[1] I woke up this morning to rain! That might not sound like a big deal especially because by the time I left the house I was wearing flip-flops. Nonetheless, I was very excited because Orange County California is just so mild. We really have to appreciate it when we get any kind of “weather” that isn’t a somewhat sunny day with highs in 70s and lows in the 50s. When it’s barely 60 degrees here everyone is bundled up. It’s so funny to read blogs of friends who live in other states who are writing about their first snow and the 30 degree weather or posting beautiful pictures of colorful autumn trees. We just don’t experience the four seasons like other states do. But I enjoy California and I’m glad that we had rain for a change…it sure makes it feel more like fall!

Many bloggers are posting about things they are thankful for in the month of November. At one blog I enjoy–[2] Rebecca Writes–she has dedicated the whole month of November to write once a day about something she is thankful for. I was really encouraged by reading her and others daily thanksgiving for significant and simple things in their lives. I wanted to post something that I am thankful for and that is prayer.

Prayer is such a privilege! As I read Scripture God speaks His Words into my life and when I pray the God of all heaven and earth is listening. That is amazing! I was convicted today by the fact that I don’t always treat prayer as it is, speaking to God. Maybe because I can’t see Him physically I can treat prayer as just a spiritual discipline or something on my “to-do” list. I have sometimes been rude to God when I’m praying. I have been in mid-thought to the Lord and my mind wanders to something I need to remember to do that day and it was hours later that I realized I had been distracted. Several times I’ve been praying and fallen asleep. What if I did that to a dear friend that I could see physically, that would not be considerate of them at all!

“Pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Today I was looking up some verses on prayer and I was surprised at how many passages, like this one, mention prayer along with thanksgiving. I wondered if this was because we so often can come to God in prayer just hoping to “get.” We are having a trial, bad day, have a test or deadline and we need God’s help. We need to bring everything before Him, but we should be as equally thankful to Him as we are in our eagerness to make requests. Being thankful in our prayers keeps our conversation with God more focused on Him than on ourselves and our needs.

We don’t pray to a god who can’t save
We pray to the God who will hear

So I will call upon You
And watch for what You will do
You’re the help of Your people

You reach down from on high
And put joy in my life
So I praise You as faithful

–[3] “Call” by Godsong Music