My stepmother, Lesandra, is undergoing surgery at this very moment. Please pray for her. She's been suffering with breast cancer. That's a struggle. A struggle I do not know. She continues to glorify God while her body physically pains. She continues to keep her eyes on Christ because she knows what she's been saved from. Through all of this physical and emotional suffering she is holding on to Jesus. What a testimony!
I could continue in the direction of trust, patience and acceptance. But, everything in me wants to share the importance of a relationship with God and time in prayer. It all goes hand in hand.
Relationship - the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.
Synonyms - bond, communication, dependency, link, nearness, association; to name a few.
FRIENDSHIP
John 15:15
"I no longer call you servants, because a serving does not know his masters business. Instead, I have called you FRIENDS, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
"I no longer call you servants, because a serving does not know his masters business. Instead, I have called you FRIENDS, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
He wants to get to know us. He wants to help us along the way, like our friends would.
PARTNERSHIP
Isaiah 54:5
"for your maker is your HUSBAND--the Lord Almighty is his name--the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, he is called God of all the earth."
"for your maker is your HUSBAND--the Lord Almighty is his name--the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, he is called God of all the earth."
Our Lord wants to know us in an intimate way. He wants to hear the desires of your heart, the pain, the joy..
How to Pray
After twelve years of education in a Catholic school, I grew accustomed to ritual prayer; I spoke the same words over and over, with no meaning behind them. Can you imagine your friend saying the same thing to you, day after day, with no open heart? You'd question the authenticity of your relationship. Wouldn't you?
OPEN HEARTS
Our God wants us to open our hearts to Him. Sometimes our hearts are broken, wounded. He understands your pain. It's okay to be angry, to be hurting, to have questions.
BE SPECIFIC
My pastor shared the importance of zeroing in on the specific needs you or other you knows have. It gives Our Father the opportunity to show you answered prayer. Sometimes He doesn't answer them and other times it will be answered, but in His perfect time. Through patience and time you will see how everything unfolds. Hopefully, realizing His way is always better. There are lessons to be learned and ways we need to be stretched in order to glorify Him and His Kingdom.
DONT STOP
My prayer life is constant. When I wake, while I work, when I eat, when I'm confused, when I'm happy, when I'm angry, when I have questions, when I need guidance; I come to Him for any and everything. It has taken me some time to get to this place. I must say, it is awesome to be so dependent on Him above anything or anyone else. He is my foundation.
PRAY FOR YOURSELF
It is not selfish to ask God for help, to tell him the desires of your hearts. He wants that, He welcomes it. I've heard many people express feeling bad for speaking to Christ about what they want or need.
Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
As you might have noticed by the image above, I made my flight. Praise Jesus. Hey..I'll take small victories all day! It takes a bunch of small steps to get somewhere.