prayer.

as of late, the changing seasons of life have taken a toll on my walk and prayer life. i don't adjust well to change. i try to plan and then i get so caught up in the planning that i actually end up not implementing anything because i'm still planning, but the boat has already sailed. and i'm kind of easily distracted. when i start something, i get really into it at first, such that i've had to come up with a motto for myself, to remind me of the proper response to "things" in general: "be concerned, not consumed."
so i'm learning the hard lesson to...
...not get on a crazy disinfecting spree in the house when one of my kids gets a stomach bug so no one else gets sick -- instead of actually taking care of and nurturing the people.
...be excited and diligent in new ventures and hobbies -- learning to play the ukelele, building my Origami Owl business... but not spend every waking moment thinking about business strategies or playing the ukelele all day long

there are tons more. but those are the biggest ones as of late.

so anyway, once i get a bit side-tracked, my prayer life is typically the first to suffer just because i cut short the time i spend in devotion for one reason or another. i'll typically still read my Bible, or at least a devotion book, just to get some feeding from the Word, but i've been gently reminded by the Helper that prayer is just as important. if i want to grow in my relationship with God, i have to communicate with Him through prayer. i need to spend time in praise and confession and pouring out my heart to Him. He already knows it all, but it brings Him glory when i do those things. and it deepens my own love and appreciation for Him. and many times He reveals to me just what i needed, even if i didn't know i needed it to begin with.

prayer is so wonderful, and every time i get back on track i realize... uh DUH, eR, this is what you've been needing all along. remember how great it feels to be in consistent communication with the Lord? so much peace... so much more balance... He is at the forefront of my mind, which is where He should always be, but many times is not because i am so fallen.

so anyway. praise God for reminding us what we need to know, right when we need to know it. amen? AMEN.

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praying this for my hubby and kiddies today:

Hubby:

Pray that your marriage would reflect the love of Christ with the church.

i use this list to guide my prayers for my hubby

Kiddies:

A Servant's Heart—"God, please help my children develop servant's hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men." (Eph. 6:7)

i use this list to pray God's Word for my kids

love&peace!

& praise be to God :D