B.L.E.S.S. prayer

I'm not an acronym sort of person. I usually chuckle with the three point sermons that all have that perfect chime. But I've found a couple acronyms that I like to hold on to when coming to prayer. You've probably heard ACTS-- Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. A great way to enter into a time of fellowship with the Lord. This acronym is found in the book "Love to Pray," a 30 day devotional. Imagine what could happen in the lives of those around us if we prayed like them for this each day...

The BLESSing Prayer
B Body—(pray for health, protection, strength, fitness)
“Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt 6:33).
Lord, may ___ seek your kingdom first and discover that food clothing, health, and protection are given to them as well.

L Labor—(pray for a good job, income, financial security)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Col 3:23-24).
Lord, I pray that ___ will be diligent in work with a sense that they are serving you in everything they do, aware of the inheritance (full life forever) that will come from you.

E Emotional—(pray for joy, peace, patience, self-control)
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Is 26:3).
Lord, give ___ the ability to keep their focus on you and to always know that you are ready to meet all their needs and to give them your peace.

S Social—(pray for marriage, family, friends, love, forgiveness)
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph. 4:22).
Lord, help ___ to be ask kind, compassionate, and forgiving to others as you are to them. Give them a network of supportive friends and many good relationships.

S Spiritual—(pray for salvation, spiritual growth, grace, hope)
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Ps 34:8).
Lord, I pray that ___ will understand just how good you are and will take refuge in you. May they grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.