Starting Out Thankful

I told you a couple of days ago that I'm taking this "thankful challenge" throughout the month of November. I won't make it the focus of the post every day, but today I will. Just as a starting point.

Three years ago, during my desert, I survived on McChickens, lime chips, frappes and prayer.

Not kidding.

Wouldn't recommend the diet - though it's the only time I ever lost weight quickly! - but the prayer...the prayer....it created the most pivotal, life change INSIDE to match what was happening OUTSIDE.

I spent hours in prayer, and I know that went a long way in changing me, but I also had great friends who bathed me in prayer. All of them deserve kudos for walking so faithfully by my side in a season I'm sure they felt would never end.

But one in particular always stands out to me.

His name is Jason, and we met in college. Through the magic of Facebook, we'd reconnected, and he gathered from things I said in status updates that I was struggling. One day he sent me a private message, simply telling me he was praying for me.

And nearly every day after - for several weeks - I would open Facebook and find a message from him. Sometimes he sent song lyrics. Sometimes a verse. Sometimes words of encouragement. But he always reminded me he was praying for me. Most days I didn't have the strength to even hit reply, but it didn't stop him from writing again the next day so I would know he was praying.

He never knew what was wrong. Many weeks passed before I divulged the real issue at hand. But he was faithful to pray, and faithful to TELL me he was praying.

To this day, I know I got through that season because of the prayers of many people - but among them, the prayers of a friend named Jason.

He was my prayer warrior for that season. He was an instrument used by God to sustain me in brokenness on my journey to wholeness.

 So today I'm thankful for Jason...who carried me in prayer during the darkest days I've ever lived. Because of his faithfulness and God's work through him, my heart was kept safe and was able to heal to be ready for this life today!

Thankfulness, Day 1: Who has been a prayer warrior in your life? Maybe for a small season, maybe for a specific event...maybe from the moment your life began until now. How can you thank him or her today? You are here today and who you are today because of the prayers offered up. Reach back in thanks!!