My Prayer

Prayer is something that I have wrestled with my entire life. Back many years ago, I didn't really understand the power of it. In fact, if I prayed it was because I needed Him to get me out of a tough spot. I now find myself praying not just daily, but multiple times a day. It such a relief to know I can actually just have an all-out conversation with my Father. I always want to boldly approach His throne. The flip side to that is that I want to make sure that I stand on the faith that He will provide what I ask for, as long as it's within the boundaries of His will for my life.
I have really enjoyed reading the Message Bible. I think it really lays it all out there in simple terms and brings the words from the pages to life for me. I was reading in Matthew today--reading passages I have read many times before in my New King James Version Bible, but for some reason it made more sense this time around. For instance, here is an exerpt from Matthew Chapter 6 that struck me--I kind of had a "light bulb turning on moment" if that makes sense.

"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and He knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who You are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best--
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part." Matthew 6--exerpt from Message Bible

That, my friends, is a powerful Word from the Lord in my opinion. After all, who really knows how to pray the best--the longest--the strongest? I don't, that's for sure. The amazing part of it is that as long as I continue in my "conversations" with the Lord, I won't be let down. It's when I turn my back and try to figure it out my way that I get completely blind-sided with darkness. I love the prayer that Jesus teaches us, whether it be in Message Bible form or King James Version form. Either way, it translates to something extremely powerful. I would have to say that my prayer for today is:
Lord, please help me to just get to know YOU a little better. I don't need to understand Your ways or thoughts. I just need more of You in me. Thank you for giving me the honor and the pleasure not only to serve You, Oh Mighty Father, but to come and kneel at the foot of your throne and talk with You. Amen