Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was hungering to be in the presence of my God this morning and I couldn’t wait to pour my heart out to Him. He’s my Rock. He’s my Fortress. He’s my Deliverer. He’s my Strength. He’s the One Constant in Life. He’s the One that will never leave me nor forsake me! He never disappoints. He never stops loving. He never stops forgiving. He always has time for me. He cares about every aspect of my life. He’s Jehovah Shammah – the One who is always there! Most of the time just thinking about Who He is in my Life sets my heart in Praise-mode, and when I’m in Praise-mode what I want from Him pales in comparison to Who He is to me. That’s what Love looks like.

I could write a prayer list that would wrap around the entire state of Virginia of all those things…those requests…those people in need of His Hand. I could go to my prayer closet and pray for days upon days for all those things in my own life and in the lives of others. I could pray from sun up to sundown and I’d never cover it all. Sometimes I wonder what they did back in the day when prayer requests were made known. Did they take the time to chisel the requests into stone to be sure they wouldn’t forget or did the Request get chiseled into their Hearts instead? I pray throughout the entire day for lots and lots of things chiseled into my Heart. When someone asks me to pray I take it seriously and those Requests become chiseled into my Heart so there’s no need to write them down. The Heart is where Love and Compassion are found and God hears every thought. But it all begins with Praise for the One Who hears the prayers of His people. When we draw near to Him – He draws near to us! Without that, a prayer list becomes more like a shopping list for the Author of Life.

I know God counsels me “even when I sleep” and it comforts me to Know that He doesn’t just “watch over me” but that He’s inclined toward me day and night because I love Him and He loves me. When someone “pops into my head” I begin to pray because I don’t believe the “pop into my head” was coincidental at all. When someone “just happens” to show up – I begin to pray because I don’t believe in chance meetings. When some random thought about something going on in life “pops into my head” I don’t dismiss it – I pray. My children and grandchildren “pop into my head” all day long each time they do, I pray. I have a Time with the Living God set aside each morning…a Time to Praise…to give Thanks..and to make my Requests known to Him…but my Time with Him doesn’t end there. I commune with Him all day long no matter what’s going on around me. I pray throughout my day for people who are chiseled into my Heart – and because He’s chiseled into mine – He knows every thought, every prayer, and every need without referring to a list at all.

I woke up hungering for Him this morning and He filled my Heart to overflowing as I gave Thanks for Who He is. My Heart is inclined toward Him and His is Inclined toward me. I’ll be praying throughout this entire day and into the night… and even when I sleep He’ll counsel me. What a Mighty God I serve!