I know that some of you have really got it together when it comes to prayer. You can pray over a Big Mac as eloquently as one would thank God for Filet Mignon. I’m not that way. In fact, I’m one fry short of a Happy Meal when it comes to saying the right thing.
I’ve knelt through prayer meetings thinking about everything but the prayer: How funny my eyes must look when they’re closed… wondering if I’m shutting my eyelids too tightly… curious about everything going on around me… And then I remind myself that I’m supposed to be concentrating on the Lord. I shuffle my position and get official until my thoughts drift off once again…
And then, I’m reminded of this dear Friend I have. A Friend Who loves without limits and looks at the heart. A Friend Who walks beside me day in and day out. A Friend Who knows me more than I’ll ever know myself. A good friend, indeed.
David writes,
Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. (Psalm 119:164, NIV)
Words like that move me to say, “More of you, Lord… less of me.”
What might prayer look like in the life of a woman who desires to draw closer to God?
Could this be a picture of me praying by the kitchen sink while I’m washing my dishes? It could be. And yes–the Lord assures me that my eyes might be open as I take in the view from the back yard. I see the trees that my husband and I planted together, and I praise God for His gift of a husband.
Could this be a picture of me praising the Lord as I snuggle in close to Michael at night? And, what about that quiet moment in the afternoon when I’m folding laundry? Yes, even then.
I’m reminded of an old hymn that’s a classic even today. A hymn that reminds us of this great privilege we’ve been given. A reminder of the good Friend we have.
The poem was originally written by Joseph M. Scriven, and later the song was composed by Charles Crozat Converse and William Bolcom,
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
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Tilling the Soil
Take time out today to listen to the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Let the words sink in.
Planting Hope
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)
Darlene Schacht and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada where the summers are beautiful and the winters are cold. Together they’ve come to learn that relationships aren’t always easy, but that marriage, the way God intended it to be, is a treasure worth fighting for.
She began her publishing journey about twelve years ago when she pioneered one of the first online magazines for Christian women, known at the time as “Christian Women Online Magazine.” After three years, Darlene left CWO to blog as a solo author at Time-Warp Wife Ministries.
It was also during this transition that she worked alongside actress Candace Cameron Bure to write the NYT Best-Selling book, Reshaping it All: Motivation for Spiritual and Physical Fitness. Reshaping it All was the winner of both the 2011 USA Best Book Awards and the 2012 Christian Reading Retailers Choice Awards.
Author of more than 15 books, Darlene continues to write and to minister to her readers through her blog at TimeWarpWife.com.
Connect with Darlene:
Facebook: @timewarpwife
Instagram: @timewarpwife
Pinterest: @timewarpwife
Twitter: @timewarpwife
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife