Love

[Anonymous]

I'm ###, in debt, a career I try to love, and much gratitude for where I am in life. I'm very thankful, yet slip into doubt, self-pity, and fear every moment I'm not praying at times. I feel so isolated. Out of touch with reality. I think I've idolized a crush by mistake. I ask myself how I break this habit? As, I pray nearly all day in my head and reclaim Jesus as my savior often. In case if I've forgotten. I feel like I keep failing God. And, all I want is to fully surrender. I surrender again and again. Cry and cry. I'm exhausted.

 

[Articles]

We hear your heart in this and we join with you in bringing it before the Lord, for you are carrying a heavy burden and you are weary. We thank God with you for the gratitude you have for where you are in life, even while you are honest about the debt, the career you are trying to love, and the exhaustion that comes from slipping into doubt, self pity and fear the moment you are not praying.

We want to gently speak to several things you shared. First, the fear and self pity and feeling of isolation and being out of touch with reality are not from the Lord, and we rebuke the spirit of fear that is tormenting you, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control as it says in 2 Timothy 1:7. The Lord sees your exhaustion from crying and surrendering again and again, and He invites you to rest. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Your feeling that you keep failing God is not the truth of your standing in Christ if you have believed on Him. We are not saved by our ability to hold on to Him perfectly, but by His grace through faith.

You mentioned that you pray nearly all day in your head and reclaim Jesus as your Savior often in case you have forgotten. We commend your desire to pray without ceasing as taught in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, but we want to encourage you that salvation is not something you must reclaim over and over to keep it. When you truly believed on Jesus Christ, you were sealed. Ephesians 1:13-14 says you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance. And 1 John 5:13 says these things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. God wants you to have assurance, not anxiety that you have forgotten or lost Him. Romans 8:15 reminds us we did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but we received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, Abba Father. And Romans 8:38-39 assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Surrender is a daily walk, not a repeated re-saving. Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service. That is a daily taking up of our cross and trusting Him, not a sign that you have failed.

We also want to address what you shared about idolizing a crush by mistake. We appreciate your honesty, for the heart can quickly make an idol out of affection, longing, or the hope of being seen and loved by another person. Colossians 3:5 warns us to put to death covetousness which is idolatry, and any crush that occupies the place only Christ should have will leave you more isolated and anxious. If this is a person you have feelings for, we encourage you to bring that desire into the light before God and ask whether this is a godly courtship aimed toward marriage to a fellow believer, or a fantasy that pulls you away from reality and from Christ. A godly relationship looks toward marriage between a man and a woman as God designed, with purity and self control, and fornication outside of marriage is not His will. If this crush is leading you into obsessive thoughts, comparison, or impurity, we encourage you to repent and ask God to reorder your affections so that Christ is first, and to trust Him to provide a godly spouse in His timing if it is His will for you, rather than clinging to an idol in your mind.

For the isolation, doubt and fear you feel when you are not praying, we encourage you to cast your cares fully on Him, for He cares for you as 1 Peter 5:7 says. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us in nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. That peace does not come from praying every second out of fear of failing, but from trusting that He is holding you even in the quiet moments. Psalm 61:2 says when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. And Isaiah 41:10 says do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

We also encourage you not to walk alone. Isolation grows in the absence of fellowship. Hebrews 10:25 urges us not to forsake our own assembling together. We encourage you to stay rooted in a Bible believing church, to share your struggles with a trusted pastor or mature believer, to get rest and care for your body as well as your soul, and to be honest about the financial debt so you can seek wise counsel and stewardship. Philippians 4:19 reminds us my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. He is faithful even in practical needs.

We pray together for you now.

Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, for it is only through Him we have access to Your throne of grace. We lift up our dear one to You who is weary, exhausted from crying, from debt, from trying to love their work, from feeling isolated and out of touch and afraid. Lord, we thank You for the gratitude You have already placed in their heart, and we ask You to deepen that with Your peace that surpasses understanding. Forgive us for the times we have given in to doubt, self pity and fear, and forgive us for making an idol of a crush or any other desire above You. Cleanse our hearts and set Jesus alone on the throne of our lives. Give assurance of salvation, that we may know we are Yours, sealed and held, not because we remember perfectly but because You remember us and will never leave us. Teach us to surrender daily in trust, not in frantic repetition, and to rest in Your gentle yoke. Break the habit of idolatrous thoughts and replace it with thoughts that are true, honorable, just, pure and lovely. Surround this one with godly community, with wise counsel for finances and work, with sleep and restoration, and with Your presence that drives out isolation. Uphold them with Your righteous right hand, and let them feel Your nearness, for You are near to those who have a broken heart as Psalm 34:18 says. We trust You to lead, to provide, and to make Your will known. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear how weary you are, and how much you want to get surrender right. Carrying debt and pressure in your career while trying to stay grateful is a heavy load, and feeling isolated and out of touch only makes it heavier. It makes sense you are exhausted from crying and from praying in your head all day trying to make sure you haven't forgotten Jesus.

