Amazingly God doesn’t need to hear from us—He wants to. Privileged to pour out our hearts, we receive His comfort in exchange. Prayer intimately and powerfully connects us to God in every place.
“Devoted to Prayer: In Secret Places”
“But you when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” Matthew 6:6, NASB
Preparing for my son’s high school graduation required colossal effort. Steadily busy two weeks out, I transitioned into an intense pace the week prior. My biggest challenge involved scanning photos into the computer, sorting them by year, and preparing two slideshow presentations. Though I genuinely desired to create these digital albums—especially for my son’s sake—the fun evaporated after countless hours at my desk. Glitches in formatting certainly didn’t help either. I also had food to purchase, desserts to bake, cakes to decorate, company to clean and cook for, etc. Truly at times I didn’t know how I would accomplish everything.
But I survived! The Lord incredibly carried me. Lovingly, comfortingly, powerfully, He met with me daily in my prayer closet. Time with Him in that special place absolutely made ALL THE DIFFERENCE. Normally I would have fretted about every detail, to the point that inner turmoil would have spilled into family relationships. You know how it is: sometimes we diligently labor for such ideal future results that the present is less than pleasant. Though I didn’t behave perfectly, the Lord undoubtedly provided peace within. As I began each day in prayer and active trust, He led me by His Spirit—even regarding average responsibilities. He cradled me in His arms and supplied all my needs. He encouraged my with His Word. He evidenced Himself in the form of loved ones who graciously helped. Recognizing my stress on graduation night, I prayed again. The Lord gently answered, “I am with you.” Yes, He most assuredly was.
All can access God’s throne of grace through Jesus Christ. When we experience extreme demands or everyday life rigors, let’s take them to Him. Unquestionably He makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE! “His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power … those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength” (Is. 40: 28-29, 31). Oh, SO true! God accomplished this for me … surely He will do the same for you.
Loving Father, thank You for the privilege of prayer. Draw me often to Your “throne of grace … that I may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). In Jesus’ powerful name, Amen.
Drawing Near,
Emily
Image courtesy of Flood G. www.flickr.com/photos/_flood_/3206459897/
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