Praying with Understanding

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Prayer, I believe is a conversation between us and God, either we are giving thanks, making requests or even asking questions. Yet it is not uncommon to feel like a prayer could be such a complicated and maybe even a delicate conversation to have, after all, it's God we are talking to here. There is no way that wouldn't be somehow daunting! I remember learning to pray as a child during family devotions and how nervous I'd get, mumbling through my words, hardly able to get anything coherent out. My auntie, bless her, would jump in the middle of one of my many long pauses to rescue me and carry on with the prayer but once we were done, my uncle would almost chide her for not giving me a chance to learn and develop my confidence. I didn't blame her; I found those long pauses very uncomfortable too! So, I usually understand when people tell me they do not know how to pray and would prefer others to pray for them or they'll just avoid it altogether and some even ask if
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Lazarus

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Happy Sunday everyone!
Listening to a message this morning reminded me of a little story I had written a few months back for my kids to help them learn to pray and trust God for healing. I thought to share it this beautiful Sunday morning.😊

Nana Flo: Why the sad face Toby?
Toby: Nana Flo, I was going to go over to play on the PS4 with Ben next door, he is not feeling so well again and can’t even play with me! Toby sobbed.
Nana Flo: That's a pity, I hope he feels much better. Would you like us to hold hands and pray for him?
Toby: Would that work Nana Flo? I really want him to feel better, he is one of my nicest friends!
Nana Flo: Of course! Oh Toby! See let me tell you something, as children of God, when anything troubles us we can always take it to God in prayer, we can communicate with him freely, anywhere, anytime having faith that he listens, that’s the key thing, choosing to trust in His plan for us. See, let me tell you the story of Lazarus:

Lazarus lived in a place called Bethany with his sisters Mary and Martha. Now Lazarus fell ill and when his sisters saw he wasn't getting any better, they decided to send word to Jesus, who was a friend to them to let him know what was happening. As soon as Jesus heard, he was concerned for his friends and prayed that the sickness will not end in death but for the glory and honour of God. He could not go to Lazarus immediately, so two days after he was told of his friend’s sickness he headed towards Bethany with his disciples. He said to them “Our friend Lazarus is asleep but I am going there to wake him,” when his disciples heard this, they believed because they had faith in him even more so after he told them Lazarus was dead. 
By the time Jesus got there, Lazarus was already dead for four days! While Mary and Martha were being comforted by their friends, Martha was told Jesus was arriving so she got up and went to him and as soon as she saw him she started crying and said she knew if he had been here sooner, her brother would not have died but that even now as he was here, she had faith anything could still happen. When Jesus heard this, he said to her: “Your brother will rise.” 
Martha had total faith that Jesus was the son of God who was promised to come to our world as our Savior. She hurried off to get Mary and tell her Jesus had arrived and wanted to see her, as soon as Jesus saw Mary running towards him sobbing, Jesus wept. He was moved and asked were they had lad their brother. 
Now in those days, tombs were a common final resting place for people that had passed away. Lazarus was laid in a cave that had a boulder against the entrance. 
Jesus told the people around to move the boulder, as they did, Martha began to have doubts as her brother had been buried for four days. Jesus reminded her of her faith in Him. 

He looked up into the heavens and prayed, then he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Out came Lazarus, all tightly bound in burial linen strips. Jesus told them to unwrap and release him and people around believed He was truly the son of God.

Toby: Wow! That is so amazing! Jesus is definitely my superhero. I will trust Him to look after Ben, no matter what happens.
Nana Flo: That’s right my dear, sometimes we feel there is no hope for change, but this story always reminds me that nothing is impossible with God. There is also another lesson to be learnt: thanking God for things we are trusting in Him for, it shows the confidence and conviction we have in the plans God has for us.

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