Getting to Amen

 I've been called a good listener, but I am not so sure when it comes to listening to God.  In prayer, I seem to have the notion that I need to do  steady, non-stop talking about what I want God to do and then it is Amen time.   Sometimes I think I treat God like He is my personal genie in a bottle. 

In looking at that more closely, I can see that I do not honor Him enough in prayer. I do not give thanks and praise nearly enough.  I don't be still and let the Spirit work on me without words nearly enough  

During my exercise program, there is the spot right after push-ups where I am face down on the floor and I use that interval for a short prayer time.  The beauty of it is that sometimes it evolves into something much more than a short prayer time.  In my perfunctory mindset, I list all my concerns about the people and things I want to pray for.  But in the best of times, I can't say Amen.  Sometimes, after exhausting all my personal concerns, I just can't pull the trigger on Amen.  

Moment after moment I just stay there face down on the floor, wordless.   Something is different and  all I can think to do is praise and give thanks.  God gets very  real and I feel that long-sought closeness as the spirit seems to massage my soul.  Long, long moments go on and on  and I don't want to leave.  It is a place of perfect peace. I get up finally refreshed, renewed, and inspired, and in a way, healed. Thank you God for the smile You put on my soul. AMEN

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