I am a cynic. And faithless. My rational mind strives away from faith and the supernatural, while at the same time believing in both. There are days when I hate to pray, because I can’t approach God like He is some fast food counter where I can immediately sate my gluttony for answered prayer. It’s not the results of prayer He is after. It is how were are broken and rebuilt in the process of prayer. This has recently been my life.

But I am seeing faint glimpses. Hardship and pain are giving away to freedom and encouragement. I am seeing to work of the Almighty One in many small ways. And the small ways add up to the big way in which God works.

When I recognize the ways He loves me (the glaringly imperfect me), my heart weeps with joy. I am not worthy, yet I am profoundly worthy in His eyes. My imperfections stare me in the face. Yet He gazes upon me longingly, with adoring grace.  And I am undone.

God has helped me through a few very difficult months, though I have been weak at best in my prayers.  Last weekend, I was compelled to pray for a situation.  I was awake all night in battle.  It was for a person that I love.  The next day God answered, and encouraged me to pray persistently and watchfully through the sermon at my church.  And He reaffirmed His vivid presence to me in ways I will not describe here. 

 As I continue to struggle with staying persistent with prayer, God comes through.  Prayer does work. 

How are you doing with prayer?  Do you truly believe in God’s work through it?  Or are you just going through the motions?  Let me know your experiences.  I am sure we would all benefit. 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 6th, 2007 at 3:21 pm and is filed under Challenge/Growth, Living Like Jesus, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Warfare. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.