Watkins Chapel CME Church Memphis

09/10/2026

“The Lord remembered her plea” 1 Samuel 1:19b

Father God,

We thank You for the true and remarkable accounts in Your Word of these devoted and dedicated women who sought You for a child. Lord, we know that today there are women who relate to Hannah, Sarah, Elizabeth, and countless others in the same way. We pray for their hearts in this moment that they would be still before You, and that they would listen with an intent and softened heart for what You want to say and do in their lives. Lord, if someone reading this is walking alongside another with such a yearning, help them to be equipped with the wisdom and wherewithal to truly encourage them. We thank You Lord, that just as You remembered Hannah, You remember Your daughters today.

In Jesus’s Holy Name,

09/09/2026

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Heavenly Father, thank You that because of Jesus, I can come before You freely, knowing I will find mercy instead of condemnation. Your Word promises that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. What an incredible gift of grace.

Lord, please search my heart today. Shine Your light into every hidden place. Reveal any attitude, habit, or thought that does not honor You. Help me not to ignore the gentle conviction of Your Holy Spirit but to respond with humility and honesty.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Remove anything that keeps me from walking closely with You. Teach me to practice repentance as a daily act of worship and response to Your gentle guidance. May I never become comfortable with sin or indifferent to Your voice. Keep my heart soft, teachable, and quick to respond whenever You lovingly correct me.

Thank You for Your endless patience. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and that Your grace is always greater than my greatest failure. Help me extend that same grace to others, remembering how generously You have forgiven me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

09/07/2026

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”- Colossians 3:23

Dear Father,

Soften my heart, Lord, I pray, to truly appreciate Labor Day and the work You gave me to do on earth. Daily remind me that work is Your idea. Help me to work unto You, to fulfill Your will and purposes on earth, and bring glory to You. Strengthen my hands and open my eyes to appreciate labor and to see the many benefits that come to me through working. Lead me to be a diligent and faithful worker who honors You through my labor. Convince my heart to believe that my work is not in vain, but is working together in my life and in this world for good. Above all, let Your name be praised through my labor.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” - Psalm 46:10, NIV

Dear God, my life often feels rushed and stressful, and I admit I try to handle too much at once. Multitasking sometimes makes me feel like I’m accomplishing a lot. But I can see the truth now that it just scatters my thoughts and divides my attention, so I can’t focus well. Even though it seems like I’m productive, multitasking actually makes it harder to get things done because I’m constantly stopping and starting. Not only that, but I can’t experience the peace you want me to enjoy when I multitask. Please help me break the habit of multitasking and learn to focus on just one task at a time. Teach me how to slow down and be still before you. Help me release the pressure of trying to control everything and remember that you are God and I am not. When I’m busy and distracted, draw my attention back to your presence. Please show me how to focus on what truly matters and give me the courage to let go of what doesn’t. Give me the confidence that comes from trusting you. As I learn to be still, help me to grow closer to you each day. Thank you, God. Amen.

09/05/2026

A Prayer for the “Basket” Season of an Adult Child

"But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile." – Exodus 2:3

Heavenly Father,

I want to give you the boxes in the basement. While packing up a life to be in a place where I won’t be is the challenge, I need You to hush the questions. Did I do enough to help my child, the one You gave me, for all the days ahead? No, but I give it all to you.

Forgive me for living like my child’s future rests in my hands instead of Yours. I have a tendency to act like the basket is all mine. But You watch the river. You had my child before I did, and You hold them long after they leave my house.

Help me do what Jochebed did and take my hands off the basket. Please steady my heart when letting go feels like far too much. Lord, remind me that You never take Your eyes off the water. I trust You with what I cannot follow.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

09/04/2026

Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)

Father God, I long to feel your joy every day. And truly, I have every reason to be full of gladness in you always, yet too often the world weighs me down. Unsettling circumstances and sorrowful situations surround me, and I let them overshadow the goodness you give. Your overflowing goodness that lightens my load, that you pour out all over my life. Help me to fix my eyes on you every morning. Help me to keep praying for eyes to see you and your abounding blessings throughout my day. So that regardless of the sadness I feel or the difficulty I face, above all, my heart will see and be full of you. You are where I find my joy. And you are always with me. Thank you, Jesus, Amen.

09/02/2026

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Heavenly Father, I admit that I have believed the enemy’s lies for far too long. Please forgive me and help me step into the victory you’ve claimed. I am Yours, Lord, and I choose to live my life from the finish line of Your mercy and grace. When defeating thoughts come, help me see exactly where they’re coming from and declare Your truth with boldness and belief. Your Word tells me that I am blessed with a long life and unending blessings. I stand on this truth as a platform of victory today. Thank You for overcoming the evil one. Remind me of this often, so that I, too, will overcome every doubt he throws my way. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.

09/01/2026

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)

Lord, I can’t thank you enough for the honor of laboring for your kingdom. Thank you that I get to witness your goodness and teach it to hearts outside the church walls. Your love, hope, and joy are ours to access no matter where we are, and it’s our calling to share such gifts wherever we go.

Let us remember this in the routine places we inhabit and the extraordinary places that big adventures take us. Let us follow you with boldness and enthusiasm. Let us labor with humility and intentionality. We love and praise you, Lord. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

08/31/2026

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8

Dear God, my mind gets filled up fast these days. It sometimes feels like a jumble of deadlines, bad news, unsavory media, sounds, and images I didn’t choose, and even fears about my future.

Thank you for reminding me in Philippians 4:8 that this mind you gave me can not only absorb, but it can also make active decisions. I can choose what I focus on. I’m so grateful you gave me eight ideas to replace fears, anger, worry, upset, and more.

God, I pray that you would empower me to clear my head today. Move me to make time in my schedule to purposely choose what I want to think about. And, please, keep showing me lovely, pure, noble, and praiseworthy things, so I can follow the path of peace you desire for me.

In your holy name I pray,