I wish I could say that all of these journals are full of answered prayer… big prayers. Crazy prayers. Gideon, David, Moses, Paul prayers. However, most of these journals aren’t even half-full. There’s a testament to the fact that I get really excited about writing, whether it’s just journaling to myself, or writing down prayer requests and little pieces of God wisdom… and also to the fact that they’ve been abandoned after awhile.
Every time I buy a new journal, I think, Yes! This is the one where I’m going to keep up with studying my Bible, memorizing Scripture, and recording the awesome things that God does.
These journals house some of my thoughts, prayers and desires from 2003 on. The one on the very right was a present from Aaron from Christmas last year. We only spent about $25 on each other since we were *kinda* broke, so he bought me a few things, including that pretty journal and some new pens. “Because I know you like to journal and record sermon notes…”, he said.
I do like to do that… I just don’t stick with it. I remember a time when I did, and for the life of me I cannot remember where in the world I put this little silver notebook that had so many prayers, and answered prayers, and even a list of the qualities I wanted in a husband. I prayed for big things. I fasted several times a week at school, and instead of eating lunch I’d sit in the library and write out my prayers.
Tonight at the 20-somethings group, Pastor Marc challenged us to start praying about our Jerichos, big prayers. Impossible prayers. What’s the use in praying for things that we can accomplish on our own? I shared tonight that I am guilty of praying the easy, possible prayers 90-95% of the time. I’m not a risk-taking person. I get a high from doing something extremely safe but under the guise of being risky, like riding a motorcycle (ehh some of you may disagree!) or sitting in the front row of Mr. Freeze at Six Flags (DO IT).
What are my Jericho prayers? What are the things in my life that I think would be impossible on my own? I’m going to make a list, and I’m going to start praying about it. One of the first things I will pray and fast about is our call into missions. God keeps bringing people across our path who are missionaries to the Middle East, or have connections over there somehow. I tend to think that is not a coincidence…
This topic we discussed tonight is more than timely for me, for us. I have been feeling for a long time, as I said before, that I need to rise early and start praying every day. Setting aside time. Just me, God, my Bible, my journal (no longer neglected) and of course a cup of coffee (nectar from heaven!). I need to stop ignoring God when I wake up in the middle of the night, or early in the morning with a need or a person on my heart and just pray!
Praying impossible prayers will become a necessity for us, unless we want to live a comfortable lifestyle and ignore God’s call. I dunno about you, but I wanna git ‘er dun!
mercies per mile 