Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Why On Earth Should I Pray?

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The scene played over and over in my mind. Like summer re-runs on tv, it kept looping through my thoughts. I re-lived every word. Could I have said or done anything differently? I had no peace about the situation. I tried to act like an adult by not moaning and groaning about it to everyone (not much, anyway). But my soul was greatly disturbed.

I was fighting mad, shadowboxing to try and resolve the situation that gnawed at me like termites on wood. Peace would not come.

During this time of angst, I was out of my normal morning routine of reading God’s Word and praying. Yes, I was reading my Bible each day, but unfortunately, I did not set aside time for a conversation with God. I wasn’t praying like I should have been.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB

God was faithful to place this scripture in my path that week. Like a big old boulder, He plunked it down right in front of me. There was no going around it. The thoughts in my mind were anything but quiet and peaceful. Paul tells us that we pray so that we can lead a tranquil life. I had neglected the one thing that could restore calm.

Could  Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane bring Him peace? He was brutally crucified. That doesn’t seem like a quiet and tranquil life to me. 

The original Greek word for quiet is hēsúchio, meaning undisturbed from without. Tranquil is from the Greek word ḗremos, meaning not easily upset or excited. Jesus could go to the cross because He was in constant contact with His Father through prayer.  His external circumstances did not disturb Him.

The battles and concerns I replayed over and over in my mind were things I should have taken to the Lord in prayer. There was nothing I could do in the circumstances. It was out of my hands; I needed to lay it at His feet. So I did.

[tweetthis]It was out of my hands; I needed to lay it at His feet.[/tweetthis]

Turning my concerns over to Jesus didn’t change my circumstances. Everything was the same; what was bothering me was still there. The difference was that praying about it gave me the peace of God. Through the power of prayer, I refused to let the situation excite me or disturb me. I had great peace. 

I like to think of it as prayer protection. Everything on the outside is still happening.  But now I am wrapped and protected in the arms of Jesus, sharing my concerns with Him. External circumstances do not disturb me. When I invite Jesus into my life and my situation He walks with me. I’d rather have Him by my side, experiencing His peace, than walk all alone.

Don’t let life’s circumstances rattle you. Give your concerns to the Lord in prayer. Lead the tranquil and quiet life He desires for you.

Father, I thank you that we can take all our burdens to You in prayer, so that we can lead a quiet and tranquil life. Thank You for the peace that prayer brings. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Grace be with you,

Who Do You Represent?

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I didn’t want to write this post. By writing and publishing this you may assume Soaked and Sprouting is a political blog. It is not. But so often lately, politics can lead to prayer.

During the state of the union address, I was convicted that I needed to pray for certain people in our government. Those whose views are very different from mine. More so, since I am a visual person, the Lord “suggested” that I print a picture of them, those people who didn’t applaud the pro-life legislation suggestion of President Trump, and tape it in my prayer journal. I need to look into the faces of the people I am to pray for. 

Being totally transparent here, my first thought was “YUK!” I don’t want to look at those people while I’m praying for them. But I did it. I found a picture of the women in white, and taped it in my journal.

 

This is so very hard for me. My first thought when I see them is “They DO NOT represent me and my views!” But God. He is so very faithful to show me His ways, if I will only humble myself to listen.

“Fasten the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that Aaron represents the people of Israel. Aaron will carry these names on his shoulders as a constant reminder whenever he goes before the LORD.” Exodus 28:12 NLT

Similar to the picture I taped in my prayer journal, Aaron had stones on his priestly garments to remind him that he represents the people before the Lord. 

Hmmmm. Did you see what I saw? Aaron represents the people whenever he goes before the Lord.

Even though those gals in white (and many other politicians and regular people) don’t represent me or my beliefs, I represent them when I pray for them. 

Oswald Chambers says “Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God?” (Chambers, O. (1986). My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the year)

The people we are praying for, the leaders of our country, may not represent us or our values or what we stand for. But we certainly represent them to God and must bring them before Him in prayer. Whenever we do this, we implore the Lord on their behalf, praying that His will be done in their lives. Pray that He will draw them to Himself and save them for His purposes.  Pray for them to see today’s issues through the filter of God’s truth and His Ways and His love. Pray for hearts to be changed. But most of all, PRAY. God commands it.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB

Go ahead. Print a picture of those people – whomever they may be to you. Print it. Pray over it. For them. For you. And for our country. Represent them before God. 

Grace be with You,