Intentional Prayer

Happy Monday, dear readers! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Did y'all watch the Oscars? I was glad to see Hugo and The Artist receive such recognition, but I was admittedly pretty surprised by the outcomes (sweeps, really). And seriously, how has Gary Oldman never won, much less been nominated only once? Dude is awesomesauce.

Anywho...

Lately I've been positively giddy about the awesome power of intentional prayer. Yes, I realize it's a bit sad that I'm just getting jazzed about this at 30 years of age, but it's also a reflection of how many years I've been just scratching the surface in terms of my relationship with God. I relegated prayer to some form of the childhood "God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy, God bless Brover..." litany, thanking the Lord with a generalized sense of obedience and asking for all things "according to [his] will." These aren't bad prayers, by any means. But man, have I been missing out on the incredible attention that the Lord gives when we engage in specific, intimate prayer with him.

It's like when you hear through the grapevine that a good friend is struggling. You want to be there for them, but you also want them to bring it up so that you know you are voluntarily included and can help (instead of acting on what may be little more than gossip). Maybe you even call this friend, knowing there is something potentially on their heart, but you get nada. "Oh, I'm good. Staying busy." O...K. Without intending to, a wall slowly builds up. Holding out on sharing can chip away at the intimacy cultivated over years of trust and sharing.

God knows our hearts, so he has the inside scoop without needing to hear a word. But he wants us to offer to share our lives with him. To say the words, to lean on him and keep him in the loop with an offering of intimacy. It's truly amazing what he can and will do when you let him that close and boldly ask for specific guidance and aid, whether for direction in a major life decision or simply quieting anxieties while attempting to fall asleep. What an opportunity for love and praise and glory! 

"You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God." {Psalm 65:5 NLT}

"You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God." {William Booth}