“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26

Day 3: Thankfulness

Day 4:
Remembering my gifts and practicing thankfulness yesterday, refreshed my heart. I hope it encouraged you, as well.

Besides being thankful, you and I must also deal with the grief experienced in 2016. 

Some years seem jam-packed with one hurt after another, crashing like waves on our hearts. But even “quiet” years contain some unresolved pain. Our goal today is to pray through that pain and hurt. We may not be able to fix any of it, but we can take it to the cross. We can lay it down at the feet of our Savior and let Him take the burden. That way we move into 2017 with a heart freed to give and receive love.

• "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4 ESV)
• When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:17-19 ESV)

Our God delivers us from our trouble. We see examples repeatedly in Scripture. But another observable fact is that God’s timeline on “delivery” may be different than ours. Abraham waited decades for his promised heir, the Israelites remained in slavery for centuries. But God DID deliver and fulfill His every word, in His time and every time.

• He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:3-4a, NIV)

God comforts us in our grief. As you think of difficult circumstances, loss, brokenness, rejection, or any other hurt, remember you have a Savior who knows and understands. The Isaiah verse above says He takes our pain and bears our suffering. But if we foolishly hang onto our grief instead of allowing Him to carry it for us, we multiply our burden, when He wants to bear it for us.

As you pray below, fill in specifically griefs that come to your mind. Saying them out loud, and actively giving them to Jesus, releases a supernatural balm to the wound.

Day 4 Prayer

• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ESV)

Lord, there were parts of last year that really hurt and I still feel the pain. I want to bring these hurts to you so that You can redeem them.

I experienced physical, emotional, or psychological pain.
There were friends or family who died or were sick.
There was job loss, demotion, moves, change, or failures.
There was dishonesty, rejection, misunderstanding, or disappointments.
There were hopes dashed, dreams that died, or promises that were broken.

Without You, Jesus, it is all just loss and ruin. But, I bring my pain to You because You can bring beauty from the ashes. You redeem the brokenhearted. You set the captive free.

Lord, please help me to recall different hurts I am hanging on to. As You bring them to my mind, I promise to give them over to You. I want to walk in Your healing and wholeness in 2017. I trust You to care for me and for my family.

I open my heart to You. Thank You for promising to help me, comfort me, and intercede for me. No one loves me like You!

• For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV)

Walk in the healing God wants to give you, beloved! Leave last year’s pain with Jesus; He can handle it all.

On Day 5 we will cover the other part of dealing with our grief- forgiving those who have hurt us. Sign up below if you would like to receive prayers in your email for the month of January.

Day 5- Forgiveness