Persistent in Prayer

Ever wonder if you can bother God by asking Him the same thing over and over? I have wondered. You see I know He is all knowing and I know He hears me and so I ask in prayer for things of my hearts desire praying only if Gods will. I find my heart asking and than believing the lies that the enemy feeds me : Don't ask again He's busy.

As if the God of the universe who knit me together in my mothers womb could be too busy. As if He could care less about me than I do myself. Its a lie in an effort to shut down prayer because friends we know there is power in prayer. It's a lie that makes us feel as if we can't approach Our Lord with our needs when He tells us to ask, seek and knock. He wants us to bang down the door in prayer. He wants us to push and persist.

He listens better than the best friend you have ever had, and meets you exactly where you are. He loves you no matter what you've done or haven't done and invites you into a personal relationship with him. You see God knows my deepest needs and cares and yet He patiently listens to me in all I have to say whether in vocal or contemplative prayer. He does this not only for me but every single person on the planet. How grand His love is for us.

Scripture reminds us to persist in prayer.


Luke 11:5-8
And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,6 for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’7and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’8I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.


Luke 18:1-8
Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said,2“There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being.3And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’4For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,5 because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’”6The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.7 Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?8I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The saints remind us

" Through communion with Him, the Holy Spirit makes us spiritual, he returns us to Paradise, brings us to the Kingdom of heaven and into adoption as sons, he gives us the confidence to call God Father and to participate in the grace of Christ to be called a child of light and to partake in eternal glory" - St. Basil 

I am his daughter and He loves me patiently. He has adopted me and I can imagine him saying "My beloved I am with you always" when the lies of his absence creep into my mind. You see no matter how alone I may feel at times I never am. He never leaves me side. Yours either friend. He's right there next to you.

Friends we weren't commanded to pray sometimes, occasionally, once in a while. We were told pray without ceasing. He wants to be asked. He wants to be sought. He wants to be pursued.  He wants our lives to be prayerful acts for Him and His glory.

So friends what have you asked Him for? Have you been persistent in prayer? Have you sought the Lord and fasted? Have you prayed without ceasing? Have you approached the throne of grace with your petitions? Finally friends.. Will you love Him even if He says No? Will you trust Him and His timing? When we seek Him and pray He doesn't always do exactly what we want, how we want and when we want but He does always listen, always answer and always has perfect timing. 

Friends you are beautiful and loved. 

Persevere in your requests to the Lord. Pray without Ceasing and Trust that He is with you.  He isn't too busy, He hasn't forgotten, He is listening, and waiting.

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Loved By God

Friends,
Do you know that you are loved? Can you open your mind to the possibility that the God of the universe, the one who created everything loves you? I had the privilege of seeing Sister Miriam James Heidland, S.O.L.T speak at a Women's Conference a few weeks ago.  Honestly, she shared a heart and love for God that was beautiful. She reminded me of something that perhaps is easy to forget at times: God loves us. You see His love isn't generalized. He does just love "everyone" as a whole but not specifically. His love is tender, it's personal, it's unique for each and every person on earth and that's amazing. He loves because that is His nature: God is Love.  Couple that with being all knowing and for me these truths are amazing. He patiently listens to each of us as we share our needs, whether as a silent whisper of the heart or shouts at heaven.   Such truth, if you really stop and think about it, can seem impossible. Someone who loves you so greatly, knowing everything about you does exist.

There are times in my life I've felt far from that kind of love, and if I'm honest the times I felt farthest are because I moved myself. I set up definitions in my mind as to when God could love me or not based on when I felt lovable or lovely. I thought I was lovely and lovable if I could achieve, or perform. When I had no "big" sins then I was lovable, or so I thought. My view of love was based in my experience of love taught to me, but my view was broken. His love has never failed me.

I've learned that its not about big sins or little sins --I'm sinful. period. I'm not worthy but He loves me in a perfect and unwavering way. He cares for me when I don't care for myself, He loves me when I fail to perform, His mercy is amazing. He calls me beloved. He calls me beautiful.  He calls me blessed. He calls me to Him so tenderly and reminds my heart that there is no place outside of Him that I can be loved like that. My husband gives me a beautiful demonstration to help me understand how big this love is with how selflessly He loves me. It helps but is only a glimmer of the truth of what I'm describing.

Sister Miriam and I 

Sister Miriam shared parts of her story in which she dealt with life circumstances that affected her ability to see love as God loves. I won't share her story, because it's not mine it's hers, but thankfully she's shared it in her book: Loved As I Am. I read it and honestly I'll tell you it's great. It's a beautiful story where she shares honestly about the parts of her life that were challenging where she didn't feel lovely and used all sorts of things to fill the gap. She had circumstances that produced challenges and she honestly shared the struggles and the triumphs. She shares how Our Lord fought for her when she didn't feel loved and He loved her just as she was. It's His love that makes her beautiful, and friends I'll tell you: she's gorgeous. The joy and love that overflows her heart is inspiring and if you ever get a chance to listen to her I recommend it.  The book covers the human person and God's love. Through small in size, it delivers a big dose of truth broken down into small bite size pieces.  She does that when she speaks as well. She's very eloquent and yet is able to explain complex things simply. She shows a true knowledge that she conveys well.  She is inspiring. She reminds you that no matter your problem, addiction, hang up or break down that there is hope.  She reminds us we can all be holy. No matter how far you stray God will never cease to welcome you with open arms.   She proclaimed at the conference I went to "I'm a broken lady who's seriously loved by God." She's tasted and seen that the Lord is good and invites you to do the same. She told a room full of women "God is always after your heart" and she's absolutely right. It's nice to hear it. To be reminded. He's pursuing me all the time and it's lovely to know that.  Friends. He's pursing you too.


Friends I know that God loves you. Remember as Pope Saint John Paul II said " We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failure; we are the sum of the Fathers love for us. " As I type those words it speaks volumes to my heart in a week that I've had weaknesses and failures galore. I know it's God teaching me, growing me and leading me to grow in humility and trust in Him. I am so thankful for His love even on my worst days and it's knowing He loves me that makes everything else so amazing.  You remember friend. God loves you more than you could ever imagine. You are His beloved. <3

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You can follow Sister Miriam on Twitter @onegroovynun  and there are several youtube videos where you can listen to her.
For my conversion story click here