Five prayers we need

 
I have really enjoyed my little Sparkly Garden and taking my grandchildren to have some one-on-one time. This past time was a pizza party with Patriot and we drink soda out of Silas's bearded mugs. Patriot giggled about that. His laughter is so contagious!! We really enjoyed our time! 

I realized that my Sparkly Garden and my time in prayer can be similar. When I know I get to have special time with someone in my garden, I take time to prepare.  Our prayer time is like that. We have to make preparation which begins the night before by getting to bed early! If I'm too sleepy in the morning then it's hard to concentrate on my time with the Lord and my flesh often wins. I also like to get my coffee pot ready to go. My supplies gathered and then I just look forward to that special time I have with the Lord, my very best friend. He's someone who loves me. Not for how I act but just for being me. I have come to treasure that time with Him! I have all of His attention and He has all of mine. 

There are many things I talk about when I have my prayer time with the Lord, but I recently taught a ladies lesson on five prayers that we need to have. 

1. Prayer of Adoration  Psalm 79:13 says, So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

Have you really considered who you get to talk to everyday? We get to talk to our Almighty God, our Creator, our Sustainer of life, our Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, the Mighty King, the Fountain of Life. This is who desires to hear from me and wants to spend time with me. It's so amazing and awesome and humbling. Sometimes I get so caught up in having my prayer time being about what I need and what I want. And I forget to take time just to praise this Almighty God and take time to adore Him.

2. Prayer of confession 

Psalm 66:18 says If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

David is such a good example to us of how to get right after we've sinned. He didn't just ask for forgiveness, he asked to be transformed, renewed and changed from the inside out. In Psalm 51:1-12 you can hear his heart in regards to his sin.  It's so important to begin our prayer time cleansing our heart and getting things right with the Lord.

3. Prayers for others   I love to pray Ephesians 3:14-21 as I pray for others. I think we are all very similar where this is the bulk of our prayer time because we have chosen to love others and want what is best for them. But I'm finding how important it is to guard my heart against letting this time habitually be a time of complaining of others. Isn't that sad. But unfortunately this can be a trap in the minds of women that frames their day in a negative light. For example, we have someone in our life that we love but we see them struggling. Maybe it's a big thing. Maybe it's petty.  But if we are not careful we start out each day focusing on this complaint to God. But do we look at the good in that person and how God is growing them? Perspective is so important. We don't want to dwell on petty things that really don't matter and we don't want to start our day focusing on negativity. Of course, pray for others in your life. That's what the Lord would have us to do! But in all actuality how often do we pray spiritually for our family and our loved ones? Never give up on miracle asks! Never give up on anyone.  It's easy to want to give up and think they will never change but God does move and He is still working! 

4. Personal desires 

Don't forget to pray for you, too! God desires to fulfill our every need and desire we have, but we must acknowledge that He does know us better than we know ourselves. And that means that He knows the best answer for us. Sometimes His answer may be no. Sometimes it is wait. And then sometimes it is yes! We don't always understand the whys but it's amazing in my life how I can look back and see how God truly did know best for me! Psalm 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

5. Prayer for Salvation 

This is the absolute best prayer any of us could ever make! Praying to accept Christ as your Savior is the beginning of a wonderful walk, hand in hand with our Lord. Without Christ there will always be an empty place in your heart, a void,  that only He can fill! 

My prayer time has become so sweet and special but it does take work. It does take effort. But I have found What a friend I have in Jesus! 

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear. 

What a privilege to carry,

Everything to God in prayer 

Oh what peace we often forfeit, 

Oh what needless pain we bear.

All because we do not carry 

Everything to God in prayer. 

Have we trials and temptations? 

Is there trouble anywhere? 

We should never be discouraged. 

Take it to the Lord and prayer. 

Can we find a friend so faithful? 

Who will all our sorrow share? 

Jesus knows our every weakness. 

Take it to the Lord in prayer.