Christians, Remember This...

 

Captivate Me: A Prayer

During a writer's workshop last year, I penned this simple prayer. My word for 2012 was "captivated," and this prayer embodied what I wanted my year to be. In case you're wondering, my word for 2013 is PRAYER. :-) 

Captivate me, Father,

with your beauty.

The radiance

of Your holiness,

raining down

 like a million brilliant diamonds

   upon a world in need of Light.

 

Captivate me, Father,

until I am torn away

from the things of this earth –

useless, meaningless things

that keep me from experiencing

all that You are.

 

Captivate me, Father,

with your goodness

that never ends,

and your grace

that never stops giving.

 

Captivate me, Father,

until all that I see

is Your beauty,

all that I dwell on

is Your face,

all that I want

 is You.

 

Captivate me.

Pray by Sanctus Real

 

 

The lyrics of this song by Sanctus Real couldn't fit better with my 31 Days series on prayer! Please take a minute to listen to the video and read the lyrics. You'll be glad you did!

 

Pray (Sanctus Real)

 

I bow my head to pray, I don't know what to say

I'm not sure how to fix the things I'm dealing with
I'm in a desperate place, I need to share the weight
But I just don't know how, to let it all pour out
Though I'm silent, my heart is crying
Cause I was made to come to You

So I pray
God I need You more than words can say
Right here in this moment
You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
So even if it's just to speak Your name
I'm gonna pray

I failed to find the time, but You've been calling out
I let the days go by as if I could live without
But it's gotta be here now, I won't be pulled away
Cause it's just You and I, so let the world around us fade

As I pray
God I need You more than words can say
Right here in this moment
You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
So even if it's just to speak Your name
I'm gonna pray
I'm gonna pray

(Father)
Will You meet me here right now?
(Father)
I surrender, lay it down
(Father)
And every time I close my eyes
I know that I was made
To lift my hands and pray
I lift my hands and pray

You know my heart, You know my need
And every single part of me
So even if it's just to speak Your name
I'm gonna pray
I'm gonna pray

You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
More than words, You are my life
Take it as an offering 

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During the month of October, bloggers from far and wide are linking up their posts on one topic for 31 Days. Check it out at The Nester's blog!

Why Your Soul Needs Silence

The highway stretched out in front of me, a never-ending line of grey dotted on either side by newly harvested fields. Drowning my thoughts in its sea of endless melodies and occasional commercials, the radio offered up a soundtrack for my journey. But I felt restless, not because the trip was wearing me out but because my soul needed silence.

Finally, I switched off the radio. The peace that washed over me was as immediate as the silence. I could finally be alone with my thoughts and talk to God.  

Have you ever felt this way? Like there's too much noise in your life? Sometimes we choose noise purposely; it's just easier to dwell in the chaos than to be alone with our innermost thoughts. So we fill up every available moment with sounds – radio, TV, iPod playlists, text or telephone conversations, podcasts and more.

We have an audio smorgasbord available to us 24/7, yet our souls are starving.

If you struggle with a distracted prayer life like I do, too much noise may be one of your problems. During this 31 Days to a Powerful Prayer Life series, I have offered a few tips  on how to be more focused when you pray. If you missed these posts, here are links for Tip1 and Tip 2. Now on to the next tip...

#3 Eliminate excess noise.

I'll admit this is a difficult one for me. I'm a noise junkie. I like having background noise, especially when I'm alone. I've been known to have a TV on in one room and a radio on in another, just for the noise.

But you know what? I've found that switching OFF the noise is one of the best things for my prayer life. If I'm intentional about switching off the TV while I'm getting ready in the morning, I can focus so much better on the day ahead and on asking for God's help.  

This week, try eliminating just 15-30 minutes of noise from your life in order to focus on prayer. If you're alone in the car, you'll be amazed at how easy it is to pray when the radio is off! Or, at home, when you would normally turn on the TV for a quick news update, fill that space with prayer instead. You won't even miss the noise, and you won't regret the time you spend with Jesus, the lover (and quieter) of your soul.

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

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During the month of October, bloggers from far and wide are linking up their posts on one topic for 31 Days. Check it out at The Nester's blog!

Sunday Links

Was your weekend as busy as mine? After running a million different directions, it's nice to take a deep breath for a second before another hectic week begins.

Here are some great resources to supplement and encourage you in your prayer life this week. Don't forget your best resource: Cover your week in prayer!

Prayer: A Heavenly Invitation by Max Lucado (the text for this short booklet can be read at this link): http://maxlucado.com/read/topical/prayer-a-heavenly-invitation/

Five Ways to Keep a Prayer Journal: http://rachelwojo.com/ways-to-keep-a-prayer-journal/

Free Printable Bookmarks for Your Prayer Journal: http://rachelwojo.com/goodies/

Create a Prayer Board: http://www.raisinggodlychildren.org/2011/12/prayer-board.html

Prayer Is the Key

Something to think about...

This weekend, be encouraged by this! Our attempts may be feeble, but God knows our deepest needs and He hears our prayers!