(G-d)---There now!  Wonderful!  How do you feel?

(Person) Hmmm.  Well, not bad.  Not bad at all.  In fact, I feel pretty great!  You know, I don't think I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can remember.  Maybe I won't be so tired from now on because I'm not getting enough rest.

(G-d)---You're not through with your prayer.  Go on.

(Person) Oh, all right.  "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

(G-d)---Good!  Good!  I'll do that.  Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.

(Person) What do you mean by that?

(G-d)---Don't turn on the TV when you know the laundry needs to be done and the house needs to be picked up.  Also, about the time you spend having coffee with your friends, if you can't influence the conversation to positive things, perhaps you should rethink the value of those friendships.  Another thing, your neighbors and friends shouldn't be your standard for "keeping up".  And please don't use Me for an escape hatch.

(Person) I don't understand the last part.

(G-d)---Sure you do.  You've done it a lot of times.  You get caught in a bad situation.  You get into trouble and then you come running to Me, "Lord, help me out of this mess, and I promise you I'll never do it again." You remember some of those bargains you tried to make with Me?

(Person) Yes, and I'm ashamed, Lord.  I really am.

(G-d)---Which bargain are you remembering?

(Person) Well, there was the night that the children and I were home alone.  The wind was blowing so hard I thought the roof would go any minute and tornado warnings were out.  I remember praying, "Oh, G-d, if You spare us, I'll never skip my devotions again."

(G-d) --Did you?

(Person) I'm sorry, Lord, I really am.  Up until now I thought that if I just prayed the Lord's Prayer every day, then I could do what I liked.  I didn't expect anything to happen like it did.

(G-d)---Go ahead and finish your prayer.

(Person) "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever."

Amen (G-d)---Do you know what would bring Me glory?  What would really make Me happy?

(Person) No, but I'd like to know.  I want now to please you.  I can see what a mess I've made of my life.  And I can see how great it would be to really be one of Your followers.

(G-d)---You just answered the question.

(Person) I did?

(G-d)---Yes.  The thing that would bring Me glory is to have people like you truly love me.  And I see that happening between us.  Now that some of these old sins are exposed and out of the way, well, there is no telling what we can do together.

(Person) Lord, let's see what we can make of me, OK?

Amen!

So how should you ask the Lord to direct you?

60