"While we may waver in our commitment and response to God, God remains ever faithful, loving, and true to us, seeking what is best for us. While our intention may be to change God's mind about something or to persuade God to do something for us or our loved ones, the Holy Spirit intercedes. And even as we make our petitions known and offer our praise, God is bringing about transformation within us.

Prayer may not change our circumstances, but it changes us - both individually and corporately as the church, the Body of Christ - molding us into who God wants us to be and tempering how we respond to life's trials." Upper Room

I am so thankful for that truth, Lord! Because if "prayer changes things", then the burden is on ME - my frequency and quality of prayer - to make the best situation possible for myself and others, like You are my genie that I must rub exactly the right way to get what I want. But You are NO man's genie. You do not perform for us.

Still there are such curious passages as these. Ah, but that is so true.

What a magnificent God You are to depend on. You do not change like the shifting shadows. You are a Rock. You have in mind the best for us, no matter how much I sin, or how much I think I deserve, or what I keep petitioning You for. Like our old house. Maybe You have us bound financially for a very good reason. Maybe You have in mind a miraculous release. Maybe we're not quite ready to handle the extra money wisely. Maybe You want us to learn to live at a lower income so that we get used to how it feels so that we can give away all that we're "losing" in extra mortgage payments. Whatever reason it is, I hope we're getting to where You want us to be, and learning what You want us to learn. I am tempted to worry about finances, but I choose NOT to, because You are SO in control of that!

If anything, I think You're doing some things to keep me obviously in need of You. So many things out of my hands. I am so glad to have just gotten the insight that I am just like my son. We've been trying to get him to stop sucking his thumb by giving him incentives to quit, but we forgot to empower him with knowledge and courage to actually do it. Reading a book about thumb sucking got us further than anything else. And I am the same way! Daily, I know what I probably should do, and I know the benefits of doing it - but reading Your Book gives me the knowledge about You, Your creation, and myself that I need to give me that added boost of courage to go in the right direction.

Thank You, Lord, for Wednesday. I love going to church and it seems I can hardly wait for those days! Thank You for Your Body, Your sacrifice, Your redemption, Your Spirit.

Change my heart oh God,
make it ever true.
Change my heart oh God,
may I be like You.

You are the potter,
I am the clay,
mold me and make me,
this is what I pray.