I AM Redeemed and Rooted

A lot of believers go straight to asking. But thanksgiving does something powerful in your spirit. Thanksgiving softens your heart, clears your mind, and opens your eyes to God’s faithfulness. That is why it belongs at the beginning. Key Scripture Anchor Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Notice the order: Prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, then requests. Thanksgiving is not optional. It is part of the pattern. What Thanksgiving Produces 1) Thanksgiving fights entitlement It reminds you that everything you have is mercy. 2) Thanksgiving weakens anxiety You cannot fully rehearse fear while you are rehearsing God’s faithfulness. 3) Thanksgiving restores perspective It pulls you out of the moment and back into truth. How to Practice Thanksgiving in Prayer Do not overthink it. Start simple. Say: Thank You for waking me up. Thank You for keeping me. Thank You for food, sh...

There are days you sit down to pray and your heart feels blank. No emotion. No excitement. No strength. If that is you, hear this: You can still praise God with a quiet heart. Praise is not proof you feel spiritual. Praise is proof you believe God is still God. Key Scripture Anchor Habakkuk 3:17–18 “Though the fig tree may not blossom… yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” The prophet did not praise because the situation was good. He praised because God was still worthy. What to Do When Your Feelings Are Silent When feelings are silent, do not chase feelings. Return to truth. Step 1: Start with one sentence of honesty “Father, I feel nothing today, but I am here.” That is faith. Step 2: Praise God for who He is, not how you feel Say it out loud: You are holy. You are faithful. You are near. You are good. You do not change. Step 3: Use Scripture as your praise words Open your Bible and read one verse out loud twice. Try: Psalm 1...

If prayer has started to feel like pressure, you are not alone. Some people are not struggling because they do not love God. They are struggling because they are carrying too much when they pray. Here is the shift that changes everything: Praise is not the warm-up. Praise is the load-bearer. When you praise first, you stop trying to drag your burden into God’s presence. You let God’s presence carry your burden. Key Scripture Anchor Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Praise does not wait until life feels light. Praise is how heaviness gets confronted. Why Prayer Can Feel Heavy Sometimes prayer feels heavy because: you are praying from fear you are praying from exhaustion you are praying in circles you are trying to control the outcome you are carrying disappointment you have not processed you are asking, but you are not resting Heavy prayer usually means this: Your soul is doing what your spiri...

Have you ever sat down to pray and felt nothing? No tears. No fire. No words. Just numb. If that is you right now, hear this clearly: Numb does not mean God left. It often means you are tired, overloaded, grieving, or spiritually drained. God is not offended by your weakness. He is Father. Key Scripture Anchor Romans 8:26 “The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us…” When you do not know what to say, the Holy Spirit helps you. What Numbness Can Mean (Without Condemnation) Sometimes numbness is: emotional exhaustion disappointment that you have not processed constant noise and distraction spiritual warfare trying to shut your mouth burnout from carrying things you were never meant to carry Numbness is not a label. It is a signal. And God knows how to lead you out of it. What Not to Do When You Feel Numb 1) Do not fake it God does not need performance. He wants trut...

Sometimes you don’t need more words. You need alignment. If your prayers have felt heavy, repetitive, or rushed, this is your reset: Before you ask God for anything, praise Him. Praise is not decoration. It is direction. It turns your heart back toward the truth of who God is before you present what you want Him to do. Key Scripture Anchor Matthew 6:33 — “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Jesus did not say, “Ask first.” He said, seek first . Seeking first is worship. Seeking first is surrender. Seeking first is praise. What “Praise Before Prayer” Really Means Praise before prayer does not mean you never ask God for anything. It means you refuse to approach God like a stressed employee clocking in. It means you approach Him like a child coming home remembering: He is holy He is faithful He is present He is already God before you feel anything change Praise re-orders your soul. Why Praise ...