For a while now I've been thinking a lot about prayer. I've been trying to understand how prayer works and what God truly intends for our prayers to be. There's the age old question of "I asked God for ___________ (fill in the blank with whatever applies to you), and why he didn't answer?" We ask God for protection and we get hurt anyways. We are out of a job and get turned away from every interview. We want desperately for our loved one to be healed and they remain sick. How do we reconcile that God loves us but seems to be ignoring my requests? Lately for me the bigger question has become, when did God become my wish granter?
I don't think I did this intentionally, but have I strayed from what God really intended prayer to be. It's not wrong to take everything to God in prayer but maybe the way we have been doing it is not really what He hoped it would be. God desires to be in deep relationship with us. He wants me to share my hurts and my fears. He also will provide my every need. Do I trust God to know my needs more than I know them? Do I desire God's will in my life to the point that I don't need to ask for things but I'm ready to relinquish control. I get the feeling that prayer goes so much deeper and is on such a level that we cannot fully understand how it works. But in the context of relationship. Do I only go to the people I love when I want or need something from them? God wants my love and my friendship. He calls me his daughter. So then how do I pray.
Lord may my prayers glorify you. May your will be done in my life and may I be willing to allow your will to work in my life. Forgive me when I mess up and hurt you and help me to forgive others. Provide my needs today and help me to be satisfied. Not to wanting more. May your kingdom come and may I get to help make that happen.
I love You!
