The Surprise of Prayer: The Next Door of Opportunity
You bump into someone you haven’t seen for a while, find a crinkled twenty in your jeans pocket, or discover a local store started carrying your go-to brand. You may live for surprises, or be completely thrown off by them. I usually don’t mind, but I guess it depends on the kind.
Seeing God answer prayer is like its own kind of surprise! He may honor our requests, even if we weren’t anticipating it. Sometimes He waits to move. Other times He acts unexpectedly in response to our petitions.
I’ve spent the majority of my life being taught about prayer, listening to others pray, and praying myself. Now more than ever, prayer is blossoming to life in my faith journey, sparking a hunger for more.
Yet my desire is met with resistance. Daily responsibilities, life activities, and fixed obligations pull at me, derailing my concentration and hijacking my intentions. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Scripture repeatedly calls the saints to pray, regardless of status or spirituality. First Thessalonians 5:17 states simply, “Pray without ceasing.” Philippians 4:6 invites us to “let [our] requests be made known to God … in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.” First Timothy 2:1 specifies, “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.”
God even tells us why: “This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:2-3).
Truthfully, I am much like the sleepy disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. I have God’s teaching, Christ’s example, and the Holy Spirit’s prompting, yet I still do not pray as I should … not frequently, sincerely, nor persistently enough, not to mention the content and underlying motives of my prayers. It is as Paul writes in Romans 8.
“For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” – Verse 26
How thankful I am that God is patient and gracious enough to tolerate my inadequacy, accommodate my weaknesses, and faithfully respond to my cries.
God’s Provision: “This is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).
Word of the Week: Perseverance. Ephesians 6:17-18 says, “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
May God open our eyes to the surprise of His work when we pray in His Spirit according to His will for His glory.
Abby
Dear Younger Me,
God sees you. When you experience those times where you wonder where God is, know that He really does see you. He knows what your heart needs and exactly the time to tangibly show you His presence. Whether it comes in a word of encouragement or a song or another blessing, you can look at God and marvel at His goodness and perfect timing of giving you exactly what you need when you need it. Of course, always remember that even if you find yourself waiting for God to do something in your exhaustion or during the trial, that He is with you, though your heart might not feel it. Choose to remember those times God has revealed Himself to you before and trust His heart. And oh, let me remind you again of how faithful He is…always with what you need when you need it.
Love,
Megan
What is it about a sunrise that radiates hope? Turning the page on your calendar, lighting a new candle, or opening a fresh bag of coffee might have a similar effect, as you begin again.
I enjoy the satisfaction of starting fresh, especially the undeserved opportunity to do so daily. Many evenings, my prayer is a mixture of gratitude and relief: Tomorrow is a new day.
No doubt, I would be utterly lost without God’s life-giving, life-changing redemption. Indeed, He is making all things new! Surely, He is doing a new thing!
What a picturesque paradise. I imagine creation restored, justice upheld, harmony reinstated. Beauty is pure, life is purposeful, humanity is sinless. Jesus is King, the light and source of all, and God is forever exalted on His throne.
I can only dream how stunning it will be to enter the glory of God and dwell there forever … to be in the company of the saints, that great cloud of witnesses that has persevered through the ages … to be robed in righteousness and seated at a table of endless grace and mercy … for all eternity.
God’s Provision: As if that were not a complete picture, that same perfection resides within each of us, as children of God! Throughout this life, we are purified through God’s process of making us more like Christ. Then one day, we finally see Him face to face!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
– 1 Peter 1:3-9
Word of the Week: Consubstantial. A fancy word for likeness. Literally, “of the same substance or essence.” I can’t help but ponder how we assume the character and image of God through Christ and are forever enfolded in Triune fellowship.
We will at last be who we have been becoming this whole time.
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.” – 1 John 3:2
Dear Younger Me,
Love doesn’t always look the way you want it to look. Your heart wants words of love and affection and praise and affirmation to feel loved, and sometimes, that’s not what you’re given. Some of your treasured people in your life won’t be the best at actually speaking such words to you. But they show it in other ways. It’s easy to let yourself doubt their love until you look a little deeper. Even if not directly an affirmation of you, is there love behind their words? And maybe you didn’t ask for that gift, but appreciate that they wanted to give you something. So before you doubt, remind yourself to look deeper. And when you do receive those words you so long for, cherish them. Above all, just remember that though the love of others is imperfect, it is a gift from God to enjoy through the ones He has placed in your life, and that you truly are loved.
Love,
Megan
Sunshine peeps through your window on a brisk, wintry morning. A familiar ring tone sounds as you receive a call from a dear family member. You smile at the note on your counter, the date on your calendar, the face in your backseat. Life is full of beauty!
I sense beauty when I wake up in the morning, another chance to live another day. I witness God’s majesty in butterfly wings, shooting stars, and mountain ranges. I hear redemption stories, marvel at God’s work, and behold His faithful fulfillment of every promise. Life is indeed full of beauty!
Sadly, however, the most beautiful things in life can sometimes be the most trying, disheartening, and distressing. Maybe the sun doesn’t shine, the phone doesn’t ring, or the plan doesn’t happen. There’s an empty backseat, a new address, a damaged relationship.
Sometimes I am torn between life’s beauty and pain—two strong forces, seemingly opposing, yet often existing simultaneously.
Ecclesiastes 3 paints the scene. There is a time and season for every matter under heaven.
“A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.”
