For more than 10 years, I have sat down each morning with my Bible, a book of devotions and my journal to spend time with my Heavenly Father. This quiet time is God’s time, the time I devote to communicating with Him. During our planned meeting, my focus is on Him. After reading scripture and devotion, I pour out my heart to Him in my journal. Whatever is on my mind or weighing heavily on me finds its way onto the blank pages. Inked on those lines are also words of affection for His character and His compassion.  My words of praise are whispers in His ear just as He speaks softly into my heart.

Why should you keep a spiritual journal? Here are seven reasons:

• Documenting your prayers in a journal frees you to be more authentic with God. He knows your heart and thoughts anyway. If you look up the definition of authentic, you will find the following: genuine, real, not fake, reliable and trustworthy. Now, look up the antonyms or opposites of these words. You’ll find these words: counterfeit, fake, false, unreal and untruthful. Do any of these words describe your relationships with others? With our Heavenly Father, we don’t have to fake it. We don’t have to prove we are worthy of His love. We just have to accept His wonderful gift of grace.

• Looking back at your entries can help you trace your spiritual growth. Occasionally, I open the box containing my previous prayer journals. I am humbled when I read my earliest entries and then fast forward to the current year. It reaffirms for me that God cares for His children.
• Keeping a daily prayer journal can help you understand the nature and will of God. However, it requires you to slow down and take time to listen for His voice.
• Keeping a daily prayer journal reminds you for whom and for what you need to pray. Your journal is also a place to record those things for which you are thankful.
• Recording your prayers gives you a written record of them so that when you need encouragement, you can look back and see that God is always faithful, even when we aren’t. It helps us to remember God’s power displayed in our lives.
• Prayer journaling forces you to take time on a regular basis to communicate with God and make sense of the craziness in your daily life. It helps you gain perspective on what is important.
• Journaling can be an accountability tool, allowing you to record your promises to God. Have you ever made a promise to God and then promptly forgotten because of life’s craziness? I know I have. Using your journal as an accountability tool is not only a way to help record your promises but also a way to remind yourself of your commitment to God. He knows and forgives our forgetfulness. Use your journal to help you keep your promises.
  I challenge you to try prayer journaling for 40 days! Will you take the challenge?

When they asked how, Jesus taught his disciples to pray. The Lord’s Prayer, found in Matthew 6:8-14, reveals our Savior’s heart. What does prayer mean to you? Do you think it’s a mysterious practice reserved for the religiously devout?

Prayer is simply a conversation with your Abba Father. Minister and author, Josh McDowell, has this to say about prayer: “Prayer is talking with God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.”

For some, even Christians, prayer has become an afterthought, done only while sitting in a church pew, at the dinner table or beside a child’s bed before sleep. Sometimes, prayer is offered as a wish of one’s heartfelt desire with expectations of God answering like a genie inside a magic lamp.

If you’re seeking an intimate, powerful transformation in your relationship with God, then your prayer life must be more than asking for things. Praying is not just setting aside a special time to spend with Him; it is an ongoing conversation with Him throughout your busy day. While you are at work, eating, conversing with others, waiting for appointments or on the run from one place to another, you can be in prayer. Thank Him continually for the blessings in your life, even the difficult times. They help you to grow closer to Him.

However, starting the day with Him is vital for your spiritual growth. When I sit down with my Bible and prayer journal each morning, I am consciously choosing to give Him the first part of my day. It’s the same principle as tithing. Giving Him the first fruits of your day reveals your priorities.

Prayer is a time to remind yourself that everything you are, and everything you have, comes through the power, grace and mercy of the one true God. Communion through prayer allows a deeper connection between His Word, His Holy Spirit and yourself, allowing seeds of faith to be firmly planted within your being.

How does a conversation with God begin? Get quiet. Seek a special place where you can open your mind, soul and spirit to what He has to say to you, both in that still, small voice, and within the pages of your Bible. Seeking Him requires you to listen more than you speak. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Remember what Josh McDowell said, “God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.”

It’s about your heart connection to the One who loves you more than life itself. We must remember that it’s not about you and it’s not about me. It’s about God and His will. Then, you will realize that your prayers will touch the heart of the One for whom nothing is impossible.

