Prayer

The past few days have been incredible. I was made aware of some major issues that concerned future jobs I had lined up. Little did I know that things would take such a crazy turn. I was abruptly made aware of the conflicting leaving and arrival times between my summer job and my internship. As soon as I got off the phone with both jobs, I realized that I just needed to get on my knees and pray...hard and long!

Sometimes the concept of prayer comes around only when I need something. I know that this is cliche, but prayer is one of the sweetest ways to communicate with God. Unfortunately, the only concept that is associated with prayer for most is, "I'm in deep doo doo, God help!" I have definitely been apart of this category, with my pocket God t-shirt.

But, God has been speaking to my heart! Amidst all of the craziness, I felt the call to pray, alot! I did feel God's direct hand in my situation through support from good friends. But, I also felt the call to pray for discernment, wisdom, and strength to not give in to the easy answer. I have always thought that prayer is something that should happen after reading the Bible or before your head hits the pillow. I believe that prayer is all about staying in communication with God. God yearns to be intimate with his children. I believe wholeheartedly that God walks alongside his children, waiting to listen and answer.

You know what happened? He walked with me. He held his hand out and I grabbed it tightly. I know that many prayers start with, "Dear Jesus, Father God, or Lord God," and end with "amen." The cool thing is, God doesn't stop listening when we say amen. We open and close our conversations with God, but he continues to watch and listen. God is "...intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all" (Psalm 139:3-4).

I was able to keep both jobs. But, more importantly I learned that prayer plays a huge role in my intimacy with God. I know that in reading this it will be easy to say, Duh, prayer brings you close to God. My response is, you can claim the naivety of the understanding of intimacy with God , but unless you truly believe and yearn to be closer to God through prayer it won't happen.

My prayer is that when situations become thick, days are sunny, that girl winks at you, or in whatever you experience, I hope that you learn to pray. Pray from your heart, pray hard and long, and pray knowing that God desires to hear from you( 1 Peter 3:12, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers)