The heart of Prayer

My heart and soul has been very focused for some time on the very essence of prayer.  Pray is not just our only communication with God, it is a very intimate time, a special time of sharing, love, communion in our on-going relationship with our Father, with the Creator of our universe, with God who is Holy and Mighty and loving and compassionate.  Are my prayers quick and sloppy, are they self-centered with always a "help me" at the beginning of every breath I breathe.

God cannot help me if I am nothing and he is everything.  God cannot "help me" love the unlovable, God cannot "help me" be strong in the face of adversity, God cannot "help me" be open to the path of His ways.  I believe that I have been self-centered and selfish and prideful.  Prayer was always meant to be centered on God not on us.  God love the unlovable through me for I am unable.  God lift me up with your strong right arm and rescue me from mine enemies.  God open my eyes, guide my steps along your path, do not allow me to turn to the right or to the left.  Keep me God as it please thee in a place of complete surrender of self to you.  Draw me night unto these, hold me again your heart, sing a song of freedom that will course through my soul for you are the one who has come to set us free unto freedom, you have healed the broken-hearted and exchanged our ashes for the oil of joy.  Amen and Amen.

Watchman Nee says it like this:

"Whenever we see the will of God concerning our need, we should immediately lay down our need and ask Him to fulfill His will.  To ask the Lord directly to supply our needs, whatever such needs may be, cannot be considered prayer of the highest level.  Prayer for personal need should be touched indirectly by first asking the Lord's will to be done.  This is the secret of prayer."

"God's purpose is for us to be so filled with His will that we forget our own interests.  He calls us to work together with Him for accomplishing His will.  The way of working together is prayer.  For this reason He wants us to learn in Him what His will is regarding all things so that we can then pray according to His will."  Amen and Amen

God always amazes me, his graciousness and loving-kindness always abound.  I got up Monday morning with my niece's daughter, Ryan on my heart.  I felt as though we should ask her to go on our next Mission trip.  I had mentioned this to Scott before work and his initial reaction was not exactly positive.  I marched back into my bathroom and silently stomped my foot and ask God, "why can't you just answer my prayers without me having to go through Scott?"  Then I left for work feeling a little deflated and defeated.  Around 10am, Scott called....he said he was in 100 percent and to go ahead and make the arrangements.

Sheepishly, I sat at my desk and lifted my chin a little and said a prayer of thanks and gratitude and forgiveness.  God answers prayers.  He just answers them in His time and His way.  I am so relieved and blessed that my little tantrums don't interrupt the flow of God's will and the way that He shows us His mercy and His grace and His presence.  Amen and Amen