More posts on prayer:

12 Ways to Jump-Start Prayer

9 Tips from Jesus on Prayer

Instantly Answered

Let’s Pray for Our President

5 Ways to Grow Your Faith

I’ve always had a heart for the lost, especially animals. I was the one who brought home stray “anything” when I was a child, no matter the size, color, number of legs, fur-less or not. If it had been abandoned, I brought it home. However, I was never successful at raising wild animals, but that didn’t stop me from trying.

I’ve tried to raise baby birds and baby rabbits as well as farm animals, including calves and piglets. My only success was with an orphaned piglet, which we named Trouble. I raised him on a baby bottle after his mother failed to produce any milk and another sow refused to take the offspring of another.

Recently, I was faced with a dilemma concerning seven baby rabbits my dog had discovered in my fenced backyard.  Taco would not stay away from the nest, which was hidden beneath a large ornamental grass next to my backyard swing. I fretted about Taco’s killing them or scaring the mother away from her feeding ritual.

I called several area veterinarians and wild animal rescue groups but did not receive any words of encouragement. I could have forbidden my dog the run of his own backyard but he was driving me crazy with his constant whining to go outside. He knew what was hidden beneath the tall swaying grass and he wanted to investigate. However, I was afraid he would eventually eat the tiny creatures.

I didn’t have time to be a foster mother and the odds of the babies surviving were not good. However, I couldn’t stand to see them die without a chance. When a friend suggested I gather up the nest with the babies inside and place it outside my yard fence, I decided I had to try. I placed the nest, babies intact, inside a shoe box to transport them. After moving them, I began to worry that they might need some protection from the elements. I visited my local Lowe’s store and purchased two small ornamental grasses at 5.98 each plus tax. Returning home, I planted them right next to the rabbit’s new home. Then, I prayed that the mother would find them to provide sustenance for their little bodies.

Later that evening, my next-door neighbor, who was as concerned about these small animals as I was, called to say, “Carol, it’s going to storm tonight. I’m worried about those baby rabbits.”

I told her that I had prayed over them and hoped that their mother would find the transplanted nest. After I hung up, my heart for saving the world wouldn’t let me rest. I walked into the garage looking around for something to protect those precious little creatures. I began thinking…create a lean-to so that the mother, if she returns, can still get to them.

I couldn’t find anything in my garage to facilitate my plans but for some reason, the word “cookie sheet” popped into my mind. Even though I knew the chances of their survival was almost nil, I had to try. I called my neighbor back~it was already dark outside~and said, “Okay, your call prompted me to try something else to save those babies. I need your help holding the flashlight.”

At 8:30 p.m., two women, one in her late 50s and the other who is 70, walked through the tall grass behind my house and constructed a lean-to using a metal cookie sheet, a piece of wire, a nail and some duct tape.  There was no evidence that the mother rabbit had found the nest but I still had hope. I had done my part, even if it sounds crazy to some.

The next day, when I checked in on the nursery, I could still see no evidence of the mother’s presence. I tried not to worry. Later that evening, I found five of the rabbits dead and the other two were almost dead. My heart was sad but I knew I had done all I could do.

When I think about our human efforts to save ourselves from trouble, I am reminded that there is only ONE who can accomplish that and He is our Savior. Have you accepted His saving grace?

Need a little something to juice up your devotional life? Chances are you already have it. Here are 12 people who probably aren’t on your prayer list—but who ought to be:

1. The guy who cut you off in traffic
2. That rude store clerk or customer-service representative
3. The thoughtless person who caused you extra work and inconvenience
4. That ineffective mother whose kid is out of control
5. The homeless man who smells so bad your eyes water
6. That unbelievably bad candidate in the opposite political party
7. The person who volunteered to help you and then didn’t follow through
8. The Christian who disillusioned or bitterly disappointed you
9. The fraud who ripped you off
10. That man or woman you always think dislikes you
11. The coworker who embarrassed you
12. That friend whom you let down and now don’t want to see

Rule of thumb: When you see red, it’s almost always a red flag—to pray for the person who made you angry.

