Weary, Sad, Happy...PRAY

~~~ 3 John 5-8 ~~~ Psalm 112 ~~~ Luke 18:1-8 ~~~

...pray always without becoming weary.

Is it possible to make our entire life one continuous prayer?

Would you have to become monk and live in the desert?

How could you get anything else done?

Prayer is amazing because there is no one right way to pray.

Prayers can be as small as a whisper.

Prayers can be as robust as a celebration.

...pray always without becoming weary.

Prayers can fill you with joy.

Prayers can bring tears rolling down your cheeks.

Prayers can soften your calloused heart.

Prayers can surprise you.

Prayers can raise your spirits.

Prayers can give you renewed hope.

Prayers can instill comfort in troubled times.

When have your prayers made all the difference in your day?

Even if we do become weary we must never fail to pray.

Prayers can be spoken aloud.

Prayers can be thoughts in your head.

Prayers can be feelings of love in your heart.

Prayers can be expressed in the clasp of hand.

...pray always without becoming weary.

Singing your prayers might be your best option;

it is said singing is praying twice.

Pray when you think you have nothing to say.

Pray when your words do make any sense.

Pray when you think you have no time.

God always hears our prayers.

God sends his grace through our prayers.

The Blessings you receive while praying

 are exactly what you need.

~~~Peace~~~

The Squeaky Wheel

~~~ 3John 5-8 ~~~ Psalm 112 ~~~ Luke 18:1-8 ~~~

 

We all are familiar with the saying...

the squeaky wheel gets the attention...

Today Jesus is giving us a parable that seems to support

this saying with one minor twist...

PRAYER

becomes the squeaky wheel.

He tells the story of the woman who repeatedly approached

the irreligious atheistic judge until at last he granted her request.

 

"...pray always without becoming weary..."

 

This example encourages us to come to God as frequently

as we can with our prayers.

The poor woman was not deterred by the judge's apparent disinterest.

She was not discouraged by his lack of consideration for her dilemma.

 

If in the end, this ordinary human judge did hear the woman;

so much more is God inclined to hear our prayers.

 

"...Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?"

 

Sending up our prayers day and night should not be like

the whining of a spoiled child.

Our unceasing prayers should be an experience

of our belief in God's love.

Our prayers should be a sign of our faith and hope

in the wisdom of God.

 

The more we pray the stronger our faith will become,

because if we do not have faith in God

then we will eventually stop praying.

 

If we do not pray in faith our prayers

are nothing more than a clanging gong.

If we are not praying in faith we are wasting precious time.

 

"...But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

 

It is up to each of us to exercise and revive our faith through our prayers.

I am not suggesting that you set aside hours every day to recite

all of the rote prayers in your head.

I am, however, suggesting that you make the intention to

make your life one of prayer.

 

If we make the intention to live in prayer then

engaging in conversation with God throughout our day will become

a natural occurance.

 Be the Squeaky Wheel.