A couple of months ago, someone introduced this prayer to our church and invited people to commit to praying it for 30 days. Our little family happened to miss almost every weekend service at church that month, so we didn’t end up joining the covenant.Later, I asked for a copy.Here it is:
Jesus, be the Lord of my life today in new ways.Change me any way you want.Wash me clean from every sin.Fill me with your Holy Spirit.Make me a channel of Your love and grace.Make me an instrument of Your mercy and justice.Bring glory to Yourself in me and through me.If it pleases You, use me today to lead persons into this sacred pilgrimage of exalting You as Lord, for all You are by sharing this prayer covenant with others.I pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen
As I began praying it, I thought about how radical this is–it’s utterly yielding one’s self to the Lord to have His way with me. “Here I am, Lord; I’m all yours.” Here am I. Send me!Today I read the story of the rich young man (Mark 10:17-22). The man runs to Jesus and falls on his knees asking, “Good teacher…what must I do to inherit eternal life?” After Jesus reviews the commandments that the man is sure he’s kept since his youth, Jesus says, “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”The man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.Could this prayer be similar–with me starting out as hopeful as that young man, eagerly running up to Jesus and falling to my knees, saying, “Jesus, be the Lord of my life…change me, fill me, use me…” Then, when He actually shows me something specific, will I walk away sad because I’m afraid to let go of the life I’m living? Will I be too weak to really let Him be Lord of my life in new ways? Will I be too afraid to let Him change me any way He wants?I feel like the father in the story in Mark 9. Jesus said, regarding the healing of the man’s son, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”I want You to change me, Lord; help the part of me that’s afraid to change!And I’m comforted by what Jesus told his disciples after the rich young man went away. “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27).If it feels impossible to yield completely, remember that with God all things are possible.Jesus, be Lord of my life in new ways…and help me let You be Lord of my life in new ways.
Amen. I like the line “make me a channel of love and grace.”
I am going to print this out and hang it on my fridge.
I love this prayer, and yet I’m a bit afraid of it. It’s a scary thing to 0pen yourself to God this fully.
I printed three copies – one to keep in my Bible, one to put over the bathroom sink, and I gave the other to my hubby-the-high-school-minister for his next message in “big church” and to share with our students.
This was just what I needed. Thank you for posting this prayer…..
Bless you!
This is amazing. I was preparing for worship and the first song on my list was The Potter’s Hand 🙂 then I was taking a break and chanced on your blog!What a great way to open prayer for cell! I was just feeling a bit brain drained from a long day or many long days and was a lil worried because I am just 1 day away from being ready for leading worship this week… God does not call those who are readily equipped but equips those who have been called indeed 😀 Thank you for posting this prayer and the subject of yielding to the Lord!
psychic
Took me time to study all the comments, but I truly loved the article. It proved to become Very useful to me and I’m certain to all the commenters right here! It is usually nice when you can not just be informed, but also entertained!