Margie's Cuties                       

For years, I have read about praying. I have prayed and ask the Lord how to pray. I still read books about prayer, and keep wondering why we have made such a "science" out of how to pray.

I started years ago a "Prayer Journal". I don't write everyday, but I write often. I thank the Lord, I ask Him for help, I just write him as if I was writing a letter to a friend.

My Prayer Journal starts each entry with the words: "Papito Dios" or "Daddy God". I write my prayers in English, but sometimes I address my Father in Spanish (Papito Dios).

I love to go back to my Prayer Journal and read past entries. It is a moment of MIRACLES! I can see how my prayers have been answered. Sometimes with a different solution or outcome, but always answered. Problems that seemed to be "huge" at that time are now insignificant. Ahh! The power of prayer and the Mercy of my Lord. He is the One and the Only One. The Holy One!

He knows what is best for us. He knows what we need when we don't know how to pray.

I've learned something after all these years walking with the Lord: sometimes, if we don't know what to say in prayer, we don't need to say anything. We just need to sit and listen, and if you can't hear anything don't worry. Just sit in His presence. He will see you, and He knows what You need. Just sit quite. Sometimes we talk too much when we pray. We start shooting words, one after the other one. We need to stop, so we can listen. There is no sense into praying if we cannot listen to God.

Be quiet. Sit and just tell the Lord that you want to be with Him. Sit with Him as a child sits with His Mom while she knits a sweater, or with Dad while he mows the lawn, and just enjoy the moment. He is watching over you.

Prayer is more than words. Prayer is a constant desire to be in His Presence and a continuous awareness that He is with us and that nothing can separate us from Jesus.

"For there is not a word on my tongue,
         But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
 You have hedged me behind and before,
         And laid Your hand upon me.
 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
         It is high, I cannot attain it. " Psalm 139: 4-6

In your most difficult moments, He is with you. When you feel completely alone, He is there, with you. When you think that everybody has left you, He is sitting next to you.

 When you are in need, just believe, even if you do not speak, JUST BELIEVE! He will take care of your needs. He will provide. I can witness about it through my own experience. I have never had a need that God did not take care of. He has provided for me more than I could ask for.

If you feel like you do not have strength to pray, do not worry just sit on his presence. Stay still. You do not need to open your mouth; you do not even need to think.  Psalm 139 verses 1 to 4 say:

O LORD, you have searched me
       and you know me.

 2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.

 4 Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.

If you do not know how to pray because you are feeling down, remember that the Holy Spirit will speak for you. Just think in the Holy Spirit and He will intercede for you.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" Romans 8:26

Next time you are so tired and exhausted you cannot pray with your tongue, try "silent prayer." Be on his presence. You might even be able to listen to Him. We need to pause and open our hearts to His voice.

Are you ever concerned about your "prayer life"? Congratulations! You are on the right path. Are you satisfied with your "prayer life"? Beware! We should always starve for more and more spiritual growth and knowledge of God's word.

Do you think that every time you pray you should "feel" things and get emotional??? Beware!!! You will not always feel your heart racing and hear bells ringing. Sometimes you do not hear anything, you feel your heart is cold as ice and your emotions are numbed... but HE IS STILL THERE! You do not need to feel "up," you don't need to do anything! You just need to love, to seek Him, you just need to desire more and more of Him and even in your worse moments of despair, when you feel alone, God's mercy will surround you.

Tonight, when you go to bed, smile and think: The Lord is watching over me, He will always be wherever I am. He is Omnipresent. I cannot escape from His presence, even if I wanted. Thanks Jesus, for bringing me closer to God. Thanks Jesus, because I can call your Father my FATHER. Because you, Jesus, died for me, I can call Him DADDY... Daddy God.

Tonight, when I write in my Prayer Journal, I will start my page with the same words I always use "Papito Dios" (Daddy God).

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
 if I make my bed in the depths,  you are there.

 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
 if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 even there your hand will guide me,
 your right hand will hold me fast.

(Psalm 139:7-10)