created me a clean heart, O God, and renew a
steadfast spirit within me. You know the purpose
you have placed upon my life. You know the doors
ahead of me. You know the responsibilities I
have not yet seen. You know the weight of what
you intend to entrust to me. So today, I am not
simply asking you to increase my gift. I am asking
you to prepare me to carry it. Before you increase
my influence, increase my character. Before you
enlarge my territory, enlarge my capacity. Before
you increase my authority, deepen my humility.
Before you increase my resources, teach me stewardship.
Before you increase my visibility, strengthen
my private life. Before you give me greater access,
strengthen my self control. God do not allow
my gift to take me somewhere my character cannot
sustain me. Holy Spirit search me. If there is
pride in me, expose it. If there is insecurity
in me, heal it. If there is jealousy in me, remove
it. If there is an appetite capable of compromising
my purpose, strengthen my discipline. If there
is anger that could become dangerous when combined
with authority, refine my reactions. If I depend
too much upon people's approval, bring my identity
back to you. If there is anything growing privately
that could one day destroy publicly what you
have entrusted to me, deal with it now. I would
rather be corrected in preparation than destroyed
after promotion. I would rather be refined before
the door opens than enter a place I am not prepared
to sustain. Lord, protect me from confusing gifting
with maturity. Protect me from believing that
because you are using me, there is nothing left
in me that needs transformation. Protect me from
confusing mercy with approval. Samson still had
strength while his boundaries were weakening.
Saul had authority while insecurity was growing.
Peter loved Jesus but discovered that passion
alone could not sustain him. David carried anointing
yet still needed repentance and a clean heart.
Their lives remind me, I need you continually.
So keep me dependent upon the Holy Spirit. When
you correct me, let me receive correction. When
you expose me, let me surrender. When you warn
me, let me listen. When you tell me no, let me
obey. When you require waiting, give me patience.
And when you place me in seasons where nobody
sees what you are doing, teach me to value preparation
more than recognition. God, if the door must
remain closed while you develop me, prepare me.
If I must wait while you strengthen my character,
Prepare me. If the fire must expose something
that cannot accompany my purpose, refine me.
If something must leave my life before you can
entrust me with greater responsibility, give
me courage to release it. I do not want success
that destroys my relationship with you. I do
not want influence that destroys my family. I
do not want authority that feeds my pride. I
do not want a platform that becomes greater than
my character. I do not want an opportunity that
my private life cannot sustain. I want what you
have for me, but I also want to become capable
of carrying it. Therefore, I declare, my character
will grow with my calling. My humility will grow
with my influence. My wisdom will grow with my
authority. My discipline will grow with my access.
My stewardship will grow with my resources. My
dependence upon God will grow with my success.
I declare that my gift will not become greater
than the character supporting it. My private
life will not become the enemy of my public assignment.
My appetite will not sabotage my anointing. My
insecurity will not govern my leadership. My
pride will not destroy what humility helped me
build. By the help of the Holy Spirit, I will
become capable of carrying the weight of purpose.
God, prepare the vessel. Strengthen the structure.
Purify my motives. Develop my character. Teach
me restraint. deep in my obedience. And if I
am asking you for something I am not yet prepared
to carry, prepare me before you give it to me.
I will not despise the waiting. I will not despise
the correction. I will not despise the hidden
season. I will not despise the fire. Because
perhaps what I have called delay has actually
been preparation. Perhaps what I have called
restriction has actually been protection. Perhaps
you have been preparing me for something heavier
than I realized. So God, when the opportunity
comes, let my character be ready. When the door
opens, let my character be ready. When the influence
increases, let my character be ready. When the
responsibility arrives, let me be ready. I am
being prepared. I am being strengthened. I am
being humbled. I am being disciplined. I am being
refined for a purpose. In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen. You are not alone.