Don't Pray. Just Praise.

My prayer life isn't dry, but it feels like it needs a little boost, a little umph. I asked God to show me where He needs me to go.

A got a random Facebook message from a friend I wouldn't normally get messages from. I opened it up to see that it was one of those images that you forward to a bunch of people. Usually they read "If you love Jesus, share this. If you don't love Jesus, don't share this." Needless to say, I usually don't read those or pay attention to them; I don't need a Facebook picture to tell me if I love Jesus or not.

This image, however, looked like it was an inspirational quote or a prayer so I decided to give it a try since it was so out of the blue.

It began with a simple sentence: "Don't pray, just praise."

I knew that this message was an answered prayer. God tends to work in the unexpected.

I am in a transitional phase. I have developed from "Lord, please help me with this, this, and this" to "Lord, I trust that you have a plan and I have hope in that." There is progress, but through this Facebook image God is asking me to take a step further. I need to solely focus on Him and praise Him.

"'Natalie, do you love me more than these?'

'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.'

'Feed my lambs.'

'Natalie, do you love me?'

'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.'

'Tend my sheep.'

Natalie, do you love me?'

'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.'

'Feed my sheep.'"

-John 21:15-17

Sometimes God asks us to love Him, and not just to love Him but to tell Him that we love Him. What would your relationship with your parents, friends, significant other, children be if you didn't tell them that you love them? The same goes for our relationship with God.

We first can sit with God and bask in His Presence. Praise His Name. Praise His acts. Thank Him for the blessings He's given you. Ask Him how you can be a blessing for someone else--how can you be an answered prayer for someone?

Smile at someone that you walk by. Call a relative or a friend that you haven't talked to in awhile. Give food to the hungry. Donate your time or money to a charity. Visit the imprisoned. Use everyday life happenings as prayer.

The way that God asks us to love Him is to tell him and then to show him. He firsts knocks on the doors of our hearts and asks if we love Him. We speak, "Yes Lord." Then he responds with a request. If we love Him, we will serve Him. Love, and expect nothing in return.

"Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep."