Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)
One evening, several years ago, my end-of-the-day prayer was, “Lord, I’m so tired.” His quick answer was, “I’ll take care of it.” Too tired to understand I fell asleep. The next morning, the land was covered with deep, wet snow. Schools and businesses closed, and I was grateful for a no-stress day of recovery.
That memory helps me through another kind of exhaustion. I pray for friends, friends of family, and family members who do not have jobs. There is no relief. My head aches, and muscles ache right down to the center of my bones. The days, years, go by and there are few answers, especially for the ones I love the most.
“Does the Lord hear?” ..... “Yes.”
“Is He going to answer?” ........ “Yes.”
“When?” ..................................... No answer.
Maybe there’s something the matter with my prayers, my meditations, my Bible readings. Maybe there are no answers because I’m not doing it right. Did I not pray long enough? Is there something within me that keeps prayer from being answered? Of course that’s true. Imperfect people, especially me, always fall short. Can friends help? Yes, but some of them are the ones I’m praying for. Family? Sometimes we talk, but that’s momentary relief. Church? People there have overwhelming concerns with entry-level Christians.
I keep picking the burden up. I can’t seem to stop worrying. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding.” I know the Lord is. I know He answers prayers. I know His love. Time to pray again, but “Lord, I’m so tired.”
“Trust. Lean not on your own understanding.” He’ll take care of it.
Prayer: Help Lord. Amen.
© V. Colclasure 2011
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, June 26, 2009
Random Acts of Prayer
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4 NIV)
Performing random acts of kindness is a wonderful practice, doing something nice for someone for no other reason than to brighten their day. Anonymous deeds are the most gratifying. Paying the toll for the person in the car behind you or leaving flowers at a neighbor’s doorstep. But, what if we took this practice even further? What if we committed random acts of prayer by going about our days eagerly seeking out people to pray for? On the way to work, we can pray that each person on the bus has a good day and gets home safely. Walking down the street, we can look into people’s faces and see the need for prayer in their eyes or by their demeanor. We can pray that they find relief from whatever is troubling them. Passing an accident on the highway, we can pray that there are no serious injuries.
What do we get by performing these radical, random acts of wishing peace and goodwill towards others? We get to share the love of God within us, which was not meant to be hoarded and kept to ourselves, but to be offered freely and gladly to everyone. There are few things in life that provide more satisfaction.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the will and desire to pray for others. May we continue to love others as you have loved us and to share that love freely, without expectation of recognition or reward, knowing that it is your will for us.
© Copyright 2009 G. Francis Johnson
Performing random acts of kindness is a wonderful practice, doing something nice for someone for no other reason than to brighten their day. Anonymous deeds are the most gratifying. Paying the toll for the person in the car behind you or leaving flowers at a neighbor’s doorstep. But, what if we took this practice even further? What if we committed random acts of prayer by going about our days eagerly seeking out people to pray for? On the way to work, we can pray that each person on the bus has a good day and gets home safely. Walking down the street, we can look into people’s faces and see the need for prayer in their eyes or by their demeanor. We can pray that they find relief from whatever is troubling them. Passing an accident on the highway, we can pray that there are no serious injuries.
What do we get by performing these radical, random acts of wishing peace and goodwill towards others? We get to share the love of God within us, which was not meant to be hoarded and kept to ourselves, but to be offered freely and gladly to everyone. There are few things in life that provide more satisfaction.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the will and desire to pray for others. May we continue to love others as you have loved us and to share that love freely, without expectation of recognition or reward, knowing that it is your will for us.
© Copyright 2009 G. Francis Johnson
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Power of a Secret Prayer
But, when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6 NIV)
When Joshua was born, one kidney did not function. The doctors ordered immediate surgery to save his life. His mother, Nancy, suffered from inexplicable internal bleeding. Jim, the husband and father, spent his time between his family in the hospital and home with an older son. The couple asked their church to pray for them. Many answered that call, not only covering them in prayers but also, springing into other actions. They visited the hospital, brought food to the house, and car-pooled the older son to school as well as to other events.
