Power of Prayer!

I woke up this morning and began my day a little later than usual. I didn't put much thought to the things of the Lord when I awoke. I took the dog out and went through the tasks of my morning without even looking to the Lord. I got ready, took the dog out, and then got in my truck and cranked it to warm it up. As I was sitting there I began to pray to the Lord, telling Him that I loved Him, wanted to serve Him, and glorify Him throughout the day. Then I began to thank Him for Christ...and this is where my heart really began to turn, all on the basis of, "Oh my God, thank You for Jesus Christ, thank You for His suffering. You turned Your back on Him, poured out Your wrath on Him, allowed the world to hurl abuse at Him, even to death, the perfect holy Lamb. All this making me able to say this prayer to You, and stand HOLY AND PERFECT in Your sight. All on the basis of Jesus' righteousness." My heart was changed for the morning then. Just from talking to the Lord and meditating on some truths He has put in my heart. Then I found myself taking joys in usual annoyances, and praying for trials, so that I could have opportunity to make my God smile and be a light to His creation. And not show the world Lance, but show them who God is, who Christ is. History has shown if I would not have spent those short little ten minutes out in my driveway praying to God, all of those little annoyances on the way to work (transmission slipping, not making the green light-mundane things) would have been dealt with wickedly. Much like...-transmission's slipping- "I'm tired of this, I want a new vehicle, and I don't want to wait. I don't want to wait for God's timing, I WANT it now!" That's what my morning would have sounded like, but instead through prayer, and agreeing with God, that happened, and my heart was, "Lord let it break down and still I will praise You. The world will see that You are God over me, and "my" possessions really belong to You." What a difference! A wonderful quote I heard one time was in a movie about C.S. Lewis, starring Anthony Hopkins as Lewis. C.S. Lewis' wife had cancer, and a certain reporter was asking about why he prayed (I can't remember the exact context I believe it had to do with the sovereignty of God), and Mr. Lewis answered back, "Prayer doesn't change God sir. It changes me." That is a perfect representation of what prayer is doing. I do not pray to change God's mind or heart. I pray to agree with God, and then I no longer look at a situation through carnal eyes, but through the perception of God. "Wait," someone might think, "I can have the perception of the God of universe?" Absolutely, christian! That's what Christ did!!! He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit which gives us the mind of God! Now I see God of the universe, and a little truck, or an empty stomach doesn't seem so big anymore. So go before God, not complaining about circumstances, but praising Him for who He is! Praise be to the Lord of our salvation for all eternity!!!