Prayer

I awoke early in order to get ready and be in Tyler by 10:45 this morning.  I’ve been wanting to visit a church there and my youngest son said he would go with me (he lives in Tyler).  What a blessing it turned out to be!  The preacher asked some very challenging questions of the congregation about the year that just ended and the one the one we just started.  To my surprise and delight Jason engaged in this challenge and answered the questions right along with me.  I wanted so badly to peak at his paper but I didn’t.  I kept reminding myself that if he wanted me to see his answers he would show me.  Besides it was between him and God not between me and him.

The first question was “what prayers did God answer in 201o”?  Wow!  That was a long list for me but in the interest of time I kept it to three.  The second question was “who was a particular blessing to you in 2010”?   That was an easy question for me and one that I answered quickly.  The third was one that upon reflection I do more often that I realized.  “What blessings have you taken for granted over the past 12 months”?  Although I am thankful for so much and give God the glory I am guilty of taking so much for granted as well.

 

God has blessed me so much over the past year on so many levels.  My oldest son and his family are doing alright.  They still struggle but that is to be expected after everything they have been through.  I pray every day twice a day for them to put God in the center of their lives and for God to protect them from Satan and the heartache of divorce.  So far God has answered my prayers!  My youngest son has a wonderful and growing relationship with the Lord and this has been my prayer for many years. The Lord has been faithful in answering this mother’s prayers for her children and for that I am so very thankful!!  My health seems to be on the mend, too!  I have a wonderful Christian husband, a lovely home, a secure job, and a dependable vehicle.  What a very blessed year I have had indeed!!

As I look forward to the year ahead I want to continue to give God the opportunity to show His glory through me and the lives of my family.  There is nothing I’ve done or can do to change the hearts and minds of anyone but God can!  He is faithful and He hears the prayers of His children.  We have 5 children, 2 in-laws, 3 grand children, 5 siblings and their families, my parents and countless friends, our soldiers, our leaders and our Nation to pray for.  This should keep me very busy.

How about you?  Is there anyone in your life that needs someone to pray for them on a regular basis?  Is there someone you know who is struggling with divorce, addiction, job loss, family problems, etc?  Is there someone you want to see come to Christ this year?  If so, make a commitment to pray for them every day.  It will change their lives and it will bless yours at the same time.