THE HOUSE OF PRAYER — PRAYER XIV: PREPARE ME TO CARRY IT A Prayer for Character, Humility, and Responsibility

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.