Thoughts...

Well, so much for blogging once a week! :)

So many thoughts running through my head, I just haven't set aside enough time to get them written down...so I'll blog today about the one most pressing on my mind. Prayer

There is a beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman (I encourage you to seek out a copy if you don't know it) titled "Let us Pray". I get goosebumps every time I hear it:

Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day, it is the right time
For the Father above, He is listening with love
And He wants to answer us, so let us pray

When I was little, the verse in 1 Thessalonians 5 to pray without ceasing always baffled me. I had to eat, sleep, do school, go to church, and play (that was the most important part of my day). How could I pray without stopping? Years later I came to a conclusion, it may not be very philosophical, but I would like to share it anyway.

When my husband is home, we like to talk...well honestly I do most the talking and he does a lot of listening, but we discuss our week, what's on the calendar for the next week, what we are looking forward to, blah, blah, blah. Our conversation starts and stops, gets cut short by the kiddos or paused by a phone call and continued some more. We don't really "end" the conversation. I believe God is omnipresent, He is sitting in my living room (or kitchen or yard), rides on errands with me, visits friends and goes to church with me. He is always here and always ready to listen...and share...as I allow Him that place in my day.

Similar to my husband, I can converse with God throughout my day, as things or people or situations come to mind (or are brought to mind). It isn't that I don't do anything else, it is that He is apart of every thing I do.

So, back to the song,

I hear you say your heart is aching
You've got trouble in the making
And you ask if I'll be praying for you please
And in keeping with conviction
I'll say yes with good intentions
To pray later making mention of your needs
But since we have this moment here at heaven's door
We should start knocking now, what are we waiting for?

CHORUS:
Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day, it is the right time
For the Father above, He is listening with love
And He wants to answer us, so let us pray

So when we feel the Spirit moving
Prompting, prodding and behooving
There is no time to be losing, let us pray
Let the Father hear us saying
What we need to be conveying
Even while this song is playing, let us pray
And just because we say the word, "Amen"
It doesn't mean this conversation needs to end

Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day, it is the right time
Let us pray without end and when we finish start again
Like breathing out and breathing in, let us pray

Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence
As our prayers draw us near
To the One who knows our needs
Before we even call His name

Let us pray everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day, it is the right time
Let us pray without end and when we finish start again
Like breathing out and breathing in, let us pray

Prayer becomes such a natural part of my day, like breathing, that my conversation with God never "ends" but is a continual extension of my consciousness. The privilege of praying for a person or situation is one I hold very dear. And with that in mind, if there is anything or anyone you would like prayer for...please leave me a comment.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)