Too Busy Not to Pray: Conviction and Confession

Once upon a time, or should I say once upon a year, roundabouts January 1st, I make this little resolution.  Correction: large list of resolutions.  Including blogging, writing, hobbies, what have you.

What can I say?  I start the year with good intentions.  And then, somewhere around January 2nd I am reminded that I have a village house full of little people.  Ages 6 and under.  (Translation: well-meaning, sweet, very unhelpful children in areas including tidying, cleaning, cooking, laundry, anything household related.)  I have a hard time accomplishing things like laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking.  You know, essential things and such.  And at the risk of sounding boastful, I must explain that this is not for lack of organization or laziness on my part.  I am at peace with the fact that this is simply reality at this point in my life, due to the aforementioned small people and their lack of help in said essential things.

Anyway, back to my point.  Or to my point.  You can't come back to something you haven't started.  As I was saying.

There's something about turning the calendar to January.  Something refreshing.  Something inspiring.  Something thought provoking.  And something convicting.

This year, January brought on this recurring thought and conviction about prayer.  I don't pray enough.  I don't pray well enough.  I dump this frantic wish list at the Lord's feet when I don't know what else to do and feel like I can't deal with whatever the issue might be.

Somewhere in the midst of these thoughts, I was also told that the spiritual giant known as John Piper made some comment about how Facebook/Twitter/Social media are all evidence of the fact that we are not too busy to pray.  I haven't even verified that quote.  Haven't needed to.  Whether he actually said it or not, or someone else did, the whole idea has been deeply implanted in my memory.

So I made this small change in my life.  I decided in the moments that I spend each day, every three hours, feeding the newest Nielson would be devoted to prayer.  Specifically for her.

Now that's not a major thing, by any means.  It's even a little humbling that it became such a revolutionary idea for me.  You see, prior to this revolution, I had spent that time on my phone.  Not talking, but doing all those other things that phones are now used for:  Facebook stalking, Words with Friends, emailing, maybe even shopping.  In fact, I had been so pleased with how technology has changed middle of the night feedings since my oldest entered the world 6 years ago.  No longer was I struggling to stay awake in the middle of the night during feedings because I was busy emailing, texting, gaming, etc.  I was plugged in and proud of my multi-tasking skills.

So I made the conscientious decision to put my phone down and spend some time with my babe and the Lord.  And let me tell you, in her short time with us, she has given me plenty of things to discuss with Him!!!  Wowza.  And let me tell you, in her short time with us, He has given me plenty of opportunities to see answers to specific prayers!!!

I have had no shortage of simple, very unspiritual requests for this little lady.  Help her to sleep well.  Help her to cooperate while we do __________ (fill in the blank).  Heal her belly button.  Help her reflux.  Help her not to suck her thumb.  Etc., etc.  And over and over, the Lord has shown me and reminded me that He does indeed hear our prayers.  Even "small", simple, unspiritual prayers.

And every once in awhile, I remember that although all these things seem so important in the moment, what really matters is that this little one grows to know Him.  To love Him.  To follow Him.  To point others towards Him.  And every once in awhile, I remember to pray for these greater picture things in life.

But I must confess.  Even though I have made this commitment to use these moments to converse with the Lord, more often than not, my prayers go something like this:

"Dear Lord, please heal Charlotte's belly button...Hm, I wonder what it looks like today?...Hm, I need to remember to scrub her shirt from yesterday that's a little crusty from her belly button...Hm, I wonder if she has clean clothes left in her closet?...Or diapers, does she have any clean diapers left?...Hm, I wonder if Phoebe has clean diapers?...I better remember to check them when we're done here.  Oh yeah, here we are, and I was supposed to be praying.  Lord, as I was saying..."

What can I say?  I'm a work in progress!  But this post is my reminder to myself to continue to be challenged to spend that time with the Lord on behalf of my sweet little lady, who is a constant testament to how He answers prayer, and how much He loves each of us and how He loves her more than I ever could!!!