PRAYER An Answered Prayer! Fourteen years ago my parents had me, and three years later, they had my brother. My mother had trouble carrying us to full term, and we were in the hospital in serious condition for a while. They also had another son, who was born early and didn’t live. Since they couldn’t have any more children, and my mom was adopted, they begin to think about adopting. So one day after 7 years of prayer, they received a call from the adoption agency saying “come pick up the baby tomorrow”. We went and picked her up on June 21, ’95. After we brought her home, never did a baby get so much attention. We had a great time playing with her. One day when “Hannah” was a few months old, Mom was going through some curriculum, and she found my Bible prayer list. She said, “Do you want this anymore?” I said, “I don’t know. Let me look at it.” As I looked, I saw the entree, “Lord, we want a baby.” It was dated June 21, ’94, exactly a year before Hannah came to us. -Jessica Muse Troy, TN A Prayer For Grace Lord, You are definitely speaking to me this morning about my froward tongue. “Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”( -Proverbs 4:24) The dictionary definition of froward is: ‘not easily controlled; stubbornly willful; contrary; refractory.’ Lord, this verse is hitting me hard this morning! Thank-you! Please bring holiness in my life, and deliver me from this my horrible sin - an uncontrolled tongue. I am so easily upset about every little thing and often take matters into my own hands instead of patiently and quietly waiting upon You to work things out. My mouth flies open too quickly! You have gently rebuked me this morning in allowing another to see this my horrible sin and to rebuke me for it. I feel that I have made progress by your grace, O Lord, but there is not enough progress. Please live through me! Oh Lord, please give me victory that I might be a shining light of the power and grace of God! It seems that it would be easier to live a godly life and to stay in communion with You if I were living alone, but You call me to live here in the midst of noise and bustle and precious little children. Help me to live a “quiet life” and have a “quiet heart” even in the midst of all of this - even in the midst of constant interruptions. It’s hard to “walk within my house with a perfect heart” ( Ps 101:2 c) It’s the hardest place to walk! But this is what You have called me to. Give me grace, Oh lord, to live above my circumstances in Ps. 91:1 in ‘the secret place of the most High’ and ‘under the shadow of the Almighty.’ In Jesus name, Amen.” “... in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength...” -Is. 30:15 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” -Is. 32:17 - A Sister in Christ Unhindered Prayer I’d like to just share with you how God came to show me the importance of prayer. Even though I did become a Christian about two years ago, for the past year and a half my spiritual life has been all ups and downs. I mean, I would go for a few weeks in absolute spiritual joy.. my heart would sing and I would want desperately to do what would please God. I would find it surprisingly easy to do it. Then suddenly I would lose interest. My “fire” would be totally burned out. I would feel almost as if I didn’t care whether I did right or not. These were hard times! Even if I wasn’t interested in listening, God would be speaking continually to my conscience. And any time one tries to block God out, it spells misery! Soon I began to see a pattern to the way my life was going. A very large reason for the frequent “downs” in my life was that I was cutting off communication with God through prayer! I would spend so much enjoyable time with Him in prayer until one night I would be extra tired, or whatever other subtle device Satan could work up, and I would either mumble a short prayer, or climb in bed promising a long one the next night! From there my spiritual enthusiasm would drown, until the next time God would show Himself to me, and then I would go back up!.. And I lived that same vicious cycle so many times! Then just recently, as I said, I realized that it was the severe lack of prayer, that precious way of communicating with God, that was causing this bumpy roller-coaster ride! And I began right that time by asking God to help me recognize when it is Satan that is hindering my prayers, and to help me fight him! And I have had so many quiet talks with God since then! I have learned not to allow myself to drift along, but to pull myself back up when I feel myself being pulled down. Even though it has been hard through this, I have to say that I am honestly glad that it happened. I learned from this experience the true importance and blessedness of prayer! How lovely it is to have unhindered communion with the Most High Saviour! He Who has done so