Last week I shared an Introduction post that I would occasionally create posts walking through this prayer. Or more like walking through my journey with this prayer and how it has changed a great deal in my life … the life of our family.
Heavenly Father, (Lord of my tomorrow), I release to You the burdens that I have been carrying, burdens that You never intended for me to carry. I cast all my cares upon You – all my worries, all my fears, (all my expectations). You have told me to not be anxious about anything, but rather to bring everything to You in prayer with thankfulness. Father, calm my restless spirit, quiet my anxious heart, still my troubling thoughts with the assurance that You are in control. I let go of my grip upon the things I have been hanging onto, with opened hands I come to You. I release to Your will all that I am trying to manipulate; I release to Your authority all that I am trying to control; I release to Your timing all that I have been striving to make happen. I thank You for Your promise to sustain my, preserve me, and guard all that I have entrusted to Your keeping. Protect my heart and mind with Your peace, the peace that passes all understanding. Father, may Your will be done in my life, in Your time, and in Your way. Amen!
This part 1 post will be about why I chose to add the “Lord of my tomorrow” portion to this prayer.
Now it may not be accurate or proper to say Lord of tomorrow … when He is the Lord of past, present, and future, right? Well, for me I do my journal entry’s and praying at night. Saying thanks for our day, praying over our prayer list, and asking for guidance for the next day. In those moments, I would sometimes find myself getting anxious of all that I had happening the next day or the entire week. Other times I would be beating myself up for poor meal planning, bad exercise habits, that another day went by and I did not do __________, etc. Suddenly, in one of those moments that I was feeling desperate and out of the blue (wink wink…right…a Holy Spirit reminder) I remembered how I should be giving my schedule, my thoughts, my insecurities, … my entire day the next day to Him. The words that came out were “Lord of my tomorrow” to just give Him the steering wheel. As I continued to pray this those words I started to realize how often I think about time beyond the moment, beyond the next day, and into the week. I was taking my eyes off the moment and the time right in front of my face, because I was focused on my to do list or events coming up. From that moment I go rid of my to do list and trusted Him to lead me each day to what had to be accomplished that day. Oh, trust me at first letting go and giving Him control of ‘my tomorrow’ was scary. I mean “how would I remember to do all the necessary things Lord without a list.” “Oh, wait, Lord, how about I just pray about my list and you lead me through what I need to put on that list.” After a little while I can not explain how wonderful things were not having a list and coming to realize I was able to maintain a household without a to do list.
NOW IN FULL DISCLOSURE… God has perfect timing having me write this blog tonight. Why? I have a to do list on my counter right now. I realize that starting back the first of May our schedule of events just spun out of my control. So, guess what I apparently did was take control by adding a to do list back to my day. JUST TODAY I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated … like I was battling someone or something. I sat down and said “Lord, you know that I know when I feel like I am battling it is because I am … my flesh is battling my calling. So, please show me what my flesh needs to ditch. What else do I need to cut out of my life that is holding me back.” Guess how He chose to answer that prayer …. getting me in front of the computer to “blog it out”. So, the ditching begins. There are too many things that are so important to me, but I have allowed other things to take priority over them. That might be another blog in the future.
Hoping my look at this prayer AND rambling about my own life shines a light into yours. As always I am praying for you would you please pray for me? Good Night!