Once Upon a Prayer

Today was one of those really studios days where I feel like I've been a sponge just soaking up information all day. I LOVE IT. My classes are great but I'm still getting acclimated to the idea of learning in a classroom. I haven't had this kind of formal long term education in a while.

I read this book today called "Once Upon a Prayer" by David Manuel and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a better prayer life. His ideas are simple but fundamental in developing a growing walk with Christ.

I've been reading a lot about prayer lately. I'm still in the later half of Philip Yancey's "Prayer, Does it Make a Difference?" Its a great read and I keep finding a reoccurring theme in all this literature.
Wait. Listen. Be Still.
I find it so easy to fill up the day with things from school, or taking care of Jon that time flies and all of a sudden its midnight. We are trying to make it a practice to pray at night before we go to bed, those prayers seem so formal. Granted I mean every prayer that I've prayed, it just seems to fall on the ears of a distant god. When I am still, and listen, and wait...that seems to be when I get a glimpse of his heart. That feels more like praying to a God that lives in me.

One of the greatest things I've heard from all of my professors came from my history professor one the first day of class. He believed that what is wrong with society today is that people lose control of their attention too easily. To be able to focus and say I will only pay attention to this until I understand it -and really follow through- is rare.

I agree with that so much. I've been taking strides in only granting my attention to certain things at certain times. Its not easy, but there is so much to get done and I have to allow time for God in that busy schedule.

Until next time
Vaya con dios