Simple Prayers

I wonder if God is being more intentional these days about answering prayers...or if I am just more observant lately? Or, if there is some truth to the first premise, I wonder if there is a reason God is being more intentional about answering prayers these days?

As a parent, one of my more heart-felt and sincere prayers is that God will answer my children's prayers. And the past few days, my prayers have been answered.

Like when my daughter loses a "precious" possession and comes to me in desperation. I'll often ask if she has prayed about it. Then, when she goes off to pray, I'll say a quiet, simple prayer myself, in desperation, that Heavenly Father will help her. And He has.

Or when my 5 year old comes running into our bedroom after lights have been turned off, as he did tonight, to excitedly share that he prayed his 2 year old brother would be quiet...and his prayer was answered. I encouraged him to tuck this away in his memory and/or write it down.

Another time, when our power went out in the dead of winter and we had to go to a hotel for a night. Eight individuals piled into one hotel room because 40,000 others in the area were in need of a room as well. It was a restless night. And our 2 year old woke up prematurely just before 6am. We desperately needed a little more sleep. And as I held him in my arms, I prayed that he would be calm so his siblings and mother could continue to sleep...just for a few more minutes. And the prayer was answered without hesitation.

Finally, tonight...a sweet 4 year old boy...who couldn't speak a single word 18 months ago due to a speech delay, offered a simple prayer of gratitude...using respectful pronouns:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank thee for the lights.
We thank thee for our house.
We thank thee for the snow.
We thank thee for...
And this sweet 4 year old went on and on. He may not have asked for one single thing, but his prayer was heard and will be answered all the same...he will be blessed.

These are the simple prayers that I have taken note of in the past few days. And they are being heard and answered.

I need to be more consistent in my prayers. I need to exercise more faith when I pray. I long to commune with my Father and feel Him near. And I pray that He will continue to bless my children.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? --Matthew 7:11