On Prayer

Prayer is something that has always come easy to me.  I was taught at an early age to speak to Jesus like I speak with my Daddy, so that’s what I’ve always done.  I pray driving down the road, walking through the mall, and alone in my bedroom.  I know when I pray, God hears me.  I know when I pray, God listens.  But I’ve not often had him clearly answer my prayer.

My senior year in high school, I was a little overweight.  My mom and I had been shopping at the local mall and I was feeling pretty upset with myself.  (Can I get an amen on the depression that hits when clothes shopping?)  I remember vividly walking through the mall praying for God to help me.  I asked him for the willpower to start eating healthy foods instead of junk.  I asked him for the time and energy to exercise.  As I was silently voicing this prayer, I was walking towards the end of the mall where the escalators are.  I could see them moving, slowly carrying people up or down.  And I kid you not, as soon as I went to step onto the escalator step, it stopped.  The up escalator absolutely broke down, forcing me to walk up the flight of stairs.  I’m telling you, my God has a sense of humor.

My three babies are an example of more answered prayers.

I have no doubt that God answered my prayers several years ago when I dealt with a scary medical situation.

Lately, Justin and I have been praying about a situation in our life that needs changing.  We aren’t sure how it needs to be changed, or what we need to do, but we know something needs to be done.  One morning last week, when I had a few minutes, I actually wrote down my prayer about this situation.  I prayed for God to be clear with His directions and for Him to help me be patient.  I had gotten my hopes up really high about a change-option and I prayed for acceptance if things didn’t work out.

No more than thirty minutes after I wrote down this prayer, Justin called.  He had “coincidentally” run into someone at lunch who voiced some affirmations that we were needing.

You guys, our God still answers prayer.  It may not be written on a wall like it was with Daniel. It may not be spoken through a burning bush like with Moses.  But if we will pay attention, God will speak to us.  He will guide us in the direction we need to go.  He will give us words to say when words are failing.  We just have to listen.

A recent Happy Hour podcast interviewed author Sarah Bessey and she said it best:  “God often hides in plain sight in our right now life.”  We look for Him in big things, but He is always right there, even in the little things.