Every night, after visiting hours, Pastor Howard went to the hospital alone. In the quiet of the nursery, he would hold Joshua, walk him, rock him, and pray over him.
Joshua is four years old now. He tells his mother that he wants to be Pastor Howard when he grows up. He likes to stand on the platform, lean on the pulpit, and pretend to preach. Pastor Howard always has time to stop and talk to Joshua. They have a very special relationship that started after 10 o’clock at night four years ago in a hospital nursery. And, no one knows about it except Pastor Howard, Joshua, the night nurses, and God.
Prayer: Father God, help us to know when it is time for corporate prayer and when it is time to go to you in prayer secretly.
© copyright: Christy Struben 2009
When Joshua was born, one kidney did not function. The doctors ordered immediate surgery to save his life. His mother, Nancy, suffered from inexplicable internal bleeding. Jim, the husband and father, spent his time between his family in the hospital and home with an older son. The couple asked their church to pray for them. Many answered that call, not only covering them in prayers but also, springing into other actions. They visited the hospital, brought food to the house, and car-pooled the older son to school as well as to other events.
Every night, after visiting hours, Pastor Howard went to the hospital alone. In the quiet of the nursery, he would hold Joshua, walk him, rock him, and pray over him.
Joshua is four years old now. He tells his mother that he wants to be Pastor Howard when he grows up. He likes to stand on the platform, lean on the pulpit, and pretend to preach. Pastor Howard always has time to stop and talk to Joshua. They have a very special relationship that started after 10 o’clock at night four years ago in a hospital nursery. And, no one knows about it except Pastor Howard, Joshua, the night nurses, and God.
Prayer: Father God, help us to know when it is time for corporate prayer and when it is time to go to you in prayer secretly.
© copyright: Christy Struben 2009
Friday, November 21, 2008
Pray for My Plastic Animals
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
On Wednesday nights, Pastor Bruce ends the service by asking the congregation for prayer requests and praise reports. Sitting near the front of the church with his mother, the pastor’s three-year-old son, Zachariah, raised his hand.
“Yes Zac,” the pastor said pointing to him.
“Please pray for my little animals,” the child said. “I’m worried about my lions, tigers, bears, and dinosaurs.”
Pastor Bruce nodded. In the closing prayer, he included a request asking God to ease Zac’s worries over his animals.
One week later Pastor Bruce found Zachariah’s miniature plastic animals. They were crowded into a large jar of petroleum jelly. Approaching his son, he asked, “When you asked us to pray for your animals, why were you worried about them?”
“I was afraid they couldn’t breathe in there,” he answered.
Dear Lord, I know that my problems are sometimes of my own making. Yet, you always listen. Help me to remember that I can talk to you about anything in my life. Thank you for consistently being available to grant me your peace.
© copyright 2008 Christy Struben
On Wednesday nights, Pastor Bruce ends the service by asking the congregation for prayer requests and praise reports. Sitting near the front of the church with his mother, the pastor’s three-year-old son, Zachariah, raised his hand.
“Yes Zac,” the pastor said pointing to him.
“Please pray for my little animals,” the child said. “I’m worried about my lions, tigers, bears, and dinosaurs.”
Pastor Bruce nodded. In the closing prayer, he included a request asking God to ease Zac’s worries over his animals.
One week later Pastor Bruce found Zachariah’s miniature plastic animals. They were crowded into a large jar of petroleum jelly. Approaching his son, he asked, “When you asked us to pray for your animals, why were you worried about them?”
“I was afraid they couldn’t breathe in there,” he answered.
Dear Lord, I know that my problems are sometimes of my own making. Yet, you always listen. Help me to remember that I can talk to you about anything in my life. Thank you for consistently being available to grant me your peace.
© copyright 2008 Christy Struben
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