Pause: A Month of Prayer in Five Minutes a Dayনমুনা

Proclaim

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil. 4:6)

Prompt

You know when you move, how you pack up everything so you can carry it somehow? If you’re like me, it’s not long before you start thinking about all that space, how much space it takes up, and whether you’ll have room for it all in your car/truck/van/Uhaul.

In the same way, people can take up space in our hearts and minds. We can carry them around like baggage, always finding room for them, no matter what. Sometimes, these people are good—like someone who gave us an encouraging word or a longtime friend or family member who encourages us to be our best selves.

But too often, we carry the negative people with us, too. Like the seventh-grade teacher who wounded us with a callous remark or the parent who told us we’d never measure up. Instead of carrying those people in your heart and mind - pray over them and give them to Jesus. Let Him carry them for you.

Prod

To be clear, while prayer is integral to letting go of people taking up space in your heart and mind, it is part of a larger, longer process. Make a list of those people and start to pray for them today. (Bonus: pray for God to bless them.)

Praise

Listen to “His Name Is Jesus” by Jeremy Riddle

Pray

Jesus, I invite you to take up so much room in my heart and mind that there’s only you in there. Your name is Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, and the Prince of PEACE! Your blood has saved my life! Thank you for meeting with me today and guiding me as I move through the day. Amen.