Wanting to surrender again and again does not mean you have failed Him. Sometimes when fear and doubt get loud, prayer can shift from resting with God to constantly checking ourselves to feel safe again. That checking can leave us more tired and more afraid, not more at peace. Fear in those moments is not proof you are failing, it is a signal you are overwhelmed and need support and rest.

It can help to not carry this alone. Would you consider sharing honestly with one trusted person this week, a pastor, counselor, or mature friend, about the constant praying, the fear when you are not praying, and the loneliness you feel? Bringing this into the light with someone who knows you can ease isolation and help you find a steadier rhythm, like having set times to pray morning and evening and then brief, honest prayers when worry rises, rather than staying in a loop all day.

If the exhaustion, feeling out of touch, and anxiety continue, please also reach out to a counselor or medical professional alongside prayer, so someone can walk with you in person.

Father, we lift our friend to You in Jesus' name. You see his gratitude and his weariness, his debt and work, and his deep desire to belong to You. Give him rest, quiet his fear, and surround him with caring people who remind him he is not alone. Lead him gently into Your peace and keep him close to You. Amen.

 

[flora]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Geasuormir]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your tears and your repeated cries to surrender have not gone unheard before the Lord, and the exhaustion you feel is itself a sign that you are laboring in your own strength to hold what Christ alone can keep.

You speak of gratitude and yet of slipping into doubt, self pity and fear the moment prayer ceases, of feeling isolated and out of touch, and of having made an idol of a crush. You pray nearly all day and reclaim Jesus as Savior often, lest you have forgotten, and you fear you keep failing God while longing to fully surrender. Hear then what the Scripture teaches for such a heart.

True surrender is not a work done again and again until you feel it is enough. It is an unconditional surrender, a complete capitulation. Fling wide the gates of the city of Mansoul and admit Prince Emanuel to rule as sole sovereign in every street. You must surrender yourself at discretion to His method of operating upon you, not prescribing to Him how He shall comfort you or how quickly He shall deliver you from debt or settle your career or remove the affection that has taken too great a place. As a true child can you make a complete surrender to your Father's good pleasure. It will go well with you when you do, for submission to God is the true surrender of every proud pretension.

And to that surrender the Lord joins His command, Fear not. Fear not is a plant which grows very plentifully in God's garden. It is not merely the preacher who cries Fear not, but Jesus Himself who whispers to His poor servant fallen as dead at His feet, Fear not. This precept is absolute and unqualified. We are not to fear at all. Fear is weakening, it dishonors God, and it becomes disobedience when He has said I will help thee. You are as a worm Jacob in your own eyes, burdened by debt and by a career you try to love, but the Lord says Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee. There must be trust in promised strength, and then fear removed by that promise. Labor to get rid of fear, not by striving to pray harder, but by trusting the Helper who has promised to sustain you.

You ask how to break the habit of idolizing that crush. An idol is anything we set upon the throne that belongs to Christ alone. The way is not to gaze more upon the idol to see if it is gone, but to gaze more upon Christ until the heart finds its proper pole. The believing heart is like the needle in the compass, you may turn it round, but when the pressure is withdrawn it trembles backward toward its pole. With God the regenerate heart is in its proper position. Turn from that affection as from any claim upon your heart that rivals Christ, confess it plainly as idolatry, and ask the Lord to take that seat Himself. Do not ask Him to bless what would draw you from Him, ask Him to cleanse and to rule.

You also fear you have forgotten Christ and so you reclaim Him many times a day. Know this, faith is necessary to the being of a Christian, assurance is necessary to his well being. You are saved even if your faith should not yet develop into full assurance. True assurance is a humble thing, a comforting thing, a sanctifying thing. It comes not by repeating a formula until you feel secure, but by hearing Him say to your soul, I am thy salvation. Be thankful for what He has already done, for thankfulness keeps assurance. The Lord has been your help in remarkable ways which put His graciousness beyond a doubt, and so your expectation may be large and unquestioning. You need not reestablish your salvation each hour. Christ established it once upon the cross, and He keeps you. Rest in the shadow of His wings and there you will rejoice, not because you have prayed without ceasing in your own strength, but because He intercedes without ceasing for you.

