When We Ask and God Says "No"

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When God answers “no” to my prayer request, my response can be childish rather than childlike. I become like a child peering through the window of a candy store pleading with her parent for the goodies inside. Children can be persistent in what they want. They whine and ask tirelessly, although tiresome for the parent.  There is nothing wrong with being persistent in prayer. In fact, the Bible encourages it. But, when we’re not trusting God in the middle of prolonged asking, then we are being more childish than childlike. And, that’s where I found myself. For more than nineteen years I made the sameRead More →

One Way to Focus in Prayer

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Front row seats can be expensive. My husband and I discovered this when we bought tickets to a U2 concert. So we chose to sit a bit further back. Still, we had an exciting time. An ordinary-looking man stood right in front of us. We noticed how many people who passed by stopped to say hello and shake his hand. Turns out, it was Bono’s brother. Being up close is often where the action happens. But, being up front and close to Jesus can look completely different. With Jesus, it’s where the lessons and listening begins. One woman, in particular, Mary the sister of Martha,Read More →

Staying Focused in Prayer: Step 3 - Letting God Speak Through the Distraction

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We moved to the States a number of years ago. Although I haven’t picked up an American accent, and I still sound very British, I’ve noticed my vocabulary has changed. I say “sidewalk” instead of “path,” “elevator” instead of “lift,” and use “cool” as an explanation instead of “brilliant.” My expectations have changed too. Things I like and have become used to in America, I now demand when I go elsewhere. So, I may come across more American. “Er, we booked a king-sized bed,” I exclaimed to the staff on reception after discovering a queen-sized bed in our London hotel. “Madame, a US king isRead More →

Staying Focused in Prayer: Step 2 - Bringing What's Distracting You to God

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Sometimes we have a hard time seeing things directly in front of us. Take my phone, for instance. I put it down and then I’m frantic because I can’t remember where I’ve placed it. Quite often it’s right there where I can see it. Thank goodness for “Hey Google, find my phone.” One time when asking Google Home to find my phone, I could hear it ringing behind me. I turned around and walked into the next room only to hear it ringing behind me again. Totally confused, I walked out of that room and, guess what? The ringing came from behind me once more.Read More →

Staying Focused in Prayer Step 1: Identifying What's Distracting You

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Instead of being hard on ourselves when we can’t focus on prayer, perhaps we should take notice of where our thoughts wander. It’s possible something else is going on that we need to consider and focus on. Maybe those thoughts are the very ones we should turn into prayers — the ones we should bring to God.Read More →

How to Pray for What You Need

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So, when we pray we need to ask God, “give me what I need today.” Then tomorrow morning, again we ask, “give me what I need today.” Tomorrow is secure.Read More →

The Struggle of Seeing God as a Good Father

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As Jesus is God in human form, we can look to Jesus and see what God our Father is really like — compassionate, kind, loving, moved by difficult experiences, always welcoming, and never turning someone away.Read More →