Sunday Mumblings

Just like that another weekend wraps up, in just a few hours I'll be rushing out the door banana (pre-workout snack), water bottle and my real breakfast (post workout) in hand; lunch bag, gym bag, Bible and journal bag slung over my arm. I'll toss everything on the front seat and carefully back out of the garage, doing a mental check to make sure I don't forget anything, briefly wondering what the day will bring. A deep breath will be breathed as I pull into the parking lot right on time for my gym session to start. Somedays it feels like I live a whole life before the work-day starts for me! I actually quite enjoy my morning routines. Mondays and Tuesdays specifically, I usually have a half hour in my car. It has become a sweet time for me to turn on some peaceful music, read my Bible and pray, while I eat my breakfast. It's become something I really look forward to.

Friday night, I met with my small group from my church. It was the end of the night, so we were sharing prayer requests, a totally normal thing. But this time after I shared my request, my leader said "Let's pray specifically" and my inner church girl thought "yea okay makes sense, we can pray and ask God for specific things." Upon more thought though, I realized how often in my personal prayers, I dismiss or walk around what I actually want to pray for. Whether it feels selfish to pray for or more honestly I have a nagging thought that He won't answer the way I want.

The underlying lie I tend to believe is that "God doesn't care about this little thing or He's just going to try and teach me a lesson, so that's why He's not going to answer the way I want." As this occurred to me I was reminded of many specific prayers I've prayed and seen God answer. A few BIG prayers (like a roof over my head for example--- not only once but twice!) and so many small every day ones that can be easily confused with "coincidence" --- I may be young but I've lived enough life to know there are no coincidences and God really does care about the details of our lives. He WANTS and DELIGHTS in answering our prayers; big and small.

Saturday I discovered a song called "Remember" by Bryan and Katie Torwalt. Two specific lines of the lyrics struck me as I pondered these thoughts on prayer:

1."And oh my soul, remember who you're talking to, the only one who death bows to, that's the God who walks with you."

2. "Lest we not forget the voice that's holding back the waves, was once the voice that told the skies to pour them into place. Let us join the endless song of everlasting praise."

The God who defeats death, cares for me. Not only does He care for me, but He walks with me daily. Even when I am completely blind, He is there. He is there to provide, protect, to sit with me in the joy, in the tears, trials and triumphs. He's there. The God who is holding back the waves and sustaining every tree and flower, mountain; holding every star, the sun and the moon in place, cares about me. Little ol' me, a speck in comparison to the vastness of our world. It's often a hindsight 20/20 situation, but I am so grateful when my eyes are able to see and I am reminded again of His presence in every moment. I don't have to do anything special, He's already there. He delights in answering my prayers big and small. It may not look the way I expect, but that's a deeper conversation for another day. Today I rejoice in the truth that He does hear my prayers and answer them!

He cares about you too my friend. Maybe you have a hard time believing that, and that's okay. I believe it for you. My prayer for us this week is that He would show Himself to us through answered prayers and the difficult situations. I pray for His peace to wash over us and for child-like faith to the next right step, in whatever circumstances we are walking in.

Sending grace and love to you my friends, until we meet here again!

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you." Psalm 33:20-22