A New Year”

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Comments:

  1. 1
    Elaine Ross says:

    I plan to treat my body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit rather than a garbage can. Pray for me.

    • 1.1
      Michelle says:

      I will and I am joining you in this sister — need to create healthy patterns so that I can set a good example for my little ones, especially my daughter!

  2. 2
    Kim says:

    One thing I pondered as I was thinking of the New Year was how I always break the New Year commitments. So I thought to myself, there are two things that I am expecting for the New Year.
    1. To know the Lord more and walk with Him closer than I ever have. Which by doing scripture memorization, spendning more time in devotion to Him, stepping out in Faith areas, etc. All this will stregthen my walk with Him.
    2. To start taking better care of myself. Not to Lose this certain amount of weight, but to start treating and putting in my boday what is good for it. If I truly realize my body is the Temple of God then I should want nothing less than for it to be healthy and in shape.
    I pray Lord that you would help me, give me strength with my weakness in over eating and comforting myself with food. Please give me that desire to make your temple healthy and whole. I look forward to growing with you Father God! Prepare me, your servant to do your work, to do things that bring glory to you. One thing I pray Is that I will spread your fragrance whereever I go. That I will be more Christ Like for your glory alone.

  3. 3
    Stephanie says:

    I am believing God for giving me the ability to take captive my thoughts. I do not want anger to come so naturally. I want to please You, God with everything I am. Amen. I know that joining with all of you and memorizing scripture is going to have a huge impact on my thought life. Thank you God for these women and the journey You are sending me on.

    • 3.1
      Eileen Forrester says:

      Amen to that. I claim this for myself also. I want to be SLOW to anger and SLOW to speak. I’m looking for consistency, not perfection.

  4. 4
    Dana says:

    I’m axiously awaiting January 1st to get started:-) I’m praying for a more deeper relation with GOD in 2011 and hoping this will help me.

  5. 5
    baseballmama says:

    I’m praying for God to enable me with His supernatural power to forgive – to forgive past hurts that seem unforgivable, to forgive perceived hurts that may or may not have been intended to hurt me, to forgive those who continually hurt me so to take away the sting, and to accept God’s forgiveness for my sins.

  6. 6
    Melissa says:

    Lord, I pray that this next year you will give me the power to truly grasp how wide and long and high and deep your love is for me. I know it in my heart and mind, but I pray that you will help me to really BELIEVE it. I believe Lord, help me overcome my unbelief.

    • 6.1
      Sandee says:

      I will just echo Melissa’s prayer, and Dana’s too. to walk in a closer, more consistent, relationship with God and to grasp that He loves me.

  7. 7
    Sandie says:

    Thank you, Beth, for helping us focus and select one thing to ask God to do in our lives this year. My one thing is to speak and act respectfully to my husband. Father, please help me immediately recognize when I have spoken or acted with disrespect and to be quick to confess and ask forgiveness.

  8. 8
    Melissa P says:

    Lord, I pray for self-discipline in the areas of both my finances and my body. Lord I am not strong enough to do it without You and I need You. Please strenthen me.

  9. 9
    Candace says:

    Oh God, so many things come to mind when I think on what I need from You. I’m desperate for you…every day of every year. Please help me in the coming year to learn how to rejoice despite my feelings and my circumstances. It is so very hard for me not to dwell on my feelings and negative thoughts. But, I know with You and Your power, I can take every thought captive. Help me, Lord. I need Your help, Your strength and Your power. Amen.

  10. 10
    Becky says:

    I would really like to have more confidence. I feel like I have been torn down repeatedly this year and I don’t know how much more I can emotionally take. I pray that God will reaffirm me and give me the strength to continue my ministry with youth and young adults.

  11. 11
    Stacey in Midlothian,VA says:

    God,

    Change my heart to fully love others the way you intent. I know this kind of love only comes from the power of the Holy Spirit and cannot be achieved on my own. Transform me, metamorphose me. I don’t want to masquerade, I want to truly live out “Love God, love others”. Help me see others through Your eyes. Help me show love that can only come from You.

