As a child I recited a delightful ditty something like this
before every meal: “Thank you for the world so sweet / Thank you for the food
we eat / Thank you for the birds that sing / Thank you God for everything.” It
meant nothing more to me than pleasing my Mom and once that was accomplished I could
dig in.
I am so glad that I can come to God and can converse with
Him. My God is approachable. My God is real.
I am learning that rote prayer – even one I made up myself - doesn’t
please him anymore than me reciting some ditty before meals. God wants me to
come to Him with my heartfelt needs, wants, desires, concerns, cares and
heartaches.
Another aspect of prayer that excites me is that God wants to
answer my prayers. Sometimes my
petitions must seem awfully petty and minor to God. However, He still listens and answers. Please
understand that He doesn’t always answer my prayers according to my will, but
according to His. He may say, “No.” He
may say, “Yes.” He may say, “In due time.”
Esther brought her heartache to the King just as we can bring
all our cares to God. Her prayer was no delightful little ditty like I prayed
as a kid. It was pouring her heart out. What an example of presenting my requests to
the King of Kings!
“For how can I endure
to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the
destruction of my kindred?” Esther 8:6
© copyright Kevin T Boekhoff
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