A Simple Prayer

In the past few months, we have somehow come across a prayer book entitled Grace Before Meals.  The most remarkable part about it, to us, is that it was published 100 years ago, in 1911.  Growing up in a family and a church where we usually practiced the habit of spontaneous prayers, rather than those that were read or memorized, the book didn't at first have an appeal to me.  In celebration of that 100-year book birthday, however, we decided to give it a try, and found it to be amazing in its relevancy to times of today, its beauty in the the Old King James language, and its reminders of how even a simple grace before meals can end up being not simple.  For example, "Wherein we have failed to please Thee, O God, do Thou grant Thy pardon."  These words would not ordinarily be inserted into my "thank-you" before eating a meal, but I'm grateful to be reminded of their importance.

On the other end of the prayer spectrum, I was reminded of a prayer that my friend Hallie, in her blog, said she has hanging on the wall of her home; it is in modern language, and centered on one theme.  "Let me live in such a way that those who know me but don't know God will come to know God because they know me."  These words are hard to get around, difficult to forget.

From the profound to the simple, from the simple to the profound, occasions for prayer are all around us, and prayer is not difficult. Thinking of prayer as difficult is a stumbling block for many, however, and I believe it is in those instances that the Lord is standing by, waiting for one of his children to teach, to lead the way to His ears.

I think often of my cousin Joey, who became a casualty of the VietNam war, but a few years earlier spent several weeks with his "up north" cousins.  My youth group was accustomed to going around the circle lifting up prayers until everyone had the opportunity to offer a prayer.  Joe quickly whispered to me, "When it's my turn, you'll have to tell me what to say!"  We came out of that meeting with Joey's pride intact, but I'm sure I missed many opportunities to demonstrate to him just how easy he could make those prayers for himself.  I don't know to this day whether I will be able to meet him in heaven, but I do know that I had a responsibility to him, and I'm sure I did not make the most of that responsibility.

How simple it really is to speak to God, our creator!  How great it is also that He is always listening for our every word. Simple words may have deep meaning, and I again wish to offer Hallie's simple prayer, "Let me live in such a way that those who know me but don't know God will come to know God because they know me."

Recovery Work

Still in that recovery phase of my surgery that now feels like it was "really" a long time ago, I have let my writing slide just as I've let slide many other important duties.  It came to my realization today, however, that I've been waiting for things to be easier, to just "flooooooooooooow"!  In doing that, I left God out of the equation again.  If I just had made a habit of talking to him, saying "Father, I don't feel like doing anything today, but I know there are many things I could do.  Will you please help me decide what is most important today, and then give me strength to do that, even if it is just one thing.  Help me, guide me, enable me, Father, for I really need you."  In retrospect, that wasn't hard at all, but I didn't do it.  I remember a couple of desperate pleas, "Please Jesus, HELP ME!"  I don't remember the calm request that would have given a calm reply, and a certainty that whatever He wanted me to do, He would enable me to do.

As an important part of my recovery, I want to learn from my mistakes.  I want to learn to never leave God out of my plans, however simple they may be.  There are things to do and people to talk with every day and every hour of my life.  God has planned for me to be a helpmate and a servant, and there's no time to take a month off.  In our weakness, God says He will give strength.  And all I have to do is ASK.

True Values

To most of our country, today is a much-loved holiday, Halloween.  It has never meant much to me, at least nothing good, and it means even less this year.  My value is in a different occasion.  You see, tomorrow is the day another group of our military men and women, United States Marines, fly to Afghanistan, and my son is one of them.  There is nothing a mother can do to change that.

This mother intends to spend much time in prayer.  The only problem I find is that I don't know what to pray.  I want my boy to be safe, but I want all our troops to be safe.  Safe is not a condition of war.  Do I want my son to come home unharmed, yet another mother's son to die or return with a missing limb, or a damaged mind?  Never!  Yet, how do I pray?

I'm so thankful that I have a copy of God's word.  In fact, I have many copies in my home, and some don't get used.  I used one tonight, however, and found an answer.

In Romans 8:26, I read these words: ". . . the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

Tonight I do indeed feel the weakness of my own body and spirit.  But there is help; I'll take it.

What a Friend

Someone posted on Facebook, "God doesn't have a blackberry or an iPhone, but He is my favorite contact. He doesn't have Facebook, but He is my best friend. He doesn't have Twitter, but I follow Him, and He doesn't have internet, but I am connected to Him. " 

Not everyone notices it, but God actually is the easiest friend to contact.  In spite of all the wonderful new worship music being sung these days, I still cling to a few old hymns.  One of my favorites is "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".  However, rather than just taking it for granted, I keep thinking of these words from the song: "O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer".
That's my problem; I keep forgetting that I don't need to handle situations on my own. 
I do believe God is even closer than a telephone call away, but He waits for our call.