I remember a conversation during one of the classes in the internship, we were talking about prayer. I was abnormally quiet that day because for all of my theological understanding, prayer didn't click with me like I saw it click in those around me. I didn't know why. I knew that God was all powerful and I thought that no matter what I did or said God was still going to do what He planned and so my prayers were really for my benefit and frankly I wasn't getting much benefit.
Around January my prayers started to change. I started to decide that even though I don't understand I'm going to choose to pray for God to help me heal. Heal from the grief I had from losing a friend to cancer. Grief from failing out of the nursing program and still grief from not being chosen for the 2nd year internship. 2011 was a rough year for me, but I decided to give it to God and trust Him to make it better because I didn't want to be miserable anymore.
Slowly things have changed and I get deeper with God over and over again. Right now I'm experiencing a new level of deepness as I begin to understand prayer differently then I did. It's freeing.
God
This new understanding of prayer starts with a more refined understanding of God. Yes, God is all powerful. He can do whatever he wants. Just like we can say whatever we want to a 2 year old. God CHOSE to limit himself so that things on earth are done because humans do them. That's why Jesus had to come in the form of man. Just like we choose to use fewer words when we talk to a 2 year old. Just because we use a simpler vocabulary doesn't mean to don't have the ability to use all the words we know, it's just better for the 2 year old if we use simple words. It's better for us if God limits himself. Why? He gave us purpose and responsibility. We aren't here to self destruct we are here so that God can use us to accomplish his will.
Praying
So when you pray, pray for the things God has already reviled to you are His will. Things that he has said you need to wait for His timing... pray for those things to come. Then pray for the things you know he desires in scripture, like healing, strong marriages, salvation, be a part of God moving by praying for the things He needs you to pray for. Don't forget to ask for the things you want. God loves us and he'll either answer our prayers or show us why it's not good for us to have what we want.
I'm only on chapter 2 of this book so I'm sure that there is more to come!
