Faith Fridays. Prayer.

Prayer is a tricky one. I hesitantly pray for God to help me improve my prayer life. I wince a little; it's on par with praying for patience. I know that God will not just give me patience; He will give me opportunities to be patient. I will not suddenly become a devout pray-er. God will give me reasons to pray.

In answer to my prayers for more time with Him, God has been so faithful. This week has been amazing. Literally overflowing with opportunities to pray.


At daybreak, LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly. Psalms 5:3


If you have not been following this family, I urge you to go read about them. Little Chrissie is in the fight of her life and her parents have handled this crisis with such grace and faith. Praying for this family over the past two weeks has been a huge blessing to us. As Jacob was walking by the computer a few days ago, he saw me looking at pictures that Chrissie’s mommy had posted on her blog. He wanted to know who this little girl was and why she was in the hospital with all those machines hooked up to her. I told him the truth. He said that he wanted to pray for her, so we did.


I hate to admit it, but every time that I had prayed for Chrissie, I had prayed for her healing – but I had also prayed for God’s comfort on the family if He chose to take her home. Praying both sides of the issue, if you will. Why do I do that?


If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:14


God is sovereign. God is in control. God loves Chrissie more than anyone in this world ever could. He will restore her little body, if not on earth, then in Heaven. Why not pray for her complete healing? That’s what Jacob did.


With the unbridled faith of a child, Jacob prayed for her COMPLETE HEALING. Healing of her heart. Healing of her foot – her mom had posted a picture of her little foot which had been swelling. Jacob prayed for this child with such love and emotion and FAITH. I was humbled to tears.


My prayers for Chrissie changed. My prayers for everything changed.


Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13


Lukewarm prayer. Jacob showed me in an instant that I had lost my fire. I wasn’t praying with passion for her complete healing. I wasn’t praying with passion about anything. Why, in so many of my prayers am I afraid to take a stand? Why am I afraid to ask my Father for the really good gifts?


If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11


I remember when Austin was in the hospital. I was praying like crazy then – not for comfort if God chose to take him but for HEALING. I was not going to settle for anything less and I let God know it in no uncertain terms. Many others were praying for Austin during that time. To be honest, if I had known that anyone was praying for my comfort if he wasn’t healed, I think I would have been offended.


So, I pray for forgiveness from Chrissie’s mommy and daddy. I do care deeply and I am praying for her COMPLETE HEALING! I pray for fire and conviction in all my prayers. I pray for that deep heart knowledge that God wants to give good gifts to those who call on Him.


So, thanks to Chrissie, I’ve been having some heart surgery of my own. Go ahead, Father, cut it out. All that doubt and fear and darkness that is not of You. Prune away – I can’t wait to see what fruit will come!


“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. John 15: 1-2