My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
~Psalm 62:1:1-2

Prayer is much more than a petition; it's a dialogue between heaven and earth. It's the discipline of sharing one's own heart with his or her Creator. It's listening to a Divine Voice in the darkness, and recognizing the heaviness on our heart as it eases away by the One who carried the heaviest burden of all. Prayer reaches between the boundaries of earthly time into the heavenly expanse of eternal timelessness. Prayer is heard even when words cannot be expressed or spoken. Prayer travels from our heart into our Abba - PaPa's without needing interpretation or explanation. He knows our every want, need, and desire. He knows our every delight and joy. He knows our deepest -- darkest secrets and loves us anyway.

Prayer is merely an outward expression of our inner soul filled with words, thoughts, and emotions that can only be understood by the One to whom they are shared.

Yet, something happens when we know we are coming before the Father of the Universe, the Creator, and the King. We cannot go before the throne in prayer with our head held high, but must approach with humility and a longing to be changed and remolded. Our Abba is waiting patiently for us to come to Him in moments of conversation. He longs for us to call upon Him for our every need; for our hearts to be restored. Our God loves us deeper than we deserve and without conditions. He simply wants us to come to HIM -- just as we are.

Love and peace,
Brenda Bates -- October 2007 

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

The lyrics of "Be Thou My Vision" derive from an eighth-century Irish poem,"Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdi cirde." Little is known about the person who created such moving poetry. Though their identity remains a mystery, "Be Thou My Vision" stands as a living testimony to their faith-filled heart.

Prayer to the Father:
Abba! It's me again. My heart is burdened Lord, and I'm not sure what to do. Someone needs You desperately in her life, yet each time I mention Your name, she turns her back on me.

Lord, I know You're near to me, Your Spirit lives within, yet why must this hardened heart not see You as I do? Why is it she sees only her suffering and not You as her Abba - Daddy? How is it that some see You clearly and others cringe at the sound of Your name?

O, Lord, I pray that she come to You in desperation and return in praise, and filled with joy. I ask that You continue to pursue a relationship with her even though she clearly does not want You in her life. She's lonely Lord, I recognize the symptoms. I remember the day You found me lying on the floor in a tiny ball -- the day You touched my heart and made me new. I remember how You saved me and how comfortable I feel in Your loving arms. Will You do the same for her Lord? Please! I ask in Jesus name. Amen.  

Something to think about: Jesus is not our personal doer -- He's our personal Savior. How does your prayer life reflect that?

Send Comments to: Brenda@InHisPath.com
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