Asking for prayer…
I never really realized just how much I have going on in my life. I had the rare opportunity to lay in bed and watch the ceiling fan this morning as I wait to head off to the doctor’s office. I’ve had this intense pain in my side, under my rib cage. I want to blame it on the soccer match I played last week, but I just don’t know.
But that is just the tip of the iceberg. There is SO much that is going on in my life, both good and bad, that I need to stay in touch with God constantly just to know that He is covering me in His grace. And prayer does more than that, it gives us perspective.
When I was a young Christian, I prayed to God simply to ask Him for things. He became some cosmic Santa Claus there, I felt, to give me my every wish.
As I’ve grown in my faith, I realize it isn’t about what we can get, but what we take away from the experience of prayer. The Lord will give us perspective, and that is more important that just the stuff.
For example, I can pray for a wonderful woman to enter my life, but if that prayer stays focused on my needs then that relationship will be very selfish-oriented.
On the other hand, if I ask God to stay in His will, show me His direction with clarity, and give me discernment with regard to women, I will find that one woman that God has ordained for me specifically.
So I ask for prayer. Not that God turn all my needs, wants, and desires into good things for me, but for myself to walk away with the perspective of God. For my life to model His. For the Spirit to move in me.
It is then, and only then, that I will find Christ is, and has been, blessing all my desires, needs, and wants.
Proverbs 16:3.
boyradd 
What a great reminder Fred. During praise & testimony at church I often try to give thanks for a lesson God’s taught me that week, or I ask for prayer for an ill friend, or for God to guide me with regard to some other need. When the elder asks me how I’d like the prayer… I always respond now ” for God’s will, and him to grant me the discernment, wisdom & grace to understand His will.” These days I’m praying for a revival, too!!! I hope you feel better soon. I will be praying for you, Dear.