Along with the romance that is beginning to take over my heart this last month, I am beginning another journey: the pursuit of prayer.
In order to love as Jesus does, I must learn to live as He does.
Luke 5:16 "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."
My Heavenly Father says that He will answer when I call on Him.
Jeremiah 33:3 " Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know"
The bible says that our great God hears our prayers.
Mark 11:24 " Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours"
Our Lord promises that when two or more gather in His name He is present. Matthew 18:20 " For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them"
I can't tell you how many times in the last two weeks that I have told my teammates how prayer is an area that I really desire to grow in.Funny thing is, the Lord knows the desires of my heart. Today I think He had a good little laugh at me when He opened my eyes to all of the incredible examples of prayer that He has, to say it subtly, thrown in my face this last week.
Number 1: Mrs. Carolyn and Mrs. Ginny, I am sorry for everyone who hasn't had the opportunity to be blessed by these indescribable women of God. I sent these two a prayer request last Sunday night, on Monday they met and prayed together for over an hour. Between the two they have 7 kids in high school alone, both work for their home churches, are on committee for Auburn Young Life, lead a bible study for leaders, and are somehow always available to lend a listening ear or give Godly advice. Their quick response to drop everything and pray for me and my team reminded me of Jesus and the importance of prayer in His life.
Number 2: My sweet teammate Shawna hurt her back a week ago and has spent the majority of the last 200+ hours lying on the tile floor duking it out with Jesus. Last friday night, one of the house moms,Tia Suyapa came upstairs to pray healing over Shawna. The intensity and ferventness of that prayer is one of unmatched comparison in my life. As Tia was praying, chills ran down my spine and Shawna said her back felt like fire as soon as Tia laid hands on her. The passion with which she prayed made me long for a deeper relationship with the Lord, I saw a faith that could move mountains.
Number 3: This past week my team had the opportunity to attend a four hour church service where the sole intention was to ask the Holy Spirit to fall. During the beginning worship I was sitting next to Gaby, a 16 year old at the orphanage, who has experienced more heart ache then most of us do in a life time. She was sobbing uncontrollably and so I began to pray for her. As I asked God to shower His love upon her, my prayer began to change. My heart broke and I sobbed, it felt as if the Lord was showing me His heart for her and at that moment there was nothing more important in my life than this sweet girl knowing how much her Heavenly Father loves her. The prayer I prayed that night was the most genuine that i have ever spoken, that moment is also the closest I have ever felt to the heart of Jesus.
Number 4: Melvin is a 5 year old boy who lives at Mi Casa kids, he arrived four months ago after his mother died of AIDS. Despite his past, the child always has a smile on his face. When he speaks my heart melts, he is precious and will curl up on your lap and fall asleep in your arms. Melvin always points to one of my teammates to pray for dinner but the other night we told him it was his turn. He smiled shyly and closed his big brown eyes, beginning his prayer with "Senor Jesus". I didn't understand the spanish words that followed, but his childlike faith was written over ever inch of his face. As he said the closing amen, I saw the raw trusting faith that I am longing for.
Number 5: Yesterday our day of ministry was spent sharing the Facebook cause pages that we had made for the kids education. Before we began we spent 20 minutes in prayer, asking that God would bless the work of our hands and just allow us to be His light for these children. We spent hours sending our messages and emails spreading the great need of donations to allow these blessed children an Education. Shortly after we began receiving donations ranging from $10-100 began trickling in, encouraging us to continue. A few hours later, Sage bubbled with joy as she read aloud an email: an anonymous donor had given $1250 dollars to Julia and she was now fully funded!! Even though there are still 5 kids to raise money for, I was absolutely blown away by how big God is and how He cares so deeply for the needs of His children.
I could share at least another five instances that happened today alone. Ok God I get it, you are giving me exactly what I asked for and I couldn't be more excited about!!