Where forgiveness is enjoyed, there the fear of God is put into the heart, not a servile dread, but a holy awe that keeps you from departing from Him. That holy fear is the beginning of wisdom and it casts out tormenting fear. As divine grace grows, fear declines.

Therefore, come to Him now not with another exhausted bargain, but with an empty hand. Confess your self pity, your fear, your idolatry, your weariness, and receive His forgiveness through the precious blood of Christ. Ask Him to help you to fear not, to trust His promised strength for debt and daily work, to keep you in fellowship with His people so that isolation is broken, and to teach you to pray not as a labor to maintain salvation but as a child speaking to a Father who already holds you.

May the Lord say unto your soul, I am thy salvation, and may you find in the shadow of His wings a contented assurance that quiets doubt and lifts self pity, until fear is gone and Christ alone reigns.

 

[usha rani]

Praying in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Chrysostom]

Your honesty and weariness come through so clearly, and God hears the cry behind every word you have shared. You are grateful and at the same time you feel doubt, fear, self pity and isolation. You pray constantly, you keep turning again to Jesus as Savior, you surrender again and again and you still feel exhausted and as if you are failing Him. That exhaustion itself is something God sees with compassion, not with disappointment.

Scripture does not call you to find assurance in the intensity of your feelings or in the number of times you pray a surrender prayer. Assurance comes from Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Faith is meant to bring you into a full assurance of understanding, not a full assurance built on arguments or on whether you felt enough in the moment. Jesus has already secured your salvation through His death and resurrection. You do not need to reclaim Him as Savior every moment as if He has left you. He has promised and He does not lie, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So you can boldly say, the Lord is my helper. Your standing with God rests on His promise and His finished work, not on the steadiness of your emotions.

That is why the fear and doubt you describe do not mean you have failed beyond hope. Even faithful followers knew trembling and questioning, and God met them not with rejection but with nearness and proof of His love. When fear rises, it is not a sign that God has abandoned you. It is an invitation to turn again to what is already true, that Christ holds you, that you are knit together in His love, and that He gives wisdom and knowledge as you ask Him.

Praying through the day is a good and biblical habit, but if prayer has become a way to try to earn or keep your salvation by repetition, it will leave you tired. God wants your continual prayer to be communion with a Father who is already with you, not a labor to keep yourself saved. True surrender is not crying harder or saying the words more perfectly. It is a daily, quiet trust that says, Lord, I am Yours, I give this day, my debts, my work, my thoughts about this crush, my future, into Your hands, and I will rest in Your care and obey what You show me today.

You mentioned idolizing a crush by mistake. That is an honest recognition. When our thoughts center on another person more than on Christ, that person can take a place in our heart that belongs to God alone. Breaking that habit is not only about trying harder not to think about them. It is about turning your attention more fully to Christ, guarding what you dwell on, bringing every thought to Him in prayer, and asking Him to purify your desires. It helps to set clear boundaries in how you think and interact, to fill your mind with Scripture, to stay engaged in real community where others can know you and encourage you, and to pursue purity as God designed it, with sex and romantic intimacy reserved for the lifelong covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. Ask God to help you see this person as He does, to want His will more than your own wish, and to find your fullness in Christ first.

For the debt, the career you are trying to love, and the isolation you feel, bring those specific burdens to God as well. He cares about your daily needs and He calls you to faithful stewardship one step at a time. Seek wise counsel for finances, be faithful in the work He has given you today, and do not walk alone. Isolation makes doubt louder. God has placed believers together to bear burdens, so seek fellowship in a local church where you can be known, pray with others, and hear the Word regularly.

You are not failing God because you feel weak. God is not measuring the perfection of your surrender but inviting you to rest in the perfect surrender Christ already made for you. When you feel the wave of fear or self pity, pause and speak truth to yourself, God is with me, He will not forsake me, Christ is my wisdom and my assurance, I am held by Him. Then do the next faithful thing in front of you.

May the Lord give you rest for your soul, quiet your fear with His presence, deepen your assurance in Christ, and lead you step by step into freedom from anxious thoughts and into a love for Him that orders every other love in its right place.