Chapter Eleven- Sweet Hour of Prayer

Becoming A Woman Of Prayer-Online Study

Chapter Eleven-

Sweet Hour of Prayer

(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com)

"For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.'" 

PSALM  84:10 NIV

Last night we concluded the last chapter in our study of "Becoming a Woman of Prayer" by following in this chapter's lead of a directed time of prayer. We had candles, some music (wish I could play an instrument and sing) and about 45 minutes of prayer whilst sitting encircled around a box of tissues. (We're criers.) 

I have been thankful to go through this study and so blessed to study alongside the women who have attended. Oddly enough, while I was certain I would feel more confident in my prayer life, I only find more confidence in God. While I'd hoped I'd grow in my leadership, I feel more inept and evermore aware of my need for reliance on Him. While I hoped we'd have more in attendance, I am encouraged and blessed by the women who did come. They were just who needed to be there and who God moved in. He is good. He is our All in All. He is the Reason. He is the goal. He is the means to bring us to Himself. 

Thank you, if you followed in this study. I pray the Holy Spirit encouraged you and drew you into deeper intimacy with our God through a deeper understanding of who He is and in time with Him. 

Thank you to Cynthia Heald and NavPress who wrote and published this study and who allowed me to  share this study here. 

Thank you Jesus for making yourself so accessible to us and for loving us more than we can comprehend. 

Chapter Ten- Accepting God's Invitation

 Becoming A Woman Of Prayer-Online Study

Chapter Ten-

Accepting God's Invitation

(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com)

"Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, 

And be gracious to me and answer me. 

When Thou didst say, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to thee, 

'Thy face, O LORD, I shall seek.'" 

PSALM  27:7-8 NIV

God designed us for relationship, primarily relationship with Himself, but also relationship with each other. He designed the first marriage and the first family. He watched as we broke fellowship with Him in our first sin, He watched a family divide in the first murder and yet since the beginning He was working to reconcile it all. 

Though Christ has made the way for reconciliation with Him, life is still wrought with pain and broken relationships here in this life. Have you ever been in an intimate relationship, friendship or romantic, that ended badly? It'd be a impossibility for anyone to claim this truth and if they did, perhaps they aren't being honest with themselves because we, are still broken here. 

There may be some people in your life, or not but I hope so, who you feel utterly at home with. With this person(s), some of your favorite moments in your life (to date) have included them. They, who see all of you and still love you. God knows our desire for emotional intimacy and ultimately, our deepest relationship lies in Him. The hole we so desperately fill with people is meant for Him. It is with Him where we are loved, cherished and pursued without false motive or selfish intent. We are made whole with/to/in/by Him. 

In this chapter we will learn how to accept God's invitation to us in prayer and, as always, the chapter is divided into two sections. 

Prayer in Solitude (1)

Even Jesus took time alone to pray as shared in Mark 1:35, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Alone time with God is crucial for our growth and crucial for our sustenance. 

The secret conversations, alone and in the presence of our God is where the intimacy happens, where we show Him our heart and He shows us His. It's where we can sit emotionally and spiritually naked and His feet. It is there, He provides the warmth of His love, the grace for our shame and the love/acceptance we need. There is no faking it here. There are no pretenses. It's not even about where or how we do it, He just wants us to want Him. 

We've learned so much about how God meets us and provides for us in prayer. Cynthia reminds us in scripture that we should "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thess 5:16-18). 

"Prayer will be fatiguing to both flesh and blood if uttered aloud and sustained long. Oral prayer and prayer mentally ordered in words though not spoken cannot be engaged in without ceasing. Instead there is an undercurrent of prayer that may run continually under the stream of our thoughts and never weary us. Such prayer is the silent breathing of the Spirit of God who dwells in our hearts." 

-David M'Intyre (2)

Our Lord wants a sincere heart of prayer. Who of us wants a public declaration of love and praise without genuine adoration in private? Who of us wants to be "loved" only when others are watching? It's much like the wedding without the marriage. 

Prayer in Community (3)

"When two or more believers come together to pray, they often come with different ideas about what to ask and a different understanding about what the will of God is in the matter. One may think that God wants to heal the sick. Another may think that He is bringing a trial of illness to teach the afflicted. But as they seek agreement and unity of request, they begin to hear the voice of God gradually conforming their differing thoughts...into the will of God. And their prayer is answered." -Kent R Wilson (4)

I fear sometimes community prayer takes the place of my prayer in solitude. It should not, it should add to it. 

This chapter discusses fasting and it's purposes. This is this weeks challenge: that you find one meal, to opt out of the meal and spend that time being filled with Him. Being sure to make it a private moment and focusing your prayer on deeper intimacy. 

Lord, thank you again for truth and for the scripture that richly declares of your glory and pursuit of us. I confess my failing to meet you alone regularly. I confess that I need you and the comfort of your Spirit to feel at home and complete. God, I ask that you continue to teach me to pray in solitude, in community and all day long. I want to accept you invitation to deeper relationship through prayer. Help me through the power of you Spirit to do this. 

**See the this post for a schedule and a preview of 2013. 

(1-4) Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com 

Chapter Nine- Persevering in Prayer

  Becoming A Woman Of Prayer-Online Study

Chapter Nine-

Persevering in Prayer

(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com)

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." COLOSSIANS 4:2 NIV

I opted to use this weeks verse in this translation because of one word: devote. 

What do you think of when you hear "devote"? What comes to my mind is Olivia Newton-John belting out her heart singing "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and if you don't know what song that is...my heart breaks for you. I recall singing loud in the car some song of heartbreak over one boy or another. Fortunate for many, that no one ever had to hear it. As silly as it is, most of us can remember a time in our teen years when we declared some sort of teenage devotion to someone, whether it had been a boy crush or crazed infatuation for a star or band, we get it.

Now in my adult years, devotion looks different. It is rarely propelled merely by hormones or emotion, but by a sense of responsibility, a wisdom of the greater purpose or simply love. Some examples would include laundry (sense of responsibility), wisdom of the greater purpose (paying off debt) and love (my husband and children). Some of these things overlap and some don't (ie. I will never love laundry). The point here is that almost anyone can relate to devotion. 

In this verse, the author (Paul) is telling the Colossians to "devote (themselves) to prayer"and I wonder if we take it seriously. Similar to the reasons I mentioned above we pray out of a sense of responsibility (it's what "good" christians do), out of a wisdom of the greater purpose (this is my face time with God) and sometimes, and I would dare to say, not nearly enough do we do it with an attitude of love for our God or for others. If we are devoted to prayer then we do it because we ought to, we see the greater purpose of presenting our hearts and requests to God and because love those who need Him and we love Him and His purposes. We, then, will pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17) until our prayer is answered (yes, no or wait) or He changes our hearts. This is not as easy as it seems. 

"When we feel least like praying is the time when we most need to pray. We should wait quietly before God and tell Him how cold and prayer less our hearts are, and look up to Him and trust Him and expect Him to send the Holy Spirit to warm our hearts and draw them out in prayer. It will not be long before the glow of the Spirit's presence will fill our hearts, and we will begin to pray with freedom, directness, earnestness and power." R.A. Torrey (1)

This chapter is about Persevering in Prayer and is divided into two sections:

Devotion to Prayer (2)

Cynthia shares two example of devotion to prayer in scripture. In James 5:13-18, it reads:

"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops."

Elijah prayed "earnestly" and the rain stopped for more than three years...how often do we pray for a week and give up. God's timing and will are not ours. We should pray as if tomorrow is the day He may answer and if isn't, keep praying until He shows us a different plan. 

Gratitude in Prayer (3)

The second half of this week's verse is "be watchful and thankful." Elijah told his servant each day to go out and look (1 Kings 18:41-44) in the direction of the sea for the rain the Lord promised. SEVEN times the servant went and looked and it wasn't until the seventh time that the storm cloud was seen. God asks us to trust Him, to be watching for His promises and to give Him thanks for His faithfulness. 

"Praise and thanksgiving do not magically change my circumstances. they radically alter my viewpoint. Praise and thanksgiving bring me back into the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy and pleasure evermore." -Jennifer Kennedy Dean (4)

For years I prayed that we would be allowed to move because I believed it would be better. I also prayed acknowledging that the Lord my tomorrows and I did not and prayed that if moving would be foolish to stop it. He did. Every single time. We tried to move at least 3 times. The last time was about 6 years ago and I could not understand His will and yet my prayer remained until He changed my heart about a year ago and helped to show me His purposes for us here. The relationships, the ministry, the daily dependance on Him are all a part of His plan for us that we can see...I know there is more at work which we do not even know yet, but I trust Him and I thank Him for His answer and that it was no. Scripture tells us God is not slow in keeping His promises (1 Peter 3:9) yet He knows our impatience and His answer is trust me and seek me every day. 

