Are You Painting Your Masterpiece with My Pain? |
Today's inspiration comes from: Dear God by Bunmi Laditan |
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Honest Prayers for The Darkest Times Dear God, I was making a list of things I know for sure, but when I went to write "God loves me," I couldn't — it felt like a lie. I believe You love me, but I don't know it. I think You do. Your book says You do, but I guess in the back of my mind I see You as a giant Zeus — a despot in the sky. You knew Eve would eat the fruit. You created the tree. You allowed the Holocaust. Have You heard the phrase, "With friends like you, who needs enemies?" I suppose that's why I find trusting You so hard. Jewish families in 1941 trusted You. You said, "My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts,"* and I believe You, but I still brace myself for suffering I won't understand. I believe You have a plan, but are You painting Your masterpiece with my pain? Love. I don't know what that means. I don't know that You love me, and I suppose I don't know if I love You either. I fear You and I respect Your power, but I'm afraid Your next move will take another chunk out of me. What's love got to do with us? Me * |
Dear God, Help me have the faith of a baby bird, a small child, an old woman. Speak to the fear in my soul so that it might recognize Your voice, wake up, rise, thrive. Do something other than hide in the dark. Me * |
Dear God, After this life is all over, I have a fantasy about spending time alone with You amongst the stars, maybe sitting together in some black-glow nebula. Not talking much, just relaxing. Taking it all in. I'd be done asking for things, and You'd be done making life intentionally difficult. I want to enjoy You for once. Bask in Your presence without needing a thing. Maybe You'd tell me some crazy stories. I know You've seen some stuff. I know there will be a long line of people more deserving than me of time alone with You, but please pencil me in. Anytime, really. Love, Me * | |
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You said, "My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts,"* and I believe You, but I still brace myself for suffering I won't understand. |
You said, "My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts,"* and I believe You, but I still brace myself for suffering I won't understand. |
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Dear God, Some days, I'm so tired. Today was one of those days. I slept okay. Ate normally (badly, but I'm used to it by now) and had enough water (coffee, there's water in coffee). It's a deep body fatigue, and I know where it comes from. Some days, a lot of days, I carry around not only my body but memories I'd like to forget. They stick to me like tar and demand I watch a giant movie screen of my psyche on repeat. They take human form and talk to me, God. Interrogate me. Challenge my right to exist. Challenge me to look in the mirror without deep shame. Are these demons? Or are they a mixture — a soup of memory and emotion come alive, powered by my fear? Getting through these days is like walking with ankle weights, wrist weights, a neck weight — You get the idea. By sunset, my eyelids hang down, and I'm faking everything. I've tried to banish these ghosts with drinks, food, entertainment — nothing works the way talking to You does. But sometimes I give in and become a willing, desperate audience to their enactments of my worst moments, their indictment of me. Make them stop. Love, Me * |
Dear God, I asked for help. I reached out and told the truth, and someone was there. Is that why you created Eve? You knew humans were no good left talking only to animals and plants? That we'd need another to hold the candle when ours goes out? Thank you. I don't know if my faith has been restored, but at least I remember what it's like to believe. I feel a warmth that wasn't there before. Me * |
Dear God, I can feel your compassion surrounding me. In these moments when I feel your gentle eye on me, I know you're my father, and I'm not afraid. Stay. Me | Excerpted with permission from Dear God by Bunmi Laditan, copyright Bunmi Laditan. * * * |
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Have grace with yourself and offer your most honest prayers to God in your darkest days. He can handle them. Do you think you've been completely honest with Him about what's going on inside your heart? Do you think you've been completely honest with yourself? ~ Devotionals Daily |
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Even when we wander, God never leaves our side |
Even when we wander, God never leaves our side |
Dear God: Honest Prayers to a God Who Listens |
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+ FREE shipping on all orders over $35 |
In the midst of her darkest days, Bunmi began writing down her deepest fears, hopes, dreams, and frustrations with God in the form of letters. The result of Bunmi's soul-searching journey is Dear God, a collection of funny, heartbreaking, and deeply insightful prayers that put words to the emotions we all feel as we grapple with this broken world and search for divine love. With the same gutsy and poetic honesty that has already charmed readers around the world, Bunmi now shares these moving, intimate conversations with God--prayers and poems that chart her story of reconnecting with the God she loved, lost, and found once again. Dear God catalogs what we're all thinking as we work out our personal relationships with God. These candid field notes will stir your heart and make you laugh out loud with Bunmi's self-awareness and profound insight into the spiritual journeys we're all doing our best to navigate. |
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What our readers are saying |
"This book speaks to the heart and so honest and inspiring. I've sent several copies to friends and family and they all have been blessed by it." — Gail H. |
"This book is raw and real. Humorous and hopeful. I'll read it over and over." — Mary K. |
"Love the honesty presented in these prayers. Very refreshing to see how we can bare our souls to God in such an open manner... after all, He knows it all anyway AND still loves us in the midst of our struggles and pain!! Love the humour mixed in as well!" — Leslie G. |
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Join Bunmi as she travels through those all-too-familiar emotions--doubt, anger, joy, desperation, love, loneliness, and gratefulness--that humanity has always wrestled with. Wittily fresh and stunningly relatable, she exquisitely shares the painfully honest questions she's asked along the way, including: - God, what is holiness?
- God, how can it be worth it to love life when it could slip away at any moment?
- God, what do I do when forgiveness feels impossible?
- God, I know you love me, but do you like me?
This poignant collection of prayers is a timely reminder that even when we wander, God never leaves our side. |
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Help Me, God, I'm a Parent: Honest Prayers for Hectic Days and Endless Nights |
Bestselling author and mom blogger Bunmi Laditan vulnerably shares the prayers she's prayed for her children as inspiration for your own prayer life. Refreshingly relatable, bravely honest, and deeply heartwarming, Help Me, God, I'm a Parent meets you right where you're at and gives voice to the thoughts everyone--even you--has about parenthood that they are afraid to say out loud. In the way only she can, Bunmi echoes the same fears, joys, delights, loneliness, regrets, and love you have in your heart through prayers that . . . - Bask in the awe and wonder of parenting
- Savor joyous moments and big accomplishments
- Make you laugh when you need it most
- Rejoice in the love you have for your children and the love God has for you
- Alleviate worry and anxiety about your children and their futures
- Bestow peace and calm in those I'm-at-the-end-of-my-rope moments
- Seek wisdom when the advice of the world fails you
- Offer humble thanks to a good God for the blessings we see and those we don't
No prayer is more powerful than the one prayed by a parent for their child. Experience today how prayer can change not only your own life but the lives of your children. |
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Take advantage of our summer sale and enjoy incredible savings on all devotionals. Elevate your quiet time with Jesus with these limited-time offers, designed to help you deepen your faith and grow spiritually. Don't miss out on these amazing deals now through June 30th — Pick up your copies today! |
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this devotion with someone who needs it today |
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