My New Prayer List

So, when it comes to spiritual understandings, I think we all have our strengths and weaknesses...for me there is one concept that is a little difficult to reconcile in my mind.  I won't delve into all my crazy thought processes as I've attempted to completely grasp this subject over the years but let's just say that understanding prayer and all of its ins and outs is something that I have grappled with over the years.  I am not saying that my faith in prayer is not strong or that I don't believe it is a key component of this mortal journey, I am just saying that the whole concept of how we pray and what we pray for sometimes gets a little jumbled in my mind when I throw in the whole aligning our will with God's will idea.  Do I pray to counsel the Lord as to what would be best for me? or Do I pray and ask Him for strength to accept whatever He sends my way?  Or is it a little of both? I have to admit that I really love the definition of prayer in the Bible Dictionary (as a side note, the Bible Dictionary is one my favorite parts of the scriptures and in my humble opinion way underutilized).  The Bible Dictionary tells me that:

 "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." 

Pretty powerful stuff.  And this little nugget is the thing I always cling to when I start those "prayer issues" start creeping up in my mind.  But the way to go about it all seems to get a little confusing at times in my mortal mind.  Until today.  Thanks to a really great post on a blog, I stumbled upon some pretty incredible words by President Eyring. I made a little "Prayer List" to stick in my bedroom and then thought the list is definitely share worthy.  If you click on each item it will link you to the place it came from...

My Prayer List 

Courtesy of President Henry B. Eyring

1.What blessings do I have that I am not aware of?

2.Whom can I help?

3. What have I done today or not done that displeases Thee? If I can only know, I will repent with all my heart without delay

4. Pray with the intent to obey.

5. Pray for charity and for the opportunity to share the Gospel

6. Pray for help to serve in your calling

7. Pray for strength to endure our trials

Pretty wise words from a pretty inspired man...can't wait to try it all out!