Has a line from a movie or a written text ever take you by surprise? You simply cannot accept what you saw or read based on your first interpretation. It seems too good to be true. It is just majestic or even brilliant. Well, I must admit, Jesus, often leaves me surprised.

Do you ever feel overlooked? Overlooked by family. Overlooked by employers. Overlooked by friends. Overlooked by God. Feelings are interesting because although they are not always rooted in truth, if processed with God they can lead us closer to our Creator than we thought possible! 

Have you ever been misunderstood? Language is limiting. Lately as I listen to those I deem great storytellers, I notice their richness in language. They can convey a thought and I’m able to not only visualize it but begin to feel it to the point of embodiment. I am moved to action through their words and story. Our God is the best storyteller and communicator. Ever wonder what are His thoughts that inspire such beauty?

The other day I caught myself standing in front of a device that sits on my nightstand just in awe of the pictures it was reeling through. I was not surprised by the old photos it was displaying, but by the contrast between how I was feeling right then in that moment looking back on the moment compared to how I felt when living that moment. Why such the stark contrast in emotion and sentiment?

Prayer is communication with the living God. It is a dialogue by which hearts are revealed. When we pray God shows us His heart and we show God our hearts. But there is a secret to prayer. If we are experiencing monologues, the conversation seems difficult or distant. Let us pause to reflect and see if this secret ingredient is missing from our prayers.