Praying

                                        A little food for weekend thought on prayer--
         "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place and there He prayed." (Mark 1:35)
         "And they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (Rev.5:8)
         John Piper says, "It is as though God has a favorite food.  When we pray, He smells the aroma from the kitchen as you prepare His favorite dish.  When God hungers for some special satisfaction, He seeks out a prayer to answer.  Our prayer is the sweet aroma from the kitchen ascending up into the King's chambers making Him hungry for the meal.  But the actual enjoyment of the meal is His own glorious work in answering our prayer.  The food of God is to answer our prayers.  The most wonderful thing about the Bible is that it reveals a God who satisfies His appetite for joy answering prayers.  He has no deficiency in Himself that He needs to fill up, so He gets His satisfaction by magnifying the glory of His riches by filling up the deficiencies of people who pray."
         After an unimaginably full and busy day that stretched from early morning until deep into the night with Jesus teaching and healing countless individuals, what does our Lord do?  He arises in the predawn darkness to be alone with His Heavenly Father to pray.  To enjoy His Father's presence.  To lay all His needs before His Father.  To simply soak in His Father's love, peace, joy, wisdom, and strength.  If the Sovereign King of Kings, the Creator of heaven and earth needed this time alone with His Father to be empowered and equipped for all He had to do, why on earth would we think we need it any less?  I keep asking my lazy...or rushed...or self-sufficient...or misplaced priorities self that question.  If the Lord Jesus needed and wanted prayer, who do I think I am to skimp on it?  How much am I missing?  Forgive me, Father!  Oh how I want to be a woman of prayer.  A prayer warrior for God's kingdom.  Help me, help us, Father, to be Your prayer warriors.  
         In John Piper's words, we want our prayers to create those sweet aromas that bring You, our Father, satisfaction.  We ask that in Your grace, You would teach us to pray.  In your love, You would enable us to persevere in our prayers.  And in Your power and for Your glory, You would answer our prayers.
       And, Lord, right now we lift up those in dire need because of Hurricane Matthew.   Raise up an army of Your people to help and serve and love those who are struggling...and might You receive all the glory.  Lord, strengthen the weak.  Heal the sick and injured.  Comfort those dealing with terrible loss.  Encourage the downhearted.  Bring the light and love of Christ to bear in every dark and desperate place.  Overwhelm the darkness with Your Light.  Father, we know You are able, so we ask all this in Jesus mighty, good and glorious name.  And to You be all the glory.  Amen.