Luke 18, one of my favorites. When I was going through a particular difficult time, the story of the persistent widow was of great comfort. I learned, as I cry out to God both day and night, eventually God would answer. That is a truth. But as I read Luke 18 this morning, I discovered Jesus’ example of how to pray did not end with the story of the widow....
Ask. Trust. Ask.
Have you ever prayed for something, I mean really interceded, and was disappointed? I have. One of my favorite promises from God is, “Since we have this confidence, we can also have great boldness before him, for if we ask anything agreeable to his will, he will hear us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we also know that we have obtained the requests...
Fight
Last night I found out some pretty devastating news. I was distraught. Worry filled my heart. I didn’t know what to do. (My family is fine.) So I lay in bed tossing and turning. Even an over-the-counter sleep aid could not calm my anxious mind. Then the Holy Spirit asked me, “What would you tell a friend to do if they were in this situation?” “Take their eyes off their...
Pray, Give, Go!
Broken garage door. Toilet #1 leaks. Toilet #2 breaks. Disappointing news. No this is not a bad country music song. It’s my life. It’s life in a 20 year old house. It’s an enemy trying to distract me. How does one handle life’s unpleasant events? What do you do when things break? When Life falls apart? When your child is hurting? When your finances are struggling? When God says do...
Lessons Learned from Math
“And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.” MATTHEW 21:22 AMP But I asked and the marriage ended. But I asked and the the loved one died. But I asked and the sickness lingered. But I asked… I love math because it is trustworthy, it’s eternal, it never changes. If my students get a wrong answer, I never question the math. Together we find where they made...
Persistent
Jesus gave a parable about a friend knocking on a door late at night. While the friend was not moved by their friendship, he was moved by their persistency. Jesus paints a picture of shameless audacious prayers availing much. Knocking, asking, seeking until our hearts’ desires are realized. But He further explains, we ask like a child petitioning our parents. We do not beg God. If our prayers are aligned...
Pray Big
I’m noticing a theme lately in my quiet time with God: “Pray and believe for the impossible.” Now that may sound amazing but to be honest, it’s a little bit daunting. Believing for the impossible requires us to risk disappointment and discouragement. Here is the funny thing. Yesterday, I was ranting to my fellow teachers how frustrating it is that parents want to protect their children from all forms of...
This Same God
And this same God who spoke and the world came into existence… This same God who parted a sea… This same God who sustained a people for forty years so that their shoes were not worn nor were any sick among them… This same God who permitted a man and woman past childbearing age to become the Parents of a multitude… This same God who sustained a widow and a...
To-Do List
For the last two weeks, I have been traveling or preparing to travel. As a result, many things have been put on the back burner. But now that I’m back, all of those things are front and center and I am overwhelmed. My to-do list is quite frightening. But as I lie awake at 4:00 in the morning, thinking about (okay, worrying about) all I need to do, I open...
Open Eyes, Open Minds, Power
Open eyes, open mind and clothed with power. That’s my prayer this morning. Jesus appeared to the disciples after his crucifixion. He walked and talked with them for miles, yet they did not recognize Him. Before many of us were saved, Jesus walked with us. He was pursuing us, protecting us, yet we did not recognize Him. My prayer this morning is for my Pre-Christian friends and family. May their...