Prayer for Compassion

This prayer was written by one of my best friends Ruthie Forgey. A copy of this prayer is framed in my hall. I read it for the "ump-teeth" time as I passed by it this afternoon. It seemed to speak to me in a new and fresh way. I have been listening to a series by Chip Ingram "Living on the Edge" called "Good to Great in the Eyes of God". One message in this series is centered around "Praying Powerful Prayers". The four points that Chip concentrated on in this lesson were as follows:

1.) Powerful prayers are deeply personal
2.) Powerful prayers are promise-based instead of problem-based
3.) Powerful prayers are birthed in brokenness
4.) Powerful prayers are God-centered

This prayer, just like Soloman's when He prayed for wisdom, is a powerful prayer that thrilled the heart of God. I know that it thrilled the heart of God because He has not only given her a gift of supernatural compassion, He has provided her with a place to pour out that gift on the hurting and broken. She is now a minister with the Salvation Army in Cleveland, TN.

I hope this prayer blesses each and every one of you in the same way it has me...


Our Heavenly Father:

Today I pray for a compassion that supersedes anger...that dissolves disgust.

I pray for a compassion that encourages forgiveness and promotes tolerance.

I pray for a compassion that is slow to condemn and quick to love.

I pray for a compassion that inspires excellence, but is kind to imperfection.

I pray for a compassion that nurtures the wounded and is gentle with the broken.

I pray for a compassion that has a short-term memory for impulsive infractions, and a long-term memory for acts of selflessness.

I pray for a compassion that releases guilt and sends shame running.

I pray for a compassion that has unconditional positive regard and longevity.

I pray for compassion that calms chaos and offers hope to the hurt.

I pray for compassion that is full of courage and seeps into the darkest of places.

I pray for a compassion that is behavior-based rather than feeling motivated.

I pray for a compassion that delights the heart of God.

I pray for a compassion that can love the unlovable, honor the dishonorable, and recognize that most, if not all of us, are doing the best we can.

Amen.
(Author Ruthie Forgey)