“Would you like to pray?”
What is left when the storms of life come?
What is left when we are suddenly without a job and a paycheck?
What happens when someone in your life unexpectedly becomes overcome with sickness?
How do we go on with life when chronic pain fills our every waking moment?
How do we go on with life when our children suddenly turn & walk the other way?
How can we ever continue walking upright when the burdens of life just weigh upon our heart?
Struggles of life come. Yes, it is a truth & no one is exempt. A pastor once said: “We are either walking away from a trial of life, walking into a new trial, or living in the midst of a trial.”
- Either way, we are faced with the realities of how adversity affects us, all the days of our life.
- Even though many days seem sun-shiny and holiday-like, we cannot avoid the storms that may be coming to our lives, as quickly turning the calendar page.
Our Savior Jesus knew this. Maybe that’s why He gave us this promise—
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
(The Gospel According to Matthew 6: 6-8 NASB)
And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
My husband and I enjoy hosting others in our home for dinner; our daughter called this “a gift.” As I sit considering her words, I wonder who receives the gift: our guests? or us?
- During a recent dinner, two beautiful ladies sat at our table, and just as we always do, my husband and I stretched out our hands to the left and right. We find great joy in the connection of touch as we pray, thanking God for the meal He has provided.
- During this recent dinner, we connected hands with our guests and with one another, and then my husband ‘gave me the look,’ and I knew he was asking: “Would you like to pray?”
So, I bowed my head to pray, thanking God for the two ladies who sat with us at our table, lifting up names of those who could not join us, asking God specific requests for each one, and then thanking God for the food He provided us to eat. It was a simple prayer. Oftentimes, I find myself in the presence of ‘great, more-articulate prayer warriors’ and am afforded the experience of hearing their sincere, godly, and more beautiful prayers.
- During that recent dinner (when my husband asked me to pray), we enjoyed a table filled with food to eat, stories & great laughter, shared memories, and even spoken life-storms. Then we said ‘goodbye’ as we hugged near my front door.
- During the hours following that dinner, I received a text of reflection about our evening, a message that ended with these words—
“But thanks for listening.
And thanks for your beautiful prayer, Nancy.”
Truly, we do not realize the way God touches others’ hearts.
Also true, we also cannot understand God’s plan for our lives.
However, we can believe & we can trust that God has us ‘here’ for a reason.
‘HERE’—A WORD THAT CERTAINLY MEAN SO MANY THINGS!
In the Bible, we read of an occasion, when Jesus was walking, and a synagogue official approached him with a need. His little girl was very sick, to the point of death. He needed Jesus to come with him, directly to his house.
“While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?”
(The Gospel According to Mark 5: 35-36 NASB)
But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official,
“Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”
What do we long for?
PRAY.
What are we grateful for?
PRAY.
What keeps us up at night?
PRAY.
What grieves our heart?
PRAY.
What dreams do we have for our future?
PRAY.
What joys do we long to continue?
PRAY.
What causes us to fall on our knees and cry out to the LORD?
PRAY.
How are we most thankful—right now?
Let us PRAY because our Father already knows!
Our Savior Jesus gave us this promise—
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
(The Gospel According to Matthew 6: 6 & 8b NASB)
. . .
for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”