Gratitude - Day 13 - Prayer

This photo was taken at my favorite prayer place. 

Prayer is such a blessing, and I am grateful for my Father's loving, listening ear.  The G-d of the Universe told us to pray about everything.  In Proverb 3:26, He says:  In all your ways acknowledge Me, and I will direct Your path.  I love that verse, and this one:  And this is the confidence we have in Him:  if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us; and if He hears us, we know we have the petition we desire of Him.  What wonderful promises.

As a young believer, I read the biography of George Mueller, and my confidence in the effectiveness of prayer was birthed.  I began to keep journals of my prayer requests with dates the prayer was asked, and the date it was answered.  What a faith builder.  I learned that G-d hears and answers.  I read something recently that applies to the lessons I've learned through this exercise:

When the idea isn't right, G-d says NO

When the time isn't right, G-d says SLOW

When you are not ready, G-d says GROW

When everything is right, G-d says GO

I've learned to trust G-d's timing.  He knows best.  Another saying I keep in my prayer journals is this:

G-d gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him.

There have been times I didn't understand why G-d delayed in answering my prayers.  Time taught me to trust His timing.  A good example is a house I tried to sell back in the 80's.  I needed the money, prayed about it it, and tried and tried to sell that house to no avail.  I finally rented it to a wonderful family who loved living there, and were great renters for seven years.  In the 80's, I thought I needed the money, but when the house finally sold, I needed the money even more.  As a matter of fact, I prayed this prayer:  Father, if you want me to take a trip to Israel, please let the rental house sell."  When I put the house on the market a second time, it sold in one week.

That reminds me of another thing I'm thankful for:  my trip to Israel.  I'll be posting about that tomorrow.

I'm linking up today with:

Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

 On Your Heart Tuesday

Teach Me Tuesday
A Wise Woman Builds