Daily Prayer

Good morning! How are we faithing? Dreams and odd things run through our heads. Heck I day dream and get lots of ideas working things out in my head, how about you? I know, I've gone off the deep end again! I can't swim but the deep end is very enticing! Diving head first is ok but being prepared is important. Wear your life vest if you can't swim! Praying for the sake of duty and guilt is not praying like Jesus taught. "I must pray 15 minutes or I'm not close to God" is a lie. Praying because we want to speak with our savior, our confidant, our friend and also our God, now that's what praying is all about. Reading the Word to become more holy is not the reason to read. Getting to know Jesus better, that's why. Having the mindset he has, that's why. Seeing others as he does, that's why. Desiring to gain the wisdom of God, that's why. Procedures and rules are not there for us to be obedient for obedience's sake but for us to learn our masters ways. Do you follow this logic? We as Christians should not be concerned so much with how but why. The how leads us to God, if you are not discovering God your "how" may be suspect. Many people have said to me,"that's how it's done" or "we've always done it that way" and that's fine until it gets in the way of Jesus. If the "how" impedes your relationship with Jesus, it is suspect. Now don't misunderstand, there is a place for "how" but getting closer to him is the goal. Learning God's ways and what he sees is more important than how you got there. Diving in without the life vest earlier mentioned, when you can't swim, is stupid. Reaching for God without the Word and prayer is, well, you understand.

2 Peter 1:5-9
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
NIV

James 3:17-18
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
NIV

2 Corinthians 4:66
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
NIV

John 6:45
It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
NIV

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word and the wisdom you give. Lord teach us to pray and help us seek you. Help us see what what you do. Help us recognise things that benefit our relationship with you and help those things that don't not hinder us. Lord we want to be more like you but we need to understand your ways. Open the eyes of our hearts so we see what you see. Lord help us not be afraid of doing your will. Lord we love and praise you, in Jesus name, Amen