What I Don't Pray For

My way of prayer changed a few years ago.

God bless me. God bless my family. God bless the food. God bless the hands that prepared the food. God bless America.

That is what I stopped praying.

I realized that my prayers had become self-centered. If I were to really look around at my life, I would notice that I am blessed beyond measure. That I have food in my cupboards (for weeks to come, although it is often something that I don't want to make). I have a healthy, beautiful family. I live in America, where I can turn the tap on everyday and have clean water.

I changed my prayer from God bless to God make me a blessing.

"I seek you with all of my heart..." Psalm 119:10

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." Psalm 116:7

"Let us come to complete unity to let the world know that Jesus loves them..." John 27:23 (my paraphrase)

You see, I changed the way I prayed because I wanted to pray in God's will. And honestly, too often, I don't know what God's will is. So what I started doing was praying Scripture. What I learned was, the prayers of the people of the Bible aren't "bless me" (although, you do come across it), but they are more, "teach me...show me...search me...hold me..."

I have been praying for God to give me His eyes and heart so that I am moved to compassion. That I can have opportunities to share His love. That I will be a blessing to someone.

I am not saying that there are people who don't need to be blessed. No. What I am saying is that I am blessed. Let me use that blessing to bless someone else. My goodness! My cup overflows!

And when the desert times come (and it will) I pray that I will rest in the blessings that have brought me this far.

May you never forget from where you came and trust in where God is leading. There is blessing, even in the pain.