Prayer – Practical Faith Practice

                            By Patrick Hawthorne

For the last several months, I have been blogging on the power of prayer.  I am a firm believer in prayer and our Heavenly Father’s desire to meet the needs of His children.  Yet, I honestly believe that many needs go unmet simply because the asker has not approached the throne in faith believing that God is willing to answer our petitions.  Many times I have heard people say that they feel guilty approaching our Heavenly Father with petty requests.  Not me!

Let me ask you a question.  Which is easier, asking God for help finding a parking spot or asking God for a parking lot?  This might sound really ridiculous, but serves well to illustrate my point.  How will you learn to stretch your faith for the big unless you start practicing in the little?

I assure you, our Heavenly Father is not offended by us practicing our faith so that we can fine tune our spiritual ears to be able to hear accurately the voice of the Holy Spirit. As I have written before, I’ve asked the Lord on numerous occasions to help me find a dropped screw or nail so that I don’t puncture a tire.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV)

Did you get that one word…, “Everything?”  Everything means everything, even if it seems ridiculous or over simplistic.  Prayer by the religious is repetitive nonsense built upon the premise of a clanging symbol – it is a one-sided note designed to create noise.  Prayer by those who look to God not as a religious figure but as a Heavenly Father is a delight; it is a relationship.  Begin today with a practical practice of faith.  Ask the Lord for something very simple and then allow His peace to prevail.  If you have no peace with one direction, go another till you feel that peace.  You may be certain that I did prior to passing on this information to you.   Be blessed