Well, about a month ago, we went to visit a family member and stayed in the hotel. When I went to turn the shower on to warm the water, it sprayed right in my face! I was drenched from head to toe! I wanted to yell, but what would that solve?
Fortunately for my husband's poor ears, I prayed for Shower Grace and instead of being fit to be tied as I stood there dripping, I prayed for the person who had played the prank. I prayed for them to come to know Christ and to be open to leading the life that Christ wanted them to live. After I prayed for that person, my attitude was much more gracious and I was no longer angry.
As of late, I've been praying for God's grace in specific situations for me to be more gracious to others with these brief prayers. It's amazing what's happened!
Ranting Grace
I was talking to someone who was ranting on and on and on! The person really needed to be able to unload all of this, but it seemed to keep going on. I wanted to interject my perspective, but the person didn't really want that.
After a while with no end in sight, I prayed for Ranting Grace, where Christ allowed me to be gracious and just listen without mentally watching the clock. I was able to be more of a support to this person afterwards.
After a while with no end in sight, I prayed for Ranting Grace, where Christ allowed me to be gracious and just listen without mentally watching the clock. I was able to be more of a support to this person afterwards.
Late Night Grace
There have been several times when I've already said that I am exhausted and can't wait to go to sleep that my dear husband decides he wants to talk about this that or the other thing. I try to be patient, because I know what it's like to want to share something with your partner. Inevitably, it goes on to the point that I want to say that I already said I was so exhausted and wish we could go to sleep, but that would hurt his feelings. (I can't tell you that I haven't said this before. That's how I know it hurts his feelings.)
Anyway, since I've been doing these brief prayers, I prayed for Late Night Grace, and you know what? All of a sudden the conversations didn't bother me as much, I didn't feel as exhausted as I once did, and Christ made it possible so that I didn't say something that could hurt my husbands feelings. Yeah!
Anyway, since I've been doing these brief prayers, I prayed for Late Night Grace, and you know what? All of a sudden the conversations didn't bother me as much, I didn't feel as exhausted as I once did, and Christ made it possible so that I didn't say something that could hurt my husbands feelings. Yeah!
Sarcasm Grace
I was recently talking to someone who kept being contrary. After a while, I found that I started giving sarcastic replies. I realized I need to pray for grace and asked for Sarcasm Grace.
It's not about me trying to prove that the other person's interactions were inappropriate or not. It's about how I respond to others and if that's the way that Christ would want me to respond, regardless of how anyone else is acting.
Once I prayed for the Sarcasm Grace, Christ allowed that calm to settle in, and I no longer used sarcasm. I tried to focus more on how the other person was feeling and tried to be more supportive of them.
Death Grace
Someone I knew recently passed away. Some of our interactions hadn't always been as friendly as I would like them to have been. When the person passed, some of these negative experiences popped into my mind, but I really wanted to focus on the good times we had.
Having been saying these brief prayers for a few months now, I asked for Death Grace. What I was doing in that brief prayer was asking Christ to heal those negative memories about that person, to be able to totally focus on the more positive interactions we had.
It may sound like such a minor thing to some, but it has been a true blessing! Now, I can grieve the loss of this person, who I loved dearly. It also helped me to realize that when people aren't well, they sometimes act in different ways than they normally would have. I will really miss this person and am now freed up to truly focus on the ways that this person positively impacted my life!
Having been saying these brief prayers for a few months now, I asked for Death Grace. What I was doing in that brief prayer was asking Christ to heal those negative memories about that person, to be able to totally focus on the more positive interactions we had.
It may sound like such a minor thing to some, but it has been a true blessing! Now, I can grieve the loss of this person, who I loved dearly. It also helped me to realize that when people aren't well, they sometimes act in different ways than they normally would have. I will really miss this person and am now freed up to truly focus on the ways that this person positively impacted my life!
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Example of a Brief Prayer
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15:11
I was with someone who was scooping up some free popcorn. They didn't ask me if I wanted any. The person told me that I should get a bag of popcorn and then took it from my hands. They wanted me to get the popcorn for them to eat later.
It's such a silly thing, but it really did irritate me. Didn't that person think about whether I wanted some or not? Couldn't they have asked me if I wanted some before they took it from my hands? I found myself getting frustrated at that person. Then, it popped into my mind that that's not what Christ wants of me. He wants me to be gracious to those who irritate me, but I was too frustrated to be gracious at that moment.
Brief Prayer Post Links
- Keep My Mouth Shut Grace
- Moved Things to a Place It Doesn't Belong Grace
- They've Pulled a Board Out of My Fence Grace
- Music's Too Loud Grace
- Dropped the Ball Grace
- Lawn Full of Weeds Grace-Especially Significant During COVID-19
- Do the Opposite Grace
- COVID-19 Grace
- Sweet Husband Grace
- TV Show Grace
- Let Them Cross the Street Grace
- Do Other Things First Grace
- Bad Deal Grace
- I'm Doing It to Myself Grace