He's Waiting to Hear From You

Last night, our pastor spoke to us about prayer in our mid-week service. His words are still resonating today in my heart. You see, I love to pray. I pray often. I talk to God constantly. I pray for others, I pray for my own heart, I pray, pray, pray. I have found that I cannot go a day without talking to my Father many times. Last night the message really spoke to me in a way that I hope I will not forget. I took notes feverishly as if I had never heard about what praying is really supposed to look like. I feasted on what the Word of God says about prayer.

The message encouraged me greatly, but, it was what happened next that really drove home the pastor’s teaching. The service ended and I went to the restroom before heading to choir practice. I was in a bit of a hurry because I was helping to lead choir last night (our wonderful volunteer choir director was out for the evening), I also needed to clean off the stage and put music books away from the service. I simply wanted to run into the bathroom and get on with what I needed to get on with. But, God had a different plan. A dear, dear sister-in-Christ stopped me to say that she had a serious prayer concern that she needed to share with me and she asked me to pray. (You see, I have asked her MANY times to pray with me for something or someone) Of course, I felt compelled to stop and really listen. I did. Praise God! What she shared with me broke my heart and caused me to start praying immediately. This was not something that I needed to promise to pray about later, only to possibly forget, as I sometimes do. This was something that needed to receive the attention of prayer urgently. And so, without even thinking about it, we took each other’s hands and began to pray. We prayed for God to intervene in the circumstances that weighed heavily on both of our hearts. We prayed out loud while others walked in and out of the restroom. We prayed until we cried together, we prayed with confidence in our God, we prayed expectantly and with patience, actively, dependently, submissively, knowing that God’s timing is perfect and that we can trust Him. We asked for His will to be done. We asked for His protection over this circumstance. Our prayers were fervent and strong. We felt the Presence of God with us. I have not stopped praying since then over these particular circumstances, as I’m sure she has not either. I am still overwhelmed by the feeling that I had as we prayed together, hands joined. It was a blessing to me to pray with my dear sister. It was a reminder of God’s beautiful grace and mercy.

God’s Word says many things about prayer. I’d like to share some of these things with you, some from our pastor’s message last night and some that God has laid on my own heart this morning. I think it would be okay with him for me to share.

We are to pray privately (and corporately) - Matt. 6 and 7

We are to pray in His will – John 14:13-14

We are to pray without ceasing, persevering in prayer – 1 Thess. 5:17; Romans 12:10-12

We are not to worry about anything, but to pray about everything with thanksgiving – Philippians 4:6-7

We are to pray for others and confess our own sin – James 5:16-18

We are to assemble together in His Name – Matthew 18:20

We are to give thanks in our prayers – Psalm 100

There are many other verses about prayer. I encourage you to get out your own copy of God’s Word today and study these verses about prayer and then pray, pray, pray!

Last night, I sat through our pastor’s message and was moved deeply by what I learned and re-learned. He told us that prayer is both about talking to God and listening to God. He taught us how to pray and how to listen. And right after this beautiful message, God gave me and my sister-in-Christ a chance to practice what we had just heard from him. It was a beautiful reminder to me that God is always ready to listen. He is always ready to spend time with His children. He hears the prayers of all, and may choose to answer even the unbeliever’s prayers, however His Word promises that He will hear and answer the prayers of those who belong to Him.

            We do not have control over the outcome of our prayers last night. We have hope and believe that God heard us and will answer according to His good pleasure and will. However God chooses to answer, one thing we know, that God is faithful. He knows what is best for each of us. He cares about every detail of all of our lives and He loves to spend time listening to the prayers of His precious children. He will answer. Have you spent time with Him today? What is on your heart that you need to take to Him in prayer? Please take the time to talk to Him. Praying will move you into a precious time with your Father. It will bless you with peace and it will give you an opportunity to watch God work in the circumstances of your life and in the lives of those you care about.

There are no special rules, just talk to Him. He's waiting to hear from you. :)

Thanks for reading! May you be encouraged by these written words. God bless you!!

