{Day 31} ~ Wrapping It Up

To say I was apprehensive when I first started this 31 Day series on prayer would be an understatement. As I linked up my first post to The Nester’s blog, questions bounced around inside my brain. Could I really blog for 31 days on the same topic? What if I didn’t complete the task? Am I even qualified to write on this spiritual discipline? Who do I think I am?

Hmmm… I have an answer for that last question. Who do I think I am? I’m a daughter of the King, created and loved by the Almighty, and qualified through Jesus’ work on my behalf to bring my requests to God. In fact, He wants me to pray; He commands me to pray! So why not explore the amazing gift I’ve been given in prayer?

Of all the things I’ve learned through blogging about prayer for 31 days, one thing stands out: In order to have a relationship with God, I must invest in my prayer life. It’s not an option. And unlike the stock market, this investment is 100 percent guaranteed to reap eternal rewards.

So, I guess I would say that my perspective on prayer has changed quite a bit during these last 31 days. I have come to realize that prayer is not so much asking as it is listening; it’s more conversation than it is monologue.

This quote by Dutch Sheets pretty much sums it up:

Prayer is not a check request asking for things from God. It is a deposit slip – it’s a way of depositing God’s character into our bankrupt souls.

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This is the last post in my 31 Days to a Powerful Prayer Life series. Find all the posts in the series here.

{Day 30} ~ Luke 24:38 ~ Examining Our Doubts

“Why are you frightened?” [Jesus] asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?” Luke 24:38 NLT

Have you ever read something and said to yourself, “Yes! This is exactly what I’m feeling! And I thought I was the only one…”? This has been my heart’s exclamation for the past three weeks, as I’ve been reading A Confident Heart by Renee Swope for this fall’s Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study.

Through Renee’s writing, I’ve realized the main source of my doubts – worrying about what others think of me. Here’s what Renee says:

We find ourselves in the shadow of doubt many times because our thoughts are mostly about ourselves: how we’re performing and what others are thinking about us…. When we focus our attention on ourselves, we turn our attention away from God. We leave no room in our thoughts to listen to what He is thinking about us, because we have given that place away to be occupied by other people’s opinions. We become overly concerned about what others think of us instead of what God thinks about us.

In order to shift our focus, we have to turn our thoughts completely toward God “by thinking about His strengths instead of my weaknesses,” Renee says.

The example of Gideon is one Renee uses in her book to brilliantly illustrate her point. At one point, Gideon was paralyzed by fear and insecurity, and during his conversation with God, he listed all the reasons why he couldn’t do the job God had asked him to do. Check out this conversation – I love Gideon’s honesty in this passage:

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon asked, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (Judges 6:12-15)

Well, at least Gideon was polite when he questioned God with his “pardon me, but…” How many times have I talked to God and said similar things? “But God, I can’t do that! That takes too much time, or faith, or talent, or (fill-in-the-blank)! Ask someone stronger – I’m definitely not the one you want!”

But, you ARE the one God wants. And so am I. If He chooses me for a particular task – no matter how hard that task may seem or how unsuited for the task I might be – He will follow through. Not because of my strength, but because of His.

So, starting today, I am actively moving forward and turning away from my doubt, worry, insecurity and comparison. With God’s help, I am turning toward Him and focusing on His truth.  His truth says that because of Jesus, I am loved, I am cherished, I am valued, I am good enough, and I am His child. Nothing can ever change that!

Father, thank You for Your truth. Help me to remember that if You call me to do something for You, I have everything I need to complete that task. Your faithfulness is my refuge. Deliver me from my doubts and fears, and help me to rest in Your plan for me. You have begun a good work in me, and You have promised to complete it!

 

{Day 29} ~ Needing Direction?

A few months ago I was driving down my road a typical sunny summer day. Out of nowhere, I was faced with a sight that took me off guard.

Cows.

What’s so unusual about cows? You might ask. If you know me, you know I live in the country, so seeing cows shouldn’t be a surprise.  

But these cows… these cows were standing on the side of the road. Roaming free, but looking quite lost. They weren’t inside the fence in their usual pasture.

When they saw me in my big SUV, they looked a bit surprised as well. And then, as I made my turn onto the next country road, they followed me! When I decided to pull into the driveway of the farm house where I thought they belonged, they ran right up to the gate of the pasture.

These cows needed some serious direction. And you know what? So do I.

There are times in my life when I feel like those scared, directionless cows. Lost. Alone. Needing someone to point the way. And yet, instead of praying and asking the One who promises me direction, what do I do? I fret. I worry. I try to fix things myself. Duh! I’m just like one of those stupid cows!

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

This is awesome, friends! The God of the Universe is willing to offer His wisdom to us! He doesn’t say, “Oh, it’s you again? Will you quit bothering me? Last time you asked me for something, you really messed up.” He gives generously without finding fault in me or my request!

Thank you, Father, for not giving up on me. So many times I wander around, lost and without direction. Instead of running to You, I fret and worry. Help me to remember that You promise me wisdom and direction if only I will ask.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8

 

One Prayer CAN Make a Difference

Israel was a dust bowl. Dry as a bone. It had not rained a drop for over three years. All because of the prayers of one man – Elijah.

Now, three years had passed and everything was about to change again. All because of the prayers of one man.

“Get up! It’s about to rain!” Elijah told King Ahab.

 Then Elijah climbed up Mount Carmel, got down on his knees and prayed.

At first, nothing happened.

“Go look toward the sea,” Elijah told his servant.

 Elijah’s servant did as he was told. “There’s nothing there,” the servant replied.

“Go look again.” Elijah said expectantly.

Seven times, Elijah sent the servant back to check. On the seventh time, the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

That’s all Elijah needed. He told his servant, “Go tell Ahab to hitch up his chariot. It’s going to pour!” Elijah had prayed, expecting God to answer, and God did just that.

James 5:17 says, “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for over three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”

Did you catch that? Elijah wasn’t a superhero; he was just a guy. But his prayer – one prayer – changed everything!

Think your prayers don’t matter? Think you’re just a guy or a girl, and your prayers won’t change anything? Think again! Your prayers matter. Pray earnestly. Pray expecting God to answer.

One prayer CAN make a difference.

 

Weekend Links

Wow. What a week! I'm ready for a break, so I'm definitely taking it easy this weekend! I hope you do, too! In the meantime, here are some great pins I found on Pinterest on my "31 Days" topic: Prayer!

Instructions for this DIY "Prayer Pail" can be found here.

Helpful tool to print out and put in your Bible!



What a great way to teach kids to pray!

 

C.S. Lewis on Prayer

 

Prayer for a Confident Heart

Last week, I started an amazing new Bible study through Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies. The study is based on the book, A Confident Heart by Renee Swope, and the truth and wisdom found in its pages is refreshing! Here's one of my favorite quotes from this week's chapter: 

"Our hearts leak and will always end up empty when we find our worth in anything but who we are in Christ."

Since my 31 Days series is on prayer, I thought it would be appropriate to pen a prayer about what I'm learning through this truth-filled study:

Father, I need you.

When doubts haunt my mind
And life seems so unsure,
I pray and nothing happens…
Every sentence feels stilted and forced
Like small talk with a stranger.

Emptiness creeps into my soul

With all of its despair,
And I try to find peace
Somewhere, anywhere
But where I should –
In You.

When these times come,

Draw me back, Father.

Fill my empty places with

The fullness of all that You are.
Remind me to run to You,
For in your perfect love,
I find refuge.

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This post is part of my series, 31 Days to a Powerful Prayer Life. Click here to view links for each day in the series. Bloggers everywhere are linking up their 31 Day series this month to The Nester's blog!