One Prayer Update

 

At the end of June, I told you that I'd read about Beth Moore's challenge to devote the month of July to prayer and how I felt personally prompted to pray over one specific thing for the month of July.

I had no idea how my prayer might change as the month went along - or how my prayer might change me as the month went along. But I put it as an actual appointment in my day planner and have been showing up for it for the past 22 (now 23) days. 

I'm not quitting, by the way. I'm just giving an update. 

I have observed that when people take on a specific project like this, they have dreams of a grand and obvious change. I honestly had no preconceived thoughts going into it - which is new for me. I used to like to "help" God figure out how a project should proceed, but this time I was determined to just show up for my part and wait to see what God would do for His part. 

It's a good thing I didn't have my heart set on a grand moment, because so far, at least, there hasn't been one. It's been a sweet appointment each day, though. And when I say it's been a sweet appointment, I don't want to misrepresent myself. I haven't come into each day eager to pray what I knew I should pray about. And on the days when I really really didn't want to pray about it, I didn't hide that. I confessed it and prayed anyway. 

I haven't had a front row (or even back row) seat to what my prayers are doing in the lives of those I'm praying for throughout this month. I am trusting that God is using those prayers for good in their lives, but I am also aware I may never know how He is working.

But I'm still praying.

There was one moment, though, a few days ago, that gave me a glimmer of hope that perhaps God is working in bigger ways than I can see. It was sort of a second/third-hand story about one of the people I'm praying for - and it surprised me. I didn't expect to hear the good news I heard, and it gave me hope that perhaps things are stirring and changing for good. 

That news gave me the strength to push through for more days of prayer with a renewed confidence that just because I can't see or don't know what is happening doesn't mean something ISN'T happening! 

And so I will continue to pray. I will continue to hope (which, I've learned, means confident expectation not crossed fingers) that God will use the words I offer, even when they feel meager. 

Whether or not you took on a prayer challenge in July, I urge you to pray hard and confidently over the things God presses upon your heart. He is always at work, even if you don't know how or when!