Stepping Stones: Don't Sleepwalk Through Your Prayers

Transformational Tip
Your routine prayers can cover a lot of praises and petitions. But that efficiency carries with it a danger; you can sleepwalk through your prayers. In most relationships, our tendency to fall into patterns and routines that then lead staleness or ruts dangerously sabotage our growth and relational depth. We start to take the other person for granted and become "me" focused...not process oriented for what is actually happening in the relationship. Prayer then is only to fulfill an obligation or tradition....saying "grace" before meals. Then God Himself seems like an extra, obligation, something to break out for special occasions, and not a daily enrichment to our life.
You have a choice! Make use of the massive power source within you - the Holy Spirit. Invite him to empower your prayers with life. Seek fresh ways to pray and commune with God...think specifically of your words...why are you praying...what is your attitude...your expectation. Then spend 5 minutes today at the end of your prayer just listening. If you drift(like I do at times), give it another try. This is how you develop your spiritual radar for God's frequency. This will awaken your soul and enliven your relationship with Him.

Prayer
Dear Father, teach me how to pray to you.
I love living close to You, it satisfies such deep longings in me. I live close to You through prayer. However, I confess Lord that I have fallen into a routine with my prayers...and I struggle between being faithful and constant vs. being creative in my communication with You. Because my mind is both fallen and finite, I feel I have such limited ability to be creative in my prayers. I come to You Lord with thanksgiving for Your Holy Spirit. Let Your Spirit teach me how to pray in such a way that I get increasingly closer to You and able to see Your infinite newness everyday.
In Jesus' renewing and exciting name, AMEN.

The Truth
And pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Ephesians 6:18
For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.
Psalm 57:10-11
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23