Dear Ones,
Hope you wake up to a prayer-filled day. I plan to make stroganoff and go to Women’s Bible study and get some things together for a friend in Assisted Living etc.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Prayer is such an important part of the life of believers but just because we pray more, doesn’t mean we will get more. Prayer is also not about receiving everything we ask for, but about being prayerful and more aware of His presence and attentive to the Spirit. It’s more than praying in a quiet place or formal prayers during church, but prayer is happening through all kinds of activities when we are mindful of Him. It happens when I am walking on the trail or in the car by myself or sipping a hot cup of coffee as I gaze over the courtyard. It could be for any of us when we are gardening, cooking, journaling, jogging, etc. Like Albert Haas, Franciscan priest writes that it isn’t simply the practices of spiritual activities to be spiritual, we just need to open the door of our heart and be attentive to God and what He may be asking of us.

Now prayer isn’t that we always have feelings of joy and peace and comfort but sometimes it can be like feeling the well has run dry. We want to go back to those warm feelings, but God is beyond our human emotions and even when we feel like we are in a desert, He can speak to us. Our part is to open our hearts to Him however He comes to us. He is the one who is in charge and will move us on in our spiritual journey as He knows we are ready. Often the dryness is a sign that we are about to turn a corner and get ready for what is coming. Sometimes it is just good to sit in His presence quietly without saying anything but just be with Him. Almost the moment we do, distractions come to us, and we can just dismiss them. But if we fear we may forget something for later, we can keep a pad and pen handy to write down.

Prayer is not something we force, but is a gift of grace that we receive when we open our hearts to Him. Like Haas wrote, “The goal of all prayer is a prayerful surrender not only of the heart whose door is wide open to God but also the will that is eagerly prepared to respond to any divine invitation or request. “

Challenge for today: Notice how often you are praying in the midst of your activities for your thoughts are on Him. I Thess. 5:16-18
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy