Extra-Ordinary Prayer!

Sometimes the “Out of The Ordinary” generates Excitement… even Thrills.  Sometimes it provokes a sense of Adventure. Sometimes the kind of Surprise that delights the soul.

Yet sometimes, it ushers in a sense of foreboding.  Like right now.

My beloved business colleague and I should have been on the phone for forty minutes by now.  Catching up on a month’s worth of activity.  Accounting for, hopefully, progress.  But there is only silence.

No phone call.  No response to my text.  Where is she, Lord?

I have no shortage of other important tasks that could occupy my time right now while I wait.  Ordinarily, I would busy myself with one of them.  But this is an Extra-Ordinary  Situation.  My colleague never does this.

So for the past forty minutes, I have been doing the most important thing I could possibly do: PRAY.  I have prayed all I can think to pray… all the while grateful that You, Holy Spirit, are already interceding for her with groans too deep for words.

I take comfort, Lord, in knowing that You know exactly where she is and what she is facing. I take comfort, Lord, in knowing that You are her Strength and her Shield.  Her Deliverer.

I take comfort, Lord, in knowing that You are with her right now… giving her an undeniable sense of Your Presence and the unmistakable reassurance of Your Love.

I take comfort, Lord, in knowing that Your mercy knows no limits… even as I have begged You to pour out that mercy on her in the midst of her present circumstance, whatever it is.

And I am at peace.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:6-7)

It is hours later now.  My colleague finally texted me.  She thought our meeting time was later.  So we had our meeting after all.  A major blessing, as it always is!  So… Why all that Extra-Ordinary Prayer, Lord?

I may not ever know the full impact of what You led me to pray today.  What might have been avoided.  What might have been invited. What might have been unleashed.  I only know the urgency to pray was real.

So was the keen awareness that I didn’t want to later be left with words caught in my throat:  “If only I had prayed…”

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.  Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”  (Ephesians 6:18-20)

It is enough, Lord, that You said, “Pray.” 

Extra-Ordinarily Grateful,

Abba’s Girl

 

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