Most of us aspire to Frank Sinatra’s hit song, “My Way”. Yes, in spite of all the difficulties I did it MY WAY. If we hold this ideal we maybe on the wrong track.

Lately I’ve been sharing the prayers of children on my two Facebook Pages, (“Patty Kogutek – Author” and” Finding Your Joy”. These innocent prayers bring many smiles and also remind us of important messages.

Here’s a sample:

“Dear God,

Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.

Joyce”

After a good laugh we have to examine the message. We have to praise this child, Joyce’s, ability and desire to honestly reach out to God in prayer. She expresses her gratitude for the new baby, but goes on to “remind” God that the baby brother was not what she prayed for! How often do we feel that we have to give a gentle nudge to God to answer our prayer OUR way?

In our prayers we must start with the basic belief of trusting God. We trust God enough to let go and look through his eyes – the eyes of a wise Father. If we approach prayer with that frame of mind our hearts will be open and we will begin to see what God sees and hope for what God hopes. We’ll begin to want what God wants, and do what God does.

That’s what praying in faith does inside us. It slowly reshapes our ideas and desires to match God’s. We change our perspective to shift our wants and needs from our values and expectations of life to align with God’s.

Slowly, gradually praying changes us. And in time it even changes the way we pray.

So where do we begin? By telling God our story, both the grim and the bright. And then as any good conversation goes, be a good listener. Speak the words of the prophet Samuel, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening. “

If we listen from the heart, we will change. We will move from “My will be done,” to “Thy will be done”; from “My Way to Your Way.”

Remember the words of Alvin VanderGriend:

“Praying in faith is not an inner conviction that God will act according to our desires if only we believe hard enough.  It involves believing that God will always respond to our prayers in accord with his nature, his purposes, and his promises.”

 

Keep the faith! #faith #prayer #howtopray #God’swill