Persevere. Devote. Watch. Give Him Thanks. 

Don't be Hopelessly Devoted. Be devoted to the God of Hope. 

This weeks challenge: 

Examine your life and observe what draws your devotion. Is it our Lord or has life's distractions or wants taken His place in your life. Pray without ceasing. Pray for the things that seem ridiculous. Pray for the things you gave up on and all the while pray for your heart to know His plan. He hears us. He answers us. He helps us. 

Lord Jesus, You are not slow in keeping Your promises. Forgive my impatience and foolishness for believing that I know better than you. Help me to know Your heart and seek Your will and to do it every day. I ask for Your Spirit to guide me in prayer to offer up anything in my life that I put in front of my devotion to You and how to pray as an intercessor for those who need you. God you are good. You are so good to me. Thank you Father. I love You and trust You. 

**See the this post for a schedule and a preview of 2013. 

(1-4) Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com 

Chapter Eight- Intercessory Prayer

                                                Becoming A Woman Of Prayer-Online Study

Chapter Eight-

Intercessory Prayer

(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com)

"Make this your common practice; Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with."

JAMES 5:16, MSG

How apropos is it that our study today, the day after the presidential election, is on intercessory prayer? On a day when a large portion of the posts, articles and statements made have to do with the celebration or the disappointment with the outcome and the absolutes being claimed for or against our re-elected president, I feel it's very timely. While I don't agree with many of the politics our President supports, I feel no fear because a.) I exercised my right to vote and more importantly b.) I put my hope, my faith and my words, not in a man but in my God and how He commands me to respond and live. In light of any result, Scripture calls us to pray for our government and leaders. This is intercessory prayer. 

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." - 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 (NIV)

The Equipped Intercessor. (1)

You may feel like you are ill-equipped to pray for others because you are too "broken" yourself. You may pray more for others that spending time seeking God's face for yourself. God already provides so much through prayer, isn't it ridiculous to think we can only do one or the other? 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."  -EPHESIANS  6:10-18 (NIV)

Any strength we pray for comes from our God. He reminds us that this is war and He tells us to suit up with His truth, His gift of salvation, His Word...to put on HIM for our defense. How does that happen but through prayer...? Praying on all occasions...for all the Lord's people. He covers our brokenness and our failures with His armor He provides. Then asks us to pray for each other. 

The Committed Intercessor. (2)

Paul prayed fervently for the Church as a whole and for specific churches. 

"Paul did not pray that they be spared suffering. Nor did he request that material wealth be added to their spiritual zeal. He said nothing about illness, or healing or better jobs, or any of those things for which we pray and ask others to pray on our behalf. Such requests are not always inappropriate, but we see that Paul considered spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and enlightenment of greater value." 
-C. Samuel Storms (3)

Cynthia points us to John, Chapter 17 where Christ prays and intercedes on our behalf. We've already learned that the Spirit also intercedes for us. Our God himself, is committed to the good work He began in you (Philippians 1:6). Cynthia challenges us to pick a person and commit to pray for them (4)...I would add that you write down each person that God brings to your heart that needs prayer. That can be for prayer for salvation, for wisdom, for strength, for a tangible personal need and pray over it at least once this week and aim for once a week. If this feels too overwhelming, then do this...when God brings someone to your mind...pray for them, right then. When you promise someone you will pray for them, do it right there on the spot. I know I am guilty of promising to pray...then forgetting. I don't want  my words to be false empty promises. God's promises aren't empty...His promises are true.  

Maybe you've experienced a time when someone prayed for you and you were given strength or wisdom or provision that you needed. Maybe you haven't. Are you committed to a body of believers or an intimate group of people that would even know how to pray for you? Do you have people who will hold their Shields of Faith over you in your life? Are you equipped? Are you committed? We've been learning about prayer...are you practicing it? If we believe God's words to be true, if we believe He is capable, why DON'T we pray? 

