Thursday, April 3, 2008

Before You Call I Will Answer!


Prayer is a HUGE part of who I am. I continuously seek to grow in this area.
When I started blogging last September,
I had certain thoughts that perhaps I may start another blog on prayer.

But I decided it would grow into something I couldn't handle.

Instead, who and what I pray for just grew, as my circle of friends began to grow outside of my beautiful, small town. And I am so grateful that is the case.

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(Prayer is like this - BREATHING)
From time to time, I consider doing a post about prayer. I always hesitate, because it is just simply a very daunting task for this housewife to quantify what she knows in her heart, and has lived to see the gracious and sovereign hand of God work in people's lives, through answered prayer.

Prayer isn't just a religious exercise.
It really IS communing with the Father. It's a privilege. It's an obligation.
And it is such a comfort and a blessing to have back a little of what Adam and Eve had in the Garden. To have that "face time" with The One Who Reigns!

I clearly am still not up to quantifying it. But, the past few months have been very challenging in a number of ways. It has been at times difficult to keep a proper perspective. And in the midst of it all, God has gone out of His way to make sure I remember He is near, He is GOOD and He is for me, my family our best.
I love when He does the little things to connect with me, to assure me of His love. Who am I that He would pay such careful attention to me? But, He does it for you too! Are you listening to Him? Are you looking for His voice? For the signs of His affection for you?
The most recent thing He has done, is to answer prayers (for shamefully self-centered needs, things that just made life easier, more convenient and made me ridiculously happy) BEFORE I could finish the prayer. That's some serious answer to prayer, Ya'll! And I don't take it for granted. I look at my life and I see so much I want to be better at, and more consistent in, and for real resurrection power transformation to be manifest in my life in more areas. There are things also, that I have prayed for, for YEARS, (like 15)! He hears and He answers all our prayers. We must not give up on Him. He doesn't give up on us!

Don't get so caught up in the long term prayer requests
, that you forget to enjoy, celebrate, testify and THANK HIM for the little things. The little things that keep us going step at a time. Day at a time.
Here are just a few of His Words to us on the topic:
"I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me
[Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]!"
Psalm 57:2
"In my distress [when seemingly closed in]
I called upon the Lord and cried to my God;
He heard my voice out of His temple (heavenly dwelling place),
and my cry came before Him, into His [very] ears."
Psalm 18:6

9 comments:

Sharon Brumfield said...

Boy can I go with you on this post.
I have so much to learn about prayer. I was just thinking about this today.
I think in the last year I have gotten so involved in the serious prayer that I have forgotten the type that comes as easily as breathing.
The type where I just talk to Him and love on Him. I miss that time.
Life has become so serious---it tends to drain the joy.
I think in my life satan loads things on to keep me busy with prayers that are just about battling him.
Does that make sense. I get so wrapped up in the mess that I feel as if I will never be able to move onto something else.
I know that testing and trials will always be but it would be nice to enjoy a little breather. I think in my own understanding that that would come once I am in my own space. I don't know.
See I am going on--my mind is
pretty full. :)
Time to work it out on paper.

luvmy4sons said...

Can't ever go wrong with a post on prayer! There is so much there to think on and discuss! I just love how He often DOES answer before I call! And I love giving Him the tiniest of things in my day and watching him fix it! I prayed the other day that God would give me wisdom to help me figure out what my aunt with Alzheimers did to her TV that caused the signal to be lost. I told her "We haven't asked God for help." So we did and voila, instantly I thought of something and we fixed it! Great post, as always. Love getting inside your lovely head dear friend. Hope all are feeling better in your house!

Unknown said...

Have you ever read Richard Foster's book called Prayer? It is so awesome. Brilliant really. Foster is a Quaker and an amazing human being.

Joyful Days said...

I realized my prayers have been "just talking" to God a lot more lately. Sometimes I feel like a child tugging at His sleeve, but I find more contentment in the ongoing dialog. I suppose it is the awareness of His presence as close as my heartbeat. If I could do this all the time, how much happier I would be.

