Walk in the Freedom of Christ: the Power of a Letter-Prayer

On New Year’s Eve, my friend Bonnie Gray, the Faith Barista invited us to write a letter to God, a letter-prayer, a conversation of listening and expressing. I’ve found these exercises to be therapeutic and focusing, so I filed it away to complete as time allowed. 

Since the time my big guys are home from college is short, I’ve been spending much of my unstructured moments with them. But two days ago, I found a short window of whitespace to soak in the heat and comfort of our wood stove and pour out some thoughts to God for the New Year.  

I only had a few minutes, yet composing this written prayer proved centering and freeing all the same.

My Letter-Prayer

Lord, this day is a new day, this year a new chapter, an open slate on which to write the beauty of life. Yet, honestly, the days don’t always feel beautiful.

I don’t always step in the right direction or perform the right task. My words aren’t always seasoned with grace. Sometimes they don’t even come close to expressing love. 

Yet, true to your Word, in accord with your promises, I come to You in regret and repentance and You erase and redirect my walk and my talk. 

As another year dawns, I want to start fresh, but I continue to trip over the old worn path of “me.” 

I use bitter words; You use loving ones to affirm and guide. 

My actions are often self-seeking; Yours are always outwardly focused.

I place conditions and requirements on offering my love; You love freely.

Your gracious words and actions put mine to shame, yet You never shame me.

Reassure me, Lord. Draw me near as I seek You. Wrap me in Your arms of forgiveness. Lift me up and set me on the new path, the path You’ve laid out for me.

Show me how to let go of past mistakes and move into the adventure of each day-gift.

Free from burden.

Living free in grace. 

Thank you for never giving up on me! Amen. 

I can ask all of this, I can trust God to do a great work in me, because He promises to transform each of us by the renewing of our minds as we focus on Him (Romans 12:1-2). And He is ever faithful.

If you are burdened by the past year or concerned about the new one, I encourage you to let God hear you. Pray vocally, certainly, but consider also praying on paper.

Write a letter-prayer to God. Experience a new sense of freedom, and be met right where you are. [←Tweet this.]

(It’s also a great resource to refer back to over the ensuing months.) 

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.“ 2 Corinthians 3:17

Reflections: Have you ever written a letter to God? If you did write a letter, what would be its focus?