Without A Vision

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!  

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” - Psalm 55:22

Lord, it’s a new year.  Most of us are already losing steam in New Years resolutions that we promised ourselves that we would finally keep.  We are trying to undo the damage we did over Thanksgiving and Christmas - to regain control of the appetites we indulged in an effort to make it, “the most wonderful time of the year.”  

Lord, we are all trying to comfort ourselves from something painful - a loss, a wound, embarrassment or disappointment.  We are trying to take the edge off of the tension or distract ourselves from pain.  Our self-medication offers only fleeting relief and often leaves us in worse shape than before.

Father, by the Blood of the Lamb we enter Your throne room.  I lift my friend before You.  We lift their cares and burdens - those things that distress them and cause them to want to hide.  We lay them at Your feet.  They feel powerless to make any strides forward, because their wherewithal has dwindled away.  You are the only one who can make a lasting difference in this area of pain and challenge.  They need Your help, because willpower eventually fades without a vision and passion.  They know something needs to be different, and they want to want to change, but there are divides between wanting to want to change, wanting to change and actually changing.  

Father, in Genesis 1:3 it says, “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” (NIV).  You created something from utter nothingness.  Lord, speak again, this time over Your child.  Speak light into their darkness.  Shine a light of revelation where what before has only been seen in shadows.  Help them to discover what holds them back.  Lord, by the power of Your Holy Spirit I ask that You would inspire change.  Lord, You hold the keys.  We ask You to unlock the doors of their prison.   Return their hope, vision and godly imagination.  Do what only You can do.  They need You today.  Show them their reason for change, that it might function as an anchor in the storm and divine propulsion when they are out of strength.  Infuse their reason with passion, and then provide the steps to take to go from bondage to freedom.  I pray that their ongoing time in Your presence will provide fuel for their fire.  

Help Your beloved to turn a deaf ear to discouraging lies of the enemy.  Bring voices of help, encouragement and inspiration to harmonize with Yours.  Provide a safe harbor for vulnerability where they can confess their struggle, be covered in prayer and receive healing (James 5:16).  Usher in the Body of Christ to surround them with support on all sides.  Lord, we ask for a year of breakthrough, deliverance, victory and healing.  Replace the repetitive loop of sadness and defeat in their mind with Your vision of fruitfulness, freedom and hope.  We call upon You in this time of need.  Begin Your work, Holy Spirit.  Help them to put on their new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after Your image (Colossians 3:10), and a new mind transformed by the washing of the Word (Ephesians 5:26).

Your Word says that without a vision, the people perish - they cast off restraint and run wild (Proverbs 29:18).  Bless them with a fresh vision to take hold of, so their thoughts and behaviors would be governed by godly wisdom and the fruit of the Spirit of self control.  We thank You for Your faithfulness to lead them, Lord, bless them now with strength and courage to follow.  In Jesus Name ❤️