Lets face it suffering discredits goodness. Im agnostic in practice though faith-based in theory. I used to pray but now know hell do what he darn well pleases when he darn well pleases. Will he listen Maybe. We have a book that says so but how much happens beyond that book I cant say. Thats agnosticism in its bleakest and most honest form. Dont judge me yet believe me when I tell you that years of abuse tend to wring out every ounce of ones ability to understand and adhere to faith in standard form.

To think of our prayers as just causes would suggest that the whole importance of petitionary prayer lay in the achievement of the thing asked for. But really for our spiritual life as a whole the being taken into account or considered matters more than the being granted. Religious people dont talk about the results of prayer they talk of its being answered or heard.... We can bear to be refused but not to be ignored. In other words our faith can survive many refusals if they really are refusals and not mere disregards. The apparent stone will be bread to us if we believe that a Fathers hand put it into ours in mercy or in justice or even in rebuke.

What is itA prayer.For a childShe nodded.For meAnother nod.On a treeTrees spend all day looking up at God.

Just as ceremonial fasting was a legitimate means for getting Gods attention Mt 616-18 Ac 132-3 1423 the casting of lots was a legitimate means for inviting God to intercede on a matter. Pr 1818 It was not expected that God should intervene every time 1Sam 286 but the ceremonial casting of lots was an invitation for God to participate in the final decision. page 21

Feel the energy starting with your hands and if you maintain the sensation of being connected to that energy as you pray you can be more deeply immersed in your prayer. The reason is that the entire universe is composed of the energy youre feeling with your hands right now. When you maintain that feeling of connection with the universe as you pray for the great hopes and dreams cherished by your soul you are broadcasting your prayer to the entire universe as your audience. If the whole universe is resonating with your dream and working with you to make your dream come true wouldnt that lend great strength to you

He who neglects to pray alone and in private however assiduously he frequents public meetings there gives his prayers to the wind.

An ancient cornerstone of prayer is that our desire to thank God is itself Gods gift. Be grateful.

Replace worry with prayer. Make the decision to pray whenever you catch yourself worrying.

In pursuit of exposing people for who we think they are we expose ourself.

So what do you do when you are stuckThe first thing I do when I am stuck is pray. But Im not talking about a quick Help me Lord Sundays a comin prayer. When I get stuck I get up from my desk to head for my closet. Literally. If Im at the office I go over to a corner that I have deemed my closet away from home. I get on my knees and remind God that this was not my idea it was HisNone of this is new information to GodThen I ask God to show me if there is something He wants to say to prepare me for what He wants me to communicate to our congregation. I surrender my ideas my outline and my topic. Then I just stay in that quiet place until God quiets my heartMany times I will have a breakthrough thought or idea that brings clarity to my message. . .Like you I am simply a mouthpiece. Getting stuck is one way God keeps me ever conscious of that fact.