Prayer

I can study the Bible for hours. 

I can read books for days.

Yet I long to be a woman of prayer. 

Harder, more intimate, real, vulnerable, a position of humility.

Do I believe that it matters?

Do I believe that God really knows better than me and if I do what excuse do I have for not more consistently laying my agenda at His feet?

I told my children on the way to school that it was time for prayers and instantly heard the huffing and saw the eye rolls.

"Do you know that you are praying to the God of the universe? The God who made those trees right there and that amazing blue sky above your heads? You get to talk to Him anywhere anytime. It is an honor!", I declared with a conviction that I wanted my actions to match.

After they went inside I read the daily readings and reflections for the day and this was part of it:

Listen to what John Chrysostom, a 5th century church father, has to say about the power of prayer: “Prayer is an all-efficient panoply [i.e. 'a full suit of armor' or 'splendid array'], a treasure undiminished, a mine never exhausted, a sky unobstructed by clouds, a haven unruffled by storm. It is the root, the fountain, and the mother of a thousand blessings. It exceeds a monarch’s power. ..I speak not of the prayer which is cold and feeble and devoid of zeal. I speak of that which proceeds from a mind outstretched, the child of a contrite spirit, the offspring of a soul converted – this is the prayer which mounts to heaven. ..The power of prayer has subdued the strength of fire, bridled the rage of lions, silenced anarchy, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, enlarged the gates of heaven, relieved diseases, averted frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. In sum prayer has power to destroy whatever is at enmity with the good.”

There is a world full of hurt all around us and we have full welcome access to more power than our minds can fathom.
On my knees tonight because He's Listening.