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I’ve never been shy about praying on my own behalf, so I assumed everyone else feels the same way. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Evidently, there are countless Christians who will boldly approach the Throne of Grace when interceding on another’s behalf, yet feel somewhat timid about making their own requests known unto God. This, despite the fact that God repeatedly invites us to do so:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

But praying for yourself should go beyond asking God to help you find your lost car keys or pass your final exams (although there’s nothing wrong with entreating His aid with the little stuff, too!)

• David prayed for a clean heart. (Psalm 51:10)

• Solomon asked for wisdom. (2 Chronicles 1:10)

• Samson prayed for strength. (Judges 16:28)

We can — and should — ask God to work in mighty ways in and through our lives, and to mold us into the image of His blessed Son.

And so, here are a few of the prayers I pray most frequently for myself, along with scriptural support for each request. If you aren’t already in the habit of doing so, I hope you’ll print out this handy guide and start praying on your own behalf today.

The prayers form an acrostic, to make them easier to remember (MYSELF = Mind Yield Serve Encourage Love Forgive):

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that You would help me to…

MIND what matters most: Help me to focus on the important stuff. (Mark 12:29-31) Don’t let distractions sidetrack me from the good works that You’ve assigned me. (Ephesians 2:10) May I run the race with endurance (Hebrews 12:1-2), glorifying You in everything I do. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

YIELD my will to Yours: Root the selfishness and self-centeredness out of my heart. (Matthew 16:24) Change my desires, wherever they fail to line up with Yours. (Psalm 37:4-5) Grant me wisdom (James 1:5) and an eternal perspective. (Matthew 6:19-20) Conform me to the image of Christ. (Romans 12:2)

SERVE others with gladness: Give me a heart for service. (Deuteronomy 10:12) Teach me to consider the needs of others as more important than my own. (Philippians 2:3-4) Help me to serve them wholeheartedly and cheerfully (Colossians 3:23), knowing that my work is — ultimately — an offering to You. (Galatians 5:13-14)

ENCOURAGE the downtrodden: Help me see others as You see them. (1 Samuel 16:7) Teach me to be an encouragement, building others up rather than tearing them down. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) May my words be wise (Psalm 37:30), timely, and true — always spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15) and seasoned with grace. (Colossians 4:6)

LOVE others sacrificially: Give me a deep, abiding love for those around me. ( John 13:34; 1 John 4:7-8, 10-12) Help me to be patient, kind, gentle, good and ever faithful in the way I treat them, maintaining hope, enduring hardships, and believing the best. (John 15:13; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

FORGIVE as You forgive me: Thank You, Lord, for forgiving me. (Ephesians 1:7-8) Help me extend that same grace to those who hurt me. (Luke 6:27-29) Protect me against bitterness (Ephesians 4:31-32), hard-heartedness (Hebrews 3:8), and resentment. May I dwell on the good (Philippians 4:8) and keep no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:5-6)

Jennifer Flanders is a firm believer in the power of prayer. To download a free printable version of this prayer guide, please visit http://bit.ly/prayformyself.