Most moms I know are T-I-R-E-D. In fact, most women I know are tired, whether they have children in their home or not. There are so many responsibilities laid on us, along with pressures from every angle to look a certain way, behave a certain way, etc.…it’s no wonder we’re exhausted all the time.
In my young-mommy years, I learned to pray the Tired Mom prayer. At first, I just whined out my problems and cried to the Lord. But, after doing that for a while, I pushed through to another place in prayer where I would ask God to fill me, renew me, and strengthen me in my moments of agony. And then, I began to pray a little deeper and see a little more until my Tired Mom prayer sessions actually became reviving to my heart! Prayer is not just a list of your complaints that you whine out to the Lord. He hears all those things, sure. And he is compassionate toward you! He never leaves you. But, there is so much more to prayer than our one side of the conversation. He will talk back if you will listen. And he will fill your heart with things to ask and declare.
If you’re tired today, pray along with me:
Lord, I’m tired. Soul-achingly, bone-crushingly tired.
I don’t have the energy to wash one more dish or article of clothing. I am unable to care at all about the cleanliness of my kitchen floor or my bathtub. Do you see me? Help me, Lord!
My children are small and they need me. My husband is grown, but he needs me, too. I need me, Lord. Can you help me find….ME?
I feel like the demands of my days have sucked the breath out of my lungs, and for sure, the spring out of my step. Is there a way out of this vicious cycle of living? Because, if there is, I need to find it. I need you to show it to me.
Along with this new school year, I really need a fresh start in living. I need a jumpstart on my worn-down heart. I dream of vacations in remote, tropical places and hidden mountain retreats…with enough time to pay back my sleep debt and clear my fuzzy brain.
Whisk me away, Lord.
Let your spring of Life bubble up in me and overflow. Let my heart be renewed as you wash over me with your presence. Bring me back to life––body, soul and spirit. Speak deeply into my core and create a new strength in me. Awaken the powerful daughter that you say I am, and let me see what you see in me. Give me a fresh faith to take you at your word. And more than that––to stand on and live out your word.
Fill me with joy again, Lord. Remove the dread and heaviness I feel, and exchange it for your energizing, custom-fit assignments for my life in this moment. Your words are life to me, and you fill me with joy in your presence. I praise you, because you designed me with purpose, talents and the mark of your own beauty. Call them forward to life in me, Lord. I am yours, and you are mine. You are my great Love, my closest Friend and my fiercest Advocate. I trust you, Lord.
Let your powerful Life shine through my eyes, pour out of my mouth and embrace my family through my attitudes. Give me the “all things are possible” spirit again.
And now, as I rise and stand, let the reverberations of my footsteps be heard throughout the enemy’s camp. I will not be moved by his schemes and distractions. My eyes are fixed on you, Jesus. This home is yours, my family is yours and everywhere I put my foot down today is yours, Lord. My sword is sharpened, my heart is ready and I know you are always with me.
Praise you, Lord! You are my strength and my song!
What are you praying today?
Thank you for this prayer. My exchange student is from Berlin and she is returning home at the end of the month. I pray that somehow you two get connected and that she can continue to be mentored in her faith. She may appreciate someone to help her keep up her English and maybe she could get connected with a vibrant church there– one that is more than culturally Christian.
I needed this prayer… every day really, but especially lately as I deal with new mommyhood, new house, new illness, deaths, etc… Thank you for sharing your heart & prayer!