Honesty.

Papa God,

I'm so frustrated with people lately. How can people be so misleading toward someone? How can someone ask something of soooo many people, then not wait to hear the result? How can people use those around them who truly care? How can someone lie, continuously exaggerate just to get people to feel for them? God, I truly don't get it. I know we're all sinful beings, but these people are claiming to follow You. How will the world know what a true "Christian" should look like, if those of us who profess it, don't live it out, and live it out completely? It's no wonder we aren't able to be effect when it comes to reaching people for You.

God, I'm soooo frustrated right now. You know why, You understand. The same things I'm frustrated with, have frustrated you for hundreds of years. I know I have frustrated You in the same ways, and I'm SO sorry for that. I understand now, the feelings with in me, is the same feelings You had when I did it to You. Forgive me for the choices I made that frustrated You.

God, You know me inside and out. You know me better than my friends know me, better than Kevin knows me, better than I know myself. Only You can truly understand why this is getting to me right now. I can't even fully comprehend why I'm feeling this way. I pray that you reveal to me the reason behind these feelings. I pray you show me how to not cause you or anyone else this sort of frustration.

Continuously draw me back into Your embrace. Continue to give me a hunger and thirst for you that I've never had, but am loving. God, please continue to give me the discernment that I know only comes from You. God, give me a forgiving heart that reflects Your forgiving heart. Enable me to extend to others even a portion the grace that You give to me daily.

Papa, You are ever faithful. You are honest. You don't deceive. You are who You say you are. You will never leave or abandon me. Your love will never fail me. Only You are perfect. You have my best interest at heart, even when it feels as though that is not true, You always allow me to see that it is.

God, help me to become a better friend. A better wife. A better sister. A better daughter. A better encourager. God, help me to become stronger in You, so that I will be strong enough to help those who are frustrating me right now, and not get bogged down so much.

Daddy, You know my heart for You, as well as my heart for the people You placed in my life. I pray that You will protect me, and those like me who are willing to bend over backwards for the ones they love, from being used. Daddy, we've been used so much already throughout our lifetimes. We should not be afraid to get involved in Your church because of fear of getting used, or getting sucked up into the drama of it all. That's not the way You meant it to be.

God, I bind Satan and ALL his attempts to break apart the Church You have set in place. He has no place within Your church. I bind all of his footholds that he has on some of Your people. God, show those who have allowed Satan's grasp to get ever so stronger. Make them wise to his schemes and give them the strength and courage to kick him out and kick him out FOR GOOD!

Daddy, I pray that the heaviness on my heart right now be taken away. You know what it is about. I pray you release me from any feelings for hurt, anger, disappointment, disbelief, bitterness, or anything else that hinders me from growing in You. I pray that you will give me the strength to walk through anything you put in front of me, and that You will continue to guide my steps in You.

In Christ's precious blood,

Amen