I began a prayer journal a while back. A collection of needs, presented before the God of heaven’s mercies, simply to “ask.” I thought the journal would be an encouragement, but instead, at times, it’s only served as a catcher of my tears that have fallen on it’s pages, leaving eventually only dried imprints of the burdens I’ve carried.
The Lord was able to break through, finally. I’ve been praying with discouragement, even though I’m told in God’s word that men always ought to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). O, my heart, “Trust God!” I’m continually pleading. The struggle is real.
I didn’t see how it could happen, the changes of hearts and circumstances. It seemed an impossibility because I’ve been praying all this time and seemingly (to me) no change. I was tempted to take matters into my own hands, or just withdraw all together from the battlefield of prayer. I’m always tempted to do this.
But then, a glorious appearing of God’s hand at work emerged from the terrible in the circumstances for which I was praying. One by one, the answer from the Lord was evident. Finally, after much time passed, I understood. I was allowing my heart to be burdened by these things for which God was asking me to pray. But the entire time God HAD THESE THINGS. He really truly had all of it. All He was asking of me was to partner in prayer with the work HE WAS ALREADY DOING and then to wait upon Him. That was why I was even allowed to be a part of seeing the needs for which I was asked to pray. He was asking me to intercede along WITH Him, according to HIS will. It was His job to move in the way and timing He knew was best. I had very little to do with the outcomes, but yet the place He asked for my obedience was on my knees. It was never intended to burden me, but instead to release me!
Oh the renewed calling I now have to partake in such a beautiful partnership. That, my friends, is the power of prayer!
-Jamie
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10
