Heart Choices: A Prayerful Heart -->

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A Prayerful Heart




A prayerful heart is the focus for our 5th week of A Makeover of the Heart.  Tracy Berta provides a downloadable study guide and a video for you to view on her post At the Well.

How thankful I am to be in a personal relationship with Almighty God.  He is Sovereign.  He knows the beginning and the end.  He sees all and knows all.  He is able to see into my heart.  Nothing escapes Him.

I cannot hide behind a mask of being a good Christian doing lots of good deeds.  God sees the true motives in my heart.

Relationship requires communication.  I communicate with God through prayer.  So many verses of Scripture confirm for me that God wants me to pray.

So each morning I begin my day with the Lord. My Bible and journal are open and I sit quietly as I drink my first cup of coffee.  If the weather permits, I love to sit outside on the patio.  In quietness and solitude I come to be filled to overflowing with His Spirit with an open and willing heart.
  • I acknowledge who He is.
  • I praise and worship Him.
  • I tell Him my concerns.
  • I bring my petitions before Him for myself and others.
  • I believe that He hears me and loves me.   
  • I thank Him.
I listen with a desire to hear Him.  I read His Word expectantly.  Sometimes a verse will stand out or there's a strong impression on my heart.  I record what I learn in my journal.

As I leave this morning time of prayer, it's just the beginning.  Throughout the day, I'm more attentive to that still small voice or prompting by His Holy Spirit.  After all, He may have a Divine appointment for me and I don't want to miss it. 

I'm less dependent on others to fill my needs since I've already been filled.  Whatever my loved ones give to me is extra.  I no longer demand that others meet all my needs.

Tracy shared how we live in a world that has come to expect "instant gratification". 

Instant messages, drive through fast food restaurants, microwave meals ...
Photo Credit: Megan Littell

Being still and waiting doesn't come naturally.

As I look back in my prayer journal, I find my concerns and prayer requests.  In hindsight, I can see that God was actively at work in my life.  Sometimes the answer to a prayer might be yes, no or wait.

I've gone through many seasons of trials.  I've seen that in the midst of my most difficult times, He has been with me.  I've learned valuable lessons I would otherwise not have learned. 

I've learned to trust Him even if I don't see the answer YET.

Although I've been tempted to take things into my own hands, when I've waited on His answer ...I've not been disappointed.  Taking action on my own complicates things.

I'm a work in progress, constantly learning and growing. Sometimes I falter and take a few steps backwards.  But the Lord is so patient with me.

How about you?  Do you take everything to the Lord in prayer?  Do you only share the 'big things' or do you talk to Him about everything?

Blessings and love,

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Debbie Petras
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20 comments:

  1. I'm a work in progress, too! (I think I've got a long way to go!) But, I am so thankful that our Father desires a deep relationship with us. For relationships to become deep, it takes communication. I find that as I bring both the big things and the little things to Him...it is such a blessing.

    Living for Him, Joan

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  2. I have to say that despite all my other faults, prayer is one area I am consistent in. I literally pray without ceasing and by that I mean I have my regular start the day prayer time but I talk to the Lord as I do my chores, run errands, and anytime someone comes to mind.

    Having said that, I also admit sometimes my prayers are more like whining sessions that I end up confessing to Him but I know He sees my heart and understands from what human emotion those prayers come from.

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  3. I confess, I just go to Him with the big things. The little things, I just think are too little, bothersome, maybe??? Good post. Really makes me think about my prayer life.

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  4. I literally talk to the Lord
    about any and everything. I
    guess you could say I do pray
    without ceasing. If I am not
    praying in the natural then I
    am praying in the spirit, in
    tongues. Either way I am greatly
    strengthened by prayer. It is
    my means of survival.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I seem to have a running dialog. I have never thought about if I only take the big things to Him or not, because I seem to try to talk with Him through out my day. Last night he woke me or maybe hormones did, but the first thing I did was meet with him in prayer. The day had brought some unexpected events and it is rare for my house to ever be quite...so I guess in the middle of the night was good time to deal with the events of the day.

    I sometimes wonder what people do that don't pray.

