Riding with a whining dog....

Riding with a whining dog...

I recently took my dog for a ride....2 1/2 hours....he whined the whole way...he usually like rides, but for this time I had him in his crate, which he didn't like at all...so he whined....in a confined spot...impatient to get to his destination....

Concurrently, I was listening to a book on prayer....as the ride continued, it came to me...do I whine, When I am praying...continuously...is my prayer list just a litany of complaints, whining over this and that, impatient for an answer...instead of calming down, waiting, listening,  waiting, praising, waiting, until I finally settle down to the task at hand...does my praying follow any of the patterns we are given in the Word?  Or do I just whine about my circumstances?  Do I adore?  Do I confess? Do i praise? Do I forgive? Do I thank?  Or do I just head right into the asking...without thought of all the positive? It is a ritual rather than a privilege? Is it heartfelt or habit? Is it real or show?  Do I just whine??

thank YOU for prayer!  Your Word spoken to our hearts, The Holy Spirit who intercedes when we can't put into words our concerns....help me not to be just a whiner, not waiting for Your answers.....help me glorify You in all that I do...in Your Blessed and Holy Name ...

Matthew 6:5-15
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one."
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.