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We observed Ash Wednesday last month with the tradition of placing ashes on our foreheads as a sign of repentance to God. Before we began, our pastor reminded us that the ashes were from the burned palm branches waved by the children in the 2011 Palm Sunday service. I was amazed at how the time had flown. Hadn’t my grandchildren just joined with other children in the church to march into the sanctuary, waving their palm fronds and shouting, “Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna!”

In the gospel of John, the apostle tells us that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem when the crowds met Him. As He rode into town on a donkey, the crowds greeted Him with shouts of “Hosanna” and with the waving of palm branches. “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Zechariah 9:9 foretold this day. “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

According to history, the donkey was domesticated in Mesopotamia. Used as a beast of burden and renowned for its strength, the donkey was normally ridden by nonmilitary personnel. However, scripture indicates riding a donkey was not beneath the dignity of Israel’s noblemen and kings. 1 Kings 1:32-40 tells us David indicated His choice of Solomon as king by decreeing  that the young man should ride on the king’s own mule.

Jesus didn’t ride into Jerusalem on a war horse but on a lowly beast of burden. While the people, including the disciples, didn’t realize the significance of this fulfilled prophecy at the time, the symbolism behind His choice of transportation should not be forgotten today. The Prince of Peace, who came so we all might find peace and rest in His sheltering arms, chose a lowly animal to help announce that He is the Messiah.

How many place hope in the next election, praying that a chosen candidate will lead our government and get us out of this mess? Why do we keep looking for a great military leader to ride in on a stallion and save the day? How many look to man to help them escape from the problems we have all helped to create? Things are no different today than they were when Jesus rode into Jerusalem that day over 2,000 years ago.

Our Savior didn’t come just to liberate us from our worldly adversaries, He wants to free us from all our enemies, from the root of all our problems—sin, evil and death itself. He came to challenge our values and our notions of dominion in every way. So, what are we to do with a Messiah who came in peace, humility, and riding on a lowly donkey?

Can you shout, “Hosanna?”

Many of us, who love working in our yards and flowerbeds or walking in nature, feel closer to God when we take time to appreciate the beauty. I think it is because we feel His presence in each blooming flower, blade of green grass, the buzzing bees, the singing birds and even in the weeds that need pulling. I liken this love of nature to God’s love for us. He created these things for us to enjoy, not to destroy. The weeds are a reminder to me that He wants to remove the bad stuff in our lives to make us more like Jesus.

Recently, while trimming my rose bushes, I noticed blood running down my forearms. I had on gardening gloves but could not bring myself to wear long sleeves. It was too warm. The thorns had ripped my flesh and as I watched the blood dripping from my arms, it was a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

His suffering is greater than anything I could ever imagine. The crown of thorns planted on His head caused more pain than what I felt from the barb of a rose bush. On a pilgrimage to Israel last year, I purchased an authentic Crown of Thorns, a vivid symbolic reminder of the suffering He endured for us.

Scripture tells us that the soldiers “platted a crown of thorns” or braided vines of thorns together to form a crown. According to my research, there are two types of thorn plants growing around the Holy Land. One is called the Zizyphus Spina Christi and the other qundaul. While both have long, flexible twigs that can be woven into crowns, the qundaul has the cruelest thorns of the two. The brutality of the soldiers has led most theologians to believe that the qundaul plant, with its spikes of 1 to 1 ½ inches long, was the one used for Jesus’ crown of torture.

Can you imagine the pain and humiliation Jesus suffered at the hands of the soldiers?  Why would their desire to mock Him lead to the weaving of a crown of thorns, a task that could have easily wounded their own bodies if they had been careless?

Careless is a word that applies to us if we are not aware of the thoughts, words and actions that can lead to our own destruction and others around us. Our Savior hung painfully on a wooden cross with a crown of thorns pushed into His scalp. He endured it for me. He endured it for you.

I believe it is no coincidence that spring and Easter coincide. Just as the flowers burst through the soil to reveal their beauty, our Savior rose from the dead three days after being killed in a manner most of us cannot comprehend. Friday was not the end. It was only the beginning.

