“One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking from you…. Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me the way, one day at a time."

Sometimes, when I sit and pray I don’t feel like God is listening to me, Why do I think that? Well, you see, I feel like I don’t get an answer. I’m a concrete person. I want to be able to reach out and touch my answer. Sometimes we get a material sign that our prayer has been answered, but more than likely the answer we get is a sign that has meaning to only us. What happens when we can’t hear or aren’t listening carefully for an answer?

Is there a difference between “can’t hear” and “not listening”? I do believe that there is a big difference. When someone can’t hear that indicates that something or someone is drowning out or blocking the message. But not listening, that’s all about me. When your not listening, you are not quite settling down and being quiet and letting God’s messages come to you.

Quieting my brain is occasionally the hardest thing to do. At times I have so much on my mind there was no way to block it out, so instead of fighting it I have learned to write down my thoughts. And then go back to quieting my mind, till another thought comes. By writing my thoughts down I don’t have to worry I will forget something.

Other times if I sat still for 5 minutes I would fall asleep, no really, I would feel bad, here I was trying to pray and I could not even stay awake. Well I’m in good company, weren’t there another group of 12 who could not stay awake and pray? As a parent I’ve come to understand God as a loving parent who want the best for His children. If a nap is what I need, I believe God is holding me while I sleep, much as I did when my babies were small. I imagine God looking down on my sleeping face, and talking to me as I did with my babies, telling me of His great plans for my life. As He whispers in my ear He IS teaching me the way, His way, one day at a time.