This weeks challenge: 
Pray, when God brings someone to mind, in real time. 
Pray for our country. 
Find women to connect with and share your heart with people you trust. I was challenged lately that "confessing our sins to one another" is more than just confessing our sins, it's revealing how we struggle, that we struggle and that we are "not ok" when we are "not ok". News Flash: none of us are "ok". We all need Christ. Every. Single. Day. So we pray to gain more intimacy with him and on behalf of each other. 

Lord Jesus, Thank you for making us "ok" before the Father. Thank you for providing an intercessor on our own behalf and for loving us so much to be our Provision, our Sustenance and our Savior. Forgive me for my history of good intentions with no actions. Lead me Lord, to pray for your people, to pray for the lost and the hurting and to offer them over to YOU for YOU ARE GOOD. YOU ARE GOD. Give me the eyes to see the need, hears to hear the the hurts and a heart that gives love and mercy that flows from You! Teach me to be more vulnerable. Teach me to pray and live honestly and openly. To God be the Glory, now and evermore.... Amen

**See the previous post for a schedule for the remainder of this study and a preview into January 2013!


(1-4) Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com 

Chapter Seven- The Lord's Pattern of Prayer

                                              Becoming A Woman Of Prayer-Online Study

Chapter Seven-

The Lord's Pattern of Prayer

(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com)

"I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live."

PSALM 116:1-2

This chapter is short and pretty straight forward, as was Jesus' instruction back in the Matthew 6:9-15, on "how (we) should to pray". I grew up knowing this prayer well. It was one of, at least, a dozen memorized prayers I learned as a child in the faith we practiced during those years. And while, I believe, scripture memory is huge and using scripture in our prayer-life is useful; I don't think the intent for us was to spout off some memorized poem or song of sorts that never grew into or grew out of a genuine heart. Any prayer said out of practice rather that out of a heart of humility and transparency is wasted. 

“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them;

and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them.

Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

AMOS 5:21–24

God did not want their sacrifice because they were merely going through the motions. Have you ever done that? I have. Serving, singing, "praising" through my body but my heart was in rebellion or focusing on self. Christ was God and yet his focus in prayer was our Father God, His will and His glory. We need to check our hearts as we pray. The words don't matter because, as we learned in Chapter 3,  the Spirit prays on our behalf. As we read, say and/or sing this prayer who is the focus? Do we recite it like the Pledge of Allegiance? Are we quick to recite it as if it were a monologue in a movie? I'm calling out myself here as well. 

Cynthia breaks up the prayer into bite-sized pieces and asks us to digest each one individually so that we may glean understanding and grow in the example Christ laid out for us. (1)

"But the great beauty of the Lord's Prayer is that it maintains a focus on GOD. We may be the grammatical object of some sentences there, but we are never the subject; God alone holds that position. Even in confession, we turn our eyes to Him and say, 'You give us bread... You forgive us... You lead us...You deliver us.' That kind of prayer provides us with an oft-needed corrective. For perhaps the most subtle temptation, the most persistent evil of all is to stand ourselves in God's rightful place at the center of the landscape of our hearts." -Paul Thigpen (2)

This weeks challenge:  

Be sure to examine your prayers, who is the focus? Examine your service and praise to God? Who is it for? Where is your heart, when you arrive at church? When you read His scripture? 

Again, post this week's verse in a visible spot for you and read it every day.

 Lord Jesus, You are my God and Savior. Thank you for the example you gave us in prayer. Forgive me Lord for taking my eyes off You. For not always living, serving or even praising with You as my focus. Thank You for Your Spirit and please, fill me with what I need for each day to accomplish Your glory in this life. Thank You for hearing us.  It's all about You. All about You. All for Your glory. Let nothing in my life be wasted. Keep me close to Yourself. I love you. I praise You because You are God. 

(1-2) Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com

Chapter Six- When God Is Silent

                                              Becoming A Woman Of Prayer-Online Study

Chapter Six-

When God Is Silent

(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com)

"But to You I cry, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer come to meet You. Lord, why do You cast me off? Why do You hide Your face from me?"

PSALM 88:13-14 AMP

**This is a hard story. Life is full of hard and unfair things and for me, it was a lesson specific to this chapter. 

It was about six years ago when my youngest sister shared with me that she was pregnant with twins. The emotions swirled in my heart with worry (she was unmarried), sadness (she wasn't walking with the Lord) and anxiety (one child is hard, but TWO?). 