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  6. Debbie:

    I think this is so good! I also loved the commentss above. That would me too... I pray through the day, it's like a running dialog. Someone might say that isn't really praying, but it is. Once I knew that all of the details are known to Him and important to Him, like the sparrows and the amount of hair on our heads... I know He cares about all that concerns me. I think some of my 'best praying' comes when I am alone in the car. No one can hear, and I can talk out loud if I need to, and sometimes I NEED to! :)

    Love this Debbie, you have such a clear way of wording your heart thoughts.

    Love you!

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  7. Debbie,

    This so touched my heart today as I am doing that very thing!

    Being still and waiting patiently on the Lord...

    Spoke to my heart for sure!

    Hugs,

    Holly

    ReplyDelete
  8. wow. you and sonja are on the same
    page today. it's amazing how often
    that happens.

    guess He is saying, "be quiet and rest
    in me."

    ReplyDelete
  9. You know that we (Scott and I) call ourselves the Lord's dumbest sheep! LOL! We are slow learners sometimes and a constant work in progress.

    We both believe in taking everything to Him - our hearts deepest cries to the small details that we know He cares about too! We pray with a heart only wanting to know Him more. That is our belief about prayer - that we are spending time with Him and becoming more like Him. Just as our children are becoming more like us and saying things like us - they spend much time with us.

    Love you!
    Jill

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  10. Hi Debbie,
    Thank you for another beautiful post. I talk to the Lord about everything--I talk to Him out loud all throughout the day.

    In fact, and I don't want to gross anyone out but if I happen to burp out loud (I try really hard not to out of respect for Him) and I am alone in the house, I say, "Pardon me, Lord." That is how literal I take His presence.

    So I guess I do talk to Him about everything if I talk to him about my burps--smile--

    Love you,
    Dianne

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  11. Thanks for those thoughts, Dear. I'm so thankful I have my computer, so that I can pray for others, praise and worship God. There are so many prayer needs. Love you ~

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  12. Thanks for sharing your dear heart.

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  13. That's what's so awesome about Him when we truly grasp what having a personal relationship with the Lord mean! I'm so glad I can pray anytime, anywhere...No tools needed. But just the heart.

    God bless you sister and your faith is amazing!

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  14. Another great post, Debbie! I am so glad you joined us for this study. I have been encouraged in my faith through your words of wisdom.

    Thanks for sharing your heart with us, friend.

    Blessings and love,
    Tracy

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  15. Hi, Debbie
    Two of the hardest skills for the believer to obtain, at least for this believer:
    1. Being still, and ...
    2. Waiting patiently.

    Thank you for this terrific reminder of why it is so important to learn to do both. Marsha Y.

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  16. Ah...often I do find that I am more "fervent" when something is "big"...bigger than I think "I can handle". But in all things I do know to give thanks for His presence and know that it is through Him that we can lean on.

    A wonderful post to remind me...that nothing is too "small" or "insignificant" and that I need to let God be in control in all times.

    Blessings & aloha!
    (I would appreciate your prayers...I just found out that my dad will be checking an area in his carotid artery, so this coming Monday, he will be going to get a heart cath procedure done. My husband had this done back before his heart surgery to replace the chordei (on his mitral valve prolapse)....and...I know to put all my cares at the feet of Jesus...I just wish that we didnt live in Georgia and my dad live in Wisconsin! I am not able to be there.

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  17. I too am a work in progress. And yes, I take everything to the Lord in prayer. Sometimes I just don't know how to pray; sometimes just a "Oh Lord - help" comes out!

    Thank you for sharing from your heart...

    Love & peace,
    <>< Iris

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  18. I really liked what you said about being less dependent on others to fill your needs because you had been filled in your time with the Father. Very insightful. Thank-you.

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  19. I love this post, Debbie.

    It speaks to my heart.

    Especially this line:

    Being still and waiting doesn't come naturally.

    Yes, it is true.

    Waiting on God is an acquired habit...a learned skill.

    Love
    Lidj

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  20. this is the way a blog should be! thanks!

    ReplyDelete

I love to read your comments! I know you have something to share so join in the conversation. And thank you for taking the time.

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