The cold and gloomy winter is slowly passing away, and spring is just around the corner. The promise of warmth and new life lifts our spirits and we find our souls singing along with the Earth, longing for renewal, change, and awakening.
One way we can invite spiritual renewal and change this spring is through prayer, asking God, who is always at work in our lives (Philippians 2:13), to awaken areas that need a reset.
Here are eight prayers to help you live through a season of renewal, inspiration, and joy as you grow closer in your walk with the Lord.
1. Spiritual Spring Cleaning
Lord, help me take inventory of what needs refreshing in my soul, heart, mind, and life as I clean my house and prepare for the long summer days ahead. Please remind me of the dust of sin that still lingers that I have not been able to deal with from the past few months, the sin that I need to repent of and that needs to be wiped away by your forgiveness and grace. Restore my soul, Father, bring healing. In the name of Jesus, amen.
2. Appreciation for creation
Father of Creation, Lord of all Nature, I rejoice in the beauty of refreshing rain, blooming flowers, budding trees, singing birds, fresh grass, rushing waters, and the birth of new creatures, both great and small. You bring forth new life and give good gifts to both man and beast. How wonderful your work is! In the name of Jesus, amen.
Continue reading Psalm 104, “A Song of Praise for God’s Creation.”
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Lord, my God, you are so great.
You are clothed with splendor and majesty.
The Lord wraps himself in light like a garment.
he spreads out the heavens like a tent
And put the beam of his upper room above the water.
he makes clouds into tanks
and ride on the wings of the wind.
He made the wind his messenger;
A flame of fire upon his followers.
God set the earth on its foundation.
It can never be moved.
You covered it with water depth like a garment.
The water was on top of the mountain.
But at your rebuke the water runs away,
They took flight at the sound of your thunder.
they flow over the mountains,
They went down into the valley,
to the place you have assigned them.
You set boundaries that they cannot cross.
They will never cover the earth again.
He causes the spring to pour water into the ravine.
It flows between the mountains.
They give water to all the beasts of the field.
Wild donkeys quench your thirst.
The birds of the air build their nests by the water.
They sing among the branches.
He pours water into the mountain from the upper chamber.
The land is satisfied with the fruits of his labor.
He grows grass for the cattle;
And plants for people to grow—
Produce food from the earth:
Wine that pleases people’s hearts,
Oil to brighten your face
And bread that supports the heart.
The tree of the Lord is watered abundantly;
The cedars of Lebanon he planted.
Birds build nests there.
The stork has a home in the juniper.
The high mountains belong to wild goats.
The rocky mountains are the Hilux’s hideout.
He created the moon to mark the seasons.
And the sun knows when to set.
You bring darkness and it becomes night,
And all the beasts of the forest roam.
the lion roars for prey
and ask God for food.
When the sun rises, they sneak away.
They come back and lie down in their burrows.
Then people go to work.
Work until evening.
Lord, how many are your works!
You made them all in your wisdom.
The earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, wide and spacious;
Filled with countless creatures…
Living things from big things to small things.
Ships come and go there,
And Leviathan, which you formed to have fun there.
all living things have their eyes on you
Feed at the right time.
When you give it to them,
they collect it.
When you open your hand,
They are satisfied with good things.
When I hide my face,
they are scared.
When you take their breath away,
They die and return to dust.
When you send your spirit,
they are created,
And you renew the surface of the ground.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever.
May the Lord be pleased with his work…
Those who look at the earth and tremble,
Those who touch the mountain breathe smoke.
I will sing to the Lord all my life.
I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation please him.
May I rejoice in the Lord.
But may sinners disappear from the earth
And there will be no more bad guys.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Let’s praise the Lord.
3. Prayer for slowing down and weeding
Lord God, now is a good time to set a new, slower pace for the rest of the year. I want to take the time to really look at what’s around me and take it in. Help me to stop striving for busyness and make more space for you. Help me to readjust my calendar so that I can spend more time in prayer, aligning with You, looking more at You, and being watched over by You.
In this process, show me the activities that distract and detract from my relationship with you, such as excessive social media scrolling, listening to too many podcasts, or watching too much TV. Help me to “get rid of” all the unnecessary noise and voices that prevent me from hearing your voice more clearly. In the name of Jesus, amen.
4. Blessing others
Lord, I ask that you bless my family, friends, pastor, and church during this season. I know that You will “bless (them) richly, providing for (them) all their needs at all times and in all things, so that (they) may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Celebrate their lives, work, and ministry. Let whatever they dabble in be fruitful. Pour your grace and love upon them, and give them strength and peace with each new day. In the name of Jesus, amen.
5. Spring prayer for farmers
Lord, I thank you for the food you provide through hardworking farmers and ranchers around the world. Farming and ranching is not an easy job, and the weather is not guaranteed to grow crops or pasture for livestock. But we know that you are the Lord of the harvest, and we pray in Zechariah 10:1, “Seek rain from the Lord in the rainy season of spring; ask the Lord who makes the storm clouds for rain; and he will give them rain, and will give rain to every plant of the field.” In the name of Jesus, amen.
6. Prayer for a new spirit and purpose
Precious Lord, my soul is tired of the “winter blues.” My mood mimics the gray sky above. I felt mentally lethargic and unmotivated. I feel like I’ve lost my purpose. I long for spiritual resurrection and renewed purpose, Father, and I know you will provide both. Over the next few weeks, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with joy” (Psalm 51:12). Likewise, open my heart and mind to what You will do for me during the rest of this year. I entrust this season to You and await Your guidance and direction. In the name of Jesus, amen.
7. “Spring Prayer” by Robert Frost (1874 –1963)
Oh, enjoy the flowers today.
And don’t think too far
As an uncertain harvest. keep us here
It’s all just about the spring of the year.
Oh, give us joy in your white orchard,
During the day it’s like any other, but at night it’s like a ghost.
And make us happy in happy bees,
The herd is spread out around perfect trees.
And make us happy with flying birds
Suddenly I heard the sound of bees in the sky,
A meteor thrusting with its beak,
And the flowers blooming in the air are still.
Because this is love and anything else is not love.
that is reserved for the gods above
God sanctifies everywhere,
But it only needs to be fulfilled by us.
8. Prayer for abundant love
Father, help me to love more deeply and forgive more easily. Let love be abundant. Show kindness and compassion to those around you, even your enemies. You are love, so Father, help us show that love to others. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Photo credit: ©Pixabay/jplenio
Dennis is a former newspaper reporter and currently a freelance writer. She has been published in numerous online and print publications. She is also a former women’s Bible study teacher. Dennis’ passion is using his writing to bless, encourage, and inform others. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and two children (one of whom is grown and flying). You can find Dennis at denisekohlmeyer.com.
