Day 48 - Prayers that go in a different direction

Have you ever tried to pray for a particular thing and suddenly your mind is filled with something totally different than the things you had originally intended to take to God in your prayers? Suddenly you find the words have gone in a completely different direction than you had intended. This happened to me recently when I took time out of a busy schedule to pray. Initially I felt frustrated. Did God not realise that my time was limited! But after making a few attempts at trying to bring my thoughts around to what I thought I wanted to say, I paused and said to God, “Okay God, I give in. You are obviously trying to tell me something important. I’m listening now. Fire away!

At this time of year particularly we try to cram too many things into each day. On reflection I took this as God telling me that there were other things that were more important at that moment in time than the things I was focusing on. God is like that isn’t he? When we go ‘off track’ he has a way of bringing us back to what is important, and I thank him for doing that.

In a world that often seems out of control we need a reminder of what this Advent season is about.

“And the word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth”.

John 1:14

There are times when we need taking back to the core of all that God has given us – The joy of His most precious and wonderful of gifts - His Son, Jesus Christ.

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.

Isaiah 9:6

So, this Christmas make sure that you take time to spend time with God in prayer, to celebrate His joy, no matter how busy or distracted you get so that you too can experience the joy of the birth of His Son.

Go to God in prayer ...

Holy God,

As we approach the most wonderful season of joy,

When you sent your Son, Jesus Christ to come amongst us,

Help me to focus on the important things in life,

That bring comfort and joy to others

Rather than things that distract me and achieve little.

The unimportant that take my time and sap my energy,

Achieving little or nothing.

Help me to understand what this season means,

To me, to others, to the world,

Bringing light and joy to all

Joy to the world. Amen

Kathy Shaw