photo: Fotolia #79202100 gracel21
I’ve been challenged more and more regarding prayer. It has rarely been one of my strengths. I suspect that deep down, I don’t really feel I need the help. Of course, I wouldn’t say that out loud!
But by nature, I have had to learn from early on, to be self-sufficient. It took a lot of effort and work. Unfortunately, it took a toll on my prayer life!
Prayer has rarely been one of my strengths. I suspect that deep down, I don't really feel I need the help... Share on XI have a long running conversation with Christ during the day as events arise and I become aware of needs or people come to mind that I think of who might need prayer. But more recently, I haven’t done well at sitting down to have extended times of prayer.
During my life, there have been times like that, that have been great! But it seems that as I go through the day, I’m much more like a ball in a pinball machine. I feel like I’m bouncing randomly around. When I get to the end of the day, I often feel relieved to have made it through.
I’m behind in almost every area. It is finally beginning to affect my sleep. I need to pray for sure! My responsibilities have increased beyond my ability this past year…and it is becoming overwhelming.
Circumstances beyond our ability to manage force us to pray
During this past year, our church has needed a new pastor. As the year passed, the remaining pastor (we had 2) was called to another church. From our perspective, there were times it seemed that GOD was forgetting that we needed a pastor! We were all praying for GOD to guide the pulpit committee to the right pastor for our church for this time.
And he did! At Christmastime, our new senior pastor was announced. It was our acting pastor…who had removed his name from the list to be considered. As the pulpit committee looked, they found many well qualified men, but realized the one that was best for our church at this time, was right here! They asked him to reconsider and he and his wife realized they had been having a change of heart. They were examined just as if they were strangers…interviews, applications, recommendations, etc.
We still need to pray for other needs at church
Our prayers were answered but in an unexpected way. Now our elders and committees are looking for needed staff members that are especially needed. We continue to need to pray. It’s a good thing for us. We need to bow down to the One who knows what we need for this stage of our church. He will guide as we look to Him.
Our election season has also forced me to prayer!
It has also been a challenge during this very challenging election season. It is easy to listen to trends and worry about our leadership in Washington DC and wonder what will happen to our nation. But the words of II Chronicles 7:14 are a challenging reminder.
If my people who are called by my name
humble themselves, and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven
and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14
So once again, we find ourselves helpless to control the outcome of the upcoming elections. Not only that, but there are many Christians who have a variety of views on who will make the best president. (Not the first time!) If all of us pray re these elections, some of us will probably still be disappointed with the final outcome.
But we don’t know what GOD’s purposes are for our country in the next few years. We do know that He is still on His throne. We don’t know who will win the election. We do know what will happen. GOD will be glorified in the end.
So GOD keeps bringing into my life many reasons to bring me to my knees in prayer. No, I don’t pray as much as I should. I need to pray more. But I am being forced to pray by circumstances where I realize I can do nothing but pray!
What is causing you to pray more?
That praying without ceasing is a beautiful way to live … constant connection with Christ about what is flowing through your mind, passing by your eyes, whispering into your ear.
But yes, crises forces us to a steady ‘God, have mercy!’ prayer … and that would be true for what’s happening in our country. Sometimes in our families. And too often in our churches.
Thanks for this piece, Martha. What a good read …
Blessings!
thanks linda. it is difficult to hear so many christians wringing their hands re our elections. we need to pray…both for GOD to begin moving but also for our attitudes to change. We get things in our heads about what and how GOD can work and forget that He does things very differently all the time. It would be nice if we could relax a bit and rest in what He is doing. Yes, it is scary at times for sure. But GOD is still on His throne and He is more powerful than the powers of evil.
So let us pray for sure!