annoyed... but no offense continued

back up a few seconds...
so i read the prayer chapter
thought it was amazing
totally agreed
but was surprised
especially b/c i find conflicting views of prayer among my friends and collegues when it comes to prayer, it just seems to be viewed differently then i have been raised to view it, so i wondered have i actually viewed it the same as most of the christians i know all this time and i was just mislead?
but then i go to class
and the opposite is the response in which the people in my class seemed to have
the main response is that the way they have experienced prayer doesn't align with the way the book portrays prayer
they said it seemed hard to pray
hard to have faith to pray
none of the amazing quotes that i highlighted and underlined actually came up for discussion, i didn't know how to respond
should i comment that i knew exactly what the author was talking about?
would i then look conceded?
but were my worries worth my friends not being encouraged to dixcover the prayer that the author spoke of... so i talked
i told of my experience with prayer
how God speaks
how He tells us what His will is
and in turn we have nothing but faith even in the midst of nopthing but discouragement we have this totally insane peace and knowing
i used the example of Talin this summer
and how the Lord told me He would 100%
in my mind i disagreed with my faith
he can't have "no effects" after drowning in the pool... but how wrong was I proved and how happy i am that i was proved wrong... it was an extreme story, but God is extreme and prayer is too...
5 minutes blue in water
found
given cpr
ambulance
care flight
possible brain damage
definite lung damage
2 week minimum stay
PRAYER
open eyes
"mommy"
smile
hugs
doctors confused
24hours later
leaving hospital

It was God alone
it was not my prayer
but because I knew what the outcome would be I had an amazing encouraging prayer and posture and in turn was able to stand in faith along side the family whose hope was not as high
God is the Healer
Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Yet, prayer does have power
it changes things
and if we don't believe that we don't understand the power that He has now entrusted us with as His body
Not only that but it should be enjoyable and amazing

This is not the only mention of prayer that I have heard lately in this manner. The other day I heard someone speaking of prayer in the same manner as those in my class.
not enjoyable
boring
fall asleep
monotonous
just religious
my heart hurt as I heard these sincere comments on the ever close topic of prayer
in the opposite manner i heard someone speak of the type of faith prayer they had
they said they don't feel need to pray before a meal because they already did it once why do it again- they knew God had blessed all the food that they eat
once again
my heart hurt
what is this misconception of prayer

People I love, I love to hang out with
People I admire, I love to sit and listen to
People I need, I embrace and talk to as often as possible
living far from home I call home to my mom and dad and sister and youth pastor and friends weekly wishing it could be daily
When at home that all I do- be with these people
God is here
He is present
He is waiting to hear form us
He wants to speak to us
He wants to embrace us
Whether it is before we eat a meal and bow our heads monotonously one more time
Or see rain drop find a path down the window and watch in awe
Why not take advantage of every moment
and ENJOY IT!
Prayer is vital
Its the only chill time that we will ever have that will have such an amazing impact on the WORLD... why don't we treat it that way?
I just wasnt to know Him more
I just want the world to see Him
I just want them to find the Hope that He has given me
Why is it so difficult?
Why don't we get it?

annoyed... but no offense

in one of my classes we are reading the book Celebration of Disciplines by Richard J. Foster. As I read through the third chapter my heart became overjoyed as I read about the type of real prayer that I knew, prayer with the Great One Mighty God of the Universe who actually listens, reveals His will, that then combined with faith compassion and expectation on our part becomes real change in this world. things actually happen when we pray. God changes the future as we seek Him and pray to Him. He says in John 15:7 it says "If you abide in me, and my words in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." I was so excited to read this chapter and then have the oppurtunity to discuss it.
sadly
similar feelings were not shared with my classmates
their first response was that prayer was not this way

more to come...
i've got to go...