Pages

Pray along Friday and a winner!

Ah, the suspense is over. I used the True Random Number Service to determine that #17 is the winner. So Katharine Hahn, congratulations! We will connect via email to determine which style you'd like and I'll get it to you well before Christmas. Thank you everyone for participating. Remember, if you REALLY want one, they are super easy to make--just check out Vanessa's great tutorial.


Now onto some prayers. This week has totally kicked my butt. A serious lack of sleep combined with sick babes, a headache that has lingered on for nearly two weeks and all the drama we had to deal with managed to weaken my heart and turn my brain into a pile of mush. (Did I tell you we had to buy a new car battery as well? I mean, really!)

I spent more time than I'd like to admit growling out of frustration, crying from fatigue and cursing at the major network fall schedules' lack of new shows, thus leaving our DVR empty for late night TV watching. I also wondered where in the heck God was and why He didn't seem to be helping me out of the craziness.

Around the time I started this pray along, I decided I needed to revisit Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest. I've turned to this book many times in my life to revive inspiration in my soul and lead me toward what is true, right and important. It never fails to make me think and send me to my knees in prayer.

But even though I read the words, sometimes it takes a bit (or a lot) more for them to really sink in. For example, this excerpt from Sunday didn't have quite enough impact, it seems. Apparently I needed to live out the message in order to get it:

The greatest spiritual blessing we receive is when we come to the knowledge that we are destitute. Until we get there, our Lord is powerless. He can do nothing for us as long as we think we are sufficient in and of ourselves. We must enter into His kingdom through the door of destitution. As long as we are "rich," particularly in the area of pride or independence, God can do nothing for us.

Ouch. I guess while I was running around all week like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to do everything alone, begging for God to help me, I didn't really mean it. What I was actually saying was, God I need to you help me so I can figure this out on my own. Instead of what I should have done, which was to say, God I can't do this alone. I surrender my troubles to You. The end.

To really do that and mean it is tough stuff and I struggle with it all the time. I like to fancy myself superwoman, reject help and get to the finish line alone no matter what it takes. Because sometimes, when I'm home by myself with the girls, I feel like there's no other option and that's the mentality I use to survive the hard parts. This week has certainly proven otherwise and shown me that I need to come from a new frame of reference. Surrender, hope and trust.

Please pray for me, that I may live my life truly entrusting my sorrows, troubles and worries to the hands of the Lord. That I may put my confidence in Him alone and that when times get rough, I can let it all go and rest in Him.

What struggles have you worked to overcome this week? Let us pray for you.

Here's how it works: Leave a prayer request in the comments on Friday's posts. It can be anything--something you are thankful for, a friend you are worried about, a desire from your heart... Anything. By leaving a comment you are also committing to pray for others who comment as well. We'll start fresh each week. That's it. You can even be anonymous if you wish.



  

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Woo hoo! I am so happy to win the give away! Thank you Sara.

As for prayers, I also have gained so much in the past from My Utmost for His Highest. I am now more Buddhist than Christian, but much of the wisdom you talk about in today's post is common to both faith traditions.

My prayer/meditation request for the week is for those whose identities, roles, relationships are in transition.

I found this quote to go along with it: "There are always moments when one feels empty and estranged. Such moments are most desirable, for it means the soul has cast its moorings and is sailing for distant places." -Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Unknown said...

Sara I am asking for prayers this week to help me also give my problems over to Him. I need to trust that He will take care of everything. I know God has a plan and I need to trust.
On another note I want to thank God for having a friend like you and thank you for creating this space for us to share and pray for each other.

deo1929 said...

Ah...the problem that has plagued humanity since Adam and Eve-serving self ahead of God. Everyone has this problem. Some deny it. Others ignore it. Still others think it applies to everyone else and not them. But then there are those who grasp it for what it is-God giving us his grace through his Son, Jesus (which is what Christmas is about). It is from Him we have our being and through him we trust that the words he said are true: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Ozzie's words are always inspiring and a great application of Scripture to our lives. End of sermon. ; )

TRO said...

Ah my baby, now you have found the biggest challenge of being the "super mom" How do you reassure your babes, and yourself, that you are doing the very best for them, while at the same moment admitting to God (and yourself) that you are totally out of control and have no resource that doesn't come directly from Him? It is not just daily, but moment-by-moment, and not just now, but throughout your life. I'll pray for you in this battle, if you'll pray for me!

Lee Zuhars said...

This is one of the hardest things for me as well. I tend to think I can do and handle everything myself but fail many days. I am learning every day to give it (whatever I am dealing with) to God and when I actually am able to hand it over to Him--He really makes it so much more wonderful and perfect than I could have ever done. This week my prayer request is for me--for strength, health, wisdom, love, understanding and courage in everything that I do in life. Each step I take is a choice--help me, Lord, to follow you. Love you Sara.