The Mosaic Of Prayer

Part 3 in the Series A Dot Mom Prays™

Moving from city to city, state to state isn’t always what its cracked up to be. This week, some of my fellow bloggers agreed to take over my blog while I finished the business of moving.  Today, Lylah of  The Lylah Blog has comandeered the pages. Read on, I think you’ll find a special grace here. I’ll be back on Monday, til then…

 

From the beginning of time, prayer has always been the mystical conduit for the soul of (wo) man to reach up to her creator in moments of expression, need, desperation and desire.

I am a woman who believes in the power of prayer. I believe that when a woman prays, God leans forward, bends His ear to hear her voice and her heart. It’s women and their innate ability to influence that God often uses to change the world around them.

 

Examples of Women and Prayer

One can be sure that Jocabed, the mother of Moses prayed a desperate prayer when she could no longer hide her infant son from Pharaoh’s order of death for all newborn Hebrew boys. In time, her son would become the deliverer of his people. (Exodus chapter 2)

Manoah’s wife was a deeply disappointed woman who felt intense sorrow. Her womb was empty and yet, her faith taught her that heaven knew all about her longings for a child. In time, she bore a son who would become known as Israel’s strongest man. (Judges 13)

Hannah’s prayer was nothing short of the deep agonizing longing that poured forth from an empty womb. Scriptures record that after Hannah had eaten the sacrificial meal at Shiloh, she got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord making this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime.” In time, her son would become known as Israel’s first prophet. (1 Samuel 1)

Queen Esther was in quite the predicament when Haman convinced Xerxes (the King) to issue a decree to destroy all the Jews in the land. Esther, unbeknownst to the king, was Jewish. Esther prayed and then summoned all the Jews in Susa to pray. In time, God leaned forward from His throne to save His people.

Oh, the power of prayer when a woman prays!

 

What is prayer?

Prayer is simply talking and listening to God. It’s communication to the Almighty who is my Audience of One. Prayer is the expression of my voice talking to my God and it’s the place of quietness in my soul where I wait on His presence to hear His voice – His voice to me about the things that concern Him.

 

The attitude of prayer . . .

When I read God’s instruction book, I see three important principles that are necessary when talking to God. The first is to give thanks, next is to come before the throne of the Almighty with confidence and then third is to have a humble heart. God surely ignores the proud heart.

 

All kinds of prayer… .

The Bible is the instruction book for life. It’s full of principles that teach us how to “do relationship with God” and how to “do relationship with others.” Included within these principles are examples and instruction on prayer as well as the reasons women prayed.

I love the examples of Esther, Hannah and Manoah’s wife who had enough faith in the Almighty to pray some “big” prayers. But, it’s not just about praying “big prayers” it’s about partnering with God for His eternal purposes in this world. It’s about learning to understand His ways and His heart for people and it’s about having confidence that He wants to use us to accomplish those eternal purposes.

I’ve prayed all kinds of prayers that I know have had eternal purposes: prayers for broken marriages, wayward children, those who are sick, and those who have struggled financially. I’ve seen God answer many of my prayers often not in the way I’d have liked, but looking back it was because He wanted His character developed in me.

No prayer – no conversation is too small or too big for God. He wants to hear us talk. He wants to hear our fears, our joys, and our concerns. I’d say that sometimes that He wants to ‘move’ on our behalf, but because we don’t ask, He just waits. Prayer is all about relationship – me relating to the Almighty – because He loves me and has purpose for my life. He wants me to partnership with Him in the big scheme of things.

 

God’s partners …

God designed and intended that we - His Image Bearers would be in intimate relationship with Him – for all eternity. He put eternity in our hearts and His plan from the beginning was and still is that all would come to know Him intimately and choose to love Him. And, it’s through His Son Jesus that we have that privilege and that access to His throne. Prayer – communication – communion – conversation is the vehicle He uses for us to partner with Him for the sake of His love being made known to this crazy world.

