“I never get tired of the blue sky,” Vincent van Gogh. I agree, nothing prettier than a blue sky. I like mine dotted with fluffy white clouds and hot yellow sunshine. Father Sky sketched perfectly today. His early morning clouds looked like a toddler had picked up his white pastel, pushed the stick from one side to the other of the sky canvas, creating line clouds all over the sky. By afternoon Father Sky had filled his blue canvas with fat fluffy clouds, bleached white cotton bolls blowing across the horizon. My yard is church quiet except for the occasional dog bark train and the songbird symphonies praising God for this beautiful Sunday.

Been thinking today about praying and the healing power of prayer. I’m a big believer in the importance of daily prayer. I think we’re encouraged to ask God for guidance and support. God knows our needs but prayer helps us connect with him and receive his blessings. Sometimes my prayers are more like a conversation. I know God listens. Mathew 21:22 states, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” We communicate with God through our prayers, thanking him for our blessings, asking for guidance with troublesome times, asking for emotional support and spiritual hope of brighter tomorrows.

Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” No matter what sins we’ve committed nothing will shut the door on us seeking God’s grace. God will always open the door when we seek help and healing. Everyone is invited to walk through God’s door and be welcomed into God’s kingdom, no matter our transgressions. God has already forgiven our sins and is waiting to welcome us.

When we pray we need to be bold with our requests, praying with faith in God’s grace, believing our prayers will be answered. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Our prayers can free us from anxiety and give us peace. Philippians 4:6-7 states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart.”

When the storms of sorrows come our prayers don’t stop the rain but they give us the ability to lean on God and let him guide us through the storm. We pray for strength to weather the storms. John 14:13-14 says, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” Sometimes our prayer requests aren’t granted or immediately answered but we have to remember God knows the path of life we’ll travel. He’s already mapped it out and will make the path clear to us in his time frame. We have to trust in God’s wisdom and patiently continue to pray. Even when prayers seem unanswered, continuing to pray brings comfort and deepens our faith. Sometimes God knows best and we grow spiritually through our unanswered prayers.

“Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” — Garth Brooks