Prayer

I just finished my half finished, scatter-brained thoughts on the 4th of July. But I realized that I was not done. I am trying to get better about simply posting these blogs instead of letting them accumulate to 87 or so...hehe...entries begun but not posted. So here goes:



This is one of my favorite paintings. It has been hanging in my families foyer since 418 Smith Avenue days. Not the original, just a nicely framed oil print. ;P
I find it a very moving, very humbling, and what in my heart I consider a very accurate portrayal of George Washington's prayers at Valley Forge. Our Founding Fathers were often brought to their knees. The greatest work that has ever been done and will ever be done begins in earnest supplication to our Almighty Creator with a righteous desire. This is the Lord's pattern, and he does not vary.
Prayer is our conduit to heaven...that open connection (our heavenly umbilical cord) that none can sever unless we refuse to reach out.

Matt. 21: 22
22 And all ^athings, whatsoever ye shall ^bask in ^cprayer, believing, ye shall receive.

John 16: 24
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ^aask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Alma 34: 18-27
18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is ^amighty to save.
19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in ^aprayer unto him.
20 Cry unto him when ye are in your ^afields, yea, over all your flocks.
21 ^aCry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your ^aenemies.
23 Yea, ^acry unto him against the ^bdevil, who is an enemy to all ^crighteousness.
24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
26 But this is not all; ye must ^apour out your souls in your ^bclosets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your ^ahearts be ^bfull, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your ^cwelfare, and also for the welfare of ^dthose who are around you.

...I pray quite a lot, but I have a ways to improve before I can say that I am praying always!! Now THAT's A LOT!! But no more and no less than what is expected. I continually fall into the trap of trying to do it myself and relying upon the merits of "He [who] is mighty to save" after hesitating. I don't want to hesitate. I am working to make it a better habit...to trust fully and completely so that when life gets too hard to stand...I need only kneel.