The Significance of Prayer

 

I'm missing the warmth and green of summer about now. I'm so thankful though that we are finally gaining daylight, and I'm already starting to plan my hikes for the summer.

I spent the month of January with (almost) no social media, and realized just how little I actually miss it when its gone. It was a reminder to me of how precious time is, and how easy it is to spend it on things that are insignificant in the light of eternity.

I've been doing a lot of 'soul searching' since the start of the new year, which isn't unusual. As a new year begins I often start to look at my life, like so many others, and wonder what I can change. So far this year I've been spending more time re-focusing on what is important in my life. I've been devouring new books, and, perhaps most rewarding of all, in writing.

If I'm being honest, its been a long time (maybe even a few years) since I've really felt excited about creative writing. I have been working on a non-fiction book project, and seeing some significant progress, but had no desire to write anything else. But lately I've been writing fiction (my favorite type of writing) again, and seeing that lovely word count nudge up much more quickly than I have in years.

I blame it on prayer. I was talking to God about how little desire I had to write, and how discouraged I felt because of it. It felt like trying to pull teeth when I sat down. And so my draft sat untouched, the desire wasn't there and it was almost painful to try and force it.

So I prayed, and then went about my life.

But then, on a whim, I decided to read a book from a new author I had discovered (Rae Carson, just in case you are interested in a good fantasy series). I was instantly hooked, and read all three books within a couple of days. And then I remembered how much I, 1) love reading a well-written book, and 2) love writing my own books. I sat down almost immediately after finishing the last book in the series and began to write.

I spent a good ten hours the next day writing as well, and another five the day after that. And when I talked to my mom, I found out she had been praying for my writing. It may have given me a few chills when she told me that.

For a long time, I doubted that God loved me enough to answer my prayers, because there is a prayer of mine that is still a no even after years of prayers and tears. Thankfully God took my lack of faith and showed me how wrong I was as He began answering small prayers in some pretty neat ways. It's been pretty incredible to see the 'small' prayers that He has been answering--like my plea for help with my writing.

Whatever your prayer might be, it isn't too big, or too insignificant. You won't bother God by coming to Him five times a day or fifty. And I find that incredible.