Did you ever have one of those weeks when you are just off your feed? You know, when something doesn’t quite feel quite right within your body but you cannot pinpoint what it is. That was this week.
I couldn’t put my finger on it but it was an off week. I wasn’t lie-in-bed sick but neither was I in top form. What ‘it’ was is still unknown but after much prayer during the week, I feel better.
Was it the time speaking with my Heavenly Father that made me feel better? Well, certainly that is a precious way to spend time – especially as it takes my mind off of myself and focuses it on others. Praying for others is a never-ending job when you are a believing and praying Christian. The list of lost, sick, and hurting people is certainly long in my life. Possibly yours as well.
I have many souls to pray for, young and old, for everything from healing from cancer to safe deliveries of babies. For friends that I love who are very casual about their faith and haven’t really committed their lives to Jesus to acquaintances who are swimming in the polluted waters of the world and don’t even realize they are being infected. So many needs and so, when I am ill, I add my own need to those that I keep in prayer.
How do I know that God is paying attention? Does He really hear my prayers for healing and mending of lives and bodies? Of course He does. I often have such beautiful answers to prayer that it is a wonder to me that people don’t seek God’s face more often. In the Bible we are told the prayers of the saints are considered incense – a sweet fragrance to our Father.
We should not worry that we might not say our prayers in the right order for them to be heard although I am absolutely certain that the more often we read God’s word and pray, the better we
learn how to seek and know what is God’s will. And, that is what we are to do – seek God’s will to be accomplished.
Jesus taught His disciples a prayer which we can use as a perfect and acceptable form.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
It is a beautiful prayer and we see that it isn’t long with extraneous words. It is a sincere prayer from our heart to God’s ear seeking His will on earth and His will for us. Whenever I am in a panic and at a loss for words this is my prayer.
So, how did I pray for the unspecific thing was going on with my health this week? I prayed to the Father reminding Him and myself that He created me, He knows every hair on my head and every heartbeat that goes on within me. And, what a comfort to me it was to remember those truths. I then asked Him to touch whatever it was that was off and guide me along to health or heaven – if that was His will.
He did not answer quickly. I had enough concern one day to actually visit the Emergency Room. The Doctor could pinpoint nothing that was amiss. That was somewhat of a relief but truly only God knows what is going on in every cell in my body so I returned to relying on Him rather than men.
God knows that my life is His and in His hands and it does comfort me to say that to Him in prayer. I know that nothing happens to me without the Father’s approval – what a warmth of security that is.
God answers my prayers often in unexpected ways. Occasionally I get to laugh out loud with joy at His response.
Neil, my husband, stopped by the grocery store for an item and texted, “Is there anything you need?” My response was, “Chocolate.”
We have been dieting for a few months trying to relieve ourselves of excess weight and so we have been avoiding chocolate, and other similar treats. Even so, Neil brought home a small bag of dark chocolate. I was surprised but guess what? Chocolate was the cure. Evidently, I was lacking something that was only accomplished by eating chocolate! Yes indeed, I laughed out loud and with much delight. Our God is so wonderful and attentive to our prayers that He answers us with His love!