  12. 12
    bigsis says:

    I am praying for unconditional love for my husband – regardless of where his walk with God is or what he thinks of mine.

  13. 13
    Nancy Roach says:

    My prayer for the new year is Phil 3:10,11 (Amplified Version)…
    “For my determined purpose is that I may know Him that I may progressively become more deeply and more intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly”…..
    I know that by being in His Word and memorizing His Word, this can happen. I look forward to our Siesta Memorization plan!!!

  14. 14

    I want to hit the floor running into His arms first thing in the morning, INSTEAD of stumbling around for half the day, wondering why it’s not going right, and as a last resort turning to God. I’d like to turn to Him first in not only that, but the things I normally react to. That way I can respond after I’ve heard from Him.

  15. 15
    Shannon says:

    I desperately want to be the champion of my husband and my girls. They try so hard to live up to my expectations and I pray that my expectations will be shattered. Precious Jesus, we have come so far. You are wrangling in my out of control tongue, and I praise you for the victories you have had so far. Please let my family see how you love them so, through the mighty change you are doing in me.

  16. 16

    My Gracious Father clothed in resplendent light. Oh how you love us, how you love me. Let my deepest desire continually be You. You have adorned my life with blessing upon blessing despite its trials and pains. But if there’s one thing I must ask for it is YOU! You know all my needs, desires, callings, hopes, sins…I set them before you and ask that You would satisfy, fulfill, conform each one according to your will. More than anything I want to be sanctified. Twenty something years is long enough to know that this won’t happen in a day but in THE DAY OF THE LORD which I eagerly anticipate, long, pray, and hope for. Nonetheless, I would be so happy if you would make a brilliant work out of me this year and make me more like Jesus. To have you and be like you, this is what I most desire. And I love you and thank you for all your MANY graces toward me. My beautiful growing family can’t wait to see YOUR wonders in 2011 as you will. YOU are MY EXCEEDING JOY in Jesus name Amen.

  17. 17
    Pam Houston says:

    Heavenly Father, I am asking you to help me learn how to love my wounded man, and I think I’ve not done a good job at it because I’m so wounded myself…it’s been very hard to muster warm and cozy feelings of love when I’ve been the one who is safe for him to vent his life long rage at me. He is after all a Christian man, a leader in the church, and it’s my fault because if I was better, or was perfect, then he wouldn’t have to rage, right? Wrong!….I admit I’ve felt pretty darn sorry for myself sometimes because being in leadership, we can’t admit the truth, can we? Help me Jesus to crack this thing and get the help I need through CR, and learn the truth about co-dependency and my part in “insanity”. Teach me the discipline of love and the hard fought battle of “forgive, forgive, and forgive again”. I have to love him when he is most unloveable, because that is the example you have set before me. I fail at times because of my own wounding. I enjoy the times when we do connect, and the warm and fuzzy feelings, but I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll do something “wrong” again, and his rage will kick in. I’m beginning to see the truth about wounded people and the victim issues, and I’ll admit to it. I want to stop falling for the bitterness and the rage and taking the bullett for it. Help me see through the facade and “gun-smoke” and let me realize how gifted he is and how blessed I am and to be able to see into the passionate and gifted spiritual man You know him to be….this is a big order, and I realize there is no quick fix for me. I am a wounded soldier and a wounded healer as well…and so is my man. There is just no way to deal with our suffering except through love. No wonder you had us recite 1 Corinthians 13 in our marriage vows so long ago. I have to believe he loves me very much, and that love changes things. Help me look for a way to break through his wounding and see with Your eyes. Help me to pray and forgive and forgive and pray and keep my eyes focused on You LORD Jesus, the One and Only One who can and will bring the victory You promised so long ago. I know You are able to do what I cannot do, and I’m believing You! I’m asking You, LORD to give me the wisdom and the courage to be all You have made me to be for my husband, myself and for You LORD. And I am expecting a little bit of heaven in 2011! Amen and Amen in the precious and perfect name of Jesus…
    Pam H.
    Buena Park, CA

  18. 18
    LynnOnTheNet says:

    Amen! I’ve had similar feelings about focusing on on thing (I’m keeping it between God and me this time). Your comments on our becoming so easily offended have not gone unnoticed at recent Tuesday night sessions at HFBC. They turned on a lightbulb for me – sometimes having something pointed out helps tremendously.

