Hard to Pray

This title is misleading, perhaps.  I don't really find it hard to pray; I find it hard to make the dedicated time to pray.  Life is busy, I get tired, and distractions attract my attention.  So here I am, and another part of the difficulty is prioritizing.  Intercession?  Worship?  Confession?  Oh, my.  It could take hours--and probably should.

The issue that drove me to this site today was the need to keep praying for my younger daughter teaching in a school in Philadelphia (in class at UPenn tonight).  I could have entered a prayer on her blog site, but then I realized that I want to pray for my older daughter, too.  Instead of switching between sites, I decided to use this blog.  Then I thought that it has been way too long since I intentionally prayed for my husband (who has his own site, too).  And then the crisis in the church...and as I sit here I can come up with other people about whom to pray as well (my mother, my sister, my nephew to sell his house, my brother-in-law and a possible MS diagnosis....).

Dear God, I want to be a woman of prayer.  I want to be intentional in my relationship with You.  I want to be someone who is close to You, who has Your ear, and who will intercede on behalf of my loved ones--and Yours.  So please bless my daughter Julie with protection (yes, selfish of me but I am a mother, after all) and inspiration and creativity and genuine love for her students.  Please bless my daughter Amy with wisdom and love and effectiveness as she invests herself into students who are intent upon serving You and reaching many people in the world for You.  Please bless my dear (sometimes "curious") husband with endurance, extra energy and cognitive flexibility to keep up with a demanding IT position, and a close relationship with You.  My mother--relief from the ever-present anxiety.  On and on....

And the church.  I don't even know how to pray in this situation.  I release my curiosity about the details, not wanting to be caught up in gossip.  I ask You to keep my focus on doing what You have called me to do and not being distracted by this extraneous issue (or issues).  Somehow, please glorify Yourself in this muddle.  Bless all the hurting souls that have been involved in this awful situation.

For now, Lord, that's all.  I will try to do this more often.  In Jesus's name~~Amen.