Prayer is another area in which my mom has had a profound impact in my life. As a little boy who just did not want to go to bed, let alone go to sleep, I would fight that whole bedtime sleep thing. My ever-patient mom would sit on my bed encouraging me to fall asleep by rubbing my back and praying. As a little boy, through that process I came to realize that there was someone over all of us that we should talk to — that we should look to for help, wisdom, insight, and understanding. This has become a very intimate, thought-captivating process. How do I mentally reach out to the creator of all things who knows my thoughts anyway? Why would I do this? What should I say? Is this just something we do because we are commanded to? Or is this a communication process? If this is a communication process, it could seem so one sided — I talk, and that’s it.

But I wonder if there is more going on here than just a one-way communication. Prayer is a function of my mind, my thoughts, my intent, my will, and my soul, which is strategically captivating my heart for a specific, reasoned purpose. If this is true, I could pray about anything and this could truly be a self-serving, self-focused, narcissistic endeavor. But everything I see in Scripture encourages me to direct my heart and my thoughts to God. Because “I the Lord search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:10). “The Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts, if you seek Him, He will let you find him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

So! If prayer is “a function of my mind, my thoughts, my intent, my will, and my soul, strategically captivating my heart for a specific, reasoned purpose,” then shouldn’t that purpose be to humbly, thankfully direct those thoughts (prayers) to the designer, creator, and sustainer of all things? Asking for His wisdom, insight, and understanding? Lord, help my mind, my thoughts, my intent, my will, my soul, and my heart be directed by You in all things.

I love You God. I trust You God. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thank You God.

—Robin