    I did the Scripture memorization last time as well. I pray that no one hesitates because of fear of failure. I lean toward perfectionism in a big way and had felt I wasn’t living up to as much as I could do through that year. HOWEVER, I constantly realized that A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G I did to move forward in this regard was completely worth it. Even if I had learned only one verse, and still couldn’t recall it precisely, it was a blessing and added to my armor. It’s sooooo worth it just to look at a verse one at a time, no matter how imperfect and inconsistent you may be. It does something wonderful to you, in you. I can’t imagine any way it could be bad.

    -Lynnette in Houston

  19. 19
    AMY says:

    I am praying that God will show me how to live a “thankful life” in support of those who have paid/given “the ultimate sacrifice.” Saying “thank you” just doesn’t seem enough.
    Whether it is Christ or our troops and their families, I am completely humbled. I am a follower of Christ and from a military family. I’d like to offer God my willingness to serve in some way in 2011.

  20. 20
    Karene says:

    Dear Lord Jesus, First, thank you for the miracle You have done in my husband this past year, and for answering my years of prayers in Your timing. And Lord, for 2011, I pray that I will truly, finally, treat my body as Your temple. I’ve heard that phrase for years, but I haven’t really acted on it. May I consistently eat healthily, and exercise diligently, not just for my sake, but for Yours. Because You are housed within me. Help me not to forget that. I can’t do this without Your divine help.

  21. 21
    Sandy says:

    Dear Heavenly Father,
    I praise YOu for the Joy you give me daily. I am filed with joy to ben a new year of scripture memory and to strive to be a gentle, kind peacemaker.
    I pray that you will help me to
    Rejoice always.
    I pray that my gentleness will be evident to all and
    I will always be serving You.
    I pray that I will not be anxious abut anything,
    but in everything, by prayer and petition,
    with thanksgiving,
    I will always be presenting my requests to You.
    I thank you for that peace from You, that treanscends all understanding and guards my heart and mind in You.
    Dear Lord, you know that Beth Moore’s prayer really could be my prayer. She said it so well.
    I just pray that you will help me to be kind.

  22. 22
    Diana A says:

    O Father God,

    I ask that you would make Your Word stick to my heart and mind that I may speak out with the love Your Word declares, and the truth that is Your Word. I do not want to operate in my own strength, my own understanding, my quick temper, my ugly words. Let Your Spirit pierce my heart that I may know when I am operating in Diana mode and not Christ mode. May the grace that You have lavished on me, be evident to others as I attempt to lavish Your love on them as You enable me.

    May 2011 be the year that Glorifies my Father in all I do, that it be a year marked with my steps steady towards Your path. May I come out of 2011 closer to You Father, and further from my own self ideas/will.

    Thank You Father that I can entrust all this to You, and know You have prepared the change in me, before I recognized I needed change. I praise You, I worship You, I exault You!!!

    In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

  23. 23
    Lauren says:

    I know it sounds really silly, but I’m praying that the Lord will help me to manage my time and become more organized in my home. I too often neglect Him because of the chaos that seems to surround me. I need my time with Him so I’m praying that He’ll help me to clear the junk out so I can make Him my focus.

  24. 24
    Bobbie says:

    I have been thinking about this very subject for the last week! God’s timing is so perfect!

    Lord, I’ve been floundering in self pity WAY too long and I’m ready to become the woman You created me to be. I want to walk my journey with You by my side. Please give me the heart to love everyone as You love, to help those who need help, and to encourage those who need encouragement–with YOUR Words! Be with me as I memorize the scriptures You send my way and know when to use them to benefit others. I ask that You guide me as I work to renew my physical self. Although, I do want to ‘look’ better, I want to ‘live’ better so I have the energy to keep up with life itself! Thank you for all the blessings You have given me and all those yet to come. Give me the eyes to see them and the heart to capture them. In Your Son’s Name, Amen

  25. 25
    Tammy says:

    Dear Lord,
    My prayer for this upcoming year is to love. To love You first and foremost, to love my husband, to love my two little boys, to love my family, to love my friends, to love my church, and to love my job. Help me to always remember that You have given me these wonderful blessings in my life and help me to show my gratitude for them. Even when I am not shown love, help me show Your love in my life.

