Dear Heavenly Father,

As I come to you this evening, I want to remember in every prayer to thank you. I have lived another day! Even as the day had turbulence, there was productivity and love found in it. Thank you, for raising the sun on the same day that you poured rain on us. Thank you for your grace, that has allowed me to journey another week and begin a new venture doing something I love. You have given me an abundance of opportunities to use the gifts you’ve given me, but I haven’t always answered your call. I want to hear your voice when you speak, and know that it’s you. I want your relationship to be the only one I cannot live without. Thank you for second and third and fourth chances. Thank you for allowing me to love even those people who don’t love me back. Thank you for creativity, for laughter, for friendships… and thank you for you. I know that I am not perfect and recognize, also, that I never will be; but I thank you for loving me anyway.

As a new week begins, I want to pray not just for myself, but also my family, friends, and every breathing being in this world. I pray that you would give each of us courage to be true to ourselves. I also pray that you would reveal to us purpose, and passion, so that we might live to please you and bring honor to your name. Please give everyone peace so that they might rest well. Give us spirits of joy, that we may rejoice in you, even when things aren’t perfect. I pray for good health for all, and for resources to allow everyone to live safely as winter has come upon us. For those who are able, please also fill us with kind hearts, so that we may utilize a portion of what you’ve given us to help others in need.

Lastly, I want to pray my common prayer, for Love. Please give us all hearts overflowing with the love you have shown us. Allow us not to judge others negatively, but to share truth so that we might all live more abundantly. Please give us discernment so that we speak only as you would have us to. Give us courage to love our neighbors – those who don’t know us, those who don’t love us, those who despise us. Thank you for the opportunity to make requests known, and the promise to answer every prayer.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen. ❤