Prayer

Do I believe in the power of prayer?
I thought that the answer to this question was easy. Of course I do. I've prayed my entire life for a multitude of reasons. It has always seemed to come pretty easily.

Lately, though, I've begun to think a little harder on the subject.

My husband and I joined a small group (Bible study) for parents. The only details I knew, or really cared about, when signing up was that it was for parents and it would meet in the same town on the same night as my son's small group.

I was pleasantly surprised to find, after being contacted by the leaders of the group, that the study would be on The Power of a Praying Parent. I already had the book. I'd bought it soon after my husband and I married. Had I read it? No... I'd started, but then life happened. Doesn't life always seem to get in the way?

So Kev and I began the book. The chapters are short and are followed by a sample prayer and verses. Some are on topics that I've considered, and some have never before even crossed my mind, but I've found that I have prayed on very few of the topics.

Why? Why wouldn't I pray for my children, for my husband, for my marriage in earnest? If I truly believe in the power of prayer, why haven't I used it as the biggest tool in my arsenal? What am I waiting for?

Prayer for my children

I heard this on Dr. Jeremiah's program today and it completely sums up my prayers for my two children.

"Make them good soldiers of Jesus Christ; let them never turn back in the day of battle. Let them be winners and helpers of souls. Let them live not to be ministered to, but minister.
Make them loyal; let them set loyalty high above all things. Make them doers, not mere talkers. Let them enjoy hard work and choose hard things rather than easy. Make them trustworthy. Make them wise, for it is written, He hath no pleasure in fools.
Let them pass from dependence on us to dependence on Thee. Let them never come under the dominion of earthly things; keep them free. Let them grow up healthy, happy, friendly, and keen to make others happy. Give them eyes to see the beauty of the world and hearts to worship its Creator.
Let them be gently to beast and bird; let cruelty be hateful to them. May they walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance.
And for ourselves we ask that we might never weaken, "God is my strong salvation" .... we ask that we might train them to saw that word and live that life, and pour themselves out for others unhindered by self." ~Amy Carmichael

Not what I wanted to hear.

I'm trying to keep my cool in the face of adversity.

Romans 13:1 says "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."

Sometimes it is so hard, though. Sometimes those in charge of me dangle their superiority over me in such a way that it drives me crazy. I feel like a cat, with a crazed look in it's eye, focused on the piece of yarn.

I am a girl who hates to be told what to do. I don't know why. I just am. I hate when I have ideas of my own and someone over me decides that my way isn't the way to go. There are times like these when the only reason I can come to is that my superior is just brandishing her display of power. It makes me so frustrated that I could cry.

I know that's not how God wants me to be. I know in my heart that I'm supposed to turn the other cheek and submit to authority. I know that His ways are higher than mine and that all we be made right. Eventually. It's just the eventually that gets me.

I'm working through this, though.

Lord, help me to be at peace with the answers that I am given. Help me to not get caught up in the why's and wherefore's that surround the response that has been spoken to me. Help me to just trust that You are working for good in my life. Help me to remember that no one, not even those put in charge of me, can get in the way of the plans you have for me.