I hope someone gets something positive, encouraging from this - a good memory, an 'aha' moment, an answer maybe? I found myself remembering and reliving 'prayer events' in my life. Isn't that strange? Reliving prayer moments? Never heard of that before I just typed it. "Memories of Prayer," hmm. Do you have one?
Please, add to this list in the comments or take from it. It's just something I feel compelled to share; opinions/thoughts that I've learned/compiled over the last, few years when my praying started in earnest, on a more adult, 'I get it now' level. It's my (very) personal take on the power of prayer - power that can hurt, and certainly power that can heal.
I started typing the list after I had an exciting, exhilerating, encouraging brush with the power of prayer today - unexpected (I love unexpected prayer moments), all the way from the other side of the world (Ghana). It was an answer to prayer, though I had not asked a question. I guess it was more of an encouragement/"you can do it to"/"I know what you need - come on, I'm God" . Yep, that's what it was. I had a prayer/thought to myself earlier this week - "Am I fully ready for this task that lay ahead?" I then took a deep breath, put on my big girl (swim) britches after deciding that even if I didn't dive in, I was surely getting pushed. You know that scenario, right? Ha.
So, God my Father saw fit to send me a personal note of encouragement; a little note in the lunchbox if you will. And all the way from Ghana. I'm sure there's a reason for that, as well.
Don't ever doubt that God uses you in tremendous ways, within your minute, daily tasks or the big tasks of being faithful in the way He leads you.
Enjoy and please, comment, I love feedback.
*Sidenote: Not all the points I've listed are as prayer should be, just as I've seen them be.
I fully believe in:
- Prayer
- The power of prayer
- The infinite power of the power
- The power we receive from prayer
- The power we release from prayer
- The power of prayer to the nth degree
- Traditional prayer
- Non-traditional prayer
- The harmonious work of the Holy Spirit as a messenger among the Believers and the Beloved, bringing us all within a circle of God's powerful, infinite Love, that strengthens with Faith and Trust; then circles around again (sounds sort of hippy-esque, ha.)
I fully believe that:
- The One to whom we pray, possesses every bit of the power of this world and beyond
- The power of prayer is mulitiplied innumerably by the masses and synthesized by the Holy Spirit
- Mass prayer can be just as ineffectual, as effectual
- Prayer is about being fully engaged, in the moment
- Prayer is personal
- Prayer should never be a forced act, or without heart and soul
- Prayer is more than just simple
- Prayer is a simple act
- Prayer is for simple-minded people
- Prayer is for intelligensia
- Everyone prays, admit or not
- Prayer is for everyone and anyone
- Prayer is not talking to God
- Prayer is conversing with God
- Prayer is a reward itself
- Prayer brings about things never imagined
- Prayer is good
- Prayer is ugly
- Prayer hurts
- Prayer heals
- Prayer feels good, refreshes, is quite tasty
- Prayer is proud
- Prayer is humble
- Prayer is quiet
- Prayer is loud
- Prayer is between you and God
- Prayer is not best in public
- Prayer can make you sick to your stomach
- Prayer is not an activity to be judged by mere mortals
- Prayer is not an opportunity to judge someone's spirituality
- Prayer should not be a formal task
- Prayer should not be a task
- Prayer should not be irreverent
- Prayer is not always serious
- Prayer should be comfortable
- Prayer is standing with hands raised
- Prayer is standing, head bowed, hands folded
- Prayer is groveling, gritting teeth, renting clothes, on your knees, "No, I refuse."
- Prayer is soaking in tears, eyes swollen, head fallen, releasing, trusting, "Yes."
- One should always remember the One to whom they're praying
- One should always remember the One to whom they're praying loves them
- One should always remember the One to whom they're praying should be respected
- One should always remember the One to whom they're praying should be feared
- Praying comes naturally
- Praying without ceasing is not a task
- Praying without ceasing is a continual conversation
- Praying without ceasing is opportunity
- Prayer is a responsibility to others
- Praying for Sally's lost dog, Tommy's bruised toe, and Johnny's turtle is an opportunity to talk with GOD. Hello.
- Being too haughty to pray for something you deem as "below you" is digging yourself a special place...somewhere; be careful and remember, you have no power except what is given to you by Christ. So step off
