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Daily Prayer: a resource of Forward Movement

The Forward Day by Day Meditation for April 30, 2022

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SATURDAY, April 30

John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

I used to pray by giving God a laundry list of my wants and desires. Often, I ended these prayer requests with, “In Jesus’s name. Amen.” Most of my requests seemed to go unanswered. I do think God was listening, rather deeply, actually. God heard what I wanted, in my name. But God also knew me better than I knew myself. So instead of offering what I wanted, God offered what I needed, even when I could not recognize it at the moment.

Over time God has taught me to listen to myself. I know myself a little better each day. I still don’t know me as well as God does, but I’ve progressed enough to pray a little differently. These days, I find I pray less for what I want and more for what I need, and I’m also able to recognize and give thanks for how God is offering that to me. My joy is far from complete, but I am more consistently joyful as a result of shifting how I think about prayer.

MOVING FORWARD: Are the words, “In Jesus’s name,” mere lip service? How can you change that?

PRAY for the Diocese of Lango (Uganda)

Ps 20, 21:1-7(8-14) * 110:1-5(6-7), 116, 117 | Exodus 17:1-16 | 1 Peter 4:7-19 | John 16:16-33