Beauty in Prayer

Legs crossed, head bowed down, hands opened. Hearts being laid bare.

Honest.

Real.

Raw.

Heartfelt.

“Amens” being proclaimed in my heart.

I get to lead a small group of college girls every Thursday night. They come over, we eat, talk about life (and Downton Abby & the Bachelor…confession: I like the Bachelor. I know, I know…) and then dive into God’s word and how to apply it to our lives. I love it. I mean, I absolutely love it. I look forward to it all week. These girls rock. This month we’re doing a study on prayer, specifically how to pray for our future husbands, but it’s more than that. How do we pray? How do we as women truly hope in the Lord?

We get vulnerable with each other. We seek Him together. And then we pray.

Last night we went around and each just told the Lord what was on our hearts. And man, it was powerful. I was almost left in tears by the beauty of the moment.

We were seeking the heart of God.

Thanksgiving was being poured out of our mouths. Praise was being proclaimed. Raw confession was being whispered. Cries for help were being uttered. God’s character, His truth, & His goodness were being declared. Pleas for His help, mercy, grace were being requested.

It was beautiful.

The Lord loves it when we talk with Him. He loves a heart that seeks Him. That’s what He desires, a heart that wants Him completely, more than anything else.

“You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart…” Jeremiah 29:13

“You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, LORD, do I seek.’”  Psalm 27:8

The essence of prayer is that we get to know God—and become more like Him as we pray with a heart surrendered. I was reminded of that truth last night, and it hit me: how beautiful is a heart that seeks our Lord. How beautiful is a mouth that gives Him praise. How beautiful is raw confession & a humble heart that says we can’t, but calls on God and asks Him to take over.

I know that as we sat there last night praying, God was delighted because we were seeking His face. We were giving Him glory. He loves a heart surrendered to Him, a heart that trusts Him and seeks Him. Even in the mess & weakness; through the tears—and how my heart was changed. I was reminded of God’s promises. I stopped trying to be in control, and be god of my life, and give it all over to the One True God. And my heart was so uplifted by hearing how the Lord was working in their lives.

Let’s seek the Lord today. Let’s run into His presence, pour out our hearts, lay our burdens down at His feet, pray with open hands, and rejoice that He indeed meets with us.

What is heavy on your heart today? What can you praise and thank the Lord for today?