Hey friend, 💜

Can I share something with you?

I was thinking about how easy it is to pray for everybody else and somehow leave ourselves off the prayer list.

You know how it goes.

Someone is struggling, and we pray for them. Our children need something, and we're asking God to cover them. A friend is going through a difficult season, and we're lifting her up. We're praying for our families, our relationships, our finances, and everybody else's peace.

But somewhere in the middle of all that praying, we forget about ourselves.

And I had to ask myself something:

When was the last time I went to God and simply said, "Lord, I need You to help ME"?

Not because someone else needed something. Not because I was worried about somebody. But because I needed peace. I needed strength. I needed healing.

And maybe you can relate.

,Sometimes, as women, we become so accustomed to being the strong one, the dependable one, the one everybody calls that we start treating our own needs as if they can wait.

Even in our prayer lives.

But here's something I want you to remember today, friend:

God never asked you to leave yourself out of the prayers you so freely offer for everyone else.

Philippians 4:6 reminds us to bring everything to God through prayer and thanksgiving.

Everything includes you.

Your worries. Your emotional exhaustion. Your unanswered questions. Your desire to feel confident again. Even those things you've been quietly carrying that nobody knows about.

You don't have to feel selfish for bringing those things to Him.

Can we pray together for a moment?

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that my needs matter to You, too. Your Word tells me in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast my cares on You because You care for me. Today, I surrender the guilt I've been carrying about asking for help, rest, healing, and peace. Teach me to extend the same compassion I so willingly give to others. Help me remember that caring for myself does not mean I love others any less. In Jesus' name, Amen. 💜

Sis, I want to invite you into something special.

I created 7 Days of Praying for Yourself Without Guilt, a gentle, faith-rooted email challenge to help you begin making yourself part of your own prayer life again.

For seven days, we'll walk through praying for your:

• Peace — when your mind won't slow down.
• Healing — for the things you've been carrying.
• Confidence — when self-doubt keeps showing up.
• Wisdom — when you need clarity and direction.
• Boundaries — when saying no makes you feel guilty.
• Rest — when you're tired of being strong.
• Courage — to take the next step God is calling you toward.

Each day, you'll receive a heartfelt email with biblical encouragement, a scripture-based prayer, and a little Heart Work to help you put what you're learning into practice.

💌 Want the full 7-day experience?

Join the 7 Days of Praying for Yourself Without Guilt Email Challenge and give yourself seven intentional days to reconnect with God while learning to pray for your own needs.

👉 Enroll in our 7-Day Heart Work Email Challenge

📖 Just want the Prayer Guide?

Maybe you prefer to move at your own pace. That's okay, too!

You can get the Praying for Yourself Without Guilt Prayer Guide as a standalone resource, filled with scripture-based prayers and meaningful reflection prompts you can return to whenever you need encouragement.

👉 Get the Prayer Guide Only

One last thing before you go...

Friend, you don't have to wait until you're completely overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or falling apart before you start praying for yourself.

You are allowed to ask God for peace while praying for someone else's breakthrough.

You are allowed to ask for healing while encouraging someone else through theirs.

And you are allowed to say, "Lord, today I need You, too."

So here's a little Heart Work question I want you to sit with today:

If you could ask God for one thing for yourself right now, without feeling guilty about it, what would it be?

Start there.

With love and encouragement, 💜

Shawnda