Sitting on my porch on Mother’s Day morning, I was feeling very thankful! As I thought about being a mom and life in general, I began to think about how many times I pray and ask God for things, fully expecting Him to hear me and answer.(Which is a bunch of prayers, if I’m being totally honest!) Then I began pondering the prayers answered verses the praise given for them! Regretfully, I felt like I probably had not been nearly thankful enough!
Do I even have a clue just how many times and ways God has provided answers for me? And what about all the times He’s done the same for prayers for others?
It’s easy to recall some of the simplest little prayer requests of daily life, and I know that I don’t always acknowledge that God helps me through those days. Maybe that is somewhat understandable. However, when my thoughts turn to the really big issues that required serious prayer, and God’s immediate intervention… I ask myself, “Have I said, Thank You God!?” for all the times you worked those miracles?
I’m sure that there are an innumerable number of times that God has responded to my prayers! Yet sadly, I would have to admit that I am guilty of taking things for granted and just moving on to the next thing demanding my attention, or the next prayer request or need that arises.
I Know Where My Help Comes From!
It’s very easy for me to turn to prayer quickly when something concerns me! I know where my help comes from and I begin talking to God and lifting up requests for all sorts of things, as they happen. My years of faith, have taught me that there really is much power in prayer, and I am forever grateful that I can take things to God in prayer, and then let God be God!
Admittedly, there are some things that I have been praying about for many years. Some of these things have seen slight improvements, and some have seen drastic improvements, but not complete resolution. As I think about some of the tough issues, I realize that some people may have given up, and stopped praying.
As for me, I choose to continue praying and believing for answers, while giving thanks for the breakthroughs that have happened. God is worthy of praise even in the waiting!
My trust is in Him! His Timing is Always Better Than Mine!
Praying for Others ~ Even When I Do Not Know Them Personally…
I do not only pray for myself and my family. I often whisper prayers for other people as a scroll through my Facebook or Instagram and see requests. Sometimes I may hear someone mention situations and I feel the need to pray. I lift up prayers for people I do not even know, because I know they need God to answer and move in their lives!
There is power in prayer, and the Bible says to join together. That doesn’t have to be physically! We can join with others in the spiritual realm, right at that moment!
Jesus says this in Matthew 18:19 (KJV) – “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” He continues to say this in Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
These scriptures encourage us to join in prayer together because it makes it more powerful! So when we become aware of concerns and needs of others, we can quickly ask God to touch those situations. I often do, and I want to encourage you to do so too!
Feeling a Little Guilty!
Admittedly, I sometimes feel guilty because in the busyness of the daily routines, I might not really think back on some of the prayers I prayed very much. I may even forget about them all together, and not have them cross my mind again.
But, you know what? God did not forget, and that is the important part!
Prayer is key to our Christian lives and praying for others is a part of it. Care and concern for others is essential, and I hope that I receive those same things in return when I need prayer as well!
How Many Prayers Has God Answered That I Will Never Even Know About?
As I mentioned earlier, I have really been wondering about something. I’m curious about just how many of those requests God answered, and I did not even know?!
Thoughts like this cross my mind:
- Did God heal that person I prayed for, but did not know?
- Did God provide for the need?
- Did God draw someone close and comfort them in their situation?
- Did God give someone hope, that thought all hope was gone?
Truthfully, there’s no way to really know the answers for all of those questions that run through my mind. My thoughts on being thankful has me considering the fact that I may not have given God thanks for many prayers He answered!
So today God, I just want to give THANKS for ALL the times I should have in the past, but neglected to do so!
I don’t want to take for granted even one of those times that God heard my prayers and answered!
In my heart, I know that Giving God Praise, and being thankful is also extremely important, and I don’t want to miss that part!
God, I Praise You For Who You Are!
I Praise You for the ability to lift things up in prayer, in the mighty name of Jesus!
I Praise You for hearing me and caring about the things that concern me!
You are so good to me! You are so faithful!
YOU ARE WORTHY OF ALL MY PRAISE!
Forgive me for taking things for granted!
Thank you Jesus for Saving me!
I WONDER HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR ANSWERED PRAYERS TODAY? CAN I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SLOW DOWN AND SPEND TIME PONDERING THE PRAYERS ANSWERED VERSES THE PRAISE GIVEN IN YOUR LIFE?
I can’t possibly end this column without giving God Praise for blessing me to be a Mother, Nanny & Gammy! Nothing changed my life more drastically, nor for the better, than when God chose to allow me to have these wonderful titles! I love my children and grands more than words can say, and the addition of grandchildren is just the icing on the cake! A little bit of Heaven on Earth and I am so THANKFUL!
I shared more about family on a previous post: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/uniquelyconstructed/2023/10/the-importance-of-balance-in-faith-family-part-2-of-the-uniquely-constructed-series/
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