Recently I shared with a friend about a painful time in my life when I desperately wanted God but couldn't find Him. I mean, I knew in my head that He was with me because my theology told me so. He is omnipresent. He's always with me, that's His promise. But my heart needed Him and found Him conspicuously absent.

My friend suggested we ask Jesus to assure me of His presence and tangible care for me during that hard time. And He did. It would take more words than a blog permits to describe to you how He met me and what that meant to me--so you'll just have to trust me, He did. And He brought solace to my soul.

Since last week when He assured me of His very real presence with me, I've found myself checking in with Him throughout my daily activities. I know You're here, Jesus, but where? Could You please help me see (feel, hear, sense)  You right now, in these specific circumstances? And I've been surprised at what He has done. It's not usually dramatic, but it's been sure. He's with me, and He wants me to know it.

God confirmed these things to me again this morning.  When I opened my Bible to where the bookmark was--Genesis 28--I read about Jacob when he was facing some frightening circumstances. He'd cheated his brother Esau out of both his inheritance and his blessing, and Esau was mad. Mad enough to kill him. So Jacob was running for his life. And that's when God showed up. He comforted Jacob in a dream, assured him of His ongoing presence, and blessed him. When Jacob awoke, he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it" (v. 16). Apparently I'm not the only one who--when I needed Him most--wasn't aware of God's presence!

Makes me wonder: How often do we feel fearful and alone when in reality God is right there, ready to bring comfort, presence, and blessing? Sometimes it takes some intense seeking and even some spiritual warfare to cut through the obstacles that keep us from finding Him in our circumstances--that was certainly true for me last week--but He is there. Whether we are aware of it or not. He's with me. He's with you. Will you call out to Him and ask Him to be a heart reality and not just theological fact?

A lot of Christian parents worry about the influence television has on their kids. But here's a way to turn that concern on its head: What if you encouraged your kids to be the influencers. Teach them how to influence television through prayer!

Last month at meetings of the National Prayer Committee I met Karen Covell, a television producer and director of the Hollywood Prayer Network. She told me about hundreds of intercessors who are literally changing Hollywood through their prayers. And many of that change-force are children and teens. The Hollywood Prayer Network produces monthly prayer calendars for children and teens to help them pray specifically for the people and events that shape television and the silver screen. For instance, this week children are encouraged to pray for Johnny Depp as he stars in the new Alice in Wonderland movie. And teens are encouraged to pray for those participating in the Winter Olympics. Nifty idea, isn't it?

 If you'd like to turn your kids into influencers instead of the influenced-upon, click on http://hollywoodprayernetwork.org/kids-prayer-calendar, download a copy of your free calendar, and help them become intercessors for Hollywood.

So it was fascinating for me to read this morning that my perspective-seeking conversations with God were nothing new. In fact, Rebekah did the same thing I did way back in Genesis 25.

It's a simple, matter-of-factly told incident.

"Isaac pleaded with the LORD to give Rebekah a child because she was childless. So the LORD answered Isaac's prayer, and his wife became pregnant with twins. But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the LORD about it. "Why is this happening to me?" she asked. And the Lord told her . . . " (vss. 21-23). You know the rest of the story, which isn't my point. My point is, she didn't understand what was going on, so without hesitation or acting like inquiring of the LORD was anything out of the ordinary, she simply asked the Him and expected Him to answer. And He did. 

To be honest, I don't always hear quite as immediately or as concretely as Rebekah did, but sometimes I actually do. And almost always I hear Him say something that lets me know He cares, He's at work for my good, and I can trust Him. Without fail, I'm always glad I took the time and risk to ask.

What about you? Wish you had God's perspective on the perplexing situations in your life? Why not take your cue from Rebekah and just ask Him: "Why is this happening to me? What's Your perspective on this, God?" Let us know how it goes.

Ever feel bad because your prayers are full of self-pity? I sometimes do. But if self-pity's where I'm at and all I've got, then it's no use trying to hide it from God--I might as well tell Him about it. And that's what I do. So I really appreciated Eugene Peterson's perspective on that subject when I recently read his notes on Psalm 77--a self-pitying prayer if ever there was one.  (How's this for a pathetic way to talk to God: "'Just my luck,'" I said. 'The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him,'" Psalm 77:10, MSG).

In his commentary on that passage in Conversations: The Message Bible with Its Translator, Peterson remarks, "Dead-ended as self-pity is, prayer doesn't forbid it. Any place is the right place to begin to pray. But we mustn't be afraid of ending up someplace quite different from where we start. . . . Let [self-pity] lead you to higher ground where it is tranformed into worship."

If you'd like to read more of Peterson's reflections on prayer in The Message, make sure to go to the Pray!  landing page and get the free download. It includes 21 readings on seven passages each from the Old Testament, the Psalms, and the New Testament. It's only available for two weeks more, though, so do it today.