What better way to start your day than to start with prayer? Yup, a conversation with your Creator. It’s such a simple act that is often taken for granted or made to be overcomplicated. Why is that though? Maybe because we feel inadequate to even come before Him. Maybe there is shame being carried by how we have been living in disobedience? Whatever the case may be, He longs to hear from us.
This morning I was wide awake at 3am and when I get that kind of wake-up call, I know that’s the Lord and He is wanting my time.
Do any of you get that same 3-3:30am call?
I got up and made my way to my formal living area and started to pray. I began to pray for my children, and then it led to other people's children, and then it went to the schools, the staff, the officers and so on. I began to have random people placed in my heart and so I prayed for them. See, there is nothing complicated to it at all. From there, it was time to get in His word.
I went straight to the Psalms.
I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Psalms 34:1-8 NLT
My God! This was just too good to not share with you today! In the midst of the recent tragedies so close to home, this reassured me of whose I am and how He cares for me. "Let all who are helpless take heart," I needed to read that to stir up my faith! I needed to be in prayer for the helpless. Same goes for, taste and see that the Lord is good! I have tasted and seen! And yes, He is good! Haven’t you?
So, after praying and reading, getting the kids up and ready for school, my husband drops them off and you won’t believe this, but we soon got a notification that there was a potential threat to the school received, but that the police had done a comprehensive investigation and confirmed that it was not credible. I don't know when the threat was made but I know that praying for my children isn't even a question. It's done!
Prayer is important!
God does speak, we just have to listen. The more time you spend with Him, the more you are able to recognize His calling. His warnings, His guidance on how to pray. Don't dismiss this gift that we have been given through Jesus. If it weren't for Him, we wouldn't be able to go directly to the Father.
As I conclude, don’t lean into what you are seeing happening all around you but lean into Him! Don’t forget that He is for you! He is the beginning and the end! He calls us to seek Him in prayer so that in exchange, His peace will guard our hearts and minds.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
Prayer is simply talking to God.
God wants you to talk to Him because He loves you. The relationship you develop with Him is like the one you develop when you are courting someone. You spend time getting to know them. Asking questions and listening to them share their heart with yours. Don’t make prayer a ritual or a box to be checked. Invest the time in the relationship you intend to make out of it. He is not a genie in a bottle waiting for your wishes to be requested. Remember, He is the great I Am, the Alpha and the Omega and He wants to spend time with little ol’ you! He wants to be our friend in a far deeper way than any human friend.
There you have it.
Don’t Worry
Pray About Everything
Thank Him
Experience God’s Peace
Now let’s put that into practice. There is nothing complicated about what we are called to do.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
Praying with you and for you,
Your little pearl – Perlita