Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was thirsting for God this morning the way the earth thirsts for water, and I couldn’t wait to enter His Presence and pour my Heart out to Him. It’s Labor Day today, and this year we’ll be exchanging a holiday cookout for a day of rest and peace…and that’s just what is needed. A lot is going on in my life (as usual), and there are a million moving pieces. There are a few strained relationships that need healing, so I’m inclined to “own” these things and let stress overcome me if I’m not careful. So, I turn to my Source of Life, to the One who has the Power to make everything alright. 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 who 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 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 a few times of all those things…those requests…those people in need of His Hand. I could go to the War Room 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 years ago 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 for me to write them down. After all, being asked to pray is an honor and therefore not something I need reminding to do. 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 wish list handed over to 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, every need without referring to a list at all.

I woke up parched and thirsting 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! He says, “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name, AND THAT is why all is well with my Soul no matter what’s going on around me.

How about you?