Teach ME How To Pray

I have been very convicted over my prayer life.   I pray, but lately its more of the  little HELP ME JESUS breath prayers of desperation throughout my day.  The problem I always have with prayer is that I feel bad asking for things for myself. In reality I know that I cannot really do any of the things I manage to do on my own.  Do you ever feel like that?  Jesus' example of prayer was so powerful that his disciples asked him how to pray-not how to perform the many miracles they saw.  They wanted what I want, that intimate relationship with God. 


Now in God's funny way ( I think God is funny at times, true story!) whenever I start hearing from Him on a subject,  it is then proceeded with getting confirmation from every angle.  I was driving home last week in some not so great driving conditions and I turned on a local christian radio station and the sermon broadcasting was on prayer.  I was convinced that I was going going to write this blog last week.  Then  another blog that I LOVE  had this great article. Finally, this morning I woke up in the wee hours of the am and did my Bible In A Year Reading then decided to watch a little Joyce Meyer.  I thought I was watching her previous week shows but by accident picked Hindrances to Prayer (you can find her sermons and other great resources at  http://www.joycemeyer.org/ ).   Another message confirming the importance of prayer... and why we NEED to ASK.  


How do you guys do with your prayer life? 


Tonight I came across this great poem that really resonated with me- thought I would share. 


"How Shall I Pray"  by Ted Loder 


How shall I pray?
Are tears prayers, Lord?
Are screams prayers, 
or groans
or sighs
or curses?
Can trembling hands be lifted to you,
or clenched fists
or the cold sweat that trickles down my back
or the cramps that knot my stomach?
Will you accept my prayers, Lord, 
my real prayers,
rooted in the muck and the mud and the rock of my life,
and not just my pretty, cut-flower, gracefully arranged
bouquet of words?
Will you accept me, Lord,
as I really am, 
messed up mixture of glory and grime?
Lord, help me!
Help me to trust that you do accept me as I am, 
that I may be done with self-condemnation
and self-pity
and accept myself.
Help me to accept you as you are, Lord:
mysterious,
hidden, 
strange, 
unknowable; 
and yet to trust
that your madness is wiser
than my timid, self-seeking sanities,
and that nothing you've ever done
has really been possible,
so I may dare to be a little mad, too.




I would love to hear from you all on this topic.. so please leave your comments! 


Choose love and be blessed wildly, 
Wendy xoxoxoxoxo