Monthly Archives: February 2014

Wanted: Prayer Partner

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“What are you waiting for?”

Has God ever asked you that question?

When I pray, I can tell the Lord all my thoughts, hopes and desires. He loves to hear from his children. Talking to God draws me into his presence, and deepens our relationship.

But it’s not a relationship if it’s a one-way street. It can’t be ‘all me’ doing the talking. He gets a turn too. Being quiet enough to listen brings the reward of his voice inside my soul.

And he says some very challenging things.

Years ago, I was praying consistently for a prayer partner. I figured we could mentor each other to a stronger faith. We could share our ideas and lives. Maybe if I asked enough times, like the Persistent Widow (Luke 18), I’d get a positive answer.

Waiting for an answer, I created scenarios in my mind. A woman would come up to me and we’d start talking. She’d be looking for someone to pray with. Or maybe invite me to pray with her well-established prayer group. Oh yeah. I had it all figured out. I was sure that God would agree with me.

Except he didn’t.

I was specific in prayer, and the Lord was specific in answer. He told me to talk to a woman I barely knew. I was supposed to tell her that he directed me to ask her.

WHAT??? You’re joking, right?

This is not the plan I had in mind AT ALL.  “Come on Lord, this woman is going to think I’m some kind of nut job. You don’t want that for me, do you?”

It was crystal clear what I should do. But I stalled and stalled. I’d go back to prayer, hoping for a new answer. After about two weeks, the question came.

“What are you waiting for?”

Fine. I guess I have to do it. I was scared. I remember the day I saw the woman in church. Gulp. Ok…here goes….

I walked up to her and asked we could talk. Remember, I knew her by sight, that was about it.

two-women-talking_21193154 We walked to the back of the aisle. “Well…”  I explained what God had asked me to tell her. Would she like to pray with me?

I’m pretty sure someone sucked out all the air in the room. I thought I was going to implode waiting for her reply. She calmly looked at me and said, “Sure.”

Turns out she was asking God for a prayer partner too.

In my mind, I thought someone would come up to me and invite me to pray, but God turned that around. I was the one doing the asking.

I learned two valuable lessons that day. First, if I ask, God will answer. It’s just not always going to be the way I imagined. Second, once I hear from the Lord, it’s up to me to see it through.

He’s arranged it all already. So what am I waiting for?

Linking today with: #Tell His Story

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Put On Christ

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Isn’t he just the cutest?
This is a photo of my son when he was about 18 months old. I remember this photo like it was yesterday.

My husband and I were in our bedroom, sharing work stories from the day. In clumps my little guy. He had pulled on his Dad’s shorts, and jammed his feet into my powder blue slip-on shoes. How he managed to walk and not kill himself is beyond me.

One hand holding up the shorts, while shuffling awkwardly in the huge shoes, he gleefully presented himself to us.

I guess I could have reacted by being concerned for him. I could have insisted that we take those clothes off so he wouldn’t hurt himself. But instead, both my husband and I just gushed our amazement.

“What a big boy! Did you do that yourself?” We rained down the praise. Our reward was his huge smile.

“Let me grab my camera!”

Even taking this shot a few minutes later, you can still see the proud smile and firm grasp on the shorts. (And those shoes…well. It was the eighties.)

He looked pretty hilarious, but we were so proud. He’d watched us dressing him, and could mimic the movements. He saw the items we wore, and I’ll bet he thought if he wore grown-up clothes, then he’d be a grown up.

I am taught about becoming a grown-up in Christ by using the image of clothing too. In Scripture, I am instructed to put on the ‘armor of God’, and to clothe myself in ‘heartfelt mercy.’ In other words, to put on Christ.

That seems like a tall order. How can I ‘put on’ God? He is Creator, Savior and Perfect Love. I can’t carry all of that. It’s too huge for me to even fathom, much less take to my heart.

But I can’t forget that Jesus lived as a man to show me how it is possible to live a life like his. Just like we modeled dressing to our son, Jesus modeled his love for the Father, and his children. These are the clothes I need to put on.

I’ll probably struggle a bit, just like my son did with the outsized shorts and shoes. This enormous love won’t fit very well at first because I’m not perfect. But if I try really hard, I’ll hang on and be able to walk.

And Our Father in heaven doesn’t tell me this love is too big for me. Instead, like a loving Father, he rains his praise on my efforts. He smiles and calls to the angels and saints. “Look at her! She did that herself!”

So don’t worry if loving the Lord in times of trouble; or loving his children when they disappoint you, seems too hard. It will be a struggle at first, but you’ll put on that huge armor of light and hang on for dear life.

And he will announce in front of all of heaven: “Look! Oh, I’m so proud of you!”

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