There are days when I feel I have nothing left to give, Lord. To my family, my friends, or to You. And yet I am reminded of the story of a child who offered You his five small barley loaves and two small fish to help feed the great crowd who came to see You, Jesus. You could have fed them that day without any offering, and yet You chose to receive this boy’s meager gift and intertwine it with Your Divine miracle.

Jesus, amazingly, You have all the hairs counted on my head. You knew me inside my mother’s womb, because You made me. You know my every struggle, and You collect every tear in a bottle. You know my favorite gelato, my favorite kind of tree, and the music that makes me dance. Yes, You are the One who cares for me, watches over me, the Rescuer of my soul, and my dearest friend. Such extravagant love. How can I ever thank You enough?

Lord, I tend to hold onto lifeless trees. I mean they appear solid when I lean on them. I look up to make sure all that I trusted in is safe and right. Then I see it. I have been leaning on a dead tree that was going to snap with my weight and let me hurl into a ravine! Help me to trust only in You, God, and not all the dead trees that the world offers, including my own flawed understanding!

Dear Jesus, to love is to risk. I have risked my heart, and sometimes I have lost at love.
I thank You that You have never let me go. You took the ultimate risk on me, even though I have not always been faithful on my end. You gave up Your life for me, because You wanted me as family for all time. All because of love.

God, some people say life is random. And yet, I see exquisitely detailed designs and purpose everywhere I look. Our souls desire beauty and truth and creative expression. We seek order out of chaos. Meaning in life. Love given and love received. To understand and be understood. Refreshment. Redemption! You, God, are the Author of all of this, and it is good.

Jesus, I know You’ve said that in the end times there will be many false prophets. I am witnessing some of that right now. Please give me Divine discernment, because there are a lot of voices out there trying to get my attention. A few times I was almost led astray by people who seemed to be brilliant and wise but were deceiving me with New Age concepts.

Dear God, have I thanked You today for making me a woman? I love the perks—like hosting a child in my womb, journeying through life in my own miraculously feminine ways, and being inspired by the heroic women in the Bible.

Your Word says I should sing a new song to You, but I am not that musically inclined and even the old songs don’t sound so good when I sing them! However, I do have a desire for You to delight in all I do. You are a passionately creative God—and since I am made in Your image—I am full of expectancy that we will come up with a melodious wonder that will set my soul to worship and the angels to rejoicing!

Today an acquaintance of mine insulted me. And it all happened right in front of a crowd of my peeps. Worst of all, some of them laughed! It was bewildering and heartbreaking. I am a ball of hurt right now. When You were on earth, You were called a Man of Sorrows. So, You know how I feel. Jesus, please sit with me and hold me close. I am in need of understanding and a God-sized hug right now. And help me to forgive the woman who did this to me…

Jesus, I know about Your grace. But some days I need so much of it that I feel brazen to ask for more. And yet I know running away and hiding is what the enemy wants me to do. So, I come before You, as Your repentant child, your servant, your friend. Please help me. Save me from myself! I accept Your gift of grace—which is beautiful and merciful and abundant.

Dear Lord, I admit that people I know—including me—lead busy lives. But we also lead lonely lives. We disconnect our emotions in an effort to survive, and yet we need each other for fellowship. Where did real one-on-one talk go? You know, people really listening, not just with their ears but with their whole hearts. I am grateful that You are still listening, Lord, and I know now is always a good time for a visit.

Dear God, I’ve noticed everybody is looking for power—even looking inside themselves for it. But they are not a god. And last time I checked I am no god either! I can’t even keep my shoes tied! I want to be plugged into the real deal…the Maker of heaven and earth and the Maker of me. My soul thirsts for You, Jesus, and I ask for Your living water! Amen.