15 Prayers to Transform My Heart and Life

My daughter and I used to enjoy watching shows with the purpose to transform someone’s appearance—hair, makeup, and wardrobe.

Likewise, prayer has the power to transform us from the inside out.

So I gathered prayers I prayed and jotted down in my prayer journal or shared here on my blog.

And prayers I posted on social media to encourage other believers.

Transform My Heart

(1.)  Lord, empower me to live godly in an ungodly culture. And strengthen me to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 (ESV)

(2.)  God, I surrender all to You. Give me clean hands and a pure heart as I seek Your kingdom above all. I need Your strength to be a living sacrifice, not conforming to the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (See Psalm 24; Romans 12:1)

(3.)  Father, grow me as a student of the grace and knowledge of Jesus—a faithful student of Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(4.)  Heavenly Father, let my face glow with the beauty of Jesus, my heart beat with His passion, and my soul bloom with His glory and holiness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(5.)  Lord, give me the strength to set my mind on things above, hide your Word in my heart, daily put on the full armor of God, walk in the light, love you with all my heart, soul and mind, and praise your holy name above all names. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Life is Good vs. God is Good

Life is good. We hear it spoken. We see it on clothing, bags, hats, and as a framed quote. 

The phrase rolls off our tongues and scatters across our devices. 

It takes the spotlight when our online friend has a new pet, a new car or a new “something.”

Perhaps the words are in order when we land the ideal job, get a promotion, win a contest or an award, receive good news on medical tests, or anything that makes us feel on top of the world.

But what about when life’s not good? What then?

Life is Good vs. God is Good

Because if we put our hope in the ever-changing nature of real life, at the first hint of things going south, we won’t be on top of the world. No, we find ourselves in life’s pit of despair.

You see, I’ve never been a fan of the phrase. And here’s why; look at Merriam-Webster’s definition of good. “The pleasant things that happen to people.”

Oh, I want pleasant things to happen to me. I’m betting so do you.

Sure, some days the pleasant things come. And I’m on cloud nine. But on other days, life’s pleasant things stay far away. Maybe they go on vacation or visit my neighbor.

Or, the good things in life happen to all those friends on social media. You know, the friends sharing the wonderful news and picture to prove that it really happened. And the friends type the words in all caps and add an exclamation point, LIFE IS GOOD!

Yet as Christians, our hope lies in God, not in life. He’s a good, good Father with a never-changing nature. The Lord overflows with love, goodness, mercy, hope, peace, joy, compassion, patience, and kindness. The things that matter. And no matter what happens, God’s still good.

3 Ways to Remember God is Good

(1.) Change our perspective. Bad days don’t mean there won’t be good days. Life’s a mix of good days and bad days. The Bible never promises, “Life is good.” Not even after we become Christ-followers. But God has promised good to us.

Did You Know Kindness is Contagious?

I love how kindness is contagious and it’s one of the great ways we show others the love and light of Jesus in us.

There are many things to love about kindness.

First, how kindness is contagious. 

Think about a time someone acted kind toward you.

Did you want to be kind to that person or pay it forward? 

Also, contrary to what people may say or think, kindness never goes out of style. 

Even when society’s pendulum swings toward a me-focused culture, kind acts will always make a difference. 

And that’s why God’s people play an important role in dispensing kindness without discrimination or qualification. 

Our example in this is Jesus and His earthly ministry. 

Because from a spiritual standpoint, kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. Kindness grows in us as we sow and practice it. (Galatians 5:22-23)

So what is the current state of my fruit of kindness? Have I cultivated it in my daily life and in my family, community, and relationships? Maybe I haven’t planted enough seeds for it to grow. Or worse, it’s unused and decaying.

Kindness From God

You see, one of the epic reasons kindness makes a difference is how we never earn it. Consider God’s loving kindness toward us. 

It leads us to repentance. “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4 ESV

His lovingkindness saves us. “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:4-5 ESV

Win Spiritual Battles in the Name of Jesus

We claim victory over our battles and overcome our strongholds in the name of Jesus.

Because at the name of Jesus:

Evil must flee.

Demons tremble.

Hell loses souls.

And miracles happen in the name of Jesus.

(1.)  We overcome Satan, our enemy, in the name of Jesus.

In James 4, the Bible cautions us against worldliness that makes us God’s enemy.

Rather, in humility we are to:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”  James 4:7-8 (ESV)

When we stay near to God, the enemy has no choice but to hightail it out of our life.

But until we submit our entire being to God, we can’t resist the devil—not in our own strength.

So when we submit to God and draw near to Him, we send Satan running!

(2.)  We win over Spiritual forces of darkness.

The spirit world is a very real thing, both the spirits of light and darkness.

Say Goodbye to Yesterday With Jesus

At the end of every YouTube video, my husband and I say, Until next time, we’re Friday’s…Forever. Then we wave and say goodbye, and even put up Winston the pug’s front paw so he can bid everyone bye, too. 