  26. 26
    Kimberly says:

    Oh Lord, You know the desire of my heart and how it wars against the lust of my flesh. As I step into a new year, Lord, I desire to crave You. Help me break this stonghold food has over my mind. Replace it Lord with You. I know this battle will be hard. There will be times I will cry as my flesh fights against me, but I know that you have promised that what You start, You’ll finish. I was made to crave You Lord. Help me to desire You above all else.

    In Jesus Name,
    Amen

  27. 27
    sandy says:

    I keep hearing this song in my heart:

    Lord prepare me to be a living sanctuary
    Pure and Holy, tried and true
    With thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for You

    My prayer is for the Lord to prepare my heart my life my all each and every day to
    trust, obey and love Him.

  28. 28
    paula says:

    Father God,

    2010 was a year full of You. You being so present in my life as to feel like a constant companion, friend, mentor, guide, and savior. That level of intimacy is nothing I expected, but something I have learned to crave. Thank for it.

    Recently, I’ve felt further away from You, as though I am entering the room just as You leave. I see Your empty cup, smell Your cologne, even hear Your words on the lips of others but I haven’t gotten to sit with You and enjoy You as I have through most of 2010. Please draw me near – reveal to me my role in this distance. Make 2011 another year of intimacy with You – because, quite frankly, nothing else will work for me anymore!

    Also, it seems a pile of significant life changes has landed in my lap. I know You are behind it! I know You have a plan and a purpose behind each choice facing my family. Make clear to us Your plan and then give us the courage, through Your Spirit, to carry it out. I trust You.

    I love You. Thank you for everything.

  29. 29
    Mirra says:

    ” Abba, hold me, as you show me what you would have me change this new year.”

  30. 30
    Esabelle says:

    Just a note of encouragement to those worried about not being able to memorize scripture. I am 60 years old and I did the 24 verses last time. Now, at this age, I forget all kinds of things, but I found that God wrote those verses on my heart and I still remember them. So, jump in there, Siestas, and trust Him for the rest. Your life will be rewarded for the effort!!!!

  31. 31
    Amy Beth says:

    I’m praying that I’ll stop using food as an idol and that, when I stop using it as an idol, I won’t replace it with something else (alcohol, media, etc.) other than seeking God.

  32. 32

    To use my writing gifts for His glory–whatever that means–paid or unpaid, recognized or anonymous. Thanks, Beth! May your New Year be full of “flair!” http://www.livewithflair.blogspot.com

  33. 33
    Nicole says:

    Father, my prayer for 2011 is to be completely open with my husband, in all matters – but especially in spiritual things. I pray that we will become closer to each other and closer to You through prayer, Bible study, and open communication about our walk with You. Amen.

  34. 34
  35. 35
    Sheilah says:

    I pray, Heavenly Father that you would continually remind me that the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in me! I can do exceedingly more than I’d expect or plan when I rely on YOU to accomplish Your will through me. Help me to remember that Your dwelling place is within me as a believer.

  36. 36
    Melanie says:

    I am praying that God will give me the power to change in the area of overeating..an unhealthy emotional dependnece on food. To really see God’s power in allowing him to meet me in this area of need. That I would learn to repsond with the power of his word in my heart.

  37. 37
    Casey says:

    Father God, I pray that You would teach me to see myself as You see me and to treat myself with the dignity afforded a child of the King. I offer You all praise and honor!

  38. 38
    Dianne says:

    Dear Lord,

    I pray for a more consistent walk with You, instead of the zig-zag pattern that I always seem to go in. I pray that I can take my thoughts captive, and finally learn what it means to live for You and You alone!

