This past Sunday Dr. Kratzer gave a great sermon on the power of prayer. I loved the title to his sermon, “When all else fails, read the directions.” So true. I am guilty of that for sure on so many levels. Directions? Who needs them? I dive head first into trying to put together my project and only after I am super frustrated do I turn to the directions to see where I went wrong. Now sure, there are a few times I sneak through without having to read them and have success, but that is a rare occasion.
The same is true in the bigger picture of our lives. We can plow through our triumphs and trials on our own, but the majority of the time we need help. And unfortunately, in more cases than not, we only turn to God and His word once we are trying to right our wrongs. How much easier would it be to just read the directions from the beginning and not have to backtrack? Loads. My prayer life is very new, but I am a firm believer in its power. Knowing that I can unload my burdens is an incredible gift, as is the power of His written word. One of my resolutions this year is to read the Bible and begin to digest all that is there for us to learn from.
One line of Dr. Kratzer’s sermon really hit home for me, “If God isn’t answering your prayer in your timetable, look up. God is at work.” And I know this to be true. I have prayed day and night for a healthy baby and while I have been blessed with two pregnancies, I have also suffered the loss of them. But I have faith that when it is time in God’s eyes, we will have our little bundle. There is no amount of planning or charting that I can do if it is not in His plan for us right now.
So I leave you with a quote from General Booth. I hope that if your light is out or flickering in the wind that you light it with prayer.
“The tendency of fire is to go out, so watch very
closely the fire on the altar of your heart.”
Monday, January 3rd, 2011, 1:29 pm | 
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January 4, 2011 at 11:09 am
Soo so true! I love you Michelle and pray for you every day!!
January 6, 2011 at 9:40 am
Michelle,
I am so inspired by you. I am so thrilled about your journey with our Lord. Oh it is so tempting to begin to feel sorry for ourselves, and want to hold onto our burdens and dwell – but when Christ takes them away – they become something that made us stronger, and more trusting in Him who knows how every detail of our story will work out. I am praying for you, and for your future “bundle” that will be such a gift!
January 7, 2011 at 12:54 am
Thank you both so very much! Hugs to you!!