Dear God,
I hope I am not standing on the street corner praying 
to be seen by men.
It's just easier to type some prayers and invite any who might like
to join or pray
with me or
for me.
You know what is in my closet.
There is that secret place where we shut the door and it is …
just us.
But sometimes, Lord, a prayer meeting seems in order and …
so many …
for me …
for so long …
so dishonest and prayer-less have seemed.
For me.
I just want to drop the pretense.
I've got nothing to impress You with …
Nothing.
It is just me and all I have is what You have given me …
with the exception of …
my sin.
That is my contribution and that …
That is what I bring to You first today.
I don't even know it all but yesterday
as I was showing off,
mostly to myself,
I fell,
not metaphorically or figuratively or morally …
I FELL! On my knee, I fell and I thought it uncool to lay there
and whine so …
up I bounced.
Later in the day and all night, it hurt.
It still hurts.
And here is the rub: You caught me.
You caught my fall and
You caught me in my pride.
I was showing off and trying to impress myself.
How silly!
Silly sin, but sin and a pretty fair window into my soul.
It's little things sometimes these days, but they are
the deep rooted things,
things that will not go away
on their own.
Like stubborn roots they are thick
and twisted and
deep.
Actually, I am somewhat encouraged about all of this, Lord.
I have wondered about some of these things for years …
where some of these behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes originated and
You are showing me.
I am sorry I've been so slow to learn and have
impeded progress so often and
regressed
to impress but
Here we are!
I know we could have, should have, would have taken care of some of these weeds earlier before
they became so entrenched 
(Sometimes they even look like flowers and I celebrate them) —
Hack 'em out!
Silly, slow, slimy me.
The funny thing is how You keep loving me and telling me that
I have a future.
That is really weird, Lord.
You keep giving me chances and picking me up and teaching me
and catching me and it is as if …
as if You have all the time in the world to get this done …
hmmmmmm ….
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ….
ahhhhhhh …..
all the time in the world.
You have all the time in the world and
Our times are in Your hand. (Psalm 31:15 – I had to stop to look it up).
My times are embraced by Your timelessness. 
My days are enveloped in Your purpose.
So, take Your time with me, Father.
Lead me, teach me, guide me, mold me, use me, use me up and then …
take me home when
we are both ready.
and help me to stay honest with you and spiritually vulnerable
and open with my friends and 
transparent with all as much as I can be.
I really trust You, Lord.
I really love You and I
Thank You for loving and trusting me.
I give You this day You have given me.
In Jesus' Name.
Amen.