A Prayer for My Cluttered Spirit and God’s Kindness

Scotty Smith writes a daily prayer and posts it. This one was particularly meaningful to me today. Be blessed:

A Prayer for My Cluttered Spirit and God’s Kindness

 God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:6-7

Dear heavenly Father, I’d be foolish not to start this particular day without immersing my heart in the truth and riches of the gospel. I already feel a busy, noisy, cluttered spirit revving up inside of me.   Whether it’s poor planning or just “one of those days”, I’m supposed to see more people and get more done than is doable.

The control-meister in me is at work, planning my day as though everything is up to me—as though I’m an orphan without a heavenly Father. In short, I really need the gospel today. It’s good to know your mercies are more than a match for my heart today, and every day.

So here’s what I choose to remember right now: You not only raised Jesus from the dead on Easter Sunday, but you raised up all your children in him, including me. I’m seated with him in the heavenly realms, no longer cemented to the earthly way of seeing people and doing things.

You’ve called me to live today as a man of resurrection, not resentment—as a worshiper, not a whiner;  As this Scripture says, all day long, in the coming ages, and throughout eternity, you are committed to showing me the incomparable riches of your grace and kindness toward me in Jesus. I do believe this, but not as much as you intend.

Father, thank you for being so tenaciously present and compassionate with me. It’s the riches of your kindness, tolerance, and patience that lead me to repent in this very moment. Right now, as your Spirit convicts my heart; right now, with palms up, I both worship you and release my tight-fisted grip on this day.

You will give me all the grace I need to do anything you ask of me today. You will give me all the kindness I need to be kind to the people you are bringing to me. You will give me all the mercy I need to be present in the moment and not anxious about the next thing on today’s schedule.

At the end of today, you will be the God who, yet again, worked in all things for my good and your glory. So very Amen I pray, with confidence and gratitude, in Jesus’ centering and freeing name.