Acting Upon What We Pray

I prayed this morning for my attitude.  I prayed that my every thought, desire, motive, and word would be to the glory of God. I prayed that my every action would give Him glory and uplift His holy name.

Then why I am surprised when I am faced with situations and circumstances that test and try that?  

By praying for such things, I am admitting that I struggle with bringing my every thought, intent, motive, action, and word in to alignment with that which would glorify and magnify His name.  By praying for such things, I am acknowledging that  I AM GOING to face cirucmstances in which I will be included to contend for supremacy (pride) with God and to glorify myself and serve myself instead of God.  

If I pray such prayers, I ought to actively prepare for those opportunities which I know are going to come in which I will be provided with the opportunity to put off the old self and put on the new; in which I will have the opportunity to kill pride and cultivate humility; in which I will have the opportunity to bring myself low and magnify God to that position which only He deserves.

What is the use in praying such a pray if I know it is not going to be a struggle?  Indeed, what I did was pray the prayer and leave the preparations at that.  I prayed and acknowledged to God that it was going to be a struggle and that I needed His help with it, but then I made no further preparations for WHEN I will face that circumstance in which I will be tempted to promote self and bring low the God of the universe.  How foolish!  If I am going to pray for God's help to bring every thought, intent, action, motive, and word to that with promotes God, then I better be on the watch for those situations; I better have scripture prepared and on hand; I better have accountability close by; I better be on guard and not foolishly think that just because I prayed the prayer, I will be safe!  Prayer is not some luck charm that will protect me just because I said the words.

God, forgive me for abusing prayer and for treating it so dispassionately and carelessly.  Prayer is my window of connection to You, to Your throne room of mercy, love, grace, forgiveness, and strength.  How dare I treat something so valuable, so indescribable, so priceless, with such careless and foolish ease and frivolity.  

Help me to give careful attention to the words I pray and then act as if I intend and believe that what I am praying for will actually be tested and tried.