Prayer

My husband, Chris, and I are currently attending a book study at our church.  We are studying The Power of a Praying Church; the book looks at the importance of prayer and the impact of prayer on one's life.  Prayer has always been a major component in my life, and I have been lifted up in prayer by others countless times. I can safely say that prayer is one of the reasons why I am alive and well today. But this book has made me reflect on how my prayers have changed throughout my life. 

When I was young, I remember praying for the ability to walk. It was not that I was unhappy with my life, but I think I wanted to run and play like my friends. Of course, I had my first set of electric wheels at 6, and these wheels gave me mobility and freedom. But it was still not the same as two working legs; I could not jump rope with wheels; I could not climb stairs with wheels; I could not play hopscotch with wheels.  However, my school friends adored my wheels and loved getting rides on the back of my wheelchair. I will admit that I really don't know when I stopped praying for a fully functional body. Did I give up on God answering that prayer, or did God answer my prayer by giving me the grace to accept my disability? I truly believe God changed my mindset to focus on my strengths rather than my weaknesses. With this new mindset, I faced a life filled with many setbacks, weaknesses and disappointments, but with God and prayer, I am not defeated. 

Prayer for my health was always a memorable part of my life when I was growing up; my health was very unstable and fragile. It was very rare that I would go a year without going to the hospital for an extended period of time. Going to the hospital became so routine that the janitorial staff at the hospital began calling me by name when I was admitted. Pneumonia, sinus infections, and bronchitis were my nemesis; I remember pleading with God to heal my body of illness. My simple prayer was "I don't want to die. I want to do things." Time after time God would answer my prayer along with the prayers of many others on my behalf. I still pray for my health today, even though God has blessed me with more stable health the last few years.  However, I know that I don't ever want to take my health for granted because it is truly a gift from God. 

Prayer for restoration of my voice has been a focus for me the last couple years. Mom asked me the other day if I was still praying for my voice. I have stopped asking for restoration because I feel God is using my lack of voice for His purpose. I don't know what that purpose is, but I trust that it is greater than if I had a voice. I will admit that ceasing to pray for full restoration was very difficult; I greatly miss being able to freely and easily converse with others. However, I once again feel God saying to focus on what I have rather than what has been taken from me. Some days it is hard to do that, but most days God gives me the grace, mercy and strength needed to count my blessings. 

Praying for others has always been important to me as well. I remember the first visible answer to one of my prayers when I was young. Each night I would pray for this certain individual who was struggling with alcoholism; I remember specifically saying his name every night to God in hopes that God would restore this individual. It took a couple years before one night Mom reported that God had answered my prayer and the individual was free from alcohol. I was so excited!! It was then that the idea of God answering my prayers really impacted me. (I believe this answer was before my health started going south.)

I once read the following question: what if God only blessed you today with the things that you thanked Him for yesterday? What blessings would you have today? This question definitely shifted the focus in my prayer life; I spent more time in the thanksgiving area of my prayer. To be honest, most mornings I would be waking up naked in a cold house with a cold shower; no, I would probably not even have a house or clean water for a shower, but God blesses me beyond what I can even ask or imagine. I am truly thankful that God supplies not only my needs but also many of my wants. Because of God and prayer, I live a life full of joy and contentment. 

I still fall short in my prayer life.  I know there are times when I am saying the words but don't truly believe God will answer, even after all the answers I have seen in my life.  Oftentimes, I think doubt overshadows and limits God's power; doubt is something that I allow to creep into my life and rule it. The Bible clearly states that NOTHING is impossible for God, so why do I doubt? The simple answer is sin and Satan. Sin and Satan shift my focus from my limitless God to my limited life, and that focus only leads to despair and discontent. God doesn't want me to live a life burdened with pain and limitations; He wants to give me the fullest life that He has planned. 

Prayer is powerful.  I realize that this statement is cliche, but I can't think of any better way to say it. Prayer is the direct conversation to the one and only living God--the God who created me, sustains my life and never leaves me. God and prayer is the power for my broken body!!