The Power of a Praying Mom

Some of you may remember that I wrote a blog post some years back about the legacy of prayer that my mom lives out. Well, here's another story to prove it. Our washing machine has been making noises for an extended amount of time. Last week, my husband tore down the machine in an effort to fix it. After several days of wrestling, he came to the conclusion that the machine was defunct. That meant we needed to buy a whole new unit, washer and dryer. I had already made peace with the cost of a replacement, but then we discovered that we could not just go to the store and buy one. We had to order one, and the soonest we could get a delivery would be two weeks. Mind you, we already had overflowing dirty laundry hampers and I was running out of socks when we made the order. On top of everything else, that week, I lost my sunglasses. While trivial, these sunglasses meant a lot to me because my best friend me them and had our college logo on them. I had looked everywhere, and they were nowhere. Exasperated, I prayed, and with no apparent relief for distress in sight, I texted my mom asking her to pray as well. Things happen when moms pray, specifically my mom.

As my mind wandered while showering that night, I somehow landed on Costco. Does Costco sell washers and dryers, I wondered? I went and checked. Lo and behold, they do! And the unit we needed (a very specific one due to our space constraints) was a bit cheaper there than anywhere else, and a purchase included all the ancillary hookup equipment, and included free haul away of our old equipment. They could also deliver within the week. Wow! Totally a God-thing. We definitely pushed, "Pay now" almost immediately. I felt so relieved.

I still had not found my sunglasses, this week, and I was sad, but figured I could accept it given that the washer situation worked out. I had not completely given up when I went back to work, though, and sent an e-mail to the front office staff telling them I lost pink sunglasses, but did not know where. I got an e-mail back almost immediately that they had them! When I went to get them, the secretary explained that she had found them amongst trash in the parking lot, but thought that they were probably a kid's and picked them up and brought them back in, rather than tossing them. Another wow! As of today, our washer has been delivered and I have my sunglasses back. Big things and little things, God cares! And mom prayers, I tell you, get a praying mom (or mom figure) who loves the Lord because "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16, NIV).

My Mother's Legacy

My mom joined her first prayer group sometime when I was in elementary school. I don't remember thinking much about it until we moved to Arizona and she started wearing her pink Moms in Touch button everywhere we went: to school, to the store, to the library, etc. She said she didn't know of any local prayer groups, and she was determined to find one.

Fast forward a few years, and Mom found a group. I don't remember the details. I just know she joined.

Fast forward to my college years, during which Mom was more and more involved in Moms in Prayer. Post-college, Mom was the first one to remind me of the National Collegiate Day of Prayer each year. When a friend of mine (also the daughter of a Moms in Prayer intercessor) asked me if I wanted to meet for weekly prayer, I was on board. We even used Moms in Prayer sheets with the ACTS method of praying as our guide!

My friend and I eventually quit praying together. I think one of us changed jobs. I know I eventually moved. I kept up the practice of making weekly prayer sheets and spending 30 minutes in prayer, however. Thirty minutes was not the length of an actual Moms in Prayer meeting, but it worked for me.

As I've entered my third decade of life, I've continued my prayer practice. It isn't always as regular as I would like, but I do it. My mother, meanwhile, continues in Moms in Prayer. She has taken on more and more responsibilities as time has passed: praying in multiple groups, leading groups, and even serving on the area and state-wide teams. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to go to a Moms in Prayer conference with my mom and my sister-in-law. My sister-in-law was actually pregnant with my niece at the time, so we had three generations present. It was a special time for all of us.

This year for Mother's Day, I bought two prayer shirts from Moms in Prayer. The, "Pray 'Em Up" quote on the shirts referenced the movie War Room, and the talk my mom, sister-in-law, and I heard at the Moms in Prayer conference from Actress Karen Abercrombie. I asked my husband to do a little photo shoot with my mom and I wearing the shirts. It was the most tangible way I could think to document the legacy my mother is leaving me: the legacy of prayer.

My mom has always prayed. She prayed before Moms in Prayer. She prays through Moms in Prayer. She prays outside of Moms in Prayer. I can always text, call, or e-mail Mom with prayer requests and know they are covered. My mom has prayed me through some of the lowest lows and highest highs of my life. I no longer live with or even near my mom, but I feel the power of her prayers, day in and day out. Prayer is Mom's access to a Higher Power, and because Mom taught me to pray, and I prayed a prayer of saving faith many years ago, I now have access to that same power. And Christ's power is the greatest power and legacy of all.

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Happy Mother's Day, Mom, and to all the mothers out there!

