Laced With Grace

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” ~ Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

May I ask you a question this morning? How often have you prayed over an issue in your life, but gave up? Gave up because you felt that no matter how long, how hard you prayed, you didn’t seem to get an answer? That your prayer hit the sealing, bouncing right back at you?

Let me tell you…DON’T give up. Storm the throne room with your prayers. Continue to pray for the salvation of a loved one; a friend who needs a job; healing over a child/friend/mother/father/spouse. God hears you. I just need to tell you that He will answer in HIS time, not ours.

Several weeks ago my morning prayer time was different. My heart was heavy with some issues, so I prayed before my first cup of coffee. What happened next was the first for me…I know that many have had this happened before (maybe even you); I felt a presence in the room — twice it moved right before me. Sure I have felt peace before, but never ever a real presence. I was a little startled about it to say the least. I even emailed a friend afterward asking ‘if I never prayed ‘right‘ before…

Why am I sharing this with you? Because I believe that the presence was real, encouraging me to not stop praying over certain issues (which I had in the past). You see, just recently one of my two-year-old prayer was answered. I also started my prayer journal (once again). I want to make sure that I will not forget a prayer, even if I have to pray it over the next 10 or 20 years…

“Lord of Heaven and Earth. Thank You for Your encouragement not to give up on prayer. Help me to never give up because I feel that my prayer does not work. You have shown me that morning that You hear every single prayer and that You will answer it in YOUR time. I am trusting in Your mercy. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen”

Today’s devotion is a guest devotion by Laurie Ann Pearce. You can visit Laurie Ann at her personal blog “A Magnolia’s Heart Beats”

Traveling long God’s straight path…there’s a wonderful vision of hope. Do you envision God’s path like I do? I’d like to see it as a straight shot, clean and shiny, no clutter, no pot holes, no speed bumps, no S curves. The fact is that my path is not always like that, and I suspect yours may not be either. The path we travel in life has construction zones everywhere. Obstacles are on that road, slowing us down as we try to press on.

The Path of Wisdom

Using the wisdom God gives us will keep us on a straight path. The Hebrew word for wisdom here is chokmah. It means:

1) wisdom
a) skill (in war)
b) wisdom (in administration)
c) shrewdness, wisdom
d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)
e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

God has given us wisdom in every aspect of life we face. Sometimes we lose sight of it or don’t even realize it’s there. During those times we are told to ask for wisdom.

He Guides Us

Putting our hope in God will make the path more manageable and easier to travel. Warning signs of obstacles ahead will become more visible the more we follow His guidance.

The Hebrew word for guide is darak. This verb means:

1) to tread, bend, lead, march
a) (Qal)
1) to tread, march, march forth
2) to tread on, tread upon
3) to tread (a press)
4) to tread (bend) a bow
5) archer, bow-benders (participle)
b) (Hiphil)
1) to tread, tread down
2) to tread (bend with the foot) a bow
3) to cause to go, lead, march, tread

Because He guides us with wisdom, we can see the speed bumps before we hit them, and with God’s leading, more often than not, what we perceive to be hairpin curves straighten out in front of us. In fact, the word guide implies that He bends them down before us.

The Straight Path

The Hebrew word for straight is yosher. It means:
1) straightness, uprightness
a) straightness, evenness (moral implications)
b) rightness, uprightness
c) what is right, what is due

The Hebrew word for path is ma`gal. It means:

1) entrenchment, track
a) circumvallation, entrenchment
b) track

This straight track He leads us on is one of high calling. We must choose to stay on this path, never straying, though temptations may come. Often our paths are entrenchments, and I love to perceive the walls of the trench as protective. An entrenchment offers protection from enemy fire, after all. And circumvallation means (a) The act of surrounding with a wall or rampart. (b) A line of field works made around a besieged place and the besieging army, to protect the camp of the besiegers against the attack of an enemy from without. (source: http://www.dictionary.com/)

God promises to honor us and give us wisdom to make our paths straight. What are some ways we can honor Him in staying on the path He has set before us?

