I love this emphasis we're having on prayer. It's been inspiring to see how the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us in such specific ways!
Today my heart is full of thanks to God that He hears and answers our prayers! I love it when the Lord brings a certain truth to our hearts, reviving our faith in the application of this truth to our personal lives!
As I've been considering the priority and privilege of prayer in my life, I've been humbled by answers to several very specific prayers. Last week Benny and I were privileged to attend the out-of-state funeral of a dear friend. In addition to the funeral, the trip involved several other important situations that tempted my sinful heart to anxiety (what the Puritans aptly call "borrowing trouble"...that's exactly what I was doing!).
The first answer to prayer was the provision of finances. God lavishly provided plane tickets and the hospitality of friends to allow us to stay with them. But even more dear to me was how God cared and provided for us in other ways. Before we left our pastors prayed for us. God gave them the exact words to pray, including requests He would guard my heart from anxiety and "surprise" us with grace during the trip. As they prayed, faith rose in my heart.
The Lord answered every one of their prayers! For each of the three days we were away God meticulously led and provided "surprises" for us. At points during our trip Benny and I turned to each other and said, "What is going on?" or "What in the world just happened?" because of God's lavish grace on display! I was regularly aware that He was giving me eyes to see that He had prompted us and others to pray things just so I could see Him answer!
This has built my faith all the more. I know the Lord has been answering prayers throughout my life. Yet on this trip He kindly opened my eyes to see His hand at work in direct response to prayer. He helped me to LOOK for those answers...and then surprised me with answers that looked very different than I had expected by doing "exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph 3:20).
Lord, You don't just command us to pray...You LISTEN and respond to our cries for help! Thank you for helping me last week. For calming my anxious heart; for surprising me with precious times of fellowship with dear friends; for providing every practical need; for allowing me to experience the God-glorifying funeral of someone I love that is now worshiping at Your feet; and for allowing me to experience your power and presence for difficult things I could never have walked through in my own strength. You didn't have to do this, Lord. I'm so grateful.
Posted by Sheree
I love it! How like our God!!!!
Posted by: Jennifer Lightfoot | February 02, 2008 at 09:51 PM