PRAYING WHAT I WANT?

Praying What I want?

by Jan Cox 

It is easy to get petulant and plead to God to change my circumstances or the circumstances of others. But I know that life is not about ME. Oh – It is hard to get rid of ME.

Last Friday I wrote on my personal blog about the word “perspective”, linking to The Gypsy Mama.

As I thought more about this, I thought more about prayer and how we pray. What is my perspective when I pray?

Jesus prayed for us.

“that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21 NIV).

Jesus prayed for us to be one with God. How can I be one with God when I am thinking only about me? Or even when I am thinking about others?

If I am going to be one with God my perspective better be His and not mine.

“The purpose of God is not to answer our prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mind of God.” (Oswald Chambers May 22)

How we react in our circumstances either moves us closer or further away from God.

That is why I work on diminishing ME. The smaller me gives more room for God.

I like to think of the “whack a mole” game where you bash the mole when he pops up. Well each time I get in the way of what God is doing I need to whack that thought back down.

How are you doing in the “me” department? As you can see I am still chipping away at the Stodge.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to live a life of faith in You. Help me to grow closer to You, willing to let “me” go. Help me know Your mind and Your ways. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

I love the song It is the Cry of my Heart.

Here are the words and the video sung by Terry Butler. 

It is the cry of my heart
To follow You
It is the cry of my heart
To be close to You
It is the cry of my heart
To follow all of the days of my life

Teach me Your holy ways oh Lord
So I can walk in Your truth
Teach me Your holy ways oh Lord
And make me wholly devoted to You

Open my eyes so I can see
The wonderful things that You do
Open my heart up more and more
And make it wholly devoted to You

My Gratitude List – Counting to 2000 – I am at 1402

      • conversation and dinner with friends
      • still energy and 5 minutes to write at Five-Minute Fridays; My Blog
      • going for first boat ride of the season on the Trent Canal

      • gorgeous day – no clouds – and 25 degrees C.
      • walks around the trailer park pushing grandbaby in a stroller
      • Snowball sitting with strangers – lots and lots of dogs – she loved it

      • babbling baby
      • successful launch and pulling out of boat back out of water (not my strong point)
      • I remained calm
      • good exhaustion – once again
One of my book’s activities


      • almost finished children’s book
      • lovely boat ride in awesome weather and fantastic break
      • the greens of spring

      • tea from Poland

      • new scatter rugs for bathroom to keep my toes warm agains the cold of the new tile

      • a perfect frame and matting for a painting
      • getting story almost ready for printing
      • on-line prayer with and for others
      • first test publishing of my new children’s book
      • Oh no, “Tommy Turtle” – name is taken
      • thanks to hubby, I figured it out in time
      • good customer service with Shutterfly – they cancelled the order
      • relief – thank You, God
      • finding a new name for turtle – Tadeo (TAHD-ay-OH)
      • Tadeo means “praise” – Oh Lord, thank You.
      • help from family copy editing story
      • excitement of friends
      • my hands picking weeds in the earth
      • talking with young women at the pregnancy centre
      • spending time with a friend
      • meeting other community partners who care about others in our town

Jan Cox

Jan, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number of articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She also writes at A Better Way. Jan is working on a couple children’s books in which she is also the watercolour illustrator.

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