Are we looking up. God uses natural events to bring us too a place of repentance. Yet we also need to balance this out with the fact that the thief kills steals and destroys. In addition, God uses all things to work for our good. So when we look up do not let our world view hinder how we see God bring us as individuals and as a nation to repentance. Also God does dwell with us in our praise and worship. We are not to thank Him for the things that are destroyed but for who He and that He is restoring all things. Lets use not forget there is no limits too the authority that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. ( note satan will use life issues to cause us to forget who Jesus is). Yet convection will always draw us deeper in our relationship with our Lord.

Why do we pray, I hope we talk to the Father because of His love and care for us rather than out of fear or deal making. For example I will do this if God you will do that. Prayer is always a means of letting God work and develop who He is in us.  Be coming like Him in all area's of our lives. We do lean this by asking for things, but can we come to a place of talking to Him about everything. Learning too casting our cares on Him, rather than making lets make a deal. Tale a look at Mt 6 if God cares for His creation, we know then that we as we seek Him, He will meet all our needed as well.