simple prayers...

2 simple prayers from Elisabeth Elliot.

"Lord, grant me that vision of a true lover as I look at Matthew(enter your own husbands name here please). Help me to see him through Your eyes, to read the thoughts he does not put into words, to bear with his human imperfections, remembering that he nears with mine and that You are at work in both of us. Thank You, for this man, Your carefully chosen gift to me, and for the high privilege of being heirs together of the grace of life. Help me to make it as easy and pleasant as I possibly can for him to do Your will. Amen"

"Loving Lord and Heavenly Father, I offer up today all that I am, all that I have, all that I do, and all that I suffer, to be Yours today and Yours forever. Give me grace, Lord to do all that I know of Your holy will. Purify my heart, sanctify my thinking, correct my desires. Teach me, in all of today’s work and trouble and joy, to respond with honest praise, simple trust, and instant obedience, that my life may be in truth a living sacrifice, by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, my Master and my all. Amen"

that first prayer i first spotted over at my mother in laws blog, a couple of years ago i think. instantly printed it out and taped it to my computer monitor at work, so i would remember to pray it everyday. praying it is the easy part. allowing God to work in me, so that i can be it... that is the harder part. being a wife is a lifelong journey. being a good wife, the wife God intends for me to be, that is a lifelong journey riddled with difficulty and pain and hard work. i find this simple prayer an encouragement and a challenge in my journey.

everyday we are called to be the best we can be. a woman after God's own heart. a friend, a mother, a wife, a teacher, a student, an employee, a boss, a sister, an aunt. to manage a household, to deal with people, to to be light, to be Christ to others. that second prayer should by my desire each and every day. to be the best person i can be, the person God intended me to be, so that i may do His will, and do it well. it is not easy. it is much easier to be bitter and cynical, dishonest and disobedient. it is harder to pray for your life to be a living sacrifice, and all that it may entail. but that is what i desire to be. i fail everyday. again, i find this prayer an encouragement and a challenge in my daily journey.

i pray these simple prayers can be an encouragement and a challenge to you today.

love you all! you're the beast!