God is doing something, I’m not sure what yet, but that’s usually how it goes. A few weeks ago at the start of February I mentioned that it felt like the new year to me. I finally felt ready to dig in to new habits, renew old habits, and reset myself. I also picked out a word for the year, something I don’t normally do, but something that just kept coming to my mind. Ironically that word was obedience so it felt like a sign I should probably just give in to this whole trend.
One of my unspoken and unwritten plans for this year was to focus in on my prayer life, or really my lack of one. It’s easy for most of us to pray when we have a need, whether that be small or large. It’s not nearly as easy to pray when things are going so well that we have no needs (or think we don’t). It’s easy for us to tell someone we will pray for their need (and do it, ya’ll know I’m big on this) but then forgot all about it tomorrow when unless we’ve heard differently the need is likely still there. I’m very guilty of all of this and it’s something I really want to work on.
When I do sit down for my daily devotional/bible/prayer time it can look really busy. This is my current lineup. A journal. A winter devotional. A fun devotional. A bible commentary. A bible. Plus a pen and highlighters of course. I keep all of this neatly stacked on my side table in the living room. Pulling the stack down sometimes can seem so daunting. And it’s one of those things I can easily procrastinate about doing. And that makes me feel so ashamed, that I have to really make it a focused point of my day to stop what I’m doing and focus on God.
A great example is that I’m finally sitting down today, at 3:30pm for my daily time, and I’m writing this post first. It may seem like working from home, having no children in the home, would make my days easy to manage. They are not. I rise early and yet I still have a hard time fitting in all of the many things that I need and want to get done each day.
This last week I’ve been smacked around a bit by messages that can only be from Him. First the podcast series with Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins, such a great reminder of HIs faithfulness, but also His reliance on our faithfulness. I then started reading the book “Walking with God” by John Eldridge and have so many great tidbits saved. A friend shared a FB post by Natalie Breckenridge on praying friends that was awesome. I’d never heard of Natalie so followed her page and very post since has been right on time.
This morning she shared a post on intercessors, those amazing folks who stand in the gap for you when you just cannot pray. My reading yesterday from the above book was specifically about praying for others. Today I listened to the most recent podcast from Annie F Downs; the guest was Lauren Tomlin, the topic was Becoming a Prayer Warrior.
Okay God, I get it, clearly, loudly and boldly, obedience in prayer. I know it’s a need and you are putting it right in my face to be sure I don’t miss it. It also feels very much like this is preparation. And because of that I don’t take it lightly. I know from firsthand experience what prayer has done in my life, I also know what it’s done when others have interceded for me. So if God is preparing me for a place of intercession, well I want to be sure I’m ready. So it’s time so put the laptop away and pick up my books.
~Carla
Arise and Glow 