My prayer for you
There are so many things I wish I could tell you face-to-face, dear reader, but I find that praying for you is better because I trust God to put this prayer into the hands and hearts of those who need it and will receive it. For these readers, I want you to know you are being prayed for every day. Genuinely prayed for.
I pray that you recognize the gifts and talents given to you by God. Do not hide from the world because you fear rejection, the work involved, or the lack of a guaranteed outcome. Remain with your dreams, cultivate your gifts, and practice your talents. Stay the course, for it is yours alone to travel. Be adventuresome on your journey. It is okay to be nervous. It is okay to be scared. Keep going. Keep practicing. Keep preparing. Don’t fall victim to comparison. One day, you will be amazed at how far you have come if you stay true to your core beliefs.
I pray you make a habit of leaning into the best of who you are and whom you want to be, knowing that your thoughts cultivate your reality. Center yourself in Christ and position your thinking upon the foundation of His Word.
I pray that you recognize the value of your life and that a lifespan is but a blink. Don’t rush. Slow down and look inward as much as outward — develop balance. Focus on that which has eternal value. Risk being vulnerable. Do life with all your senses. Experience your days more than simply getting through them. Say yes to experiencing life with intention, kindness, and joy.
I pray you turn your worries into prayers. When you catch yourself worrying, start praying. This simple exercise will transform your life if you allow it to become a habit.
I pray for God’s active protection over, under, around, and through you. Lean into the power of His presence, the warmth of His light, and the peace of His guidance. When your body tires and your mind is heavy-laden, I pray that you surrender your weaknesses, naming them — specifically naming them — and offering them to God. If the only energy you have left is to cry out, “Help me,” then cry it out, knowing God hears you and will hold you in His grasp. He will not abandon you. Ever.
I pray others see Christ in you. Not because of the many verses you have memorized or the number of church functions you have attended, but because your life is a living testimony to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. God does not need your Christian resume; He needs you — who you are wherever you go: gas station, work, grocery store, ball game, home, etc. You are His child. And when you fall short, as all children do, repent and return to the grace and mercy only Christ Jesus can provide. And remember this grace and mercy when engaging in relationships with others. All of us need it.
I pray that you keep your heart free from the sludge of hate and become fluent in love. May God guide your attention to fall gently upon those who need hope, and may they see your realness as something that draws them toward knowing Christ Jesus more than anything else in this world.
You get one shot at this life, so I pray that you practice your aim daily, ensuring the scope of your heart, mind, body, and soul are sighted effectively on what is truly important. We often give too much attention to little matters rather than what matters most.
I pray you carry lessons learned rather than regrets. I pray you live focused on today, not borrowing trouble from tomorrow or wallowing in what is done. Forgive — yourself and others. Know when to let go and when to hold on, but either way, forgive. Release the guilt — allow it to sift through Christ’s nail-scared hands. In doing so, you will free yourself to breathe new life into corners of your soul that have been darkened for much too long.
I pray you take a chance on yourself and others. Yes, you will be disappointed sometimes, even in yourself, but you are worth the effort, and so are most people. For those who do not have your best interest at heart, may they teach you something about healthy boundaries. Pray for them as well. I have yet to meet anyone who could not benefit from the power of prayer.
I pray you do your best to keep the peace, especially your peace of mind.
I pray you start something and see it through, whether it be a project, a hard conversation, or a workout; begin and keep going… make yourself so curious as to the possible outcome that any excuse to discontinue is vanquished.
I pray the critic in you is silenced by the warrior in you. That you learn to love yourself where you are while you continue to become whom you want to be. Wherever you go, take Jesus and your manners with you.
I pray that you connect with someone who loves you not for the weight of your pocketbook or position but because they smile when you smile, hurt when you hurt, see you, have you, and pray for and with you. They recognize your frailties and your strengths — and neither scares them. You do not need a lot of friends or lovers to experience love. I pray you find in your lifetime a love that changes you irrevocably for the better and that you are this person for someone else as well. Be a love offering.
I pray you have the courage to use your voice to speak kindly to your reflection in the changing waters of life. And if, upon your journey, you see something that causes your heart to stir, may you not thrash upon the waters’ crests but learn to float, resting upon the strength born of surrender and faith.
I pray you do not keep Jesus in the clouds. From soul to skin, Jesus is with you — He is never out of touch or reach. The Holy Spirit dwells within you. His power is available to you and for you — dive into His unending reservoir of strength.
Don’t be afraid to share yourself with the world, even if the world is simply the person in front of you. You are needed. You are valued. You are loved. You are seen. And you are fiercely and wonderfully made. Never forget this. Please, never forget this.
Ultimately, I pray you daily accept Jesus Christ as your savior, knowing He died for you so you could eternally live for Him. And in your living, I pray you show others through your example what it means to be an imperfect person who is saved by a perfect God.
In Christ Jesus’ name, amen.
Tiffany Kaye Chartier
SGLY, dear reader.
(Smile, God Loves You.)
Tiffany Kaye Chartier, Author 