Making Prayer a Priority

Try to let it be the first thing you do in the morning and as often in the day as you can. I’m not talking about spending four hours in prayer with God the minute your feet hit the floor each morning or scheduling prayers for certain times, although if you feel so called you should do that. I think it’s important to breathe a prayer and a promise to God frequently throughout the day, letting him know your hope is in Him and to keep you mindful of what He wants you to accomplish.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” ~ Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Spend Time in His Word

As soon as you can, get in some time with His Word. It’s refreshing, it’s recharging and it will give you the fuel and light you need to travel the path He has for you.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” ~ Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Change Your View

View obstacles in your path as opportunities. Don’t let them throw you track. Remember to ask God for guidance. He’ll let you know how to tackle it. Assess the opportunity, then use the wisdom God has given you to follow His prompting.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” ~ Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

Praise Him

Praise Him. Thank Him. Honor Him throughout the day and at the end of the day for leading you down the path you traveled today. Thank Him for being your hope and for promising to honor you for staying hopeful in Him. Praise Him for the things you saw and the lives you touched along the path you walked.

“O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.” ~ Psalm 25:1 (NIV)

Wrapping It Up

Questions for Reflection: Do you ever find yourself rushing ahead of God’s guidance and find the path not so straight? What is one thing you do to get back on the straight path of wisdom?

Verse of the Day: “I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.” ~ Proverbs 4:11 (NIV)

Prayer: Father, as we travel along the path You have set before us, may we continuously seek Your wisdom. May we use the wisdom You have given us in the thoughts we think, the words we say and write, and the thing that we do. Thank You for the protection Your path affords us. Open our eyes to see the way You have set before us. Help us to remember to view the obstacles in our paths as opportunities to honor and glorify You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

P – Pray daily to stay on the path God has prepared before you. “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.” ~ Psalm 17:6 (NIV)

A – Abide close to Christ, who will never lead you astray. “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ~ John 10:4-5 (NIV)

T – Take others onto the path with you. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ~ Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

H – Hide God’s Word in your heart daily so that you do not stray from His path. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” ~ Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

As we pray together as a family, I recently noticed our son saying the same or a similar prayer every time. I reminded him that we pray to talk to God and need to speak from our hearts. In the past he had done some amazing prayers that really surprised us to hear coming from someone so young. Back in March as we gathered as a family for a meal after Mammaw’s funeral, we were all touched at his beautiful prayer that seemed to hold such wisdom beyond his years and comfort for us all. Lately though it seemed he was just rushing through to say a few words and be done.

As a parent, I often wonder if we are doing enough or the right things to train up our son to know the Lord. I recently prayed that God would show me that our son is paying attention and hearing the lessons we are teaching and trying to live before him. Sometime after I prayed this we were praying together, and I again mentioned to our son to be sure to “pray from your heart” as it was his turn to pray. As he prayed he remembered children without parents, which touched my heart. We had not even been talking about this at the time. It was in his heart though, and he had evidently remembered our talks about helping orphans and wanted to pray for them. Since then he has continued to slow down and pray such sweet, heartfelt prayers.

This was an answer to prayer for me that reassured me that we are doing right things in our parenting. It also reassured me that God is listening to all of our prayers. I know this but it is good to be reminded from time to time. My husband and I have been praying about three specific things in our lives for some time. I know God is hearing these prayers of our heart. Even though I may not see the answer clearly today I am confident He hears and has the answers for us.

I just want to encourage you today that God is listening to your prayers. In I Peter 3:12 it says,

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.”

You matter to Him and He cares about the concerns of your heart. Nothing is too big or too small to take to Him in prayer. Have you taken time to pray today? The Lord is waiting. Maybe you’re unsure how to pray or what to say. You don’t have to have a memorized script or fancy words. Just talk to Him from your heart as you’d speak with a friend. Tell Him what is causing you worry or fear. Tell Him what makes you happy and excited. He wants to hear it all. You can be sure He will hear you.

Have a day of blessings!

You can visit me at Raindrops & Rainbows!