You\u2019ve seen the bumper stickers, \u201cLet Go and Let God.\u201d It\u2019s a nice sentiment. But many of us are afraid to do it. We stress and worry about circumstances out of our control. The notion of \u201cwhat if?\u201d consumes us. It\u2019s as if there aren\u2019t enough \u201cknowns\u201d in life so we have to imagine and fear a thousand likely, and unlikely, \u201cunknowns\u201d as well. <\/p>\n
Ultimately, the only thing we can control is ourselves\u2014our thoughts, words and actions (a full-time job for most of us). <\/p>\n
That\u2019s why \u201cletting go\u201d prayers can be so helpful. They remind us Who is <\/em>in control. They relieve us of anxiety and restore inner peace. Here are six recommended \u201cletting go\u201d prayers from the Bible: <\/p>\n 1) I do not know what to do but my eyes are on You<\/strong><\/p>\n In the days of Israel\u2019s King Jehoshaphat, a massive army threatened the nation\u2019s capital. The king proclaimed a fast and called on everyone to pray. He called out to God, concluding his prayer with the words, \u201cWe do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You\u201d (2 Chronicles 20:12, NIV). That\u2019s a great \u201cletting go\u201d prayer, applicable to many situations\u2014when you face a big decision, get bad news or feel helpless. It shifts your focus from your circumstances and onto God, usually the only one who can affect matters. Try it: \u201cI do not know what to do but my eyes are on You.\u201d<\/p>\n 2) I will stand still and see the salvation of my God<\/strong><\/p>\n Guided by God, Moses had negotiated his people\u2019s march out of Egypt. But Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued them with armies, inducing panic in the Hebrews\u2019 camp. Moses told the people not to be afraid, to \u201cstand still, and see the salvation of the Lord\u201d (Exodus 14:13, KJV).And they did. God delayed the Egyptian army, parted the sea and delivered His people. It\u2019s a helpful \u201cletting go\u201d prayer still, today. It expresses surrender, faith and hope: \u201cI will stand still and see the salvation of my God.\u201d<\/p>\n 3) I am in Your hands <\/strong><\/p>\n King David had messed up. Royally. His national census offended God and brought punishment on David and his people, prompting him to say, \u201cI am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great\u201d (2 Samuel 24:14, NIV). Whenever we are in distress, it can be a help and comfort to know that we are in the hands of a merciful God, whatever may come. Let go by praying, \u201cI am in your hands.\u201d<\/p>\n 4) Let it be to me as You say <\/strong><\/p>\n Can anyone have received more mind-boggling news than Mary of Nazareth who heard from the angel that she would conceive and bear the long-awaited deliverer, God\u2019s son? Her reply, however, is a beautiful model of letting go: \u201cBehold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word\u201d (Luke 1:38, ESV). She spoke to an angelic messenger, of course, but we can speak directly to God in saying, \u201cLet it be to me as You say.\u201d <\/p>\n 5) Into Your hands I commit my spirit <\/strong><\/p>\n Perhaps the ultimate \u201cletting go\u201d prayer was the quotation from the psalm Jesus prayed on the cross as He died: \u201cInto your hands I commit my spirit\u201d (Luke 23:46, NIV). We don\u2019t have to wait until death\u2019s door to utter these great \u201cletting go\u201d words. They\u2019re a beautiful prayer of submission and surrender at any time: \u201cInto Your hands I commit my spirit.\u201d <\/p>\n 6) I cast my cares on You<\/strong><\/p>\n In a letter to the early church, undergoing great trials, the Apostle Peter told them to \u201c[cast] all your care upon [God]; for He careth for you\u201d (1 Peter 5:7, KJV). His words, turned into prayer, can help us entrust our cares into God’s loving hands: \u201cI cast my cares on You, Who cares for me.\u201d <\/p>\n Together, these six prayers can ease our anxiety, focus our minds and hearts, and place us and all we love right where God can do the most with us and for us\u2014in a posture of surrender and an attitude of \u201cletting go.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You\u2019ve seen the bumper stickers, \u201cLet Go and Let God.\u201d It\u2019s a nice sentiment. But many of us are afraid to do it. We stress and worry about circumstances out of our control. The notion of \u201cwhat if?\u201d consumes us. It\u2019s as if there aren\u2019t enough \u201cknowns\u201d in life so we have to imagine and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":31041,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[211],"tags":[159,15,16,30,14,59],"ppma_author":[465],"class_list":["post-24806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prayers-for-stronger-faith","tag-bible","tag-faith","tag-god","tag-prayer","tag-spiritual-growth","tag-worry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n