Growth, Faith, and Prayer

There’s this interesting phenomenon that happens with the process of growth.  In physical growth, you (or your children) don’t measure growth on a day-to-day basis; instead, you look at how much one has grown by looking from the present day back to previous months.  When coming out of a mental health issue - slowly things improve until you realize that you are no longer anxious, depressed, or angry.  I’ve come to the belief that this is how one grows spiritually, also.

Let me tell you a little story: 

For a long time I was skeptical about the power of prayer.  I was one of those Christians who believed in the power of prayer, did it habitually at meal time, but didn’t feel like my prayers were ever heard, let alone answered.  Not to say that I don't still have my doubts, but between some powerful sermons at EBC, an amazing book called Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick, and some real life experiences using the website of http://www.onlineprayerworks.com/ktis (by KTIS), I've seen the examples first hand.  

Over the last several months, and more recently the last 4-6 weeks; I have seen the growth that God has worked through my life.  Earlier this fall I listened to Sun Stand Still, then at church we had a sermon series entitled “Talk to Me” – all about prayer.  Then, the thing that I didn’t think would happen – my boyfriend broke up with me; stating that he had to follow God’s prompting.  I still don’t understand that, but whatever; that’s not the purpose of this post.  The point is that through him breaking up with me, I have seen – first hand – the power of prayer.  I posted a prayer on PrayerWorks shortly after we broke up, asking for encouragement and guidance.  And at the most random times (or not so random times), I would get a text stating that someone has prayed for me.

My reaction to this from my journal:
Lord, I trust you.  This is definitely your hand on this... It's far too much to be "just coincidence".  I don't even know if coincidence isn't you, anyways... A total of 13 prayers in the 10 o'clock hour... Lord, what are you doing?  Like I told Ken [our small group pastor], this is too much to be a coincidence, I believe it must be from you... Clarity, Lord, I need clarity.  Because as it stands, the only way that I can withstand this is with your strength.  … [Later on that evening…] Lord, I believe in the power of prayer and the power that you have to change people. I know it is only through you.  

So, I sat pondering and questioning and wondering all evening long.  I even drove 45 minutes out to Chaska to meet with a Christian couple that I’ve known for 13 years… the wife so very aptly put it, “So you’re questioning why God is covering you in prayer when you need it most?”  Well, geez, when you put it that way… of course not!  But the intellectual in me is struggling with the “why?” and the “where is this going”.  So, I talk with one of the girls from small group – love her perspective – and she reminds me that God knows the best ways to reach me.  Then, that same night, after the kids were in bed, my former youth director came over and we talked and prayed and shared how exciting it is to see God in a real-life type of way.  They all helped me to see that I’m not going crazy…

It’s overwhelming to see God work in ways that you might not even normally see. And if there’s one thing that I’ve learned – it’s that prayer – although I can’t explain why or how it works (yet) – does work. And be prepared for God to change you, regardless of what you pray for.

My prayers, now, have become an ongoing conversation with God.  I ask him questions, I let him have it when I’m frustrated, I thank him and praise him, and love him.  Through him and his prompting, I have grown in my personal relationships and trust so that I can be vulnerable with healthy people and rely on them when I need support.  And through it all, my faith has been strengthened beyond anything that I could have imagined.