What's in a prayer? Is it just a ritualistic process? Who can pray?
I see lots of social media posts about prayer, and I also see people asking for prayers, with responses from a variety of people saying they are praying for them. I believe in what the Bible has to say about prayer, which makes me question some of the things I see on the internet and social media.
First, I believe only "saved" or "born again" people can pray to God. The Bible says the only prayer God hears from unsaved people is the prayer of salvation. And after that, prayer is our direct line to God. No need to go through a priest, minister, etc. We can communicate directly with God.
The Bible also teaches us how to pray, by giving examples, and it tells us that our prayers are not supposed to be so repetitive and ceremonial that they lose their meaning and no longer come from our hearts. Our prayers are not to be said so others will think we are "religious" or pious. Our prayers are to be said in private, directly from our hearts. Some people think they can't pray because they aren't smart enough or eloquent enough, and that's just not true. What God wants is our whole heart. And, of course, He knows our needs before we ask, but He desires our companionship, which we give through prayer.
The Bible says we are to pray without ceasing. Of course, if we spent all our time on our knees praying, our physical body would starve to death, and we couldn't work, etc. I believe this means to be in tune with God at all times. With an attitude of prayer at all times. I try to spend devoted prayer time each day, but I also pray throughout the day as I encounter people or situations I want to pray for. Again, I believe God knows our heart and thoughts, and hears our prayers whether they be long and drawn out or short and sweet.
And probably none of us spends as much time in prayer as we should. Sometimes, I catch myself worrying and fretting about something, trying to figure out what to do, and I realize I haven't even prayed about this. I've been stressing myself without even asking God what I should do. Other times, my heart has been so heavy I simply couldn't pray, and sometimes my prayer has been "God, you know my heart."
Still other times, I believe in my heart of hearts, other people praying for us is what carries us through those exceptionally rough spots. Prayer is our most powerful weapon and our most pleasant comfort in times of need. And it should also be our most desired joy in times of victory and celebration.
I am so thankful that God has given us His word, and the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and guide us as we stumble through this life here on earth!
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Meningitis and Mastoidectomy Update!
Well, it is now 3 months after I got meningitis, and 2 months post-op on the mastoidectomy with encephalocele.
As for the meningitis, I still have significant hearing loss issues. I will get my hearing aids adjusted, but not until I have my surgery on the other ear. This hearing loss is worsened by the fact that the internal packing from the mastoidectomy has not dissolved and the only thing I am hearing on that side is my voice inside my head. Hardly anything external.
I tire easily. It frustrates me so! Before I was sick, I was usually up by 5:00, laundry and cleaning done and at work by 7-7:30. And some days I did my grocery shopping at 6:30 in the morning before work. Worked all day, got home by 5:30, made supper, cleaned, etc. and did it all again the next day. Now, I am pooped by mid-afternoon, and I am not really doing hard physical work like I was before. So, the whole time I am sitting down taking a break, I feel like a slug for sitting down taking a break. Anyway, this is mostly a personal, psychological issue I am having to come to terms with. I am not a good sitter-arounder.
Sometimes, I feel weird. (My family would be chiding "You ARE weird!" to that statement) I can't really put my finger on what feels different, just weird. Just not quite right. And I have trouble remembering (worse than before) why I went into a room. Or what I needed to grab at the store. Adding in my head used to be split-second. Now I have to think about it. Just some little things that no one but me notices, but drives me crazy!
As for the ear surgery, I have had 2 post-op visits where they removed all packing that could be seen on the outside of my eardrum. All that's left is internal packing which they assure me will dissolve. I hope they speak the truth! I thought I would be hearing great by now, but they say it could take another 4-6 weeks. I do a lot of smiling and nodding because I can't hear what people are saying. Most times, I can hear the noise, just can't make out what they are saying. One guy asked my husband if I was "OK". He informed him I couldn't hear and didn't want to say that, so apparently he had asked me something and I just looked pleasant and smiled at him. You can hear our television from the driveway. Sorry. I wear one hearing aid in my "good" ear, but when I am in a place with background noise, it is all so loud I can't make out anything, so I sort of "check out" and hope no one is speaking to me.
There isn't any pain from the surgery. I do have some itching in some place that can't be reached and it makes me crazy from time to time. My hair is growing back where they shaved behind my ear. And it is nice to be able to just get into the shower without having to water-proof my ear first.
At my last ENT appointment, the doctor said he had myself and another patient with the issues I have, and that it was so rare there wasn't actually much in any text book to learn about. I am either an anomaly or a freak - you can draw your own opinion! I guess it's good he knows what he's doing!
As I reflect on where I was three months ago, and that fact that I am "nearly" back to normal, it is a total miracle. Not luck, but a direct result of God not being finished with me yet. I am truly grateful for the opportunity, and hope that somehow I can show my gratitude and show God's love through my life.
As for the meningitis, I still have significant hearing loss issues. I will get my hearing aids adjusted, but not until I have my surgery on the other ear. This hearing loss is worsened by the fact that the internal packing from the mastoidectomy has not dissolved and the only thing I am hearing on that side is my voice inside my head. Hardly anything external.
I tire easily. It frustrates me so! Before I was sick, I was usually up by 5:00, laundry and cleaning done and at work by 7-7:30. And some days I did my grocery shopping at 6:30 in the morning before work. Worked all day, got home by 5:30, made supper, cleaned, etc. and did it all again the next day. Now, I am pooped by mid-afternoon, and I am not really doing hard physical work like I was before. So, the whole time I am sitting down taking a break, I feel like a slug for sitting down taking a break. Anyway, this is mostly a personal, psychological issue I am having to come to terms with. I am not a good sitter-arounder.
Sometimes, I feel weird. (My family would be chiding "You ARE weird!" to that statement) I can't really put my finger on what feels different, just weird. Just not quite right. And I have trouble remembering (worse than before) why I went into a room. Or what I needed to grab at the store. Adding in my head used to be split-second. Now I have to think about it. Just some little things that no one but me notices, but drives me crazy!
As for the ear surgery, I have had 2 post-op visits where they removed all packing that could be seen on the outside of my eardrum. All that's left is internal packing which they assure me will dissolve. I hope they speak the truth! I thought I would be hearing great by now, but they say it could take another 4-6 weeks. I do a lot of smiling and nodding because I can't hear what people are saying. Most times, I can hear the noise, just can't make out what they are saying. One guy asked my husband if I was "OK". He informed him I couldn't hear and didn't want to say that, so apparently he had asked me something and I just looked pleasant and smiled at him. You can hear our television from the driveway. Sorry. I wear one hearing aid in my "good" ear, but when I am in a place with background noise, it is all so loud I can't make out anything, so I sort of "check out" and hope no one is speaking to me.
There isn't any pain from the surgery. I do have some itching in some place that can't be reached and it makes me crazy from time to time. My hair is growing back where they shaved behind my ear. And it is nice to be able to just get into the shower without having to water-proof my ear first.
At my last ENT appointment, the doctor said he had myself and another patient with the issues I have, and that it was so rare there wasn't actually much in any text book to learn about. I am either an anomaly or a freak - you can draw your own opinion! I guess it's good he knows what he's doing!
As I reflect on where I was three months ago, and that fact that I am "nearly" back to normal, it is a total miracle. Not luck, but a direct result of God not being finished with me yet. I am truly grateful for the opportunity, and hope that somehow I can show my gratitude and show God's love through my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)