It had been a rough few years with and for her and now she, like many of the clueless (myself included), would be unprepared for the role of parenthood. I've determined whatever your background or preparation, nothing can fully communicate the difficulty and blessing of being a mom. It's like trying to describe the sensation of a roller-coaster to someone. Not only can you NOT describe it adequately, but the experience may be different for different people even though it may be the same ride. 

When we found out in her 25th week that her "water" was leaking and that she had to be admitted into the hospital, the doctors didn't paint a pretty picture. Lot's of words were used to communicate that though they now were working hard to maintain the pregnancy, it was really early for her babies and hope was slim. So, when on February 7, 2007, we received the call from her boyfriend that she had been taken into an emergency C-cection because she was in labor and the babies were in distress, our hearts sank. While driving down to the hospital my kids and I prayed. She was 26 weeks and 2 days into her pregnancy. 

I'd dropped off my kids with my in-laws and hurried to the hospital to find out that Baby A, Brayden, was still-born and Baby B, Kameron, was in the NICU and needing assistance with his breathing.

When Mallory recovered from surgery to hear the news, there were no words that could comfort her sadness. She and her boyfriend and some of the members of each side of the family were there with her as they held Brayden, kissed him and said "goodbye" to a baby we never had the chance to know. It was a devastating day for them and for us who loved them. 

They next few weeks we prayed fervently for Kameron and visited him as often as we could and found hope in how well he was improving, until... there was another call. When he was 2 weeks old, Kameron had become very sick and gone into septic shock. Again, the worry, again the sadness and again the anxiety...."Lord, please give Mallory your mercy and reveal your power and save this baby. Please, save him and draw them to you..." was the prayer I personally pleaded with the Lord. It seemed to me, in my finite mind, that their hearts could only bare so much pain, that this miracle could be the "thing" that draws my sister and her boyfriend closer to God. 

It was four excruciating weeks later when Kameron died. We, with Mallory and her boyfriend, each held him in his last moments. We cried, we mourned, we felt hollow. Mallory later expressed, "I entered the hospital with two babies and came out with none." I wished I could tell her God's plan for her...I wished I could tell her how He revealed His purposes in this...I wished I had an answer. I didn't. 

I don't remember ever praying so passionately for something and felt "unheard". Though, in my mind, God's truths regarding His sovereignty echoed, my heart couldn't reconcile the "good" in this outcome. There are so many painful things in this life. So many things that we can't reconcile the "good' or see His purposes or even seem to hear His voice. 

This chapter discusses "when God is silent" which is fitting after studying a chapter on "His answers" I think. Cynthia breaks up this chapter and looks at Silence and Conviction of Sin and Silence and Deeper Intimacy. (1)

Silence and Conviction of Sin

This thought causes me to shudder that my sin should inhibit my prayers. But as you evaluate the scriptures, it is clear, that they do.

"If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;" PSALM 66:18

"Anyone who finds his prayers ineffective should not conclude that the think which he asks of God is not according to His will, but should go alone with God with the psalmist's prayer, 'Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me' (Psalm 139: 23-24), and wait before Him until He puts His finger upon the thing that is displeasing in His sight. Then this sin should me confessed and put away" 

R.A. Torrey (2)

Silence and Deeper Intimacy

Cynthia shares, "Job was an expert on God's silence. Job was righteous, yet God allowed Satan to afflict him. Job then cried out to God for an answer, but for A TIME (emphasis added) all he received was silence." (3)

God did finally speak and then it was Job who said:

"I am unworthy-how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth" Job 40:4 (NIV)

I realize that my will is not His will, my plans are not His plans and THANK YOU GOD that my ways are not His ways. When I don't hear Him, it does not mean He is not working. In fact, He is working to draw us to Himself so that He may reveal who He is. 

"We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them." -Charles C. West

I don't claim to know for certain which of these reasons God purposed in us, in Mallory or even in me during this time. Maybe both. I believe and my prayer is that as I draw close to Him, as I confess and repent daily and pray that He reveal more of Himself to me, the rest: my loved ones and I...are in His hands. Whatever "hard" this world brings could never compare to the pain or tradgedy of spending eternity without Him who offered up Himself for us. God gives us so much of His truth in scripture that, at the minimum, we have a wealth of evidence re: His promises, His faithfulness, His power and His will that we should never feel totally without knowledge of His purposes. He is God and I am not. 

