Ground of Prayer

In response to the statement that "our times are in God's hand" Evelyn Underhill writes, "As the life of prayer deepens it brings a gradual realization that through all the vicissitudes of trial, sin, and conflict, the ground of the soul is rooted in God's life; that country from which we are exiled, yet which is our home. The ultimate humble trust of the little creature which first dared to say Abba! Father! is placed in the Absolute love; and finds in the simple return to God the Unchanging, that personal and permanent relation which is the ground of prayer."

Praying in Jesus' name means praying in a way consistent with his character and his will; it also means coming to God in the authority of Jesus. Adding "in Jesus' name" at the end of every prayer is neither required nor wrong. Effective prayer must ask for and desire what Jesus delights in. To know that God hears us in whatever we ask is enough, because communion with God is the goal of prayer. Human experience testifies that Christians do not always receive all the things they ask from God, even things that seemingly accord with God's revealed will. Praying according to God's will includes the need to pray in faith, with patience, in obedience, and in submission to God's greater wisdom. (ESV Study Bible notes)

Here are my words from the lectionary readings of the past week;

Monday May 11 - Acts 17: 22-31      allotted
Tuesday May 12 - Psalm 66:8-15       tested
Wednesday May 13- Psalm 66:16-20  has listened (God)
Thursday May 14 - I Peter 3:13-16     sanctify
Friday May 15 -  I Peter 3: 17-22       alive
Saturday May 16 - John 14: 15-21     keep
Sunday  May 17 - Jeremiah 7:1-34     amend

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than one seeks."

Prayer of the day for May 13: "Almighty God, shine on me the light of Your face.Let the love of my God make my heart happy. Let me not long for earthly glory but let me please my King. Your will be done."

Vicki Scheib a spiritual director from York, PA. writes these insightful words. "If you are like me you may find yourself prone to numbing out in this extended time of isolation. This is how it looks in my life:
carb loading, social media surfing, mindless mental wandering, extended times of inactivity.

In the midst of my choices I am noticing a quiet nudge to return to the basics of spiritual practices. Those practices that help me be in touch with what I need, what I want and what I desire...
What is it you need in this season of isolation? What do you want? What is your deep desire? Take some time to pay attention to your life and voice what you need. Don't ignore what you notice. The answers to these questions are a way to stay connected to your deepest self and a means of staying connected with God."

Truly, I need to take some time to pay attention, and to be open to the Spirit of God at work within me. In saying that I also must confess that I have a hard time hearing or discerning the voice of God in my life. It seems that the voice of God has been silent to me. And so I wait, expectant and hopeful.

"It is the trial of our faith that makes us healthy in God's sight." (Oswald Chambers)

"If you love life, life will love you back." (Heavy Thinking)