– Verses 2-8
In the dark, hard, and sad times, God is no less present, able, and loving, than in the beaming, flourishing, and joyous seasons.
God’s Provision: We always have reason to rejoice! I loves the words of Psalm 63, steadfast and independent of any circumstance.
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.”
– Verses 1-4
Word of the Week: Uphold. “My soul clings to you,” Psalm 63 continues, “Your right hand upholds me” (verse 8). The truth is, the “un-beauty” of life helps us appreciate the true beauty of God’s majestic, redemptive work.
May our eyes be open to the beauty around us in good times … and bad.
Abby
Dear Younger Me,
You are forgiven. The guilt that ravages your mind, body, and heart? You have the freedom to lay it down because Jesus took the weight off you when He died on the cross. He didn’t die for you to continue to live in guilt. You can rest in His peace and rejoice in Him for taking your burden from you, and you can trust Him. Your mistakes don’t make Him love you less or turn His face away. He invites you in with your brokenness, loves you in compassion, and covers you. Not only does He know all your mess-ups and mistakes, but He knows how to work it all out, too. He knows how this will all work for your good and for His glory. Let Jesus take you by the hand and walk with Him, forgiven and free.
Love,
Megan
Dear Younger Me,
Already and not yet…is the kingdom of God, and your freedom. Because of Jesus, you know that freedom from worry and anxiety are yours. And you might not experience that total freedom until you see God’s face because in your own humanity, you are prone to anxiety. It hurts and it’s hard that as much as you might try to recite verses about peace that relief doesn’t come in the way you want. But hold tight to the promise that victory is yours because of Jesus. Healing is yours. Clench His promise and His Truth, and know His joy as you cling. And some glorious day, you’re going to know what being carefree really looks like, a gift of His grace to you whether in this life or in Heaven. Hang on, sweet one, it’s coming.
Love,
Megan
Toddlers aspire to independence, insisting, “I want to do it by myself!” Years later, they ambitiously venture into the “real” world as teenagers. Adults also have their fair share of autonomy, whether we really want it or are forced to fly solo.
Learning to survive is one thing, but relying solely upon oneself is another. Left completely up to ourselves, we may not do so well. Supplies are limited, situations are complicated, and ability is finite. Some of us have wound up empty trying to get by on our own.
I myself can testify that working hard and striving after perfection, while partially beneficial, gain nothing of true meaning. In fact, it produces an array of unwanted emotions and circumstances that hinder rather than help.
I’ve proven it to myself and seen it play out in others’ lives. On our own, we don’t really get ourselves anywhere except right back where we started.
This is the hopeless state of humanity apart from the saving grace of God. Ephesians 2:12 reminds us: “You were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
On our own, we were lost. But at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.”
– Titus 2:11-14
Apart from Jesus Christ, we are nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing (John 1:3, 15:5, Romans 11:36).
In Christ, we are new, have everything, and can do all things (2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Peter 1:3, Philippians 4:13).
The whole point of the gospel is that we could not, cannot, and never will be able to achieve favor with God on our own. From the beginning, God had made a way—the Way—to reconcile us to Him.
God’s Provision: In the Garden of Eden, the Father promised a Savior. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Son submitted as the Savior.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman,and between your offspring and her offspring;He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” … “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
– Genesis 3:15, Galatians 4:4
Word of the Week: Adoption. Sinners, once lost on our own, now legally belong to God as sons and daughters, purchased by Jesus Christ Himself.
No longer on our own.
Abby
Dear Younger Me,
Those trophies won’t mean much someday. I know you want them, those physical reminders that you’re good at the sports you enjoy, something that could boost your self-esteem. But they’re not going to mean much later in life, when you’ve moved on from sports. Sure, it’ll always be cool to win an award, but that award isn’t everything. And you’ll certainly always appreciate the ones you did get. But one day you’ll clean out your room and that bookshelf where the trophies are, and you’ll put them in a box. And you’ll realize as you box them up that you forgot about what you won. And after you box them, you might not look at them but a handful of times after that. I think having a goal and something to work towards is a beautiful thing for you, but putting your stock in that trophy as something to define you is not a good thing. You are so much more than a trophy. And, I hope you’ll see someday that your favorite moments from sports were the ones that you don‘t get trophies for.
Love,
Megan
How ironic is it that we can be present without being present. I’m sure you know what I mean. It’s one thing to physically occupy space, but to be mentally engaged and emotionally involved is a whole different story.
I most often struggle to be present when something is on my mind, or I am surrounded by distractions. God, however, is perfectly present all the time.
He is omnipresent, being everywhere simultaneously. He not only claims the domain of heaven and earth, but fully immerses Himself in the activities of mankind and processes of nature. God is Creator and Sustainer. He pays attention, cares for, and interacts with His creatures.
It’s all over the Psalms:
He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
– Psalm 147:9
The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
– Psalm 104:21
God’s tender, caregiving provision is one reason, among infinite, to praise Him!
You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth.
– Psalm 104:14
The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing.
– Psalm 145:15-16
The Lord Himself says, “I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine” (Psalm 50:11).
And so are we.
God’s Provision: Jesus assures us in Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
We are loved and cared for by the God of Creation! Never will He leave us empty or in need! David testifies, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread” (Psalm 37:25).
In fact, God is sovereign over all and faithful toward His saints.
The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.
– Psalm 33:13-15
Most amazing of all, God sent His Son, Jesus.
Word of the Week: Emmanuel. God with us. Forever we will be changed because of the salvation He brings.
Abby