Prayer: The Gate

I am recovering from a terrible cold with a deep rattling cough.  I live on a steep hill at the foot of Pikes Peak, and we have had a March blizzard.  I like shoveling snow in a weird sort of way when I am healthy.   But I have no business shoveling snow at all today .  So… doing what I love to do anyway…I prayed. I added that it would be great to have someone who needed a few bucks to show up and clear away what the blizzard left on my driveway.

Barely having said “Amen” there was a knock at the door and two young men, Tyler and James wanted to know if I needed my driveway shoveled. I told them they were the answer to my prayers, and in 15 minutes the entire deal was done.   It was beneficial for all parties and that is how it should be. 

Answered prayers can be quick.  I forget how quickly things can come together with some divine intervention. So my prayer for today is praise and thanks.

Father God, I am grateful that James and Tyler came to help today. I am glad I had some cash with me to give in exchange.  They did a quality job and I ask that you are with them, and bless every aspect of their lives.  Protect them, guide them, reveal the wonder of your presence to them.

I thank you God, also for much needed moisture.  I pray for those who must go somewhere today and be outside.  Keep them well and return them home safely.  Amen

We must continue remembering our prayers for families who need work and homes.  And as you pray, it is important to pray for others and not just yourself. Often times, what you ask for others is returned to you.

God, it is especially on our hearts at this time to lift up families to you who have suffered hardship.  Let there be work, fulfilling, good paying, primary jobs for everyone.  Let there be shelter and a place to call home for all of them and especially for children everywhere.

We pray for wisdom for our leaders as we recover from this recession.  Let trade agreements be made fair for all countries so manufacturing and international trade can resume.  Help us all to make sound decisions in our finances and lending from this day forward.  Amen

 

As we progress through Lent, Holy God, enable us to deepen our spiritual lives.  Let the little things remind us of the sacrifice made on our behalf by Jesus.  Teach us to pray that we may know you.  Teach us to listen for the still small voice that is you tenderly calling to us.

Amen

Sometimes I think we don’t want to pray, especially conversational prayer because we are afraid.  We think God may ask us to change careers, do some missionary work…something we don’t want to or are afraid to do.

We get comfortable with the way things have worked.  Maybe they weren’t great, but they worked.  So let’s not rock the boat.  But in times like these, the boat is being tossed and thrown all over the place. 

If we are willing to get out of the boat, we might even walk on water.

God, help us to hear your voice.  Let us be willing to go forward with the changes.  Help us to find the meaningful work, the gifts and the purpose that allows us to be more than we ever thought possible.

Thank you for the blessings, the opportunities and the lives we touch day to day.  Amen

We are all radiant, beautiful, spiritual beings.  We are made in God’s image.  It is important to remember that God loves us even when we don’t feel loved or loveable. 

It amazes me that he loves us even when we are not at our best.  He loves us when we are not all we should be.  But his grace and mercy pour out upon us.  All we have to do is call on him.

Take a few moments and walk and talk with God today.  Go there in full knowledge of your true identity.  You are a radiant child of God.

In Christ we are many members, but one body!

This is the theme for 2009 world day of prayer.  Each year there is something like a host country.  This year it begins in Papua New Guinea. The focus of the prayers this year are for women and children.  Let us pray for women and children everywhere for these things:

• Protect
• Cherish
• Educate
• Recognize
• Value
• Listen

We also continue to pray for the people in Australia who are still experiencing hardship from the flooding to the north and devastation of fire in the south.  God heal them and lift them up to overcome this adversity.