When do you pray?
Prayer is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, the communication factor with God that opens us to grace, hope and the very love of God that transforms our lives.
So, when do you pray?
Think about that for a moment. Think about when you pray before you start reciting the endless list in your head about why you don't have the time to pray that you think you should, would or could, if only. Take a deep breath, and ponder this for a moment.
Did you pray at church this week? Did you say grace with you meals today, spoken or unspoken? Did you make a green light, thereby getting to work in plenty of time, and say, "Thank you, God"? Did you admire the clouds in the sky while running an errand before you picked you kids up from school? Prayer happens throughout your day, in ways that are obvious, and many that are not so apparent.
A prayer for God's help and guidance hudged between two thoughts about when to pay bills and still produce what is required at work, or a bit of extra patience listening to a friend, can both be strong prayers in simple, profound ways.
Our hopes and dreams are also prayers. Albeit not always spoken, our thoughts convey our desires to God and are as viable as the prayers in which we share at each Sunday worship service. Hebrews 11:1 states: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." In our hopes we communicate our faith in God, to God.
Prayer communicates to God all that we want to share with God. Praise, adoration, gratitude, hope, fear, trust, petitions, anything we want to share with God, and particularly those things we may not be able to share with anyone else are there for the giving. God listens, and God hears.
Take a moment, a pen and a piece of paper, and jot down when you prayed today, and what you prayed about and for. No judgements, just a consideration of your communication with God today.
When Do You Pray?
September 24, 2005
|
Cory L. Kemp
As an ordained minister I have worked in educational ministries in several congregations, as well as pastoring a congregation. My writing has focused on nonfiction essays and I have recently submitted a theological memoir for publication. My ministerial background and love of writing have combined to develop Creating Women Ministries, a website dedicated to encouraging theological dialogue, particularly among women, through workshops, journaling and personal spiritual development. My website can be found at http://CreatingWomenMinistries.com, and I can be reached by email at Creatingwome@irun.com.
Lastest Headlines for "Women"
- Obama thanks women of Illinois delegation for his political start (Rocky Mountain News via Yahoo! News)
Sen. Barack Obama, hours away from accepting his party's nomination at Invesco Field, paid a surprise visit to the women of the Illinois delegation. - B.C. golfer Little wins Canadian Women's Senior Championship (Canadian Press via Yahoo! News)
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Jackie Little struggled to a final round of nine-over 80 Thursday at the Royale Canadian Women's Senior Championship, but that was easily enough for her first win at the tournament. - Truck hits sushi bar, kills two women (UPI)
MAPLE RIDGE, British Columbia, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested a man whose truck smashed into a British Columbia sushi restaurant and killed two women while injuring six others. - Stress may raise breast cancer risk in young women (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Young women who experience more than one stressful life event are at greater risk of developing breast cancer, but a general feeling of happiness and optimism may help guard against the disease, Israeli researchers report. - Canada loses to Japan in final, earns silver at Women's Baseball World Cup (The Canadian Press via Yahoo! Canada News)
MATSUYAMA, Japan - Canada fell to Japan 11-3 in the final at the IBAF Women's Baseball World Cup on Friday. - Navy women need fashion help, critic says - Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy ... (Navy Times)
Navy women “are getting the short end of the stick” with unflattering and un-stylish uniforms, wrote a fashion critic on the Web site of an influential style magazine, but never fear — she has some suggestions for improvements. - Black women South Africa's most unemployed (AFP via Yahoo! News)
As one in nearly three black South African women who are jobless, Sabatha Nyawo has pounded the streets of South Africa's financial capital Johannesburg for two years in search of work. - Women Prefer Vehicles with Storage, Study Says (HispanicBusiness.com)
MILWAUKEE -- For women car buyers, kicking the tires isn't what it used to be. A new study conducted by Johnson Controls Inc. found that what women want in a vehicle is as varied as the demands they meet as they balance career and family responsibilities. - P&G's Arnold among Forbes' most powerful women (The Cincinnati Enquirer)
Procter & Gamble's top-ranking woman executive is also among the world's most powerful women, according to Forbes magazine's annual list. - Movie Preview: The Women (Entertainment Weekly)
In 1994, Murphy Brown creator English wrote a draft of The Women , a remake of George Cukor's 1939 classic. The intended stars: Ryan and Julia Roberts. Fourteen years and about a zillion script and cast changes later, the update is finally done.