Daily Reflection with Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes



Dear Friends: Praying is not easy. Our daily routine calls for our full attention. And the world around us puts little value on prayer; our lives are full of material things but at the same time are getting emptier in God’s value.

For this reason, I will post a daily reflection and as you visit this site may the Holy Spirit within you come to your aid and guide you gently to the God who loves you
.


Monday, November 8, 2021

What is Prayer?

Prayer is God’s activity in our lives.
 Prayer is simple communication with our Father, the same way we talk to our best friend. 
Prayer is carefully cultivated understanding, as well as spontaneous and “inexpressible groaning” (Romans 8:26).
Give thanks
"IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS" 1 THESSALONIANS 5:18
Gratitude works like a vaccine: it keeps you from getting infected with a spirit of ‘grumpiness’. 
It’s the antitoxin that counteracts the poisonous effects of ingratitude.
Have you noticed that we live in a thankless society? 
Paul said, '... in the last days... people will be... ungrateful... l' (2 Timothy 3:1). 
This generation lacks godly principles; they've learned to pray neither at home nor in school. 
Because they’ve witnessed the fall of high-profile church leaders, they're concluded that ‘religion’ doesn't work.
But thanklessness is a problem among Christians too.
We ask God for things, then when we get them, we complain about having to take care of them! Ever do that?
If you want to know God’s will, listen: '... in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God...for you' (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ).
We’re supposed to demonstrate thankfulness!
Paul says, '... with thanksgiving let your requests be made known... ' (Philippians 4:6). 
Why?
Because thanksgiving moves them through God’s approval process. 
It also demonstrates that you’re mature enough to handle whatever He sends. 
After all, why would He send more, if you don’t appreciate what you already have?
Sometimes thanksgiving is a sacrifice.
 It’s easy to give thanks when you feel good. It’s when you don’t that it becomes a sacrifice. 
David said, 'I will offer... the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and... call on the... Lord' (Psalm 116:17 ). 
Notice: he called on God only after he’d offered the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Your flesh will always find reasons to be dissatisfied. 
Your spirit will always search for reasons to be thankful. So today - be thankful!

Descubriendo el Siglo 21
Discovering 21century
Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes
P. O. BOX 1170
New York, NY 10018
(212) 244 4778

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