February 28, 2013

Even The Silent Prayers

 

Father in Heaven, hear my prayer, keep me in your loving care; Be my guide in all I do, bless all those who love me too. Amen.


I used to pray that prayer every night before I went to bed when I was little. It was the first experience I'd had with prayer. I didn't necessarily truly understand it but it got me started. As I've grown, my prayers have grown more complex and I know the Lord hears them. My prayer life is something I've struggled with throughout my life. If any of you can relate, it's almost like I forgot to pray sometimes. I've gotten much better over the years, but it's a learning process. Then you have to worry about whether you're heard or not. Prayer. It's a powerful thing. This scene from Bruce Almighty isn't only hysterical, it has a huge ring of truth to it. Watching this I can only be incredibly grateful that humans are not in charge of answering prayer requests. We all want our prayers to get answered, but not just so God doesn't have to deal with them.

Have you ever thought about how many people pray to God for answers? If you think about it, that's a lot of prayers. Just think about yourself for a second. How many prayers do you send up to God a day? How does God deal with that and how does He sort through them all? The good thing is that it doesn't matter. We aren't supposed to understand everything. The cool thing is, is that God answers a person's prayer with his/her specific purpose in mind. God knows where to lead me, He knows where He is going to lead you. It is unfathomable how God individualizes each and every response to the innumerable prayers He receives each day. His replies to your prayers mold your character into the person He wants you to become. How cool is that? And that is individualized for each person. God must love us unconditionally to take the time to sort through those prayers and give the best answer, even if we don't agree. We won't agree the whole time, but we also don't know where God wants us to be in five years. And, I said He takes the time, but it doesn't take time for Him. God does not see time as we do here on earth. He answers each prayer with love, kindness, and a wisdom beyond all understanding because He loves us all equally. That's a whole lot to be thankful for. He takes everything into account.


All of that provides a security in prayer that we only need to go to Him and voice our thoughts/concerns/praises and He will hear them and He will answer them whether it be with a yes, no, or not right now, I have something better in mind for you. We just need to trust.











" '...For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and to not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart...'"
-Jeremiah 29:11-13
 
"...for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts..."
-1 Chronicles 28:9


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