The Art Of Prayer

Living in the country, you never know what you're going to find on your doorstep in the morning. We have wildlife of all kinds, and I often feel like a Disney princess with all the creatures roaming free on the Carrell Wildlife Preserve. And we won't talk about Cooper's first introduction to a toad this week...

But this beautiful praying mantis wasn't out in the country. He was going through his morning routine on the downspout outside the back door of my office, in the middle of downtown. Right in the heart of the city was this gorgeous insect, just doing his thing and getting ready for the day.

Until I looked it up, I didn't know anything about the praying mantis. Now I'm glad I did because it taught me some fascinating lessons about the bug, my prayer life, and how God's creation is always perfect.

* The praying mantis is easily recognizable by its shape - that long body, eyes that rotate 180 degrees, and those spiny legs that look like they're in the praying position all the time. While we can't always be physically on our knees in prayer, our hearts can be in constant prayer and communication with our Heavenly Father. Pray without ceasing!

* As pretty as they look, the praying mantis is a carnivorous ambush predator. It grabs prey with its praying legs, everything from insects to frogs to small birds, and doesn't let go. Our prayer life is just as powerful, just as lethal to the enemy, and just as cutthroat when we use it as a weapon against the evil of this world. We may look like good Christian girls, but we're warriors when we hit our prayer closets!

 * Being an ambush predator, the praying mantis has to have the patience to be still for long periods of time, staying motionless while it waits for just the right moment to strike. In our hurry-hurry-hurry world, we're not fond of staying still for anything, which threatens our prayer time. But the art of prayer, of staying still physically, emotionally, and mentally for a conversation with the Lord has so many benefits. It changes our patience levels, gives us more peace, encourages us to slow down, and gives us the opportunity to meditate on God and His word.

* Gardners love having praying mantises in their gardens because they help control the pest population and make for a healthier garden. We have a tremendous impact on the world around us when we fight for it in prayer. We're attacking the destructive spiritual pests that target our families, our friends, and our churches when we petition God for His watchcare over them. That hedge of protection we pray for can make all the difference in the lives of those we love, keeping the pests out and helping them grow strong, healthy, and vibrant.

Just as a praying mantis plays a vital role in balancing its ecosystem, our prayer lives are essential for communicating with God, fighting for our loved ones, encouraging others, and strengthening our own faith. The art of prayer isn't stumbled across or discovered under a rock - it's developed and strengthened over time as we build our relationship with the Lord. He wants to hear our voices, and His word says that He is just waiting to hear us, answer us, and rejoice with us in His response to our fervent prayer.

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