What would YOU have done if you were Adam or Eve?

Interesting question... And up til a few days ago, I would have responded, "I'd stay away from that fruit! Do Adam and Eve know what problems they have brought on humanity?!"

In Katalyst's song "Die if I Have To," he poses a similar question and states that "all men sin and if they had a chance they would do it again." This made me think. If I was in the garden, regardless of whether I decided to eat the fruit or not, sin was inevitable. The devil's desire was to destroy God's wonderful and unique creation.

Being the all-knowing God that He is, God had already set the plan for Jesus into motion and Jesus came to give life to the creation that the devil thought he had destroyed (John 10:10, John 3:16, Hebrews 2:14). We are no longer under the bondage of sin but are free in Jesus (John 8:36).

So, I probably couldn't have stopped the world from becoming what it is if I was Eve because nobody on this earth is righteous (Ecclesiastes 7:20). BUT THANK GOD FOR JESUS!

Selah [pause and think]

Prayer Tips

Well, I finished my first read for the year, A Young Woman's Call To Prayer about two months ago. AWESOME read! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to really catalyze their prayer life. BEWARE: Once you begin walking out this new prayer lifestyle, you may notice that it's a struggle to pray, only because the enemy doesn't want you to be more prayerful because you'll mess up his plans. Can I be honest? I had a week or two where I was extremely busy and didn't take time to sit down and be in God's presence or I was simply too lazy to.

Anyways, here are some tips that Elizabeth George gives for prayer with my own personal experience.

1. "Use a prayer list or notebook." This has definitely organized my prayer life and helps me remember what to pray for. I write down every prayer request that I have and also, those of others. I also write things that I'm thankful for which really helps me remember to thank God for them. I usually write a new list every 2 weeks, but during the week, I add points. Elizabeth advises to carry a small spiral pad or an index card so that when people ask you to pray for them and you aren't near your notebook, you'll remember. I use the note function on my phone.
2. "Schedule a prayer time each day." This was definitely one of the hardest things for me to do, with constant meetings, classes, exams, papers and activities, but after classes, before I went study was the best time for me during the semester. Now during the summer, I find that making it the first big thing I do in the morning with my cup of tea. BEST TIME EVER! In the book, Elizabeth recommended setting a timer for 5 minutes so that praying won't feel overwhelming. That definitely helped me at first, but now, once I get started I usually surpass the 5 minutes. As you continue, you begin to see this time as a necessity and not an obligation. Note: This doesn't mean you shouldn't be in constant communication with God during the day, but this is a time that you set aside to sit in His presence.
3. "Spend time praying with others." I haven't really done this one yet. Note to self: GET ON IT! 
4. "Pray using Scripture" In my prayer notebook, I write some verse that coincide with whatever the need may be. Do I know the whole Bible? NO! But Google has been my best friend. If you know snippets of the verse or don't know any verses on a certain topic, Google it! Ex. : Direction (Jeremiah 29:11; Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:9)
5. "Borrow from the prayers of others." I haven't done this one yet.
6. "Open and close each day with a time of prayer." Usually while I'm still in the bed, I thank God for waking me up and loving me. Simple. Then at night, I just thank Him for the day and ask for forgiveness of sin. Short and to the point because I fall asleep (hahaha). But if I'm still awake, I try to recap my day to Him.
7. "Get inspired by the biographies of others who prayed." Haven't done this one either. 
8. "Study the prayers of the Bible." The most common prayer is the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).  Elizabeth also suggests Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).
9. "Follow through with your resolve: No decision made without prayer." This one is definitely hard for me. I always forget to pray before I do many things. God, help me!
10. "Feed your heart and mind with God's word." This cannot be stressed enough. Sometimes you don't have the words to say, but there are Scriptures that say it all.

Remember, prayer is simply talking to God. Don't make it harder than it has to be and don't let these tips intimidate you. Just speak to God from the depths of your heart. He understands.

Selah [pause and think]