much for me and my family, I am able to speak to, and know that He hears me. This assurance alone is worth enough that I would be happy to suffer. Though I still have a LOT to learn about suffering, I just wanted to tell you all how special unhindered prayer is to me since I had to fight to get it! I can testify that it is definitely worth fighting for! - Amanda Davis Grand Prairie, TX A Prayer For A Sister W hen I was 11 years old, (2 years ago) I was praying for a sister. Elisha was my twin sister, but she was only 1 minute younger than me. I wanted a little sister that I could braid her hair, have tea parties with, read to, be a good example to, and everything you do with little sisters. I had 3 little brothers, but they just weren’t the same. When I was 8, our close family friend had cancer. At first we were asked to take care of her three girls, and they were to be my sisters if their mother were to die. We prayed that she would not die, but when she did die, it worked out that Jessica, Helen, and Katie went to live with family. Jessica went to live with her aunt and uncle, and Helen and Katie went to live with their Grandparents. So again I was praying for a sister. I tried to keep in touch with Jessica. She came and spent a week a year with us, and we wrote letters. Helen and Katie still stayed with us on most weekends and some during summer break. I prayed every night and asked God for a little sister. As time went on, Helen and Katie weren’t coming as much because school had started back. On October 10, 1995, Mom was about to have a baby. I looked at Dad and said, “Do you think it will be a girl?” Dad looked at me and said, “You’ve been praying for one for a year now. I am sure it will be a girl”. In about 30 min. I was a big sister of a precious little baby girl. Praise God! My prayer had been answered, and I had a little sister. I was very happy and even happier when in March of ’96 the Lord sent Jessica to live with us. Jessica was very happy also. And when in a few months later, Helen and Katie joined the family, how could I ever ask for more. Now we have 6 girls in the matter of a year. Praise the Lord, I have 5 wonderful sisters that I love very much, and I would never ever want to give up any of them. I thank God for all of them, because he gave me 4 little sisters. Jessica is 12, although she is not such a little sister, as I am shorter than her. I love my sisters. - Anna Brown Murfreesboro, Tennessee, TN Prayer of Thanksgiving Heavenly Father, Thank you for your love for us, For Your created world, For Your begotten Son. Thank you for the man of my youth, Who has clung to his wife And the two became one. Thank you for our blessings of Children, hearth and home, That will always be there. Most of all, thank you for the gifts Of love, Faith and hope, That we will always share. In Jesus’ name, Amen. - submitted by an older sister in Christ God Knows Best! W hen I read last month’s request for answers to prayer, I immediately thought back to an experience I had this past year. The summer of ’96 I went on a four week mission trip to Central America with three other girls my age. At age 18, I was excited about spending a month with a real missionary family. I had heard missionaries home on furlough tell how God had protected them or performed some miracle for them, but I never expected to be involved in a little one myself. I was designated as leader of my group, even though I had only flown once before. I was very nervous because I knew very little about flying. Since we would be visiting a medical clinic during our visit, the mission board asked that we take with us four suitcases of donated medicines. Unfortunately, they were not able to assure we wouldn’t have trouble getting them into the country. We were each given a certified letter to accompany the four suitcases that were to arrive a few days prior to our departure, explaining the source and purpose of the supplies. Several days before our departure, all but one of the suitcases arrived by UPS. My first reaction to the missing suitcase was worry, because we were supposed to get them there safely. Them I remembered that actually these were God’s medicines, and HE was responsible to get them there. They were not in our control. During numerous prayer times prior to our departure, I reminded our group to keep praying for the safe arrival of the fourth suitcase, but also to remember Who’s in control. We also started praying that our entry into the country would go smoothly. The day of our departure arrived and still the fourth suitcase had not arrived. I still couldn’t understand why God hadn’t answered and brought this suitcase in time. Surely the people in El Salvador needed the medicine, didn’t they? Again I had to commit this into the Lord’s hands, and trust that He knew best. Our six hour flight went