Prayer

This past week has been wonderful.  Two weeks ago I was feeling quite overwhelmed and cumbered about by many things (documented in these posts from our family blog: mazes - do it - drawing lines - charge!) I say my prayers, but also felt like I needed to pray more and that I need and want to feel the Lord nearer, I need His spirit to help me be calm and kind.

Then last week we sang this song during sacrament meeting, and the first and second verses especially touched me as I thought that even when I don't utter my prayer He hears me and knows.  Everytime I sigh from frustrations (which is a lot!) I am praying.  I remembered that as I just lift up my heart, I am praying to Him, and he is near. 

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.

~

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near.

~
Text: James Montgomery, 1771–1854
LDS Hymn Book, no. 145

He has poured out his spirit upon me this week and I thank him for consecrating my small efforts. When I am left to my own strength I am weak, but with him I am strong.  I am determined to serve him.  I thank him that for now He has seen fit to deliver me.  Mosiah 24:10-16

 10 And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.

 11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he ^aput guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.

 12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their ^ahearts to him; and he did know the ^bthoughts of their hearts.

 13 And it ^acame to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the ^aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as ^bwitnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their ^cafflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did ^astrengthen them that they could bear up their ^bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with ^cpatience to all the will of the Lord.

 16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

When we do not lift up our voices to God, He hears the prayers of our hearts.  He has made my burdens light that I cannot even feel them upon my back.  Praise I give to Him ~ thank you, Dear Lord, for your goodness to me.