Because our viewers really enjoy Winston waving his paw to the camera to say goodbye.

But some goodbyes make us sad. Like when a loved one or beloved pet passes away. Or a friend or family member moves across the country or to another country. 

Yet, when we say hello to Jesus, meet Him as Lord and Savior, we get to say goodbye to yesterday.

And yesterday’s goodbyes are good and indeed necessary for our spiritual journey. You see, looking forward and walking with Jesus each day grows our faith. Still further, it makes us more and more like Christ. 

Now let’s look at how we bid goodbye to yesterday.

Say Goodbye to Our Old Self

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) 

How Real Love Looks: 20 Amazing Quotes

Ah, love is in the air. Yes, it’s love month. And a time we celebrate love. But it’s important to learn how real love looks.

Because God never intended love to fall flat or feel thin. 

Maybe we desire to boost our love for a spouse. 

Perhaps, love seems rushed or less-than in some of our closest relationships. 

The One who calls us Beloved loves us in truth and wants us to do the same in our relationships.

Love supercharged. And love supersized.

Therefore, I complied this list of memorable and amazing love-quotes.

Words reminding our heart: how real love looks, what true love does, and why authentic love matters. 

Words to Remind us How Real Love Looks

God’s Not Finished With Me

God’s not finished with me.

First, God knit me together—I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:13-14) And He even knew me before I was born. (Psalm 139:16)

God drew me to Himself through the Holy Spirit at 16. 

The Lord called me to use my gifts for His glory and kingdom. Because the callings and gifts of God are irrevocable, they cannot be undone. (Romans 11:29)

While all these facts bring me peace, security, and direction, I’m grateful God’s not finished with me yet. 

God’s Word promises He’s still working on me, and you. 

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

So let’s look at an acrostic for F.I.N.I.S.H. to remind our hearts of this powerful truth.

F – Fights for me: not finished with me.

6 Ways We Stand in God’s Love

“I love you.” My father’s voice reassured as he tenderly kissed my forehead.

Hopeful imagination in a little girl’s heart—my heart.

As a young girl, my father was absent from my life for a few years.

And his absence caused me to wonder, Am I lovable? 

To further confuse my young heart, my dad came back into my life as a self-proclaimed atheist. 

Then I questioned, Is there a God? And, does God love me?

At 16, I heard the gospel.

Jesus Christ, sent by His Father, died on a cross for me and loved me completely. The love I craved. I became a daughter of the Most High God.

 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1a (ESV) 

Stay tuned until the end of this article for the rest of my father-daughter love story. So let’s talk about the love of our Heavenly Father and how we stand in God’s love.

Stand in God’s Love

(1.) God IS love. 

Love is not only something God does, but also who He is. In fact, God cannot not love. God loved us so much, He gave His only Son to give us eternal life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV) 

May we never get over how much God loved the world—you and me—and the great sacrifice He made to show His love.

Love is an action and a WHO—God. We stand in God’s love when we stand in Him.

(2.) God’s love gives all. 

His Name May Not Go Viral: But He’s Jesus

His name may not go viral. He may never receive the most likes or the popular vote.

But He is high and lifted up. Jesus.

His names…

His Name: Redeemer

Light of the world. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (ESV)

We recognized Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr day this week. One of his well-known quotes: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

Isn’t it amazing how that quote points to Jesus himself.

The Resurrection and the Life. “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” John 11:25 (ESV)

Redeemer. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” Job 19:25 (ESV)

Even in the midst of the enemy attacking Job in all areas of his life and his very life and breath, Job still recognizes the Lord as “my Redeemer” who lives. He’s a living God.

His Name: Cornerstone

Cornerstone. Jesus as the cornerstone is seen in Psalm 118, Isaiah 28, several of the gospels and Ephesians 2.

“For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:18-22 (ESV)

Are You Ready to Live and Move with God?

Are you ready to live and move with God?

Because when God’s people trust in God during good and hard seasons, it means we live and move with Him.

So whatever comes our way, I pray we remember:

In him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28b (ESV)

(1)  Live in God.

In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul visits Athens.

Teaching in the synagogue, he describes the city as full of idol worship. He “found an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god’” (Verse 23 ESV).

Next, Paul proclaims the known God in verses 24-25.

• God made the world, heavens, and everything in it.
• He does not dwell in temples made by man.
• The Lord is not served by human hands as needing what we have to offer Him.
• God gives life, breath, and everything.

Live means to reside in, have one’s home in, set up residence, be settled in; be housed in, lodge in; inhabit, occupy.

Reflections on Living: 

1. Are we letting those in the community where we live see our faith in a known God? And do other see how our life resides in the living God who gives us everything?
2. Do we show others how we inhabit a spiritual life in the promise of heaven? Do we live in such a way others see the known God in us and see us as His temple and God’s altar?

(2)  Move with God.