Rescued

Psalm 91:14-16

“’Because he loves me’, says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.’” (NIV)

             Ever have one of those days, weeks, months or even years that you just wish someone would come along and rescue you? I am one of those girls who loves fairy tales and rescued princesses. I know that they are not real and that life does not always have happy endings, but I just love it when all works out well in a story and when the princess gets her prince. Call me a hopeless romantic or a dreamer, but I’ve always loved a happy ending. My husband told me this morning that, “I just care so deeply about things, and that I really want all to be right and good”.  This is not always the case in the real world, bad stuff happens, but there is a Rescuer who cares deeply about us and Who wants to rescue us from the grasp of the world’s worries.

                    This morning, I was feeling a bit discouraged about my health issues, and things of this world and I felt a little weepy. I opened my devotionals and read for a bit. In spite of my aching joints and a mysterious eye irritation that is preventing me from getting my proper meds, I headed outside to “play” in my garden. It was early, and the dew was still on the grass. Physically I felt like I just couldn’t do it, but I think I’m more of a fighter than I give myself credit for. I sucked it up and went to work. As I dug and weeded, I talked with the Lord. The birds were singing all around me. I should have been celebrating the beauty of His creation, but  I was having quite the pity party instead. But, I kept on working. As I worked, I noticed that about ten of my new Lantana plants had been leveled by the deer. I was so disappointed. I do not plant a lot of flowers, though I enjoy them so much, because we live on the woods and have a HUGE deer issue. They can clean out every green thing you have in a night’s time. But, in the past they have never eaten Lantana. Well, that ended last night. They feasted on it.

 
            Well, I teared up (I know, it’s silly) but decided to press on in spite of my loss. All God’s creatures, right? I guess if I choose to live on the woods, I’ve gotta feed the animals. So, I got back to work and sucked it up again. Shortly, I was feeling pretty tired, and my joints were screaming. I was determined not to let my arthritis get to me. I worked on, but truthfully, the more I worked, the more I let my mind go to a place of pity for myself. So, I stopped, got a chair and sat in the shade. It was quitting time. I accomplished little, but I did accomplish something at least. One little step at a time things get done.

            Whenever I allow the things of this world to fill my mind, my focus is removed from the Person and place that it should remain on. And when I let that happen, I go south pretty quickly. I knew where I needed to head. I put away my tools and headed inside. I got cleaned up and picked up my Bible. I read a couple of my favorite passages, and then headed to one of my favorites, Psalm 91. I read it over and over. I read about God and His covering over me. I read about “…resting in the shadow of the Almighty.” When I took my break outside and rested in the shadow of the trees, it was so refreshing. The breeze cooled my body and I found rest. When I open the Word and spend time under the shadow of the Almighty, I find an even better rest, a greater peace, and a deeper refreshing. I am always amazed when God’s Word comforts my heart and mind. I do not know why it still surprises me, but it does. He is so faithful to speak to us through His Word if we will only get ourselves into it. It is His Love Letter to His children.
          
            Many years ago, as a little six year old girl, so afraid of life and the world, so unaware of my need for a Savoir, a stranger led me to Jesus, and Jesus rescued me. He rescued me from death. He rescued me from bad things around me and he rescued me from sin. I am so thankful. Today, when I was feeling discouraged, He rescued me again. He reminded me that He loves me and that I am never alone. He reminded me that even when my body hurts so bad that I don’t feel I can function, He will give me strength and courage to press on. He fills me hope, peace and even joy. He rescues me over and over. He truly is my Blessed Redeemer. I’d like to close with one of my favorite worship songs. Appropriately, it is called, “Rescue”. God bless you and may this writing encourage someone out there. Terry J

You are the source of life

And I can't be left behind
No one else will do
And I will take hold of You

Cause I need You Jesus

To come to my rescue
Where else can I go
There's no other name
By which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow You

My heart is Yours for life
I need Your hand in mine
No one else will do
I put my trust in You

I need You Jesus

To come to my rescue
Where else can I go
There's no other name
By which I am saved
Capture me with grace
Capture me with grace
Capture me with grace
I will follow You
I will follow You

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me
I will follow You
This world has nothing for me
 
CCLI Song # 4084763
Jared Anderson
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