Often following God feels like putting together the pieces of a puzzle. I hear or read beautiful thoughts that strike my heart. Then over the next few weeks they swirl in my mind, as I wonder if they fit together or if I’m still waiting for another piece of the puzzle to make the whole picture more clear.
Below are the thoughts or puzzle pieces I’m wondering about, related to prayer. I’m sorry if this makes prayer seem complicated, because it’s really not supposed to be. These thoughts seem to be more of a refining, so that I don’t just go through the motions of prayer. I also wonder if they are an invitation from God to deepen my relationship with Him.
- Prayer should be a time to look in the face of Jesus, talk to Him and listen – a conversation. Am I taking the time to close my eyes and remember who I’m talking to when I pray? Am I pausing to see how Jesus seems or acts when I talk to Him? Am I taking time to listen in case He wants to say something?
- Am I opening my heart, being vulnerable to Jesus?
- How can I pray in a way that brings the people I pray with into Jesus’ arms? How can it become more of an experience or encounter with the living Jesus? Teach me, Lord.
- When I ask God to search me, am I paying attention to what He wants me to know about myself?
- Am I taking the time to think about how I am going to respond based on my time of prayer (is God asking me to do something)?
Come Holy Spirit, teach me to pray. Deepen my relationship with you, my intimacy with you – my God, my Father, my Savior, and my Lord. I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.
My Heart, My Home 