Prayer

“In believing prayer, we learn to connect our present troubles to the good and perfect will of God. We refuse to believe that chance rules our lives. We withstand the temptation to imagine that God is capricious or malicious. We know he has a higher purpose and that he is not dealing with us as our sins deserve. As we bring our troubles to Jesus in prayer—asking his will to be done—we approve the will of our Father in heaven. We see our sufferings in the greater reality of his good, acceptable, and perfect will. In prayer we “turn crisis to Christ.” Our heart becomes tuned to his heart and we sing the song of grace.” Ancient Prayer, John F. Smed

Sometimes I find myself just praying. Not even really listening to what I'm saying. Just doing it because it's what you do before meals, before Bible study, before your quiet time. But this idea of 'believing prayer', really praying with a belief in what I'm saying matters is crucial. That He is listening. And His word tells us He is: The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry. Psalm 34:15 I want to believe this more and more each day. I want to pray believing I am heard, believing my requests are considered, believing there will be an answer, and living as if I have a Father.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:5