Living Prayerfully..... Meditation #22

The Bibler Says....

Pray Continually

1Thessalonians 5:17

"Is any one of you in trouble?  He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise"

James 5:13

As a wife and  mother who works outside of my home, I often feel deprived of time alone.  I sometimes find myself looking  forward to those moments when I am not answering to someone's needs or wants or answering some question or solving some problem or dilema.

When I say I want time alone, what I really want is time with God.  I long to be alone with the Lord and just reflect or just fellowship with him. I often long for time to share with  him things on my heart that  really matter.  There is an intimacy in those times that can't be explained.

I learned this "continuous" conversation with God as a teenager when my mom died.  I started talking to the Lord in my mind.  I started sharing my hurt, my pain, my longing for my mom with the Lord.   As time went on, I found myself sharing my joy and the ordinary feelings  and thoughts in my life.

In this week's meditation the writer talks about "prayer triggers"......  those things, places and situations that prompt us to pray.    For me, these are many places. 

I can't define all of the situations that cause me to pray, but I do know that conversation with God comes natural for me. 

One thing I know for sure.....

When I pass from this life to the next, I expect to do so in conversation with God.......

Asking for Ourselves Meditation #11

Alvin VanderGriend makes his point clear in this 11th Lenten Meditation.

Its ok to ask God for what you need and want.

I have been taught that when we come to God we ought to first come thanking him. Thanking him for who he is, what hes done, for his soverign power, his grace, his mercy, his love (I could go on and on and on about his goodness.)

Dr. VanderGriend says:

"The Lord invites us to come with a consciousness of our sin asking for mercy not to receive the punishment we really deserve. He invites us to come with a consciousnes of our needs, asking for grace that we receive what we do not seserve. "

My prayer:

Heavenly father, I come boldly to ask for you rspirit of peace on myself and my family. God endow us with the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen.