Category: rest

I Did Not Know What to Pray

Posted on by Evangeline

 

A friend died last week. He was not someone my family spent time with regularly, but he held a special place in our heart. He had impacted our lives intermittently but powerfully. I hope when I come to the end of my journey here on earth that a lot of people will say that about me— that I may not have impacted their lives on a daily basis, but when I did, I did so powerfully.

When I first heard the news about this friend’s death, I was shaken. I found myself wanting to pray for his wife and family but not knowing exactly what to pray. Sure, I asked God to comfort the family, to strengthen them in their time of sorrow, to help them rest in His peace in the days ahead; but that did not seem to be enough. After a few quiet moments, I realized that I had to ask the Holy Spirit to pray through me because I did not know what else to say when praying in my own understanding.

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”  ~~Romans 8:26 NLT

“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”  ~~1 Corinthians 14:2 NKJV

“Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.”  ~~ 1 Corinthians 14:15 NLT

How does praying in the Spirit help you to be confident that you’re praying what needs to be prayed?

 

Is Today One of Those Days?

Posted on by Evangeline

Have you ever had a day when it felt as if no one could understand the pain and the struggle you’re experiencing? Has it felt like you’re all alone in your own world laden with sorrow, shame and feelings of inferiority? Have you wondered if anyone anywhere is praying for you?

Be assured, you’re not alone in having those feelings. But even better, know that Someone, who’s everywhere, is praying for you. That Someone is Jesus. He’s sympathetic to your situation. He’s full of compassion. He knows the heartache you’re experiencing. He’s the one who wants to change it.

Rest in the truth that you are wholeheartedly loved by God, the Creator of the universe. Find peace in knowing that even if it seems no one else on earth understands your pain or it feels like no one else is praying for you, there is Someone who does. When you trust Him as your Advocate and Intercessor, Jesus is the One who can turn “one of those days” into a day of heaven on earth.

“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”  ~~ Psalm 121:2

God’s Got This

Posted on by Evangeline

If you like to be in control of things in your life like I do, you may sometimes experience frustration that life is not working out exactly as you had planned. When my husband and I decided to start having children, we thought pregnancy would happen according to our timeline that we had developed a few years earlier. It didn’t.

After numerous doctor visits, temperature charting, lab tests, tears, anger, and many times of asking God “why,” we finally decided that we’d put this issue of infertility in God’s hands. And He did not disappoint! The Bible says to cast all our cares (those things that distract us from believing in God’s willingness to help us) onto God. He wants us to choose to focus on the truth that He is not only able to move mightily on our behalf, but He is also willing to do the  impossible in our lives. He loves us so much and wants the “best” things we desire in our lives to line up with His “best” plan.

When we reach a point in life’s circumstances that we can truly say within our heart, “God’s got this,” we are positioning ourselves in the place of rest that He intended for us to be in all along. It’s in that place of rest, which is actually a place of great strength, that we see His best plan for us come to fruition.