I usually wave my beloved off to work each morning, perched
on a large rock on the side of our steep driveway, then run indoors to have
breakfast with a good book for company. Recently as my breakfast-time-reading I
enjoyed “A Praying Life” by Paul E. Miller. The book taught me, fed my spirit
and got me thinking. I usually receive dozens of prayer requests from family
and friends. There are times though (I must confess) when I struggle to pray
sufficiently for all of those needs. (Discipline, Anusha. Discipline!)
A tool which I’ve found helpful in intercession is my little
prayer diary, one which I carry everywhere with me. On its leaves, I list prayer
needs sequentially. When I reach the last page, I copy all the unanswered requests into a new prayer
diary and repeat the process. The system has worked really well for over 25
years, but lately, my prayer life had become a tad jaded. Paul Miller blessed me
with a fresh cocoon of an idea; one which made my heart thump with excitement. Paul
uses prayer cards not lists, jotting down the name of a person or topic per
card—unsaved friends, people in need, sick folks and the like. A brilliant notion.
I rummaged through my pile of notebooks and found the
perfect little diary. I opened it to the first page and wrote my son’s name
on it, listing his prayer needs and chose a Bible verse that was just right for
him. Next I added family and friends’ names, allocating a few pages to each and
including a relevant verse for every person or group. I used four pages to record
my own needs, dreams and Bible verses, selecting another two pages for my writing
journey.
My sagging prayer life bounced back with a freshness it had
lacked for a long while. (Thank you Paul Miller!) I spoke life, hope, health,
joy, freedom, purpose, salvation into many hearts and lives. It was interesting
to note that the cover of my newest prayer diary had an unusual title. “Write a Story” it declared boldly. Perhaps
by talking to God on behalf of others, I was re-writing their lives? What do you think? My night-time reading a few
days later was ‘Praying Circles around
your Children” by Mark Batterson. It was thrilling to discover that Mark Batterson
had the same idea too. Surely God was speaking
to me?
Psychologists ask us to envision the future we desire and to
create it through visualisation. But that’s a new age concept isn’t it? How
does visualisation work? I have no idea. But prayer is different. Prayer works
because God is sovereign and cares for His world on a moment by moment basis.
Prayer works through the power of the Holy Spirit as He guides us, the body of
Christ, to partner with Him as He wills and carries out His purposes in our world. What an honour to be included in God's plans!
You and I will agree that most of our stories are crafted via
our computers as we write with our Creator and for Him. But stop for a moment
with me and dream a different kind of dream. Perhaps … just perhaps … another kind
of story is being birthed, every time you and I pray? Those are the real life
stories, being fashioned through intercession—stories whose characters are walking
and leaping around the stage of life. Each of these novels might even reach their
happy endings because of your prayers and mine. Isn’t that encouraging?
I love writing stories, don’t you?
Tell me about your stories, please, all of them.
I’m listening.
And don’t forget … God’s
listening too!
Anusha Atukorala is a
writer and speaker with music in her heart and a message to proclaim. The abundant
love of a faithful God is her theme song. God’s call to writing in 2007 led
Anusha on a Grand Adventure which continues to surprise and thrill her. Anusha
loves to build the body of Christ and to encourage others through the written
and spoken word. Her first book ‘Enjoying the Journey’ is comprised of 75
little God stories.
She has twelve short stories published in Anthologies and lots
more in the pipeline. Do drop in to say G’day at her website Dancing in the Rain. She’d love to meet you.
Thanks Anusha for stretching and deepening my usual style of a journaling quiet time. And I so relate to praying for our children, this is a good way to celebrate the answers.
ReplyDeleteSo glad it blessed you Ruth. I've always been nudged by the Spirit to intercede more but don't manage to do so sufficiently. So this new perspective blessed me immeasurably and is helping me pray more. :) And yes, celebrating in prayer His answers is what God calls to. Absolutely!
DeleteThanks for a great post Anusha. Love the concept that we are helping to re-write (in a positive way) people's lives through prayer. Prayer is like breathing - without it there is no life, with it almost anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny. Love your wisdom - that prayer is like breathing - that without it there is no life and with it almost anything is possible! Sounds wonderful! Let us pray.... more! :)
DeleteHi Anusha, Thank you for sharing what you have been learning about prayer. I love what you said, "Perhaps … just perhaps … another kind of story is being birthed, every time you and I pray?" Something to contemplate and challenge me in my own prayers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linsey. I'm really glad you liked the idea. Isn't it grand - that we may be birthing new stories through our prayers? Sure makes me want to be more faithful in intercession. God bless you Linsey and may your prayer life be fruitful and creative! :)
DeleteLove this idea..I too have been praying for different people specially so for my adult children now!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Angie. Sounds like you've been writing lots of real life stories. May the special "stories" you write for your beloved children bring happy endings and all you hope for. :)
DeleteThanks dear Jo'Anne. Yes, I struggle with discipline in my prayer life too - I do hope the card system works well for you. I usually choose small notebooks which I can carry around anywhere and can pray while waiting at a doctor's waiting room or whereever! And yes, I would recommend Paul
ReplyDeleteE Miller's book. He knows much about prayer and taught me lots. Blessings right back and let's keep praying.