Queen of the Castle: Week 8

We're back near the beginning of the book.  We started on week 17 of Queen of the Castle: 52 weeks of encouragement for the uninspired, domestically challenged or just plain tired homemaker HERE (in April of 2010).

This week's chapter is "Pray First, Act Later".  How many of us have days that we don't begin with seeking the Lord and His will?  *guiltily raises hand*  Those days don't turn out to be much do they?  Maybe we have a bad day, kids are fighting, and it really gets to us.  If we look back at those days odds are they weren't started with Him. I know.  I've been there.  Psalm 5: 3 says "In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."  Amazing, isn't it? There's something like a new morning and meeting with Him first.

When we pray what do we pray about?  Do we lay at His feet the prayers for others and ask for the His guidance for our own lives?  We need to be sure we spend time with Him.  Not just asking, but having a conversation in our hearts with him.  Listening for His guidance.

Here are some ideas (some Lynn, the author, and some mine) to get your day going in prayer...

*Relax.  Take a deep breath in through your nose for four counts and then out through your mouth for four counts.  In those breaths prepare your heart for the awareness of God's presence before you begin.

*Think of J.O.Y....thank Him for Jesus, for your salvation!  Praise Him!  While you're at it thank Him for whatever you want!  Pray for Others; your family, friends, coworkers, a prayer chain request.  Pray for You; what do you need His guidance for today?  Do you need to know what to do with your day, or with a certain situation?  Do you need to ask him Him to help you have patience and strength to be teacher, nurse, judge, referee, and friend to those babes he has given to you?  *wholeheartedly raising both hands!*

*If you don't know what to say try grabbing a hymnal and singing praises.  If you have your quiet time in the morning before the family's awake you might want to pick a soft, soothing hymn compared to a more boisterous one.  *wink*

*Try keeping a prayer journal.  Just a simple dollar store spiral notebook with a list of what or who you are praying for and the date.  Over time you can look back and be thankful for prayers that have been answered or be reminded to pray for something that has slipped your mind.

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"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Hebrews 4:16