At such times the heart of man turns instictively towards his Maker. In prosperity and whenever there is nothing to injure or make him afraid he remembers Him not and is ready to defy Him but place him in the midst of dangers cut him off from human aid let the grave open before him then it is in the time of his tribulation that the scoffer and unbelieving man turns to God for help feeling there is no other hope or refuge or safety save in his protecting arm.

A PERSONS FAITH GOES AT ITS OWN PACE Owen Meany said THE TROUBLE WITH CHURCH IS THE SERVICE. A SERVICE IS CONDUCTED FOR A MASS AUDIENCE. JUST WHEN I START TO LIKE THE HYMN EVERYONE PLOPS DOWN TO PRAY. JUST WHEN I START TO HEAR THE PRAYER EVERYONE POPS UP TO SING. AND WHAT DOES THE STUPID SERMON HAVE TO DO WITH GOD WHO KNOW WHAT GOD THINKS OF CURRENT EVENTS WHO CARES

Upon the lips of babes asleep I saw light embracing light and so allowed my syllables to rest there as a prayer they might sing in their dreams...

As I continued to pray raggedly prayer ceased to be an awkward and self-conscious act. It became a daily need to which I looked forward. If for any reason I were deprived of it I was distressed as if I had been deprived of some life necessity like water. I cannot say I changed. There tore through me a transformation with the force of a river which dammed up and diverted for a lifetime bursts its way back to its true channel. I became what I was. I ceased to be what I was not.

And I understood that I ought not ask for a prayer language until I could ask without making it the test of my entire faith.

There will be times in your life when you want to pray but feel so far from God that prayer seems impossible. The flesh will tell you that God is against you that you have gone too far and that He is no longer interested in you. But faith defies the flesh. It contradicts Satans lies. It rises up against defeat gloom and despair and finds hope in God.

Imagination is the road less taken but it is the pathway of prayer.

Know child that the One GodHe is so vast that He cannot be moved else the Universe falls. Nor can He answer for the very act of opening His Mouth is Movement indeed the greatest Act of all for it is the Word. And this is precisely why He has made an infinity of lesser gods creating them in His own image so that we can do the lesser things on His behalf. We are His hands and arms and feet and mouths. We are His answers to your prayers enacted along the great Framework of Being.

Faith is the muscle of the spirit. It is strengthened through study prayer and meditation. As exercise builds muscle and our bodies become strong study prayer and meditation builds faith and our spirits become strong.

Trouble and perplexity drive me to prayer and prayer drives away perplexity and trouble.