Pray without ceasing. — 1 Thessalonians 5:17

There are days when prayer comes very easily to me and other days when it just seems as if I am farther away from God than I want to be.  To say that my prayer life is inconsistent at times is an understatement.

I have always prayed.  I know that God is a part of my life and ever present.  But sometimes I find myself craving a two way communication with God and all I hear is silence.  I realize that most people do not “hear” God speak to them in a voice like a human conversation but some days when I am trying hard to understand happenings in my life and in those around me I find myself wishing that there was a voice that just would give me direction and comfort. Silence is sometimes the best answer to my prayers as well.

Silence can mean many things.

Not now.

It’s not the best thing for you.

It is a selfish prayer.

In My time.

Sit back and really look at what you are praying for.

My sister gave me a neat book along with some Protestant Prayer Beads.  The book A Bead and A Prayer by Kristen E. Vincent is designed to allow Protestants insight and instruction on using  a  rosary that she has developed to enrich prayer life.  I was reminded of it this past week when my friend Ann asked me if I had heard of it.  I dug it out of the basket where I had tucked it in a cleaning frenzy awhile back and rediscovered that it was something that I really want to use to enhance my prayer life.

A prayer book, prayer beads and all the devotional materials in the world will not change my prayer life.  As with anything that matters it is all about just doing it and developing a routine, a pattern and yes – a relationship with my God that will make my prayer life more comfortable and meaningful.

Do you have any prayer “rituals” that you would like to share?

The danger with us is that we want to water down the things that Jesus says and make them mean something in accordance with common sense; if it were only common sense, it was not worth while for Him to say it. The things Jesus says about prayer are supernatural revelations.  Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest