4 Challenges to Prayer and 1 Awesome Prayer

“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” CS Lewis

I am finding that each morning this is getting easier to get up and leave all devices turned off so that I might talk with my Heavenly Father.  That I might lay before Him the challenges that are before me for today, the longings of my heart, and ever more precious the moments to just sit in His presence letting all thoughts fade into only seeing and delighting in Him.  What a place of peace that brings.

broken-and-contrite-heart-ronald-barbaUsed by permission of Ronald Barba who holds the copyright.  For more information go to http://www.barba-art.com

[bctt tweet=”Sometimes, prayer is just sitting quietly in God’s presence, letting Him fill you with His Joy”]

These are 4 challenges to prayer I have noticed and some helpful hints to overcome them.

1.  Mind wandering to my “need to do” list.   Have to avoid this trap is the night before write out the “to do” list.  Then if your mind starts to wander, you can say to self, “I’ll read that list after I finish talking to my Heavenly Father”.

2.  Mind remembering every failure of thought, every pride filled word I may have spoken yesterday, and every time I have stumbled.  “Great!! Lay those thoughts at the cross.  God is helping you remember these so you can confess, learn from them and grow.”

3.  Mind goes blank—nothing to say.  Either sit quietly and let the Holy Spirit fill your mind or pick up your Bible (not the computer one) and start reading scripture out loud.

4.  Mind gets interrupted by someone else.  Very lovingly tell them that you will be there is 20 minutes after your time alone with God (of course unless they are dying or the house is on fire)—then maybe respond.  Once they see the importance of this and the transformed you; they will be willing to wait.  Even my dog has learned to be quiet while I am praying.

 

Paul frequently would write out a prayer in his letters to the churches.  These prayers are powerful.  Today, I want to share with you one of my favorite prayers which I have at times prayed for my friends, for you my readers, and for myself.  Please pray this prayer for me as well as for yourself today.

Colossians 1: (TLB)  I “have kept on praying and asking God to help you understand what he wants you to do; asking him to make you wise about spiritual things; 10 and asking that the way you live will always please the Lord and honor him, so that you will always be doing good, kind things for others, while all the time you are learning to know God better and better. We are praying, too, that you will be filled with his mighty, glorious strength so that you can keep going no matter what happens—always full of the joy of the Lord, 12 and always thankful to the Father who has made us fit to share all the wonderful things that belong to those who live in the Kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom and brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who bought our freedom with his blood and forgave us all our sins.”

I would love to hear from you.  Tell me your challenges and what you do to overcome them.  Click here to comment.

Living Bible (TLB)

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header  is Ronald Barba.  Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you.  Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.