Shalom ,
We have just covered two of the three prayers I wanted to share with you to start this new year.
Each one covers important areas of our life.
These are not magic, nor to be used as a tool of demand. They are about setting our mind to see Christ in each situation. They are about seeing the Word go before us.
I love
how my friend Carol reminds us - we are undevourable! Yet, we walk into situations as if there is no course of action on our part.
There is a course of action, and it is prayer with believing.
That is why I wanted to share these intimate prayers. I teach these in the Inner Circle, and our Inner Circle
family has been aware of them for years.
For today - let's talk church.
Before you step into church this week—before the music starts, before you find your seat, before conversations begin—I want to encourage you to pause and pray.
Have you ever attended church and walked away with an attitude of comparison, criticism, loneliness, or another miss feeling?
To be honest - I have. Was it me? Or was it a church that is not obedient to the
Lord?
Answer - It was me.
Then a friend of mine shared how she now has a specific prayer before walking into church. When I started this, (actually this is not a new idea, I used to do it randomly in the past) my focus shifted, my attention span to hear the Lord changed and I left seeing how God was going to use what I just heard in amazing ways.
Church is meant to be a place of worship, renewal, and connection with God. Yet it’s also a place where
distractions can discreetly creep in. Wandering thoughts. Comparison. Side conversations. Even subtle discouragement. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
When we prepare our hearts before we enter, everything changes.
Here is a simple prayer you can pray on your way to church—or even in the parking lot:
“Lord, as I go into worship,
let my mind be on what You are doing.
Let it not wander to things
that do not glorify You.
Keep me in the mindset of worship.
I know You are with me and will lead me.
It is Your voice I desire to hear.”
This prayer gently shifts your focus.
It quiets the noise.
It guards your heart.
It keeps you from comparison and gossip, and centers you fully on God’s presence.
Scripture encourages us:
“Set your minds on things
above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)
When you pray this, you’re choosing intention over distraction.
Presence over habit.
Worship over wandering.
And the beautiful thing is—you don’t have to strive for focus. You simply invite the Lord to lead your thoughts, and He is faithful to do just that.
As you head into worship, may your heart be open, your mind be settled, and your spirit ready to
hear what God wants to say to you.
Please share this email with 3-4 of your friends! They need to know this.
Praying for a meaningful, joy-filled time of worship for you,
