December 23, 2024

Drawing Circles

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And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
Matthew 21:22 ESV

I remember looking in my cabinets and truly wondering how was I going to feed them today.  ‘Empty‘ not only described the pantry and refrigerator…but it also described me.  “How could God just allow this?  I have been His for so long.  I pray and I read my devotions. What else can I do?” I thought.

My prayer life had always been important to me.  I remember when I was growing up, I would talk to Him all day long.  As I got older, married with kids, my prayers were more like “God is great, God is good” and “Now I lay me down to sleep.”  Not that those are  wrong prayers, they just weren’t enough to move the mountains that were before me.

I decided to do a prayer walk.  I made a route in the shape of a big circle and visualized my problems being in the center.  I made a prayer circle.  Every day I walked that circle and talked with Him and prayed to Him and asked Him to do the impossible—to miraculously provide.  And He did!  It didn’t happen overnight but, little by little, He creatively gave us our daily bread and manna.  Then it hit me: God knew what I needed…He wanted to make sure I knew what I wanted!  He wanted specific prayers, asking for specific things.  He didn’t want just the superficial.  He wanted me to ask Him for the impossible!  Anything less, really, is insulting to Him.  Why?  Because those prayers really don’t require divine intervention.  Our God likes to part Red Seas and make suns stand still and drop manna from Heaven.  That is what He loves to do for us.  (Isn’t He amazing?)

God loves keeping His promises to us and He loves doing impossible things for us.  And the bigger the miracle, the better because God gets more recognition and glory.

What promise are you needing today?  I encourage you to get a piece of paper or a prayer journal and draw a big circle.  Write the big impossible thing that you need in your life right now in the middle of the circle.  Then pray every day for a whole month about this circle and see what God can do.  It may take more than a month because He is not on a time limit.  God does things in His time.  But be patient!  He will answer!  God is for you! He wants the greatest things for your life.  And He wants all the glory so that all those around you will see His hand in your life and want what You have!

I don’t know your circumstances today.  Maybe you have been praying specifically for something and it feels like it is never going to happen.  I encourage you to fast.  Some things only come through prayer and fasting.  Look up all the different fasts that you can do and choose one that works for you. And always remember to thank Him—even before the miracle—showing that you have  faith that He is going to come through.

He loves you!  He wants so much for your life. He wants your biggest requests! Your life will be so full of Him. And remember, who you become is determined by how you pray.

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days.
And I was fasting and praying before the God in Heaven.
Nehemiah 1:4

Let us pray:  Dear God, You are awesome. You are kind, just, and faithful.  And You love us so much.  You have the power to move mountains.  Thank You for loving us and for hearing us when we pray.  Help us to be specific, and not to be afraid to ask You for those big things that we need right now.  Nothing is too much for You.  Help us to be faithful and to persevere even when it seems like You don’t hear us. We love You. We believe You can…and will…part the Red Seas in our lives.  And when You do, we will give You all the credit and all the glory for, without You, we are nothing.  And for those who are not quite all believing, I pray that You give them the courage to give it all to You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.