Prayers...

I heard on the radio on my way to school today that it was the National Day of Prayer. I was thinking that was the day that the older kids would stand around the flagpole first thing in the morning to pray. It makes me think about all the people that will be praying on this particular day which gives me such a good feeling and brings a smile to my face! Then I think, surely they don't pray just on this one day...or I hope not!

I looked up on the website for the Day of Prayer and was excited to see that Beth Moore was the honorary chairman. (I just love Beth Moore but then that's another whole posting in itself!) It said they've been organizing a Day of Prayer since 1952 and that this year's theme was "Prayer...America's Hope" taken from Psalm 33:22 where it says "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." I pray that our country can put its hope in God!! I believe God will continue to bless America if we will continue to pray!!

I'm a firm believer in prayer. I read an article recently where the author said she thought she was a failure at prayer and I think many times we think that about our own prayers, wondering if we do it 'right'? I feel like I stumble over my words sometimes when I pray especially when I pray out loud in a group setting. I figure someone else could do a much better job. I feel like many of my prayers are for the things 'I need.' Many times I've got it all figured out for God ahead of time - just in case He needs some ideas!? I was talking with a few friends about something we would be praying about and we laughed about the fact that we sometimes tried to help God and didn't know why He didn't do things our way. One said she wondered 'what we would do if we got everything we prayed for' and the other said 'what if we got what we deserved?'

I'm reminded so often that God knows more of what I need and if I would just let him take over, my life would be so much better. We need to remember that God knows and sees the whole picture of which we can only see part. He loves us sooo much and wants only the best for us. God knows what is in our hearts, even before we pray. As Paul writes about prayer in Romans 8:26-27 saying "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." I think we need to just pour out our heart to God in all and any circumstances as praise! He will hear us and know what we mean!

Dear God, Help us to not be so concerned about what we say in our prayers but to continue to share our thoughts and prayers with you knowing you will hear us and give us what we truly need. Amen.