We shared our stories.
Last night my friends and I sat around the table. Our plates were filled. Our Bibles open. We’ve been studying spiritual warfare.
As we talked we realized that many of us were in a battle.
For many, the battle included people — most of them were loved ones.
It’s such a tender place.
One story after another. Not knowing what to do. The real frustration. The real feelings that want to take you to the absolute wrong place.
Let’s flip this, I said.
What?
Let’s flip this. We need a safe place to talk about our feelings, but let’s go the opposite direction that the enemy wants to take us.
The Word says that prayer is powerful and effective. Let’s take that to heart and see what happens.
So we prayed, each one of us, for each person that we were talking about just a moment before.
We didn’t ask God to fix them.
Not to make them change in our situation. We didn’t pray for the hurt or the disagreement or that God would do what we want him to do.
We flipped it to pray for that person. To love them through prayer.
Bless that loved one, Father.
Meet him or her right where he or she is and show your love.
Draw that one close. Bless that one as they wake up and when they go about their day. Speak to that person and remind him or her of your great love.
One by one we went around the table and prayed.
Something broke.
{Tweet This}
Something significant.
Tangible feelings of hurt and anger ebbed, to replace them with prayer for each person.
The prayers moved from rote to genuine.
As we prayed an invitation emerged for each of us.
To walk toward Jesus, rather than away.
To choose love over angst.
To see that person as loved by God.
Maybe today you are struggling, and the focus has been on you. I get that. I do. Let’s flip it, however, and pray for that person.
Every time anger or hurt tries to take you down a path you don’t want to go, whisper a prayer over that person instead.
Do it as many times as you need.
Let’s start right now.
Suzie
If you are looking for a great resource on prayer, I suggest Praying Upside Down by Kelly O’Dell Stanley.
It’s a beautiful concept of prayer and it’s powerful.
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Joining you on praying this way!
I read Kelly’s book on prayer this past winter. I can’t tell you how many times I caught myself saying, “Lord, teach me to pray upside down.” In your words, “flipped”. It’s a game changer. 🙂
Love you, sweet friend!
I need this. So much hurt. So much . . . . And what’s worse is I can’t talk about it – because it’s family. Not just family … my closest and dearest family members – my two beautiful sisters. Honestly, I can’t write about it either. Too painful still. And I can’t write it publicly – because it would cause more strife no matter how I wrote it. So … taking it to God is what I try to do. But I can’t say I’ve prayed “upside down” many times. I have. But not enough. When I think of doing so, it makes me hurt – and angry. Isn’t that revealing! Yes – I know what the enemy wants. He’s already accomplished too much in my heart and mind. I know what God wants too. And He’s accomplished many blessings through this. I know He will accomplish even more. I just need to surrender those dark areas – those hidden areas of my heart. He sees them. I don’t want Him to. That means letting go – which might hurt even more. But it’s time. Long overdue. Thank you for sharing this! Time to flip those prayers!
It’s hardest when it’s those closest. <3 I love the word “surrender.” I believe it’s one of the most powerful words in our language of faith.
The Spirit recently prompted me to do this very thing. I wanted to pray “Go away” but the Spirit convicted me that that was not praying His will. And so I’ve done a turn around in my prayer as well. I enjoyed Kelly’s book as well and was able to read and review it when it launched!
<3
I really needed this one! I don’t always get your prompts directly aligned but this week is fantastic. It’s really hard to flip sometimes. I mention in my blurb that it’s more like sanding away at rough edges;) God’s good like that! Thanks so much for you insight today.
It never ceases to amaze how something fairly simple just never occurs!! Thanks for the prayer flip suggestion. Really will help me with a struggle concerning my brothers marriage collapse.
God bless you for sharing with us xxx
Pinning that quote graphic! Love, love, love!
Suzie, I’ve been traveling for several days and just got home. Started clicking through emails and Facebook posts and hopped over here, never expecting to see MY BOOK mentioned! I can’t tell you how humbled and honored I am. Truly. Thank you. But most of all, I love seeing how others flip things around and the amazing ways God shows up. He never ceases to amaze me. And I’m overwhelmed by your kindness in telling people about Praying Upside Down. xoxo
Thank you, Suzie, for your devotion that I just read today! (I’m a little behind!). This is something that I did during my first divorce, was pray for my ex husband and his significant other at the time. It helped me make it through that terrible time. I will do this again now for those who I constantly need to “flip”.
Grat content buddy, keep updating your website
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