On Prayer…

Well, it seems that my past few posts will fit into the ‘Spiritual’ topics file, but it doesn’t mean necessarily that I’ve waxed spiritual or anything (You would think me very strange if you knew how much fun it was for me to use the word, waxed, in that way). It just seems to be my focus lately. Growing closer to the Lord. Spending more time in prayer. Putting Spiritual things at the top of my Priorities where it should be. Obedience to God.

Listen, ladies, we only get one shot at this and you and I have both seen plenty who didn’t get it right the first time and I know it will be God’s divine mercy if I do get it right. There is no way. I mean, THERE IS NO WAY, that you and I can do this right without Prayer. No way. I would argue you until we are both blue in the face and then it would be I who would win. No way we can parent without the Lord’s help through our prayer and fellowship with our Saviour.

First of all, how does one get closer to someone else. If you meet someone and you have an immediate kinship with that person, how do you cultivate that relationship and get to know that person better? It is NOT by never talking to that person or even occasionally talking to that person. Could you even get to know that person and cultivate that relationship by spending 5 or 10 minutes a day or every other day with that person? No. When I think of getting to know someone to the point of being great friends, I envision us sitting over tea, conversing for at least an hour or so at the time.

Can we get to know our Saviour if we talk to Him 5 minutes a day or even 3 times a week or so?

You may say, “I don’t have time, God understands how busy I am raising all these kids.” Believe me, I’ve said it. When I was a working mama, I never got up early to pray and I excused myself by saying surely God understood that I didn’t have time. Thankfully, He kept me during those times that I could’ve grown cold and indifferent toward Him. He is so merciful.

If you are satisfied with praying enough to just keep your head above water or keep your spirits lifted or, like we women do when we get gasoline, we get just enough to get by, then go ahead and use the above excuse. You will make two people happy, you AND the devil. The devil doesn’t mind you getting enough to get by. In fact, he’d rather have you there. That way you can think you’re making it when you’re really not. God HATES lukewarmness. And, believe me, I’ve been there. Lots of times.

For almost two years, I’ve been fed up with my small talk with my heavenly Father and knew that if my children and my family were going to make it, spiritually speaking, I had to get myself up and hit the floor with my knees. We have one chance to get it right, remember. I want to have the relationship with God where He speaks back to me and if I need a miracle, I can see one happen. I want to stay in His presence and feel Him leading my life. Isn’t this TONS better than having a casual, speaking-terms only, relationship with God?

It’s like this. When you have a true friend in whom you confide and with whom you have a relationship, you and this friend will be there for each other and do anything to help each other. You will even give gifts to each other, remembering each other’s special days or events, etc. This is not the case with a ‘casual friend’. If you have a deep, true relationship with your Saviour, He will remember you. He will recognize you when you are in trouble. He will give you Spiritual gifts or miracles. He will do things for you for ‘no reason’ other than rewarding your dedication to Him. Now, I know, the Lord is more merciful and gracious than an earthly casual friend, but I have been in both situations with my Saviour and I have seen Him work in my life Tons more when I was obedient to Him and kept those communication lines open to Him.

Just this week, I had Him speak to me about a couple things I was asking Him for help and the solutions He gave were perfect. One thing, (and I started not to share this, as it is personal) I have been praying that I would not slander my neighbor by gossiping or fault finding. I can’t do this in myself (you know, the tongue can NO MAN tame). I knew it was hindering my relationship and it wasn’t pleasing to God. I came, yet again, to the Saviour to ask His forgiveness for my slandering someone. I asked Him to help me to get over this and to be sanctified from this problem. While I was praying, I felt Him speak to me and say, The next time you slander your neighbor, you must fast a meal and pray for that person. Yikes, that’s my food, God. This week, after fasting a few days for some slanderous things I had said, the Lord has helped me so much in this area. There is a couple more things the Lord gave me some solutions for some problems I had been having. I’m so thankful.

There are many other advantages to praying fervently instead of casually with the Saviour and the last one I will mention is this: He will expose the hidden Sins in your life. Yes, He will. Enough said about that.

We had a wonderful Ladies Retreat. The picture above is of me and Sis. Carol Martin, our Ladies Conference speaker. She is a wonderful Godly mother and wife—one of the best examples to young women that I know. She is so dedicated and I know that her prayer life is alive and thriving. And one can see lots and lots of results. At least 10 0f them. That’s how many children she has. Godly and Holy children. I see the connection. Fervent, Continuous Prayer = Godly Children.

I have several blog topics rolling in my head. I blog as I can..Love the Windows Live Writer..makes blogging so easy. Anyway, in the future, some blog titles you might see are, Why We Say NO to Barbie's, My Favorite Muffin Recipes, Prayer, Pt. 2, Signs of Spring A round our House, My New Home Business, to name a few. I’ll blog when I can…

Enjoy those warm temps and don’t forget to get up early and pray. Expect to see results.