WHAT IS PRAYER?

LIFE IS FRAGILE - HANDLE WITH PRAYER!  Remember that slogan?  Pray is something we do for our own benefit.  God doesn't need us to pray so that He can be aware of what is going on in our lives.  God knows all about our comings and goings.  We pray to receive answers, yet we're conditioned to say something to someone and receive an immediate answer, most times anyway.  It's completely different in God's economy.  We seek God for answers and then wait ... and wait ... and wait ... .  There are times when our answers are immediate.  That's because God knew they needed to be so.  Then there are times when we are made to wait.  That can be a very confusing and dangerous time for the believer.  "Did He hear me?" we ask ourselves.  "Doesn't He care that I am suffering here?" The waiting period is designed to cultivate patience and trust.  The answer will come when and only when God knows the time is right.  His timing is impeccable and His answers are always exactly what we need.  We can go romping off onto rabbit trails on our own in search of our own answers, but they will all lead to unfulfilled expectations.  God is waiting for us to simply say "Your will and not my own Lord."  When we can say it and mean it we will have made progress in our attempt to be more like Christ.  rlkeller