{"id":1531,"date":"2015-01-31T19:18:39","date_gmt":"2015-01-31T19:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1531"},"modified":"2015-01-27T19:30:15","modified_gmt":"2015-01-27T19:30:15","slug":"a-praying-spirit-returning-to-a-prayer-answered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/01\/a-praying-spirit-returning-to-a-prayer-answered.html","title":{"rendered":"A Praying Spirit: Returning to a Prayer Answered"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
Photo courtesy of Gualberto107\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you find that your prayer time has been overshadowed by concerns, wants, needs, and disappointments, you might need to go back.<\/p>\n

Back? Where?<\/p>\n

Back to when God answered your prayers,\u00a0a\u00a0<\/em>prayer,\u00a0your<\/em> prayer.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Think back to Christmas. Many times, after all the presents are opened and days have passed, those same “gotta have” gifts lie unused, forgotten, or, shudder, broken. Then, the next Christmas time, we once again tell loved ones what we want, get most or at least some of those things, and the same things happens all over again. So often, we forget the past Christmas and the gifts we received (and the love that came with them) because we’re so intent on thinking of\u00a0next\u00a0<\/em>Christmas.<\/p>\n

Remembering God’s promises fulfilled, His love, and His constancy helps us to center ourselves in gratitude, which in turn makes us more faith-filled, trusting, and true to our Christian walk. It also makes us better understand and appreciate just how awesome God is and how regularly He answers our prayers.<\/p>\n

Return to that prayer answered. You’ll probably realize there isn’t just one, but many. Lift up a song of praise and thanks. And know that God will always give you what you need, when you most need it.<\/p>\n

Then, from that brokenness of discarded and forgotten gifts, you’ll be able to move ahead, rejoicing and whole!<\/p>\n

Peace,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you find that your prayer time has been overshadowed by concerns, wants, needs, and disappointments, you might need to go back. Back? Where? Back to when God answered your prayers,\u00a0a\u00a0prayer,\u00a0your prayer. Why? Think back to Christmas. Many times, after all the presents are opened and days have passed, those same “gotta have” gifts lie…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1272,3,360,43,1047,578,1420,1245,1236,95,1,1246],"tags":[1483,1484,920,96,97,223,1486,1485],"class_list":["post-1531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-praying-spirit-prayer-2","category-chronic-pain-and-illness","category-determination","category-encouragement-in-life","category-good","category-goodness","category-pain-2","category-positive","category-prayer-2","category-prayers","category-uncategorized","category-uplifting","tag-answered-prayers","tag-god-answers-prayers","tag-gratitude","tag-prayer","tag-prayers-2","tag-praying","tag-saying-thank-you","tag-thankfulness"],"yoast_head":"\nA Praying Spirit: Returning to a Prayer Answered - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/01\/a-praying-spirit-returning-to-a-prayer-answered.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Praying Spirit: Returning to a Prayer Answered - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you find that your prayer time has been overshadowed by concerns, wants, needs, and disappointments, you might need to go back. Back? Where? Back to when God answered your prayers,\u00a0a\u00a0prayer,\u00a0your prayer. Why? Think back to Christmas. 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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