I was upset.

That's why.

I felt I'd been dealt an unfair hand through certain challenges.

I got angry.

And like an angry 5-year-old, I huffed and puffed and put my fingers in my ears... "la la la la, I can't hear you, la, la, la, la!"

Not my finest hours.

I wasn't doing anything overtly wrong.

But after a while, something worse happened.

Not listening became a habit.

I've been working on reversing this habit for a few months.

It's not been easy.

But what I'm constantly amazed at, is how, when I sincerely make the effort to pray and listen, I always get a tangible response or result.

Every time.

It's not so much a habit of praying that I'm trying to re-kindle.

It's a habit of putting down my pride.

Being humble.

Being sincere.

And remembering that even the unfair challenges come as a means to bless me.

In His time.

When I woke up this morning, after praying last night that I'd sleep well and wake up early to get some work done, as happens every time I offer a similar prayer, I woke up a few minutes before my alarm.

Refreshed.

Alert.

Ready to roll at 3:53 a.m.

And one clear work came to mind.

And I actually saw it in my mind.

It looked like this...

"Pray!"

And I thought...

"Ok! I will."

Now this all seems ridiculously simple and maybe even far too personal a story.

But, in this world of influencers and social media stars and experts and gurus...

...the simple...

..."pray!"...

...speaks louder...

...when I actually listen...

...than anything else.

So, my mantra for today is...

...Hymn #130.

Be thou humble in thy weakness,
and the Lord, they God shall lead thee.
Shall lead thee by the hand and
give the answers to thy prayers.

Not sure this will even be helpful to anyone.

But it's certainly been helpful to me.

Hope you have a great day!

Doug