Prayer as Preparation

Sometimes God puts something on our hearts to prepare us for a future need. So it was for me last month when I wrote about the privilege of prayer. Each month as I compose my post, I pray ahead for my readers. My prayer is that my writings will meet at least one person’s needs. It never occurred to me that the person in need would be me.

The night after my last post was finalized and sent off, I received a call from our youngest son, Jonathan. He was ill with extreme stomach pain and had lost 40 pounds during the past month. I spent a long time on the phone talking and praying with him. When my blog came out the next morning, Jonathan called and said: “Mom, I know you couldn’t have written your blog last night, but it was exactly what we talked and prayed about.” He was right. I shared my prayer with him that my writing would touch at least one person.

My prayer had been answered. It was meant for him and for me. I realized, as did my son, that God had put last month’s post “the privilege of prayer” on my heart to prepare us. Prayer had become more than a privilege, it was our preparation! That same day Jonathan was admitted to the hospital. I hoped, of course, that he would be home in a few hours with a straightforward diagnosis and treatment plan. It wasn’t to be.

I arranged a flight to be with him. It was a long week filled with prayer, some tears, mixed with anxious thoughts and fear. At times I felt very alone. It was just my son and me in the hospital room. He was often heavily medicated, so our conversations were short. Then a ministering angel in the form of a nurse, doctor, or hospital Chaplin would come in and talk with us.

While he was having tests and procedures, I was grateful for the river and trails behind the hospital to walk and pray in the beauty of God’s creation. Sometimes, Jonathan’s pastor or neighbor would drop by. Each person was a reminder we were not alone. As I watched my son, weak and frail, I reminded myself that I had always said my children were on loan to me from God. Jonathan was God’s child before he was mine. I needed this reminder as we were living in a season of “unknowns,” as each test came back negative.

When We ‘Pray Ahead’

Years ago, a wise friend had advised me to “pray ahead” for my children. Thankfully, I have made this a lifelong practice. I was grateful for the prayers I had stored up on Jonathan’s behalf. Words for prayer often escaped me during the week as I sat by his bed. But I had prayed ahead, and God knew my mother’s heart.

Job 33:4 says, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” We are God’s creation. “In Him, we live and move and have our being,” according to Acts 17:28. These are powerful promises. We are told to write the promises of God on our hearts, to pray, and practice love, joy, faithfulness, peace, and gratitude. These practices build our spiritual endurance. Runners do not decide to run a marathon on the day of the race. They prepare, and so must we.

The walk of faith is often, or at least feels, perilous. We don’t know what the next phone call will present in the form of unexpected circumstances. In life, there are often twists, turns, curves, and, sometimes, road closures ahead. Prayer and worship help us to stay close to God and prepare us for the unknown seasons. Just as birds store food for the winter, I believe it is essential to store up prayers and God’s promises in our hearts.

When we pray ahead for our children, our family, and life in general, we are preparing for the marathon of life. When the moment of need comes, our response is the result of feeding ourselves with the healthy food of God’s word. Even if we are too overwhelmed to pray, we can ask others to pray on our behalf. We pray trusting, we pray with thanksgiving, and we pray to believe, that ultimately, all will be well with our souls because of God’s eternal “yes” for our lives!

We still don’t have the answers for Jonathan we want, but there is an improvement. He is back at work, still in pain, and limited in foods he can tolerate. We hope to have a definitive diagnosis soon. It has been difficult to live in this “unknown” season. But this is life. Life is messy. I want it neat, well defined, and controllable. But then where would the trust be? How would I see God’s work, His power, His provision or experience His peace if there was never uncertainty?

No one escapes this messy life. It is in the mess we experience God’s message of love, comfort, strength, and hope. I have the choice to let God into my messy, unpredictable world. I have the option to exercise my faith on behalf of my son’s future and his return to health.

I don’t know what the future holds. But I do know God holds my future. He holds our son’s future. This is enough.

My prayer is that you know you are loved by God, and you are entrusting your future to Him.

Blessings,

Personal Parables is the blog of Dyann Shepard. Get Dyann’s complementary study in Proverbs and prayer guide, What to Do When You Don’t Feel Good Enough. If you need encouragement to remember the truth about yourself in times of doubt and anxiety, this free 5-day study is for you. Follow Dyann and Personal Parables on Instagram and Facebook. Dyann is available for speaking, guest blogging, and article writing.

Scripture for Meditation

To support your further reading on praying ahead, here are some verses for meditation. These passages compliment my new post, Prayer as Preparation.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Proverbs 3:3 English Standard Version (ESV)
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Ephesians 6:18
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Philippians 4:9
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Psalm 107:8-9
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! For he has satisfied the thirsty soul and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.

Psalm 7:22
Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His works with joyful singing.

Psalm 62:5-8 New International Version (NIV)
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from Him.
Truly, He is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to Him,
for God is our refuge