smoothly, and during the last hour, I reminded our group to pray, especially for me. I knew little Spanish, though more than my three companions. We all prayed earnestly for God to protect the three suitcases of medicines especially. After having some trouble getting our passports examined and them not accepting some of our American money, we breathed a prayer of thanks and made our way to the luggage claim. Again we were offering prayers of thanks in our minds that all 7 suitcases had arrived safely (four were our own). Before stepping in line to go through customs, we huddled around our huge pile of luggage in this busy airport, for one last group prayer. We thanked God for the many prayer warriors we had back home and asked God to prompt them to pray for us at that moment. We then stepped into line to go through customs. I was the first one in our group with two suitcases (my own, and one filled with medicines), followed by 2 other girls with medicines suitcases. And last, was a girl with only her suitcase. From the line we could see natives standing outside waiting to greet family and friends. “Freedom” was only a couple steps away. “How soon would we be there?”, we were all asking ourselves. "Would we be put through tough questioning about why we were taking all this medicine? Would they make us leave the medicine there? Would they understand English or would I have to try to use my limited Spanish? Would they keep us there for hours?" We would soon find out. My heart was pounding, and my hand shook as I held my papers. My anxiety was mounting. One of the girls looked at me and asked me if I was nervous. I shrugged as if to say “not much”. She then pointed to my shaking hand with a smile. I looked down and realized it was shaking as I smiled and nodded, “Yes, I’m nervous.” She put her arm around me and squeezed my shoulders. “You’re doing a good job!” I tried to smile confidently. Suddenly I was the next one in line. My heart beating even harder and praying a continual prayer in my mind (Pray without ceasing! =) ) , I handed the man the necessary papers, remembering not to show them the explanation papers from the mission board unless they made a big deal about it. He looked down at them and said “Pase”, and waved me through. I couldn’t remember what that word meant, so I walked through and put my suitcases upon the counter as I had seen others ahead of me do. Looking back, I waited for him to come look through them, but he just stood there and shook his head and kept saying “Pase, Pase!” and waving me on. Confused, I took my suitcases off the counter and walked on, not understanding why he wasn’t going to check them, but yet relieved. At the end of the counter I put down my luggage to wait for the rest of my group. Astonished, I stood there and watched as the next two girls were waved on also. But then we watched in amazement as the fourth girl was motioned to put her single suitcase and carry-on on the counter. The three of us stood and watched in awe as he quickly rooted through her luggage and muttered in English, “There’s nothing in here.” We were all stunned as we walked quickly out the doors to face the tremendous heat and crowd of natives. Fortunately we didn’t have to look far for a conservatively dressed woman who was to meet us. She must have been shocked by the huge hugs she received from us, because we hugged her like she was our long lost mother!J We were so glad to see her! We didn’t have time to say much because she hurried off to bring up the car for our luggage. While she was gone, we all turned, and putting our arms around each other, we formed a circle around our pile of luggage. With tears rolling down my cheeks, I suggested we thank God for the wonderful answer to prayer! We had a special time of prayer and thanksgiving in the hot afternoon sun of the San Salvador airport. As I cried tears of joy, it was a way of letting out all my anxiety I had built up the past few hours. They were tears of relief that God does care about us! After we calmed down enough to talk, we figured out that the native officials were checking every fourth person in line. Now I knew why God didn’t answer our prayer for the fourth suitcase to arrive! That thought was confirmed as the missionary lady pulled up in a terribly small car that we were barely able to fit all our luggage in. Truly God knows best! Never demand anything of Him. He sees the whole picture. We only see through the “keyhole.” You may think God may never do anything great in your life like you hear about in missionary stories. But He can! Never doubt the power of God! He can work in little ways as in big ways. My faith in God has increased since this experience. Hope yours does too! A sister in Christ, Rhonda Hackman Mt. Pleasant, IA P.S. I later remembered “Pase” means “pass” in English. =) What Would I Be Like If..? As