Friday, October 30, 2015

Seven One-Sentence Prayers That Will Change You

This morning I am talking about prayer. Sometimes, the best prayers aren’t the longest or the most eloquent, but the most succinct and simple. Consider praying these prayers regularly.


Thank you for…

Gratitude is the best place to start. God has blessed you. It’s easy to dwell on problems or challenges. Spend some time dwelling on God’s goodness and your blessings. It will change your day. It will change you night too.

I’m sorry for…

Be authentic. Confession isn’t meant to beat us up or force us to relive past hurts. Confession lets us keep discovering who we are and who we can become. It also helps us discover Whose we are. It opens doors to God’s grace. 

Let me more fully receive Your grace.

God says His grace is greater than our sin. And it is. We can choose to live that way or not live that way. This prayer helps us live that way.

Give me faith.

The most important things in life can’t be proven. The love of a friend, possibility for tomorrow, the existence of God, etc… That is where faith comes in. Believing where we can’t see. Paul says it’s a gift. This prayer helps us keep receiving this gift.

Help me to prioritize.

Life is best lived when we focus on what is most significant and important. This prayer will keep reminding us to focus on what is most significant and important.

Let me give to others generously, with compassion, without judging, and with no strings attached.

This is how Jesus operated and he tells us to do the same. This prayer moves us in this direction.

Lord, what do you want to do through me.

This is the most dangerous and also the safest prayer you can ever pray. The most dangerous because it will move us to places we haven’t been before. The safest because it puts us in the middle of God’s will.


Kierkegaard writes the function of prayer isn’t to change God, but to change the one who prays. These prayers will change the one who prays.

1 comment:

Nancy Lorimer said...

Great reminder for all believers. Thank you for sharing this and for your investment in the next generations.