Easier Not To Pray

Praying exposes how self-preoccupied we are and uncovers our doubts. It was easier on our faith not to pray. After only a few minutes, our prayer is in shambles. Barely out of the starting gate, we collapse on the sidelines—cynical, guilty, and hopeless."

-pg. 15 A Praying Life, Paul E. Miller.

4 Truths

From James 4:13-17

1. Our confidence is not in our plans, but in God.

2. Since we understand only God knows the future, we seek Him above all else.

3. Life is short, so don't waste it.

4. Bringing your plans before God, submitting them to His will, reveals a dependent heart.

All I Need (I Didn't Catch Her Name)

By Randall Goodgame / Mighty Molecule Music

Did not catch her name
Did not catch her tears
but they hit me like a train
When her story hit my ears
Mother of eight sons
Father off to war
Got no home address
Just bricks on a dirt floor
Jesus is all I need

Tiny plot of land
Corn stored up in piles
The years it doesn't rain
They just stay hungry for a while
With no fatted calf to kill
She made a feast of cuy and corn
She said, "Who else knew my name
Before the day that I was born?
Jesus is all I need
Jesus is all I need."

She bragged about her boys
How they're growin' into men
How they learned to praise the Lord
Old Style Ecuadorian
But to buy the new guitar
we had to sell the swine
See, my boys go to school on a foreign angel's dime.
This world calls me poor
I bore my babies on this floor
But he always provides
Sure as the sun will rise.
So I sing Him songs of praise
'Cause I know He keeps me in His gaze."

Rain fell from the sky
We raced back to the van
Tears in the eyes
Of this poor, forgetful man
Mother of eight sons
She knows the peace of God
Lord, help me learn to lean
On thy staff and thy rod
Jesus is all I need

Grace

Laura Story

My heart is so proud
My mind is so unfocused
I see the things You do through me
As great things I have done
And now You gently break me
Then lovingly You take me
And hold me as my Father
And mold me as my Maker

I ask you, "How many times will you pick me up
When I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory
How far will forgiveness abound?"
And you answer, " My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face,
You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."

At times I may grow weak
And feel a bit discouraged
knowing that someone, somewhere
could do a better job.
For who am I to serve You?
I know I don't deserve You.
And that's the part
that burns in my heart
and keeps me hanging on.

You are so patient with me, Lord.

As I walk with You
I'm learning
What Your grace really means
The price that I could never pay
Was paid at Calvary
So, instead of trying to repay You
I'm learning to simply obey You
By giving up my life to You
For all that You've given to me

"My child, I love you. And as long as you're seeking My face, You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."

Faith To Be Strong

Preformed by Andrew Peterson

Give us faith to be strong
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead
Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn
Mend us up when we break
This flesh can be wounded and shaking
When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us hearts to find hope
Father, we cannot see
How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom
And as hard as we try, Lord, it's hard to believe
So, give us hearts to find hope

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn
Give us faith, faith to be strong

Satisfy - A Prayer

by Mike Donehey, Jason Ingram, Phillip LaRue

Before the sun has touched the sky
Colors bursting from Your eyes
Before the flood of the morning light
Before the earth has felt Your heat
Before I stand up to my feet
Before I begin to feel this weak

Satisfy me Lord, Oh Oh
Satisfy me Lord, Oh Oh
I'm begging You, to help me see
You're all I want, You're all I need
Oh, satisfy me Lord

When the day is closing in
Like the stars in the night I am falling
Into the pull of the earth and it's affection
In me, oh lord, can you create
A pure heart cuz I'm afraid
That I just might run back to the things I hate

Satisfy me Lord, Oh Oh
Satisfy me Lord, Oh Oh
Yeah, I'm begging You, to help me see
You're all I want, You're all I need
Oh, satisfy me Lord

You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You're more than all this world can give
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You're love is all I need to live
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You're more than all this world can give
You're beautiful, more beautiful
You're love is all I need to live

I am planning on posting lyrics every Monday morning for the month of Febuary.