  39. 39
    Colleen Moody says:

    My prayers for 2011:

    1. To know HIM more and more each day.

    2. To find and keep and show joy for this life. I spend too much time in the negative, thinking about how wonderful life will be in heaven, and don’t enjoy THIS life.

    3. To love my husband unconditionally, and quit thinking that I’m Junior God, thinking I know best for him and his walk with Jesus. The Lord will take care of THAT. (Gosh, this is the hardest one of all! I’m struggling just to type it!) I need to quit comparing him to other godly men who pray with their wives and read their bibles and, well, you probably get it. Who would want to live with a wife like THAT, who doesn’t see her husband as good enough? Gaaaahhh! I need to pray about this one every day this year! Thanks, Beth!

  40. 40
    Michele says:

    Abba,
    You know which issue continues to tear at my heart, and you know all the reasons why. I couldn’t protect her just like I couldn’t protect myself long ago. I don’t know why you didn’t protect us or what to do with all the emotions.

    Mike thinks you want to teach me something about you or our relationship through this. Please give me an open heart, mind, and ears to listen to you. Teach me to trust you so we can be free from this paralyzing fear of getting hurt.

    Thank you, Lord

  41. 41
    heather says:

    I can resonate with your prayer 100%, Beth. I am in tears reading it. Being offended and allowing myself to respond differently. I just had a “run-in” with my mother Christmas Day and it just never ends with her. She always seems to say something to trigger my emotions. I experienced some freedom in this area in the Spring and it was such a close time with Jesus, but it was soon stolen from me by the enemy when I went home for a family gathering and I couldn’t recgonize it until I got home and was totally fuming I thought I was going to explode! Praying that I won’t be cheated of anything rich like you said…oh it so hit home, your words. Treasures in the darkness. Yes Lord, I know you are good and believe you have good things in store for me. Allow me to experience freedom from my family and my past hurts, in Christ name alone! Hallehujah!
    Praying that I can renew my mind with SSMT. Little leary on if I will make it but I am pumped to give it my all.

  42. 42
    tammy says:

    New to the blog and LOVE IT!

  43. 43
    Roxanne Worsham says:

    My Dear Heavenly Father,

    I have heard you softly and tenderly and I have heard you with confirmation loudly and clearly and I am so ready to be obedient. Thank you for preparing my pastor’s heart as I stepped down from leadership and resigned my staff position so that I can pour more time into my siblings and their families in this coming year. Thank you that Amanda said she would pray for my guts on Twitter because her courage to step away from her position to be with her sweet family gave me the courage I needed. God, it was so hard for me because I thought what I was doing was noble and worthy. But when I am ministering and loving and encouraging all those around me and my own flesh and blood is living in hell on this earth, I know it is time to take a step back and re-prioritize.

    Please help me and guide me as I reach out to those in my family who are in such bondage and strongholds. Help me to keep my mouth shut and not try to ‘fix them’ and to not judge them nor their lifestyles. I do not wish to condemn them in any way. I only desire to love them like you love them and let the Holy Spirit convict them as HE desires and in HIS timing. I can’t do any of this without you, LORD, so please grow me up real fast and give me wisdom beyond measure. Give me a gentle spirit and a sweet heart. Oh Father, next to you, there is nothing more that I want than for my family to get saved and to walk in victory.

    I thank you for this new season in my life. I thank you ahead of time for the sweet times that I will be having with them and for the transformed lives that are about to bear much fruit. I also thank you that we will rise above and grow closer to one another as we grow closer to you.

    It’s a new year and a new season, God. Take my hand and lead me. I love you so much, Father, and praise your Holy name!! Thank you for loving all of the Schneider Family so much so that you died in our place. Victory is on its way and I believe that 2011 will be our best year ever!!

    In Jesus name I pray,
    AMEN!!!!

  44. 44
    Sarah says:

    Dear Lord,

    This new year I want to honor you by how I take care of this body, your temple, that you’ve given me. Help me to make wise choices and turn to you for comfort instead of food. Help me to have wisdom about my activity level with the fibromyalgia and exercise. Most of all, when I look at the mirror or at pictures of myself, help me to see the girl God loves, and not how fat I am. Thank you for making me in your image, and for loving me no matter what I look like. Only in your strength can I take better care of your temple this year. In this area especially but in all matter ultimately, I’m desperately dependent on you, Lord.