We do live in crazy and uncertain times and in this hour of eternity, I have this sense that women are being called to take up the charge to pray. Will you join me? Will you become a woman in prayer - together we’ll see just what will happen when a woman prays!

 

The Lylah Blog: Simple Home Living is devoted to help women become better wives and mothers by providing tools and tips on how to do life with purpose, create sanctuary and restore dignity to the home. Lylah ( a wife, mother and nana to six) sprinkles The Lylah Blog with a variety of subjects from marriage to mothering, hospitality to the understanding the simple home, making cupcakes with her grandkids and gardening with her husband. She writes with experience on issues women struggle with such as: singleness, anger and how to understand men. As a novice photographer, you’ll enjoy the stories and pictures of Lylah’s frequent Traveling Tales through Europe.

For more information about Lylah Ledner or The Lylah Blog, please visit her at LylahLedner.Blogspot.com ~ and don’t forget to bring your coffee!

Walking In Grace Amid Turmoil

I threw in my towel yesterday. So tired of all the mud slinging, trash talking and utter nonsense around me. I pulled the plug on my ear-buds, turned off my laptop, turned off the television, the satellite radio and listen to the katy-dids. Oh the pleasures of the small town south! Breathing in the cool night air brought a sense of calm, the din of chatter silenced and I soaked it in.

As I reflected this morning on where I was when the world stopped turning, kneeled and prayed for the souls we lost, the heros who lost their and those who survived. My thoughts turned to Texas and my mom, who now refuses to leave her home in Houston, despite being faced with a cat3 hurricane possibly by Friday night. I stop to pray again, and beg that she’s safe. So, my post mood today is a bit more somber, a bit more sober and a bit more introspective. I’m trying to keep a personal promise to myself, to ignore the hate and bile being spat upon women this election season and I’m asking, no begging other women to join me in promoting peace, dignity and grace among women across all ethnicity and political agendas. We can walk together in grace and dignity, supporting all women and end the turmoil that has become our country’s electoral season. Together we can insist the candidates refocus the campaigns on issues and work to delete bias on the basis of gender and ethnicity.

The Lylah Blog, written by none other than the wonderful Lylah, is my daily stop for creating sanctuary in my life. Lylah is an accomplished writer and speaker who’s married to a wonderful preacher in Arizona. Take a drop by Lylah’s place when you feel you need to know the answer. Recently Lylah wrote What Happened To Women. Its worth a trip by her blog for everyone. Drop in on her and tell her I sent ya! Tonight, the town will Hit The Bricks and enjoy a few hours of local camaraderie and fellowship, visiting shoppe owners and restaurateurs along the town’s mainstreet. Another perk to small town America.

Megan at The Velveteen Mind wrote yesterday about small town values and the road to the White House. Always well written, the ever articulate Megan has her hands full with several projects, most notably Blog Nosh. You might not always agee with her, but she’s always a clear, unadulterated read. I’m proud to count her as a southern sister.

Don’t forget Blog Action Day is October 15. This year we’re blogging poverty. Bird On A Wire will host blogs writing about homelessness and mental illness as it relates to poverty. If you have any other topics you’d like to share, please let me know in the comments.

 

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

 

On a lighter note, Auds is hosting a hoot of a giveaway/contest. Drop in to visit and enter.  You could win a brand spanking new digital camera and some really neat accessories.

I’m hosting a Cabbage Patch Kid give away this month and until the 15th of this month registration is open for the Surprise give away. Instructions for each can be found by clicking here and here.  Both give aways are free and easy to enter. Go ahead, click the links. You know you want to!

Last but not least, Bird On A Wire was nominated for The Divine Caroline, Love This Site award. In the category of Neighborhood and World. I’m so proud to be among the blogs in the category. I’d be even prouder if I got close to winning. If you have a minute, vote for the Bird by clicking the graphic at the end of this post. And Thanks.

That about wraps Thursday up in a satin bow. Visit tomorrow, when my Favorite things moves to Birds Eye Views and Remarkable Bloggers celebrates the last year.