Lovely post, Maria.

Denise said...

Such a lovely post my friend. I love talking to my Father, just pouring myself out to Him.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this.. I needed to be reminded about this.

Debbie

Knit-Wit said...

Great post! Since blogging, I too have found my prayer time expanding as I pray for all of my blogging buddies. I think it is fabulous how God has put many of us seemingly harmless housewives into a world wide spiritual battle by introducing us to each other through blogging.

Tiffany said...

I love this. Prayer can be such a beautiful form of worship. I know what you mean though, about how the devil can try to get in our minds and steal our joy. He doesn't want us to worship and pray. He wants us to be overwhelmed and confused, so he can talk us into putting off our prayer life, to where we forget to get around to it from day to day, b/c we think we are so busy getting around to every other thing. I think we've all been there. I think it helps us all to hear that someone else struggles from time to time w/ the same things. Blessings my friend.

She Rose Up said...

Sharon, Thanks a bunch! I hope you get much more of the face time sort :)! To me it is a little like a Spa or something...It is my thought that this sort of communion with Him is what keeps us healthy, (abiding in the vine so to speak)...At least, I CAN say, it is what MY ONLY hope of vitality is.

P.S. Your post smacked me in the face this weekend! Several times I'm rueful to admit! :) Thanks, apparently I needed that!

Leslie, Thank you so much! And exactly! He DOES care about these things! Crazy, I know! I love that He is so multifaceted as to be a God who reigns supreme, is just and fearsome, YET, is tender, witty and whimsical as well.

Carole, I haven't. But, I am getting ready to look him up on Amazon! I want it! Thank you!

Julie, yes, I feel that way, too at times. But, I much prefer that to the distance I feel when I get out of the discipline. Very much so, as do you I am sure! :)
Thank you!

Denise, I would guess you are really adept at this. You are blessed!

Hi, Debbie! Thanks for your comment and for stopping by! I hope you were encouraged!

Karolee, I am in COMPLETE agreement! I think it's awesome & completely COOL! We are so blessed to literally have the world at our fingerptips!

Tiff, you are so right! The enemy DOES want us to be "overwhelmed and confused" and I COMPLETEY fell for it 2 DAYS LATER (after this post!)! Yup! It's all in my next post! :)

To all:

Sorry to be late getting back to you. We had a bit of a household emergency & all is well now. Take care! and thanks so much for stopping by!

Love,
maria

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What Does it Mean Anyway? "Free to Fly"...

Well, it's like this: Here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Free: a : having the legal and political rights of a citizen b : enjoying civil and political liberty c : enjoying political independence or freedom from outside domination d : enjoying personal freedom : not subject to the control or domination of another2 a : not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being : choosing or capable of choosing for itself...having a scope not restricted by qualification 7 a : not obstructed, restricted, or impeded ...Now, here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Fly:1 a : to move in or pass through the air with wings b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space c : to float, wave, or soar in the air ... a : to take flight ...6 : to work successfully ...Examples which apply from Websters: fly high : to be elated - fly in the face of or fly in the teeth of : to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of

What does this mean in my life? This means that in life we are meant to be free. While historically mankind has not always enjoyed the opportunity to fully appreciate what that means, we are so indescribably fortunate as to live in a time of the greatest spiritual, physical, financial and political freedom ever known. Freedom doesn't come cheap, nor does it come easy. But the best things in life don't come that way do they? As I write this I am struck by how this sounds like a political statement, and for me this is much more of a spiritual thing, but, same goes for that (political that is). Freedom doesn't come easy. And it's worth whatever fight you have to make to overcome in your life in order to live a life that succeeds. Now the questions is - what is success for you? What is your standard? In my mind what is needed is a definite target - because you can't hit and maintain a moving target. A stable, rock-solid, anchor with no variable, yet multi-faceted. Something pure, just and worthy. If you look at any web page of news you can see that our society is certainly lacking in this area. What a great time to live as a rebel! Nowadays to be a rebel, all you have to do is be willing to engage in the battle of life, while anchored to Christ!