Have you accepted His gift? Are you living in God’s fullness?

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)

Have you ever lived in the land of the “if onlys”?

If only I had more money, then things would be easier.

If only I lost 10 pounds, then I’d be happier.

If only they’d recognize my talent, then I’d feel more appreciated.

Not too long ago my husband and I were praying about his career. Not only did the answer not come, but every door shut that we thought would open easily. As time passed I started listing my “if onlys.”

If only we had clear direction.

If only we could begin that dream God placed in our hearts.

If only, if only, if only …

Soon those unspoken words steered my thought life. They crept into my prayer time. They tiptoed into my relationship with my husband.

One day these words from King’s Cross by Timothy Keller leaped from the page:

The Bible says that our real problem is that every one of us is building our identity on something besides Jesus. Whether it’s to succeed in our chosen field or to have a certain relationship-or even to get up and walk-we’re saying, “If I have that, if I get my deepest wish, then everything will be okay.”

Suddenly I saw myself. My deepest wish had shifted. Where once I longed for God, now my thought life and actions revolved around what I didn’t have. What I couldn’t control.

That night I confessed to my husband that I had not only moved into the land of the “if onlys” but had anchored there. I promised that instead of focusing on what wasn’t taking place, I would began to treasure what I did have.

Today we have food. We have shelter. Our home is warm. Thank You for that gift, Father.

Today I hold a grandbaby in my arms. See her precious smile? I delight in that, Lord.

Today I sit in the living room and laugh with my husband. Thank You for joy.

Today and everyday I am Yours, Jesus. You are more than enough.

Godly contentment isn’t passive, but an active faith that says God is enough. You and I are okay because our deepest wish doesn’t revolve around losing 10 pounds, our career, another person, or whether we’re noticed for our efforts.

Are you living in the land of the “if onlys”? If so, are you willing to change your deepest wish from the “if only” to focusing on what you have and thanking God for it?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 is a well-known chapter in the Bible. It is also one of my favorites. Wise King Solomon is the author of this book. When I look at this scripture, I am reminded of how fleeting life really is. As I live more years, I am amazed at how fast each second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year passes.

When we observed Ash Wednesday last week at my church with the  the practice of placing ashes on our foreheads as a sign of repentance to God, we were reminded by out pastor that these ashes were gathered after the palms the children had waved in church on Palm Sunday 2011 had been burned. Hadn’t we just celebrated that day?

Why does time go by slowly when we are younger, anticipating important dates, like getting our driver’s license, high school graduation and so forth? Time seems to crawl.

However, somewhere along the journey, we quit anticipating and looking forward to milestones. Maybe it is because we begin to realize that our time is limited. Maybe it is because we are more aware of what really matters in life. Hopefully, we come to the point where our priorities change and our life slows down enough to spend more time with God and in service to others.

2012 is a Leap Year. It only happens once every four years. What will you do with your extra 24 hours?

Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Flowers will wither, candy will be eaten, cards will be tossed or treasured, and those who received nothing will breathe a sigh of relief that the day for lovers is over.

I used to be one of those. Since 2001 I have been single. At first, it bothered me that I had no significant other with whom to share the day of romantic love, which actually has its origins in various legends, including that of the martyred saint, Valentine, who was a Christian.

Did you know that approximately 150 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas? That boggles my mind.

One thing, however, that I have learned about this day of romantic love is that I no longer dread it, even though I still don’t have a significant other. I don’t miss the flowers, the candy or the card. Why?

I have come to realize that humans will disappoint us. Because we are all desperate to love and be loved, we search for meaning and significance. But we search for those things in all the wrong places. We think another human can make us happy. Ah, but there’s the rub. We place our hopes and dreams in another person who will ultimately not live up to our expectations.

I have learned that it is only through a personal relationship with my Savior that I can experience authentic love. His love replaces thoughts of rejection and banishes feelings of abandonment. Through the priceless gift of God’s sacrifice, we can finally comprehend the most amazing truth. We were planned before we were ever conceived in our mother’s wombs. We were created in HIS heart. We were wanted. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Isn’t that a reason to celebrate?