I glance around at your wonderful creation, Lord, I can't help but praise you!... and yet, I also can't help but imagine how much more beautiful this earth would be, if sin had not entered the world. Oh God, how filthy and vile we all are! How wretched! Oh, if it were not for Your grace, I would be a New Age cannibal, or some such thing... Oh God, if it were not for Your grace to me, I would be doomed to hell! God, I have nothing to give you; nothing!...except my filthy, vile heart. It's black, Lord; as black as ink! I cannot change the color, Lord. I'm absolutely helpless! Do you not say, even in Your Word, that all of our righteousness are as filthy rags? Even my good works, Lord, are black compared to Your true righteousness. Oh, that we would all realize how black and sinful we really are! Only You can change the color of my heart! Only You can wash it with Your precious blood to make it white as snow! Only You can enable me to do good. Do You not say in Your Word that it is You who work in us both to will, and to do of Your good pleasure? It is You who works in me the will to love and obey You, and it is You who helps me to actually do it! Oh God, I fail so often! I, like the Psalmist, David, have to say, "My sin is ever before me." Oh, how often I lose patience with my brothers and sisters! How often I grudgingly obey my parents! How often I am unsubmissive and ungrateful! Oh God, my heart weeps to think of it. Oh Lord, so many times I will be standing there, working, while my head is full of so many good thoughts. -A deep longing to be submissive. - A yearning to be patient and loving to my siblings... when, all of a sudden, something happens... and I immediately lose it. - Impatient or unsubmissive words escape my lips. Then, oh, how ashamed I feel! Oh God, can I ever be good? I know that there is nothing within me that I can, but oh Lord, You...! You only can cause me to be good! And You will, won't You? You will help me? To think of my sin - it is depressing; but, I have hope... because of You. Oh Lord, what would I do without You? What sort of a life would I have? What hope would I have? Oh, how I mourn for those who have not truly surrendered their hearts and lives to You. What hope have they? Their lives on this earth are empty. They do not know what their purpose in life on earth is, except to eat, drink and be merry. They are without hope, because they are without You, Lord! Oh, that You would turn their hearts, and open their eyes so that they may know the truth! Oh, that You would uncover their blinded eyes! Oh, that You would save them from a wretched, miserable, Godless life and death! Oh Lord, show Your mercy to us! Please save the unsaved, and purify Your most unworthy children, one of those being ..... me. Jesus' merciful love, Amen. - By an Unworthy Sister In Christ "I Give Myself to Prayer" ”But I give myself to prayer.” -Psalm 109:4 Lying Tongues were busy against the reputation of David, but he did not defend himself; he moved the case into a higher court, and pleaded before the great King Himself. Prayer is the safest method of replying to words of hatred. The Psalmist prayed in no cold-hearted manner, he gave himself to the exercise - threw his whole soul and heart into it - straining every sinew and muscle, as Jacob did when wrestling with the angel. Thus, and thru only, shall any of us speed at the throne of grace. As a shadow has no power because there is no substance in it, even so that supplication, in which a man’s proper self is not thoroughly present in agonizing earnestness and vehement desire, is utterly ineffectual, for it lacks that which would dive it force. “Fervent prayer,” says an old divine, “like a cannon planted at the gates of heaven, makes them fly open.” The common fault with the most of us is our readiness to yield to distractions. Our thoughts go roving here and there, and we make little progress towards our desired end. Like quicksilver our mind will not hold together, but rolls off this way and that. How great an evil this is! It injures us, and what is worse, it insults our God. What should we think of a petitioner, if, while having an audience with a prince, he should be playing with a feather or catching a fly? Continuance and perseverance are intended in the expression of our text. David did not cry once, and then relapse into silence; his holy clamor was continued till it brought; down the blessing. Prayer must not be our chance work, but our daily business, our habit and vocation. As artists give themselves to their models, and poets to their classical pursuits, so must we addict ourselves to prayer. We must be immersed in prayer as in our element, and so pray without ceasing. Lord, teach us so to pray that we may be more and more prevalent in supplication. - Charles H. Spurgeon (Written in the 1800’s) YWSH Main Page