    In Jesus’ name I pray,
    Amen!

  45. 45
    Nicki G. says:

    2011 will be year of “Winter” for me. In the past year I’ve almost killed myself with doing doing doing. Always planning something and going somewhere. When I say a year of “Winter” I simply mean: Saying no, Staying in, hibernating with family, focusing on intamacy. Taking time to be simple….and still before the Lord. Quiet hiking trips with my love and journeling everything instead of staying on the phone with friends. (I’ve already diabled my text messaging, wow I mean business!) 🙂
    I usually would freak out with the thoughts of staying home, not planning dinner parties or vacations..I’m mean what kind of mom would do that, right 😉 But I have peace with knowing this season in my life is for a reason. A time to rest because with all of this energy there must be something *big* I’m gearing up for.

  46. 46
    Thy Hand says:

    Lord of my heart, I pray for discipline and commitment to memorizing scripture this year. May it become a permanent fixture for the rest of my days.

  47. 47
    Nikki says:

    I am praying for a stronger marriage. A unified relationship full of love, understanding and simple kindness to one another. I want my little girl to look at her dad and I and want to experience the kind of love that we have. To be honest, we aren’t even close to that right now 🙁

    What a year this has been and I know there is a light at the end of this tunnel, but I just can’t see it God. Draw me closer to you and to my husband Lord. I know only through you…

  48. 48
    Tara says:

    Lord,

    I thank you for your nearness…the nearness I have learned about over and over this year through hard times. God, my prayer is similar to Ms. Beth’s. I pray that you will help me to refocus on you when my focus is on the past. Lord, I pray that when I remember all of these times, that I will remember you in the picture and will not dwell on the hurt I so often wallow in. You have always been with me….and speaking of remembering, Lord please help me to hold to my scripture memory commitment…you above all know how crazy my life is and how crazy I get! So to sum it up- help me not to wallow in my pity like a big old lonely pig in the mud and help me to make time and room in my brain for your word. Hallelujah for 2011!

    Amen

  49. 49

    Lord, Poppa, Abba — my awesome God! I need you so much. I sit here with tears as I write those words. Every year I come to you on my knees so very broken and so very desperate for your healing touch. And now there are three children looking at me to help them make sense of this world. You know, Lord, how much my man needs your healing and how I have finally learned that he is your project and not mine. Bless him, Lord, with a banner year and with a wife so changed by your Spirit that he can’t help but notice and hunger for the same release of the Spirit in his own life.
    Father, of all the areas in my life that so need your ‘fix’ in 2011, I bring before you my perfectionism – and the procrastination and self-loathing that comes from my constantly failing to be perfect. I love extending grace upon grace to my sisters-in-Christ but continue to punish myself and yes, even my husband and kids for the things I/they repeatedly get wrong. Our house is in a constant state of chaos that really has nothing to do with the presence of small children but more the presence of this particularly destructive stronghold. The pattern sickens me as I know you do NOT want this for my or their lives. Praise you, Lord that you love me through it all. Thank you for this SSMT and the opportunity this project gives for me to focus on you and to trust that by your power the Word will stick.
    I know I can be in the beautiful but hard position of the pivot generation — as in, this stronghold ENDS with me. Use me, Lord. Free me, Lord. For my own liberty and for the liberty of my children and theirs… and theirs…
    In the words of my beloved “Siesta Momma” : “I choose joy in resting this petition at Your feet, Lord, and I refuse self-condemnation or fruitless regret. You never would have brought this to the forefront and called for it in prayer if You didn’t have something good in mind. You began this work. Now come and take it to the next level. I’m excited about it, Lord, AND SEE A GLIMPSE OF LIBERTY ON THE HORIZON. Thank You, Father.”

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    tammy says:

    Will you please let us know when you have more spirals available for order? Can’t wait to get one. 🙂

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