Praying Through....
Prayer is an attitude of the heart. It is trust. It is knowing who God is and understanding the attributes of a loving Father. Sometimes what I want isn’t good for me. Sometimes another’s actions cause me harm. Sometimes evil just happens without any apparent cause. But in all things I develop strength, peace, and joy through knowing that my Father in heaven loves me and wants what is best for me. When I trust Him, I can face any circumstance, because I am not focused on the here and now, but on Him. When my son was sick and the pediatrician’s face fell, he took my hand and said, “you know why we are running these tests, don’t you?” then I knew that I should be terrified. I had nowhere to turn but prayer. I cried out in my heart, “Jesus, help me.” Help me carry on. Help me get through this day. Help me care for my child. “I trust you, just Help, please Lord.” And as I looked inward, to my heart and the knowing Father who dwells with me at the deepest level, I was flooded with peace of heart and mind. He poured out His peace and I was calm. I know it is supernatural when it is good and doesn’t make sense. Peace in the face of great uncertainty about my child’s health was not my natural response. It was supernatural. It was good.
God does not need my prayers. But through prayer, I am able to participate in the treasure that He desires to give me. I know He desires good for me. He has walked beside me for years and whispered in my heart, “I love you. I want what’s best for you and your children.” But above all I know that He desires peace and joy in my heart despite my circumstances. A sick child. The debilitating fear. How do I put one foot in front of the other? But slowly, as I have nothing but God, when I turn to Him in prayer He shows up and teaches me about love. There might always be a deeper sadness or a greater pain. Even death cannot snatch me or those He loves out of His hand. This life is fleeting, but in it, I know that He desires to heal and to save. Praying through is my only option; I know nothing else to do. And then healing comes. First peace, then joy, and then healing. My child is fine. The virus must run its course. And the Lord does the healing.
I love my son. I want what is best for him. I want health and abundance in life for him. But above all I want him to know that he is loved. My heavenly Father treats me that way. He’s given me that glimpse of his love for me, His child. It’s only a glimpse and not fully developed, as in a mirror or shadow. But my love for my child feels enormous, searing, painful at times. And I get a small taste of how my heavenly Father feels about me. Prayer is my opportunity to get to know my God. He desires my good, but more importantly He desires for me to know Him as He knows me. And He loves me.
Are You Blind or Do You See?
We read this story and couldn't help but be reminded of this verse from Mark 8:18: "Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?"
A 24 year old boy seeing out from the train’s window shouted…
“Dad, look the trees are going behind!”
Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year old’s childish behavior with pity, suddenly he again exclaimed…
“Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”
The couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man…
“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?”The old man smiled and said…“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today.
What have you been blind to? Are you ready to see?
Forgive Without Punishing
When I was young, I used to think I was a pretty good person, and didn’t really need much forgiveness. I thought if I worked hard and took care of myself, I deserved a comfortable life. Isn’t that the American dream?
As life grew more complicated, I began to understand a new level of emotional pain. I was married with three small children and an increasingly difficult relationship with my husband. Life wasn’t easy or comfortable. The hurts that my husband inflicted began to take a toll on my heart. I began to harbor wounds. Ugly words and actions that I replayed again and again on an endless tape in my head. I hadn’t really studied God’s word, His timeless love letter to his children. I didn’t understand the breadth of damage that bitterness can cause. “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you,” and “be quick to forgive, “are instructions found in His word. But I thought my anger was justified. I was continually mistreated. I kept score.
And then my health began to fail. I developed a debilitating arthritis that impaired my ability to walk, to turn a doorknob, to carry anything. I had to quit my job and look for friends and neighbors to help me with my children. One day I realized that my daily bread, my simple prayer to my Father in heaven that I had known but never bothered to actually spend much time with, was for God to help me feed my children and get them to school. My husband traveled often and I was alone much of the time. Pain was my constant companion. I only wanted to survive and to see my children thrive.
I spent a long time studying God’s word and began to understand the meaning of grace. Unmerited favor. My heavenly father had loved me all those years when I ignored him and life seemed good. And He loved me consistently when I was alone and in pain. He sent His son to die for my sins. And my sins were not insignificant. I had built up resentment for the man I married. I was bitter and my thoughts and words were ugly. I asked God to forgive me and give me His forgiveness for my husband.
I still remember the day it happened. My husband’s temper blew and he stormed out of the room and slammed the door, but instead of my usual reaction of anger and fear I felt deep sympathy. That man was tormenting his wife and children. But he was tormented. It took several months before I realized that I no longer felt the arthritis pain. That I had forgotten to take my medicine.
My Rheumatologist could not believe that I appeared healed. But I know that rather than feeling a burning desire to keep score and punish my husband for the hurts he caused, I had been set free. Forgiveness does that. It is better than medicine. The Bible says that God “forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” And that, “a merry heart is good medicine.” Forgiveness is for the forgiver, not the one who caused the harm. It can change you. I encourage you to study God’s word. It is a love letter. In it, you will find life.
10 Ways to Love
One of the best ways to love someone is to listen without interrupting.
'To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame.' - Proverbs 18:13
5 Step Challenge to #JointheJourney
Last week we challenged you to #JointheJourney through 5 simple steps. We hope to continue to encourage you to take those steps, especially if you are considering that first one.
Step 1
Step 1: We know that a lot of you are starting a new journey today with back to school and we want to encourage you to incorporate God into you daily lives by offering you the steps that will help you get there!
Step 2
Step 2: We encourage you to Be Open Minded as you embark on Step 2 of our 5 day challenge to get closer to God! #JointheJourney www.amazinggrace.life
Step 3
Step 3: Curious what the Bible says about God? And how he views you? What he offers you? For Step 3 of our 5 day challenge, we're giving you the opportunity to learn more about how God sees you. Click here to learn more.
Step 4
For step 4, we challenge you to find a friend and talk about God. Here are 4 ideas of where you can get started: join a neighborhood Bible study, visit your local church, reach out to a family member, connect with someone at work. #JointheJourney #5daychallenge
Step 5
Today marks the final day of our 5 step challenge. For Step 5, we encourage you to find a Bible Study. If you're not sure where to start, scroll down to read our previous blog post, or click here.
Thank you for joining us on the journey! #JointheJourney #10Millionlives