Hey all!
It’s the last Sunday of the month, I’m drinking my coffee, and thinking about God and you all.
This year has been rough for many of us. It definitely has not been anything we imagined when we made our New Year’s Resolutions 6 months ago. Many of us are still facing restrictions in our lives we wish weren’t there. Many of us cannot travel to see new places, or even to see our friends and family. Many of us see life slipping by when we don’t have those days to waste.
My dear friend, Lissette Trahan, is about to release a book of prayers, and I wrote a forward for her just now. It got me thinking about how many of us, when we go to God in prayer, have nothing to say. We begin “Dear God” and then nothing. This has been me lately.
I’m here to tell you it’s okay if you have nothing to say. Truly, God knows your heart, mind, and thoughts and knows what troubles you, where you need Him to show up, and how much pain you are in. But, He likes to hear our voices anyways. It’s the effort that matter, not the results.
What matters is that you do show up — not what you say. Show up, and God will show up. And for many of us, that’s all we need right now.
And what a tremendous Foreword it is. There are not enough words to describe how grateful I am.
She did this for me without expecting anything in return.
That is a sign of a true Christian!
Atoz is a talented writer. I hope that she doesn’t give up on writing her book.
Thank you my friend.
Thank you so much. I needed this today. Isn’t it wonderful that God puts words and people in our lives just when we need them most.
Barbara, When do you believe that Genesis BSF lessons will be posted? John
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That is the exact message the Lord has been giving me. Show up. Whether it’s on a zoom call bible study. Prayer, bible reading. Regardless of whats going on around us. Just show up. Be present.
Thank you for this reminder and the encouragement it brings!
I used to pray tons, writing them or just aloud to God, but in the past year I’ve been going through a strange (to me anyway!) season and I have not had words when it comes to praying, even when it is for friends with obvious needs.
I find myself praying for the needs, but longing for the greater solutions God has in store both now and in eternity, especially as my heart aches for friends who are facing decades of trials. It almost seems that words being prayed sometimes run out of meaning in those times because I have already prayed so much for these situations and friends.
This is the Foreword that Atoz so generously contributed to my book. It is so full of wisdom and truth.I asked her permission to share it with you.
Foreword
Prayer is an intimate and personal time we spend with our Creator. It’s a respite from our troubles, where we can ask for forgiveness, vent our frustrations, express our feelings, and humbly ask for strength. Too many of us think that there’s a right way to approach God and a right way to pray. In reality, God doesn’t care for He knows your heart. What He cares about is the time you spend with Him.
That being said, having a place to start with prayer is helpful for many. This collection of thoughtful, provocative, and enriching prayers by Lissette Trahan offers you a beginning. If you draw a blank after “Dear God,” then this collection is for you. If you get nervous before prayer, saying these prayers can calm your nerves. Sometimes, it’s just good to not have to think about what to pray. You sit down, read, and God gets it. He does. The funny thing is He knows what you will say before you even say it. But He can’t wait to hear your voice!
Lissette Trahan is a gifted writer with a heart for God. Read and pray her words, and soon you’ll see renewal, hope, trust, and peace in your prayer life. God bless!
Atozmom