“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.“

The elements are there to use when knocking on door of God’s heart. Reverence. Honor. Trust.

But what comes next?

My friend wasn’t satisfied. “I do that, but where do I fit in asking God to help me find my house keys? That sounds like a stupid request … but I had to call my husband to have him let me in our house.”

When we live in a state of continual prayer, it’s easy to blurt out a “help me find my keys” prayer.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

I offered comfort to my friend. “When we have a continual dialogue going with God, keys can be a part of it. We see a friend in need, we tell God about it. When we see a toddler in the grocery story enjoying a tangerine and juice is dripping down their arms, we thank God for the beauty in small things. Not only is continual prayer like a chit-chat with God, it sets our heart in a state of continual gratitude. What a wonderful state to be in.”

Put it all together

I could tell my friend still needed help pulling the pieces together, so I broke it down further. “Tomorrow, when you wake up, pray like Matthew 6 shows us. Have a moment with just you and God. Honor him. Not because you want something, but because he’s God.”

She nodded. “I can do that.”

“Right? And after that, remind him that you want what he wants. That’s the ‘your kingdom come, your will be done’ part.

“I can do that, too.”

“Then thank him for what he’s put in your life. Your family, kids, friends, job … stuff like that.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty blessed in that way.”

I saw the light of recognition in her eyes. She was getting it. I continued. “When you tell God about that, you’re praying.”

She sipped her coffee then nodded. “Then do you mean if I do that all day, I’m acknowledging God all day?”

“Yes!” I love conversations that have happy endings.

Prayer fine-tuning

I watched my friend as she started connecting dots … prayer dots. “I need to pray for my marriage. My husband and my kids. Because if I don’t then who will?” Another sip of coffee. “And I can’t forget that woman in the cubical next to me at the office. She’s always staring daggers at me. I need to pray for her, too, right?”

“Yep, That’s the pray for our enemies like Matthew 5:44 says, ‘But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Good friends

As we finished our coffee I silently thanked God for my friend. Our relationship was a true gift that brought an element of light to my life. But I’m sure he already knew that.

He’s a good, good heavenly father.

Ladies’ Fans, Ladies on a Mission is here!

Full lives aren’t necessarily lives fulfilled.

Years have passed and it’s 1984. Sugar Bowersox and her family recently moved to Trotter, Kentucky, where Dungar could take the head coach of the brand new Trotter College. They were both thrilled too come back. Sugar thought once they returned to their childhood hometown, life would be smooth sailing. But those thoughts ended when a star football player is found in the weight room … stabbed and holding onto life. Dungar’s a mess. Their daughters are struggling as they try to find their way in their new lives. And Gran is feistier than ever. When Sugar calls Lily-Rose and shares the upheavals to their lives, she ached for her friendship with Lily-Rose and Fiona. “Lily-Rose, I don’t know where to start. But I need you and Weeds. I sure could use a fire.”

The Ladies’ latest adventure, Ladies on a Mission, takes them to Kentucky and a world unknown to Lily-Rose and Fiona. New and not-so-new faces participate in this newest who-done-it.