Continuing on with Prayer

Do you have an unending desire, a yearning to learn more, to grow deeper in prayer, as I do? I keep circling around and into other topics, and usually find myself being drawn again and again to learn more about this thing, this practice we call prayer.

We somehow can feel so very inadequate, and so inexperienced in prayer. And even guilty, for we are led to believe that it must look a certain way, for everyone.

I have just finished reading through Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge by Mark Batterson, for probably the 3rd or 4th time. And each time I am so challenged and encouraged by reading it. This time was no exception - it is hard to explain, but God has used this season to draw me to be more intentional and motivated in prayer. It really starts in our hearts, with a perspective of faith and trust, and a longing to connect deeply with God.

Also, the little booklet in the photo above has been a great help in remembering and recording specific prayer needs as I pray for others ... A Lifestyle of Prayer Guide. And I will now be continuing on with reading words of encouragement on prayer, and have started to read Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Timothy Keller, a book I recently ordered and just arrived a few days ago! 

Maybe we have an undeniable and unending thirst for prayer, because this thirst and desire is really a thirst and desire for knowing God more intimately. And one of the main ways He has given us to know Him ... is through prayer. 

With His Word in hand,

and His Spirit in our hearts,

we are given the greatest, most awesome privilege

we could ever dream of:

to communicate with, to be heard by,

and to hear the heart of our Savior, our Lord.

So our longing to grow deeper in prayer, is really a longing to know Him and to be part of what He is doing - not only in our own lives but also in the world - in deeper ways than ever before.

"Prayer is how God gives us so many of the unimaginable things He has for us. Indeed, prayer makes it safe for God to give us many of the things we most desire. It is the way we know God, the way we finally treat God as God. Prayer is simply the key to everything we need to do and be in life. We must learn to pray. We have to."  (Timothy Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God)