prayer day

May 1 is the National Day of Prayer—and 2008 is probably the first time I’ve ever truly recognized it. I’ve learned in recent months of my life that prayer is a necessity; I mean I’ve always known it’s important, but it truly has become a necessary part of my day. A good book that I continuously read is The Power of a Praying Wife. I say “continuously” because I read it through once and knew that I would have to carry it with me to read it over and over again whenever I get a spare moment (usually a short lunchtime). I have found that it not only makes me feel closer to my Heavenly Father, but also to my husband. I think about him more throughout the day, saying short little prayers, and then much better able to understand his side of things when it comes to life.

I used to keep a prayer journal; I haven’t been so good at that as of late. But perhaps this day is being brought to my attention as a way of God speaking and reminding me what an important tool this is as well.

In a creative team meeting at church the other week, we were talking about how to teach people to pray. Some people think that prayer is something that happens as a quick little recitation before eating a meal. However, prayer should be and is deeper than that—especially for a Christian. It is a conversation between a person and their Father. It is a moment between the souls of a Creator and His beloved creation. Thanking, praising, asking, seeking, sometimes even begging…but most importantly, listening. God speaks to us continually, praying can be a moment that I listen and speak back