Every day is better when I start the morning with my simple routine: wake up early, coffee (always first), some quiet time reading scripture or a devotional, and prayer. It gets me in the right frame of mind – at peace, looking forward. Last spring I noticed my prayers were pretty dry – unfocused and wandering – and I wasn’t feeling very close to God. I’ve always been good at a laundry list of requests for Him (aren’t we all?), but I was missing something. So I read some articles on effective prayer and came up with a nice structure to try for awhile – praise (thanking God for the blessings in my life); confession (confessing my sins and asking forgiveness); and application (asking Him for wants and needs).
The gratitude part was the easiest. When I really focused on it, and wrote out a list, the things in my life that I’m grateful for grew each week. And, like I said, part three – the requests – was pretty easy, too… petitions for myself, my family, friends, the world… I could go all day on that one.
The middle – the confession part – was hard. I admit I struggled with it. We’re supposed to ask forgiveness for the ways we sin, but when I tried to come up with those it was definitely the shortest list. I mean, I wasn’t really committing any of the big 10, so I’m pretty good, right? (Bless my own heart.)
Then I came across a great definition of sin by Billy Graham that really changed the way I pray. He describes sin as “any thought or action that falls short of God’s will, or separates you from Him.” Ouch. That definitely opened up a new way of thinking about where I fall short. I struggle with some of the more common ones – gossip, unforgiveness – but what else in my life separates me from God? “Worry” is one of mine. And busyness – I can pack a day so full of commitments that there’s no time for quiet reflection. Another thing that separates me? My tendency to run ahead, make my own plans and plow into things instead of listening for His direction. And what about those thoughts I have that fall short? Critical thoughts about myself and others. Pride. (My pride is even at work right now, keeping me from publicly listing all the ways I fall short!) I think you get my drift.
There are lots of good ideas out there for renewing your prayer life so they don’t get stale or rambling like mine were. I love hearing how other people connect with God because it gives me new ways to keep growing in my faith. Prayer has changed my whole outlook and level of faith over the past several years, and I’m committed to keeping my prayer journal updated so I stay grateful, engaged and ask for help where I need it.
Because I definitely need it.
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