Hey there. I'm going to come in here real calm, real cool, and real collected. I've got my fake therapist voice on. I'm super zen right now. I just want to know how you're doing. You're alright? Ok good. So we are here on the final post of the 30 lessons in 30 years series. It has been quite a journey, I wasn't sure if I was going to finish, ESPECIALLY when I fell behind; but, we're here. I turn 30 in just a few hours. Our final lesson is this:
PRAY
I have a tradition that I started doing a few years back. The night before my birthday I take the last 15mins of my previous age and the first 15 minutes of my new age, and I pray. I talk to God, I reflect and express gratitude for what the past 365 days have brought, and I look forward to and pray for the next 365 days. As you saw in lesson 29 I said a relationship with God is THE MOST important relationship you can have. Now Prayer falls underneath that umbrella, but I wanted it to stand on its own. It is just that important.
A lot of us misconstrue what prayer is. But I'm going to simplify it for you. Prayer is talking to God. You see the way you talk to your best friend? Like that (except maybe leave the cursing out lol). That's it. Just have a conversation. If you want to just show up and vent to God, do that. If you want to tell Him how your day was, do that. Yes, He already knows, but he also still wants to hear it from you. It doesn't matter what it is, He wants you to talk to him about it.
What I have come to learn is that prayer works. It really works. I have witnessed the Lord answer prayers immediately in real-time. Just a couple of months ago, I found myself praying with one of the trainers at the gym for an opportunity and clarity from God. Quiet LITERALLY the moment we opened our eyes, a man was standing right there with the answer to the prayer. I can't make this stuff up. I've witnessed Him answer prayers in days, weeks, months, and years time. I've seen Him answer a prayer with a "No" and later find out it was best that He did not answer that prayer. Prayer WORKS.
Have you ever heard the phrase "you won't know unless you try"? Well, try it for yourself. BUT I MUST WARN YOU this is not a "rub the gene and get 3 wishes" situation. That relationship with God matters. It is your relationship with God that will help you to understand and see how God is responding to your prayers. I challenge you to take 7 days, one whole week and pray every day. Don't just bring a bunch of requests to Him. Talk to Him. Tell Him about your day, share your feelings, tell Him a story, and just talk to Him. Do that for 7 days and then come back and tell me what happened, and tell me how you feel.
I love ya'll for reading, and I love ya'll for real!
- Woods
Lighting up the woods, one Syllable at a time
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