Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Is it any wonder our children are afraid to go to sleep? We’re praying and teaching them to pray that the Lord takes them home that night.

There was one night when Ariana was a few months old I had a strong urge to pray for her and to specifically pray that she would live through the night.  She wasn’t sick, wasn’t in the hospital but I had this overwhelming urge to pray. I didn’t pray all night but I did pray into the wee hours and she lived through the night. I’ve often wondered about that. Wondered if it was a test for me, “Would I pray or would I pass it off as postpartum craziness?” I didn’t know then and I don’t know now but I’m so glad I did.

Lately I’ve been thinking about prayer more and more. I have no real idea how to pray and maybe you’re like me. I find my prayers just a litany of “thank you” or “so and so needs this, I need that” as if I could just rub God the right way and He would pop out of a bottle and grant me my wishes.

In my head and in my heart I know it doesn’t work that way. I know it is always a good thing to praise Him and one way we do that is by showing gratitude and thanking Him.

I’ve heard prayer is a conversation with God. I talk and He talks. I find myself running off at the mouth and forgetting to let Him have His say. Or I find I ask questions that I’m curious about but really don’t matter and honestly I’m not sure I really expect an answer.  When I’m reading the Word, I’ll be curious about something and ask, “Now why is that?” So far the answers aren’t forth coming.

Am I alone in this or do you struggle with prayer too?