A Prayer for a Steadfast Spirit - Your Daily Prayer - August 6

A Prayer for a Steadfast Spirit
 By Christine Perry 

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalms 51:10 NKJV 

We are living during a time that has been defined as "The Great Resignation." Silent quitting is becoming the norm. Yet, this is not just happening in jobs. It has become the norm in our society as a whole. This trend has also trickled into other believers' lives and our very own. If you stop and look around, you will see signs of silent quitting in our relationships, church attendance, and our Bible reading and praying.

Please understand my heart as I write this. I am not writing this to criticize you. I am writing this because I have had to ask God, as David did in Psalm 51:10, to renew a steadfast spirit in me. I remember going through a season not too long ago where there were a lot of changes and uncertainty taking place where I worked. Several higher-ups had resigned. I had been frantically trying to find another job before that happened. I had several job interviews and leads, yet they all came to nothing. I remember praying and asking God why He kept closing doors. While I did not hear God audibly, I had thought that kept coming to me that God was trying to teach me to be steady.

It was tough because everything in me wanted to leave. I ask God for the strength to stay. God did a lot of work in my heart during that time and the hearts of others that I worked alongside. There had been a lot of misunderstanding and hurt that took place previously. So, when those two higher-ups resigned, it allowed for healing to take place that wouldn't have been there had it not forced the management and the administration team, which included me, to work together. Relationships were mended, and a new appreciation was formed. By the time I did leave, I had the full support of everyone. 

Lately, I have been thankful for the steadiness the Lord taught me in that previous season because I have had to ask for steadiness in another area of my life. I have gone back to this verse so many times. I always have to ask God to create a clean heart in me first because, as Jeremiah says in 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?"

It can be easy to look at the situation and complain about the changes you want to see instead of praying that God changes you to handle the situations He has allowed you to experience. As Elisabeth Elliot so veraciously said, "The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances." 

Let's pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your patience with us. Thank You that steadfast love never ceases and that your mercies never come to an end. Lord, we can grow weary so quickly. Our hearts are prone to wander and our minds forget Your promises. Lord, I ask that You would create in me a clean heart and that You would also renew a steadfast spirit within me. I pray that You would do the same for those reading this prayer today.

Father, I ask that You help us to be faithful, diligent, and steadfast in all the responsibilities and relationships You have given us. We know that everything is a gift from Your hand. I ask that You also help us have a heart of gratitude as You help us remain steady. I pray that our eyes will be fixed on You and not what we may be walking through. Lord, please hold us fast. Help strengthen our knees and our hands and help us be useful vessels for your honor and use.

Lord, please help us to depend on You for all we need. You say that You are our Shepherd, so we have all we need. Help us not to forget that. Thank you for loving us, and I pray that You would help us to love you and those you love better and more each day.
In Jesus’ name, Amen

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Domepitipat

Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website:  Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.

Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith

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