Prayer

Prayer rocks!
Sometimes I am totally shocked by how prayers are answered and how prayers can be answered within prayers. I know I shouldn't be shocked, but it is so awesome...so amazing. I keep a prayer journal...probably why blogging interested me. I write in it as often as possible. Sometimes its just a few words, sometimes several pages. I love to go back through old journals and see that everything has been answered in one way or another! Maybe not the way I asked for, but always the best way.
I also love to finish a long session of praying/writing and see that my prayer has already been answered...while I was writing! I think of things that I had never thought of...see things in a new perspective...and its all God giving me the insight that I need. Its always just enough for me to keep hope alive!
Hope...I love that word. I have 3 rings that I wear EVERY day. One says 'FAITH.' One says 'HOPE.' One says 'LOVE.' Hope is my favorite. Romans 5:5 "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." I have hope that everything in my life that seems so scary or uncertain is all part of the great plan God has for me. He is taking care of me and the people I care about most. He will not fail me. He is faithful. I'm sure most, if not all, who are reading this already know these things...I think I'm writing it to remind myself.
I think a lot of my realizations are very fundamental but profound things. One thing that I knew in my head, but have recently learned in my heart is that I cannot put my hope in another human. No matter how good or trustworthy that person is, they are still human! They are going to let me down, hurt my feeling, and disappoint me. While its not fun at all, it is still ok. They still love me and they are still a good and trustworthy person. The only person/thing/event in my life that is guaranteed not to let me down is God! And you can bank on that.
realization number 2: The way I treat other people has a whole lot to do with my relationship with God, as well as everything else going on around me. God made us in His image. (It can be so hard to believe that about some people). But the way I treat others is the way that God is treated by me...I wish it weren't the case...that means I haven't been very good to God sometimes. I realized that when I don't get my way with a person I tend to pout, give the cold shoulder, get hyper sensitive, and withhold love. I started thinking about how I treat God when he doesn't give me what I want when I want it. I get upset about the unimportant things and forget how much I love Him. I start making demands and don't want to show my love until those demands are met. How childish am I? How selfish am I? I'm only human!