Answered Prayer

COMMENTS

Do you ever look back at a situation and, suddenly, realize that it was an answer to one of your prayers?  That happened to me this morning as I thought about something that happened yesterday.

NOTES

I messed up.  That email I got was simply laugh-out-loud hilarious.  So I laughed out loud and proceeded to forward it to a few close friends.  It was a little “off color”, so I included a comment that the receiver should let me know if it was offensive so that I wouldn’t send any future off-color missives their way.  The need to include such a comment should have been a wake-up call.

That happened night before last.  As I lay in bed, little pricks of conscience nagged me; but they were easy enough to ignore.  I suppose the Spirit was working on me as I slept because by mid-morning yesterday my conscience was in full-blown revolt.  I couldn’t think about anything else.  So, I surrendered.  I asked God to forgive me and determined to send an apologetic email to my victims as soon as I got home.

At that moment, peace came.  I sent the apology as promised and went about the business of the day.

Now, let me back up a step.  Recently, I have been bothered that the list of sins that I confess in my prayers has been so short.  I know that I’m far from perfect and that I’m sinning more than in those few areas.  So, I started confessing those “unknown” sins and asking the Lord to reveal them to me.  As I prayed this morning, God showed me that what happened yesterday was an answer to that prayer.  My conscience (the Holy Spirit at work!) bothered me so much because God was doing exactly what I asked—He was showing me my sin.

Three Bible verses came into play as God and I walked through this experience:

1. When I confessed to Him yesterday morning, God immediately brought Romans 8:28 to my mind.  That verse states that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”.  So I prayed that He would use my sin for good.
2. I subscribe to a service that emails me a “Verse of the Day”.  This morning’s verses were Matthew 5:14-16.  The very first line I read was, “You are the light of the world.”  I’ve got to be honest:  that scared me to death!  A light is supposed to be pure and good.  That doesn’t describe me at all!  But I do WANT to be light….
3. Then, God, ever my comforter and encourager, reminded me of Philippians 3:12-14.  I close with that uplifting and reassuring thought from the Apostle Paul:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Death and Life

COMMENTS

The last six weeks have been very busy, but the Lord has also blessed me with moments of rest—which I badly needed!  For those of you who read my last blog, here’s a quick update.  My son’s wedding was beautiful and disaster-free ;-).  They’re a happy little family now, and we are very blessed.  My grandson came home from the hospital on the day of the wedding.  He was still in pain and too weak to attend the wedding, which saddened us all; but we were able to rejoice in the fact that he was home.  His recovery has been very slow, but he no longer has to have the IV antibiotics three times a day—a pill is so much easier to take!  Last week, his summer finally began; and CJ was thrilled to FINALLY be able to spend his days at the pool ;-).  God has blessed us beyond measure!

NOTES

Yesterday was a difficult day for two of my good friends.  Each experienced the death of a family member.  As I thought about each situation, I was struck by the contrasts.  One was an elderly lady, whose children are grown and on their own.  One was a young man with three kids still at home.  One experienced death after a lingering illness, near death numerous times only to rally again and again.  One was an accident, apparently in good health then suddenly seriously injured, lingering only hours before leaving this world.

There were, however, many similarities, too.  Both had their families around them as they died.  Both were strong believers.  As I thought about that last point, I was overjoyed that it was a similarity and not a contrast!

The greatest similarity, of course, is that they are both gone.  They have left their mortal bodies behind and, praise God, they are both rejoicing with their Perfect Savior in His Perfect Heaven!  Even as their families and friends grieve, God offers a source of joy and hope.  For their loved ones who have passed, there is no more pain, suffering, trouble, or sadness.  Now, they experience only joy and peace and love!  I venture to say that they wouldn’t return, even if they could.

I lost my own mother last year, and I can truthfully say that knowing the joy she is experiencing has protected me from the despair that I have witnessed in others; and it has sustained me with joy, peace, and, yes, relief that she no longer suffers. I pray the comfort and peace I experienced will fill the hearts, minds, and souls of these grieving families.

Our God is an ever-present God.  Even in the midst of difficulty, He is there, offering peace, comfort, and HOPE.  His Word is ever true:

“Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about those Christians who have died so you will not be sad, as others who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and that He rose again.  So, because of Him, God will raise with Jesus those who have died.”  (1Thessalonians 4:13-14, New Century Version)

Just before my mother passed, the Lord brought to my mind the song Bless the Lord by Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman.  I’ll leave you with the final verse:

And on that day when my strength is failing,

                               The end draws near and my time has come,

                               Still my soul will sing your praise unending

                               Ten thousand years and then forevermore.

                               Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul,

                               Worship his holy name.

                               Sing like never before, O my soul.

                               I’ll worship your holy name.

They’re singing!