Need to Pray? Walk This Way!

And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’ (Matthew 21:13a)

Every Wednesday night, our church holds its weekly prayer meeting. It is an encouraging, refreshing, relaxing time. We share prayer requests, pray for one another, sing hymns, and offer praise reports about how God has answered our prayers, met our needs, and blessed us and those we love.

Since the prayer meeting starts at 8:00 pm, well after Sweet Pea and Sugar Plum have been put to bed, JT and I cannot go to the meeting together. So that we each have an opportunity to attend a couple times a month, we take turns going to prayer meeting. Last night was my turn to go.

I was very thankful to get to last night’s meeting as I really needed some prayer. I was tired after spending the majority of day running various errands to prepare for our 4th of July barbecue and my patience was short. Yesterday, the girls were feeling particularly “emotional” by the end of the day and concluded the day with a ferocious battle with me over dinner and baths. I practically ran into the church last night in search of relief!

Toward the end of the prayer meeting, my friend Audrey stood and offered us some marvelous words of encouragement. She reminded us that God hears the prayers of those who have a true relationship with Him and that those prayers are extremely powerful (James 5:16). Audrey encouraged us to continue praying for one another and pointed out that our church is full of prayerful, gifted members involved in a variety of church ministries, all designed to give us the support we need.

Thankfully, the day I had yesterday is atypical. However, when those days come, it’s comforting to know that I have friends and family who pray for me and my family daily. It’s also a blessing to step into my own church, a house of prayer, and find the emotional and spiritual support I need.

Do you have a church that can offer you that type of love and support? If so, continue to go and grow there. If not, I encourage you to pray about it. I know God will lead you to a church that will meet your needs and allow you to use the gifts He has given you!

Photo: Courtesy of Wonderlane

America’s Favorite Book

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40: 8 )

Each day, I surf the net before getting started on my day’s work. Yesterday while surfing, I read something I found interesting and thought provoking. According to a recent poll, the Bible is America’s favorite book.

At first the statistic surprised me. Godly direction and morality are sorely lacking in today’s society. A mere mention of the name of Jesus, the man central to the Bible, offends many. Those who read their Bibles frequently and quote scripture may be labeled Bible thumpers or religious zealots. Our nation’s favorite book is the Bible?

However when I thought about the statistic a bit longer, I felt happy and encouraged. The word of the Lord still stands long after it was first written! The Bible is readily available in a variety of languages and translations making it easier for all to read. Audio versions of the Bible are available for listeners on the go. (My favorite audio Bibles are The Bible Experience and The Listener’s Bible.) In addition, the Bible’s pages offer the timely advice and the essential encouragement necessary for living in today’s trying times. Churches in my area (and I suspect in other areas as well) are growing as people seek to satisfy their hunger for God’s word.

Our Bibles should be like the other “favorites” in our lives. Like our favorite meal, the word of God should be filling and eagerly anticipated. Like our favorite jeans, our Bibles should be well worn but still inviting. Like our favorite song, our Bibles should stir our thoughts and inspire us. Like a favorite friend, our Bibles should always be within reach.

If you don’t already do so, I encourage you to grab a Bible, read a passage of scripture, and allow its words to speak to you. It’s one of the best ways to start the day off right!

Marriage Monday: For Holiness or Happiness?

Over at Chrysalis, it’s Marriage Monday, a monthly session hosted by e-Mom. I love the topics selected because they force me to think more deeply about my own marriage and examine what God expects of it. This month’s topic is no exception - Marriage: For Happiness or Holiness?.

My take on the topic is short and simple: Holiness leads to happiness. Once couples commit to following God’s commandments and set themselves apart from the world’s approach to marriage, happiness will follow. This is outlined in Psalm 128:1-4:

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.

The benefits of holiness are clearly outlined in the passage: prosperity, blessings, a productive spouse, and children.

Do not think I’ve donned my rose colored glasses and become oblivious to conflicts in marriage. Not so. Just because we have committed to holiness in marriage, does not mean our marriages will be free of stress and conflict. Rather, holiness simply determines how we respond to these conflicts. When God is guiding us, we address our marital conflicts by using the fruit of spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our holiness works to cultivate happiness in marriage.

To see what other women in the Chrysalis community think about this topic, please visit here.