The Saturday Journal: Good morning Lord,

Writing my prayers in a journal has been a part of my life for a while now. The idea or the challenge to myself , I can't remember the year, I'll have to go back and look, but what I do remember was journaling my prayers started in the month of November. I was struggling with a decision and I thought--I'll write my prayers in a journal for 30 days--30 days, and God will give me an answer. He did and here I am, some five plus years later, still filling journals with morning and evening prayers.

As we age--we sometimes forget or at least I do--and another thing that comes with this aging--we either fall asleep as we pray or we can't fall asleep. Our minds won't stop, and instead of lifting our voice to heaven in prayer--we lay with our heads on our pillows--tossing and turning--worrying about tomorrows.

And I still have rushed mornings and nights of restless sleep--but what I have come to realize--when I begin my morning with thanks and end my day reflecting back over all the good things God has done for me on that particular day--remembering and thanking Him in prayer--I begin my day--better. Finish my day with a greater peace--a greater gratitude.

And often times, I go back and reread my prayers, and there they are--answered prayer, after answered prayer--after answered prayer.

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Good morning Lord,

Thank you for a good night's sleep and rest. Thank you for waking me up to another day. The light--it's creeping between the tall pines, just outside my window--the wind catches the gray sky just so and the trees move like a slow creek breaking free from the icy dew.

Thank you for my warm home--the hum of the furnace--the smell of coffee and sweet cinnamon rolls filling my kitchen. I know Lord I shouldn't be eating not one of these sweet treats glazed in sugary icing, but here I sit in my Charlie Brown pajamas--eating three. I've read where if you must eat sweets--do it first thing in the morning. That's what I'm doing. And these cinnamon rolls--they are from a can--Pillsbury--they're really not that big.

Thank you for everything, Lord. My eyesight--for my Bible to read--for the strength in my hand--gripping the pen--writing my morning prayer to You.

This morning my prayer seems much the same. Do you ever get tired of me praying these, sometimes what I believe are repetitive prayers?

God, I want to lift up every member of my family--to the throne this morning. You know each need--the desire of each heart. For loved ones and friends--my church family, I pray for each one. For those who are hurting, broken-hearted, mourning--those who are without You in their hearts--those who are sick, cold, lonely, afraid, afflicted, hungry, anxious, worried--those who are struggling and only You know their silent pain--I pray for them. For those who are without hope, I pray. And for those who are in authority--may they seek You in every decision.

Lord, I lift them all--all that are in need of prayer and that is every single one of us--we are all in need of You.

I pray a special prayer for my grandchildren--for all the children and young people, always. I pray, Lord please keep them safe and protect them from harm, evil--unkindness. I pray they will be treated with respect, as well as kindness. And I pray in turn, they will do the same, treating others with respect, kindness, and empathy. I pray they will make good choices. I pray these things for myself.

I glance up from the table--the morning light is clearer--the clock keeps moving forward, and there's this shape of a heart on the stone pot--the pot, that is home to the giant aloe plant my daughter-in-love grew and gifted me.

Has it been there all along and I've missed it? This heart! Or did You just reach down Your hand and draw it? I get up and move closer and the closer I get, the less it looks like a heart. It doesn't look like one at all, really--up close. A glimpse from a distance, maybe, is all I needed on this chilly November morning. You are near.

I turn to Ecclesiastes and there it is-- a familiar verse I have highlighted--I've read these words it seems a lot over the past few years. Perhaps it's because I'm getting older. "Whatsoever my hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest." (ch. 9, vs. 10)

Help me dear Lord to apply this to my heart today and every day--make good use of my every day as David says in 1 Chronicles 16:11, Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually.

I pray for forgiveness of my sins and shortcomings. I know I have many. I'm sorry, Lord.

I pray I will be a better person today--than I was yesterday.

Thank you Father. Thank you Lord.

Thank you for Your love, Your kindness, Your forgiveness.

And I believe on this morning, I have answered my own question, haven't I, Lord--prayers are meant to be spoken--no matter if they are somewhat, the same--day after day--

Because You are listening day after day. And You promised--Your mercies are new every morning, aren't they.

Lamentations 3:22-23, It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.

Thank you, Father.

In Jesus Holy and Righteous Name, I do humbly pray,

Your daughter,

Amen and Amen.

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Soli Deo Gloria

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