A prayer for you

NTC/Kevin Bartram

I’ve been writing for the North Texas Catholic for a number of years and, in all of my writing, I’ve seen growth take place from a girl who knew Jesus from a very early age to a woman who knows to the depths of her soul that God is real, that He created her for good, that He wants a relationship with her, that He sent His son Jesus to die for her, and that she really can trust Him with the entirety of her heart.

The more I walk with the Lord in daily communication with Him, the more I am aware of my need for Him. I am more aware than ever right now that God is real and that I need Him for everything.

God cannot be just an idea, an emotion, Someone whom I only call upon when I need help.

When Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd in John 10, and when I read Psalm 23 and realize what a Good Shepherd does, I realize that this is who God wants to be in my life.

God wants to guard and protect me from harm. God wants to lead me by still and restful waters. God wants to be my source of strength. God wants to be my abundant life. God wants me to hear His voice. God wants to lead me.

This isn’t a casual, haphazard relationship. He wants to be everything to me. He wants to sustain me and lead towards the life He desires to give me.

And if this is true for me, then it’s true for you.

With the noise of the culture and the reality that we live in a fallen and broken world, it’s hard to remember these truths.

We’re pushed and pulled in so many directions, and the evil one is so cunning and a master liar. Nothing has changed from the Garden of Eden when the evil one planted the lie that the words of God cannot be trusted. That is the base lie we have to fight constantly in our lives today. I wrote this letter to people who are following the Lord and need to be reminded every once in a while who God is. I pray these words bless you wherever you are in your walk with the Lord. I pray the Lord opens your eyes and your heart to see how He’s moving, working, and has never left your side.

And I pray that the love of God is poured into your heart, and you see Him sustaining you.

Read this when you feel lost.
Read this when you feel overwhelmed.
Read this when you feel anxious.
Read this when you feel depressed.
Read this when you feel like your life is in plan B.

You’re doing better than you think you are.
God has never taken His eyes off you.
You don’t have to control every aspect of your life.
Your strength is not enough for you.
You are completely dependent on a God who wants to give you everything.
His strength is enough for you.
You don’t have to carry everything on your shoulders.

You don’t have to hold up anything because it’s God who holds you up.
You are loved beyond comprehension.
Your past mistakes do not define you.
They don’t cancel you.
They don’t disqualify you.
The enemy has lost the war.
And the worst thing he can make you do is give up.

So please don’t give up.
Please continue with the race set before you.
Ask for more of the Holy Spirit.
Stop relying on yourself.

God of everything looks at you with love and doesn’t wish
He saw someone or something else.
God’s not a liar.
And He doesn’t plan on abandoning you now.

The qualities in Psalm 145 are true and can be trusted.

Psalm 145

Praise. Of David.

I will extol you, my God and king;
I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you;
I will praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD and worthy of much praise,
whose grandeur is beyond understanding.
One generation praises your deeds to the next
and proclaims your mighty works.
They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory,
tell of your wonderful deeds.
They speak of the power of your awesome acts
and recount your great deeds.
They celebrate your abounding goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in mercy.
The LORD is good to all,
compassionate toward all your works.
All your works give you thanks, LORD
and your faithful bless you.
They speak of the glory of your reign
and tell of your mighty works,
Making known to the sons of men your mighty acts,
the majestic glory of your rule.
Your reign is a reign for all ages,
your dominion for all generations.
The LORD is trustworthy in all his words,
and loving in all his works.

The LORD supports all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you;
you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The LORD is just in all his ways,
merciful in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he destroys.
My mouth will speak the praises of the LORD;
all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.