Monday thoughts

have you ever been at a place in life where you just feel blah. like life keeps getting harder and it takes more energy to make it through the day?? or you feel like the prayers you say are the same thing day in and day out and you do not feel like you have an answer to all the things and stuff you have given to God. because of it all... you are just tired.  welp, that is where I am at friends.  I am in a dry season in life. There is a lot that goes on in my mind throughout the day that I simply just do not have the answers to, or even the slightest idea of what God is doing through me in this season of life.  I find myself crying out to God in prayer asking for clarity on many things... but I am still lacking in the clarity department.  I wonder if that is because I am missing what God is trying to tell me or that I am just so consumed with worrying about other things that I am not able to really hear God's voice!?

This semester with my bible study gals, we are doing the study Faithful, Abundant, True by Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer and Beth Moore.  Let me just tell you something... Priscilla's week two kicked my butt opened my eyes, humbled me to my knees, and impacted my heart.  She was talking about how much God cares about His children and that more people today choose what to take to God in prayer when we should be giving Him all our thoughts both BIG and small. Each day of this week was exactly what I needed to hear for where I am right now in life. I cannot tell you how many times lately I have stopped myself from really opening up to God in prayer about things that just seem so "insignificant." The study reminded me that these thoughts of my prayer being "insignificant" are not from God but from Satan because my God is concerned about every little thing that concerns me. WOW... what an amazing God! I was also reminded of this promise from the Lord while doing the study this week: "The Gospel of Matthew is a wonderful example of how we should pray.  Matthew encourages us not to get caught up in how we look or sound praying but instead to simply go to God privately and pour our hearts to Him.  We do not have to use lofty sentences or words beyond our understanding for God to hear us." (pg. 93) While reading this I was reminded that God already knows what I need before I even ask Him... that right there my friends brought me to tears.  Because these past couple of week, heck these past couple of months for a lot of life's speed bumps I have not had the words to say and because of that I felt like I did not know how I should pray or what I should pray for.  Though, today, I was reminded with pure truth that God knows my hearts desires even before I do.... and sweet friends if that does not bring you comfort I do not know what will.  When I read that sentence in my bible study peace came over me.  Peace washed away my worry, fear and concern.  It minimized the fear I have about what the future holds, what my career looks like, what I could do better in my marriage... it took it all away.  Because even if I do not know all the answers to these never ending questions or even how to begin praying for all the thoughts that consume my mind... God knows.  I am so grateful to serve a God who knows and sees my heart even when I question myself. So tonight, I go to bed with less anxiety and worry.  I go to bed knowing that even if my prayers may not make sense, or that I have said the same prayers on behalf of so many people and for so many things... God knows my heart and keeps walking with me daily because He cares for me and wants what is best for me.  Not only does that make me smile but it leaves me feeling pretty special... I mean that much to God and that my friends is a BIG deal!

I kept repeating this verse all day today... I love it.

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

My prayer for tonight is that we will all remember that we Matter to God.  No matter how big or small we think our problems are God hears every little breath prayer we give to Him.

Much love,