I was asked once how praying to God was any different than praying to a door knob. It was suggested that one asks the door knob for something, and when it happens the door knob is gratefully thanked. If one asks the door knob for something and the request is denied, then it is decided that the door knob knows best. I was asked how praying to the door knob was any different than praying to God. It was further expounded upon that I can at least see and touch the door knob which is not true of God. My answer is pitifully inadequate. All I can say is I believe in the power of prayer. I don't know why I believe it. I get the analogy of God and the door knob. I am fairly certain (not that I want to act as if I know the mind of God) that God gets the analogy, and totally gets the person who made it. All I can say is, I believe in the power of prayer.
I have had many prayers answered. Was the outcome going to be the same whether I prayed or not? I believe not, but I cannot prove it. I have had many prayers go unanswered for a long time. I have had prayers that it seems were never addressed. People say that God answers all prayers. Sometimes he says "yes," sometimes he says "no," and sometimes he says "wait." I do not know if that is true. I believe God hears all prayers. I guess he answers them all. I do not know. It does not matter to me. I believe in the power of prayer.
We have prayer warriors at our church. I picture countless women as well as our elders, sitting at their computers praying on the spot for people on the prayer warrior list. We pray for people we know and love. We pray for people that we do not know but love. We pray for family and friends and strangers. I believe God, Himself, hears those prayers. I do. My being will not let me believe otherwise. My belief in prayer, in a lot of ways, has nothing to do with me. Does that make any sense? Probably, it does not, but I simply mean that I am not really sure why I have that belief and total faith in the power of prayer. I have been disappointed on many occasions when my prayers felt unanswered. But, I still believe in the power of prayer.
I have asked for prayers these past few days. I have asked for prayers for my brother who has had pneumonia. He has serious respiratory issues. Pneumonia is really very dangerous for him. Many people have been praying for him this week. His wife, an avid prayer warrior, herself, expressed great appreciation for prayers offered on his behalf. I deeply appreciate them myself. He is supposed to come home from the hospital today. I am sincerely grateful as I believe in the power of prayer.
I think that I do not pray for myself much, but I realize that oftentimes my prayers for others are for myself as well. When I pray for the well-being of my children and future grandchildren, I know that is a prayer for myself as well. Some would say it should not be so, but my children's health and happiness directly affect my own. I cannot be completely content or happy when my children are not. So, when I pray for them, I am praying for myself. When I pray for my husband, for his job, for his safety, for his health, those are prayers for myself as well for I believe in the power of prayer.
My sister is having a medical procedure done on Friday. I have prayed many times and continue to pray that it will go well, and that it will result in a good report. I am praying for my sister, but it is a selfish prayer as well. I want her to be well. I want her life to be healthy. It is painful for me when she suffers. Of course, my pain is insignificant, but when I pray for her, I am praying for myself because I believe in the power of prayer.
I do not want to be the person that our teaching minister sees as using God as some sort of "cosmic vending machine." Sometimes, I think I do try to use God as an almighty Santa Claus. That is not my intention, and yet, I know I am guilty of it. But, I also do not want to be a person who does not ask. I think God wants to hear from us. I know I really want to hear from my children. I just want to touch base. I believe God rejoices when we just "touch base," whether it is asking for something or just pouring our hearts out in gratitude for what we have, for I believe in the power of prayer.
I know a person who will not ask God for anything other than the strength to get through what life brings her way. Not me. I ask, at times even beg, that certain griefs and hurts of this world pass me by. There are pains I just do not want to experience, and I ask God to spare me. I ask God to spare the people I love certain pains and losses. I ask because I do not want them to experience that hurt. I admit, too, that I ask because I do not want to watch the people I love suffer. And, so I ask, and if the time comes that my prayer is either not answered or is answered with a "no," then I will ask for the strength to cope, Lord willing, with my faith intact still believing in the power of prayer.
I keep a daily photo journal. One year I decided to write a poem each day to go with the picture. The poems lasted until March. They were all terrible. I mean really pitifully terrible. This year, I decided to put a scripture with each picture as well as a brief description of the day. January 30 included the following scripture and a picture reminiscent of the one shown here:
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"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3
So, this afternoon, I wish you faith in prayer and I wish you
blessings
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