update

I haven't posted anything in quite awhile. I guess I've been distracted by other things. I've been working on praying lately and like that. I got a couple books recently I'm looking forward to reading. One is about Islam. I think the other has to do with compassion in the context of religion.

been praying more

I have been praying more since my last post, Alhumdilillah. I don't like writing I haven't been praying, or not just doing it, it makes me feel guilty and like I haven't even made one step of effort. I want to be someone who practices what she believes. It's not just words, and I feel like it means nothing if I'm not willing to do anything. I have a long ways to go, but at least I'm taking a step there.

lots of reading, no prayer

The past few days I have been reading up a storm and getting a lot out of it, it seems. But I haven't been praying. Ug. I need to get to it. Walk the walk, not just think about it.

how it's going

I got busy with things and haven't been keeping up with reading the Qur'an as much as I was or would like to, wasn't praying as much, just been inconsistent. My faith has still be there but didn't feel as strong... I didn't like all this, it's not where I want to be with things. I want to be growing. Yesterday I got back into reading the Qur'an and am back to rereading Reclaim Your Heart again as well. That is helping. I want to get back to praying more as well. I feel like I need this better connection with Allah. I guess I've been distracted... and that doesn't feel very good. So I'm setting forth the intention to get back on track.

prayer and habits

I've been getting better with prayer lately. I'm praying more often, and tonight for the first time I was able to say Al Fatihah in Arabic by memory. One thing I'm noticing that helps motivate me is having people I want to make dua for. Tonight I had some people in mind, and it made it seem more urgent. I'll keep this in mind. If it stays true for me, then it might help me pray more if I notice who I want to make dua for.

It's becoming habitual now to thank Allah with "Alhumdilillah" after things now that go well. I like that. It's an immediate reaction now. I like that I am thanking Allah for these things and not taking them for granted.

prayer

I've been working on praying more lately, which is really nice. I always feel better when I pray. It's getting easier as far as the steps go as well, which makes it easier in general. Insha Allah I'll get better with this and more consistent with it.

Alhumdilillah

Tonight I was driving home from work and was almost hit by a car. It would have been really bad. There just happened to be a lot of space where there usually isn't, and in the split second I saw the car almost smash right into me from the side (they sped through a red light), I was able to zoom my car, swerve to the side, and end up on the side of the road. The car just missed hitting mine and didn't hit me at all. Both myself and my car were totally fine. No one was hurt, including all the people driving behind and next to me. I felt so lucky, and immediately started saying out loud, "Alhumdilillah!" over and over. I keep thinking about it this evening and feel Allah really helped me.

It makes me think of other things I can be thankful about as well. I want to be appreciative of what I have.