Many of our prayers are horribly, disgustingly selfish. I know from reading past prayer journals that mine make me want to burn the journals and hide under a blanket. I said that, to the King?! I keep them as a reminder against those selfish pleas.
We ask for this, we ask for that---even the things we may ask for in honor of others can read selfishly horrid. Many times those wishes still sound as though they might better our lives. We may never once have asked God what we could do for Him. We may not have expounded on how we love Him.
Now that is not to say He does not hear our prayers---Joni Tada says that "A heartfelt plea for help carries with it no desire to control the way the Lord deals with you. Rather, such a prayer implies you've cast yourself on the Lord's mercy with no hint of impure motive." Those prayers where we are literally on the ground, crying out for help, without adding addendums to them are the best prayers---the best I have experienced. Those prayers are the ones that you can feel His great love poured out on you, His hand caressing your face as a beloved child's face is caressed. He says at that moment that He is indeed present, He indeed cares, He indeed loves.
We may still face harsh things in the world---consider the apostles who died. Yet better than that is the fact that what is more important has been protected. Our spirit is safely, lovingly, loyally and strongly protected by His gift.
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