When God Tells You to Stop Praying

It's happened to me twice now. I'm fervently praying about something, banging on heaven's door, and then suddenly it's like the Spirit says, "Stop." It happened when I went to Unshaken, and it just happened again. At Unshaken, I had a strong conviction to pray about a work issue, and at some point I just felt like God said, "It's taken care of." And in the current situation, I've felt unsettled and upset and overall confused for quite some time. But then I saw this quote from TobyMac on Instagram:

God was like, "It's taken care of." And when I tried to pray, the fervor was gone. It wasn't that I didn't care, bit that I just had a sense again that I didn't need to pray about it anymore.

Answers? Nope. I still don't have them. I don't know how things will work out. But in the silence, in the waiting, I have God's peace. I trust Him. He has heard my prayers and He'll answer for His glory and good in His timing. Praise Him.

Unshaken Prayer Conference

I worked a half day on Friday, and then we headed to Phoenix to get my sister-in-law from the airport. Her flight got a little delayed, so Mom got some coffee while we waited. I crocheted.

We swung by the church to drop off Mom to check in for the Unshaken Conference and then ran to Chic-Fil-A to get some dinner. I got into the worship time a little late, but I made it.

The first night, we worshipped with 29:11 and then heard from Cheryl Saks of Bridge Builders and Sally Burke, Moms in Prayer President. My two take-aways were that secular schools cannot meet the spiritual needs of students and that God is not shaken. The key verse for the event was Psalm 16:8,"I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken" (New International Version, NIV). The more we look to God, the more we will be like Him, unshaken.

We got to bed pretty late Friday night, but we still woke up early. So Mom and I went for a walk. We discovered some lovely little water features in the middle of an industrial center and apartment complex.

Day two of the conference was intense, but good. The focus was on persevering prayer, even when we don't have answers or see answers. One of the speakers talked about how sometimes we persevere in prayer not so that we get what we want, but to remind others to pray and not give up. Karen Abercrombie, aka Miss Clara of War Room, talked about how God led her to that role. Basically, she prayed and waited 13 years to play a character like this. Her testimony was pretty powerful. We had a boxed lunch and fellowship, and then more stories about how God is working around the world through prayer.

I don't know that I'll ever be a prayer warrior like my mom, but I'm glad I had a chance to go to this conference with her and my sister-in-law. In the midst of all the craziness, I do need to remember to look up instead of looking down or in. I tend to be an easily shaken person, but I serve an unshakeable God, and prayer is my connection to Him.

God Fulfills our Longing.

No prayer verses came this past week because Mom gave me her prayer sheet focusing on God's wings. This week, the focus is on how God fulfills our longing. In fact, God should be our deepest Longing: "Strong, persistent desire or craving, especially for something unattainable or distant" (Dictionary.com, n. d.).

Psalm 38:9
All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.

Psalm 119:20
My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.

Psalm 119:81
My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.

Psalm 119:131
I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

2 Corinthians 5:2
Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling.

Hebrews 11:16
Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Reference:Longing. (n. d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved August 9, 2016 from  http://www.dictionary.com/browse/longing

God is Clothed with Splendor.

I am back with prayer verses. My wonderful mom provided me with her Moms in Prayer sheet last week, but this week, I collected my own set of verses. The theme is, "God is clothed with splendor." Splendor means "brilliant distinction" or "great brightness" (Dictionary.com, n. d.) God is Lord of Lords and the "Light of the World" (Deut 10:17; John 8:12), so I think this is an important attribute to study.

1 Chronicles 16:27

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

1 Chronicles 16:29

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

2 Chronicles 20:21

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

Psalm 96:9

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

Psalm 104:1

Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

Psalm 145:5

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

Psalm 148:13

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Isaiah 46:13

I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.

Isaiah 61:3

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.


Reference
Splendor. (n.d.). Dictionary.com, Unabridged. Retrieved from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/splendor?s=t.

God is our Intercessor.

My mom is a prayer warrior. She taught me to pray using the ACTS model:


Adoration: Praise of God for who He is
Confession: Repentance for personal and corporate sin
Thanksgiving: Thanking God for blessings and for answered prayer
Supplication: Making requests of God


[The Moms in Prayer, "Four Steps of Prayer" article explains each step (by different names) in more depth.]


I like to use my adoration time to reflect on a specific aspect of God's character, as supported by scripture. This week, I chose to reflect on God as Intercessor. According to The Navigator's website, attribute means that, "knowing our temptations, God the Son intercedes for us. He opens the doors for us to boldly ask God the Father for mercy. Thus, God is both the initiation and conclusion of true prayer."


Below are the verses I found that reflect this attribute of God:

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Romans 8:34
Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Hebrews 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 7:25
Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.


(All verses from The New International Version, 2011)