Dear Jesus {31 Days of Letters}

Mary DeMuth wrote Everything, a book about letting God be your everything.  In her words:

I’m a mess like you (though you’re probably much less messy!). I truly want Jesus to be my everything, but some days I try to be my own everything. I forget God’s strength shines best when I feel small and weak. And I bootstrap myself more than I’d like to admit. {Mary DeMuth}

Sounds like me!  I don’t own this book yet, but Everything is on my to-buy-ASAP list.  I’m looking forward to reading it, and I’m also kind of nervous.  I fail at making God my everything and know Mary’s book will stretch and challenge my daily walk with God.

In honor of Everything being released this past Tuesday, my letter today is based on The Worrywart Prayer.  Worry is a self-inflicted road block to letting God be everything in your life.  It distracts us, demeans God, and deadens our joy.

Here’s my take on The Worrywart Prayer, which Mary wrote to help us all let go of worry.  I encourage you to fill in the blanks for yourself.  Prayerfully consider what worries are disabling God from being everything in your life.  Pray for God’s freedom from those worries.

Dear Jesus,

You are far greater than anyone or anything I can fathom.  You have been faithful to me – faithful in my doubts, in my worry, in my unbelief – for all my twenty-five years.

You are more than able to handle my burdens.  You are more than capable of caring for my loved ones.  You are more than willing to turn my worries into a thing of the past.

Jesus, I give You my future.  I give You my emotions, my health, my marriage, my family, my writing.

I don’t know what You will do with these things, but I know that You are more loving and more wise than I could be, even about the things that I hold so dear.

I hold on to my life with such a tight grip that I strangle Your plans and purposes.  I am sorry for my obsession with control.

Please give me the strength to let go, to open my hands, and relax my grip.  I want Your will and Your presence.

Jesus, take it all!  Help me to trust You today and forever.  I give up my desires, my plotting and planning.  I humbly ask for Your guidance, for Your will to be done in my life.

I choose not to worry about my future and all that it holds or doesn’t hold.  When I slip and stumble along the way, let Your grace overcome my worry.

Amen.

Emily

You can find all my letters here.

For more information about the 31 Day Challenge, visit The Nester.