Wednesday, November 2, 2011

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 2 - Prayer

i am thankful for the privilege and the freedom to pray.  when we want, where we want, how we want, and with whom we want.  perhaps even more, i am thankful that we serve a God that hears our prayers, and answers them.

last night, i felt prompted to pray for a family i served with in Haiti.  i found a verse in Ephesians that reminds us that God's love and resource are unlimited, and He is our source of strength.  the verse asks for God's blessing of understanding of how high, how long, how wide and just how very deep His love is for us.  that is an awesome thing.  not only reading that in scripture, but knowing that those words were meant to encourage someone else in some season they may be walking through.  although we have absolutely no idea what that season looks like for others, often times, the Lord uses us to encourage their hearts and grant a little extra strength in their step.

this morning, like most morning commutes, i had the privilege to lift my prayers to the Lord, as He has directed us to do (but, in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God- Phil. 4:6).  i got to talk to the Lord, and share with Him the things that burden me.  the people that I value, and the good things i desire for them.  and the cool thing is, this vast, enormous, all-consuming God of this universe, hears the prayers of little 'ole me in Nashville, TN; with no credentials apart from being a repentant sinner and follower of Christ, and honors these prayers of intercession on behalf of people across the world in South Africa, Guatemala, Australia, Haiti and beyond!  i am so stinkin' amazed that I don't even have to talk to these people around the world, nor do we even have to be together to make our requests known to the Lord, but that He hears the prayers of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29), and the fervent prayers of the righteous accomplish much! (James 5:16)

this afternoon, i had the honor and privilege and freedom of going before the Lord with two sweet, incredible women that i work with.  our custodian, my haitian friend Lucita, is having surgery on her ankle tomorrow morning and will be out for a month.  we had planned to pray over her in the afternoon, but she wasn't there, so the three of us met in a classroom and lifted her up to the Lord.  even in her absence, i know that the Lord heard our prayers and that she will be protected and provided for over these next 5 weeks.

y'all, prayer is a mighty strong vessel in bringing our hearts closer to the shores of jesus. i would even argue that it is through prayer and submitting our hearts to Him through vulnerable humility (jesus, i can't do this alone, i need you), he climbs aboard that vessel and navigates the murky waters of this world.

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