Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

God of Strength,

I am not handling all that I am facing very well at the moment. I feel there is too much to be done and too little of me to do it. I am falling behind. I feel like an excessive burden is always on my shoulders. There is so much to be done that I’m not accomplishing much of anything.

First of all, I pray that you help me look at my life realistically and remove some unimportant tasks. Help me to simplify appropriately. Second, I pray that you would give me a spirit that is willing to accept challenges and work hard to meet them. If my work ethic is not where it should be, I ask for more determination and resolve.

If I am in trouble because I procrastinate help me to get busy now. I pray also that you will bring people into my life that will help me shoulder the load. Strengthen me in every area of my life so that the tasks before me don’t feel so heavy and simply aren’t as hard.

But most of all I pray that you would be my helper. I pray that in every task I would be aware of your presence. Help me understand that you will not allow more to come into my life than I can handle.

I pray this in the strong name of Jesus – Amen

 

To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything He has given us—and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.

— Thomas Merton

From God’s Help by Mark Gilroy Published by Howard Books (Simon and Schuster), 2012