Prayer Needs

   Chambers talks today, (actually it was yesterday, but we were traveling that day and did not get to blog or read anything on the net), on prayer, specifically intercessory prayer.

   I know that this is a very important subject, but my praying life is so weak that I can't even comprehend what a good prayer life looks like. All I know is that I think it surely does not look like mine.

   Thankfulness is my strong suit, which is good, but my striving for intimate conversation with God over other people or problems does not often take place. I know that God has blessed me, and I know where these blessing come from, and I know that God is pleased with my acknowledgment of these facts, but they do not lead to a deeper relationship with Him. They seem to just touch the surface of what I need.

   The other day I taught a fourth grade class , and the first thing these kids do (at this Christian school) is have a prayer time. They use the ACTS method of composing their prayers. A for adoration, C for confession, T for thanks, and S for supplication, and they do it well.

    The adoration part I lack, as I just jump right in to thanks. I am OK with the confession, because I see my sins pretty well, but I fall short in seeing exactly how these look in God's eyes (except that they are bad), and how His heart is grieved with a lot of my life. The supplication should cause me to focus on the needs of others, but a lot of the time I know of the problems of others, and these do not affect me below the surface level.

   My shortcomings jump out at me, and, in my heart, I wonder if I really believe that prayer is important. Does it really work, or is my life so blessed that I don't get very deep? Do I really believe that God hears what I say and that He does care? Is prayer real or just a mental ascent into cyberspace? I say it is important, but my life does not bear that out.

   In short, I need to get by the "God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food" recitation.

   God continues to give me revelation as to where I am, but I need His help in moving to a higher plane and a much deeper level of relationship.

   Help!