Christian Today, “Dear God, please teach me, keep me, hold me, help me. I want to be better than I was yesterday. Amen.

This is a good prayer … for me. But should prayer ever be about me? Shouldn’t I be more concerned about the needs of others?

When airline attendants review safety instructions before a flight, they talk about the oxygen mask that pops out of the ceiling. During an emergency, the temptation is to help a child or older adult put on their mask first, before adjusting your own.

Sounds noble and right, but no. The instructions are to put the mask on yourself first. Why? So you will be better equipped to help someone else.

Can this same principle apply to prayer as well? Learning how to effectively pray for myself will better equip me to pray for others, for you.

Dear God, please teach me, keep me, hold me, help me. I want to be better than I was yesterday.

Teach me so that I may teach others. Keep me so that I can help you feel more secure. Hold me so that I can demonstrate God’s love to my neighbor. Help me so that I will become a servant for my community. I want to be better than I was yesterday so I can be a better witness for everyone.

Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

Why do you need to learn to love yourself more? The book, The Language of Letting Go,” said “When we can tell ourselves how we feel and accept our feelings, we can tell others. When we can accept what we want and need, we will be ready to have our wants and needs met. When we can accept what we think and believe and accept what’s important to us, we can relay this to others. When we learn to take ourselves seriously, others will too. When we can learn to chuckle at ourselves, we will be ready to laugh with others. When we can learn to trust ourselves, we will be trustworthy and ready to trust. When we can be grateful for who we are, we will have achieved self-love. When we have achieved self-love and accepted our wants and needs, we will be ready to give and receive love. When we’ve learned to stand on our own two feet, we’re ready to stand next to someone.”

When we can learn to more effectively pray for ourselves, we are better equipped to stand before God and earnestly pray for others.

So, dear God, please,

Teach me. Keep me. Hold me. Help me.

I want to be better than I was yesterday. Amen

Rev. Larry E. Davies can be reached at larrydavies@sowingseedsoffaith.com.