I'm still praying for my sister that she may know fully the glory of God and pray that the Spirit of God moves in her to draw her more unto Himself. I also know, I'll see my nephews in heaven someday. I will recognize them and they will recognize me and together we will praise our God together in His perfect presence.

Heavenly Father, You alone are sovereign. You alone are God. You are my Creator, my Redeemer and my Sustainer. God, when I don't understand Your workings, let Your truth and Your promises reign in my heart. Let me reminded through Your Spirit that you have not forsaken us. Reveal to me any way in me that muffles Your voice...Help me draw closer to You so that Your voice cannot be mistaken. Lord, I praise You and am so grateful for Your grace.

10 Scriptures About God’s Promises

Questions:
Do you hear from God? How? Is there a time when you have "suffered in silence" and waited on God to answer?

(1-3) Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com 

Chapter Five- God's Answers

Becoming A Woman Of Prayer-Online Study

Chapter Five-
God's Answers

(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com)

I sought the Lord, and He answered me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

PSALM 34:4

This last weekend was kind of rough for me emotionally. I believe it's stresses were the product of spiritual warfare and the enemy was hitting me where I am the weakest, my thoughts and my pride. I don't want to go into details so as to not hurt others that were involved, but this weekend, I was made aware of a problem someone had with one of my children. 

This particular incident was upsetting all by itself but then my mind began to flood with all other "comments" that had been said without thought, through mocking lips and laughter by others in regards to my children. My heart ached for my child, my own self esteem as a mom was broken and I suddenly felt so inept and incapable.  

An occasion was set where my child and the other family would be together and, I confess that I grew a little....ok, pretty darn anxious about it. I talked with my child about restoring relationships and loving others like Christ has called us to. I prayed and prayed some more. I contemplated going to the other family's house and through tears trying to "fix" things on my child's behalf. My dear friends prayed with me, literally in the street, a block from where the event was taking place. We prayed for God's Spirit to cover them, for peace and love to blanket their hearts and for the healing of whatever hurts had occurred. 

Thankfully, the mom who hosted the event kept me updated with how it was going, texted me pics 
and encouragement that things were going "great!" The next day I received reports from the host mom and from my daughter that everything was "good". That my child grabbed the hand of the other child when they arrived and took them aside privately and said "I'm sorry if there's anything I've done to hurt your feelings....Are we still friends?" They agreed there have been mutual hurt but then 
hugged and mended their friendship. 

God answered specifically in this instance and He moved in these children to speak, to forgive and to love. I am so grateful for how these things matter to our great God and that These moments are lessons for me to trust Him and wait. I could've interfered and tried to fix it all myself, but then the lesson for these kids and for myself would've been missed. He heard us and He answered us with more of Himself. 

This chapter discusses Gods answers to our prayer and breaks it up into Gods Gift in Prayer and God's Answers for Good. (1)

Gods Gift in Prayer

Philippians 4:6-7

New International Version (NIV)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

"Spiritual lust makes me demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Who gives the answer…. The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not the answer."
-Oswald Chambers (2)

The gift: Him. His peace. 

God's Answers for Good

Cynthia references four different passages of of scripture using Abraham, Solomom, Mary & Martha and Paul and even Jesus prtition in prayer prior to his arrest to point out how God answers prayer, not as we will or for our glory...for our good and His glorification!

"We all tend to prescribe the answers to our prayers. We think that God can come in only one way. But Scripture teaches us that God sometimes answers our prayers by allowing things to become much worse before they become better. He may sometimes do the opposite of what we anticipate…. Yet it is a fundamental principle in the life and walk of faith that we must always 
be prepared for the unexpected when we are dealing with God." 
-D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (3)

This chapter/God's word is so full of this truth (SO much)  and it makes me thankful. Thankful 
God's way is better. Thankful He works to align our hearts to His....that's a gift! Thankful that if  we "let go" and "let God", He lets us see Him work! 

Thank you Jesus for being the perfect sacrifice and that in you I am redeemed, death is conquered and God is gloried. Thank you for working in mine and my child's heart this week. Thank you for revealing more of yourself in our prayers and providing your peace....in my heart and in our children. 

Questions: How have you seen God answer your specific prayers? How has God changed you through prayer thereby aligning your prayers with His will? 

(1-3) Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com