prayer

i've always underestimated the power of prayer; that quiet moments with God. i always thought that i was in control - whatever i put in will directly determine the outcome. boy was i wrong, that's why i got so discouraged when i screwed up exams. and i learned i wasn't in control. i could say i prayed before my exam papers, before important things, but most of the time i didn't pray with enough conviction, with enough desperation. my prayer then was more like, a reassurance, part of me covering all aspects of my preparation, it wasn't praying because whatever i do couldn't hold a candle to what God can do.

i know of a friend who has been discouraged because God hasn't answered her prayers. because life hasn't been going well for her. now my question to her is, with how much conviction have you prayed with, and how desperate you are, praying as if your life depended on it. God will deliver, not in our time, but in His time. if He doesn't answer your prayer, maybe what you are asking is not what's best for you. how would you know what's best for you? only God knows. even if he were to explain now, it isn't the opportune time to, and honestly with our limited and minute wisdom, we wouldn't be able to understand either.