So a crazy ice storm recently hit us here in Oklahoma. What seemed like a terrible disaster and inconvenience for me, ended up being a complete blessing! I left Moore Monday afternoon, escaping the powerless suburb that reeked with havoc. I drove up North to the Blankenburg’s and let me just say they are amazing! We spent the day cuddled up on the couch, drinking hot chocolate and watching movies. Did I mention we ate a lot too? I’m pretty sure I gained 10 lbs that day.
As we were enjoying the peacefulness of escaping the day-to-day rituals, we got a call from a friend about a little 5-month old boy who stopped breathing. We immediately stopped the movie, gathered hands and prayed to our God for comfort, support and most of all miraculous healing. Oh man, it was amazing to be in such an atmosphere of prayer warriors. I am so blessed to have so many people around me that value the power of prayer, actively use it and come together in love and support.
As I sat there, I fell in love with the moment! Despite the tragedy, I fell in love with Christ and the way He made me feel as I held their hands in prayer. When we finished praying, I sat there (yes, my own sitcom playing in my head) and I couldn’t help but think I am selfish in my prayers. It’s not that I only come to God in tragedies, but I am continuously reminding myself that God has a plan and to trust that. I do trust that, with everything I am. But, as I begged for the healing of this little boy, I hesitated because I wondered if that was a selfish request. I wondered if begging for a miracle meant that I was requesting my will and not trusting God’s.
As I was feeling this confusion, Kevin (Mr. Blankenburg himself) quickly reminded me that God asks us to do this. He asks us to present our requests to Him. I continued to think and began to understand that there’s a difference between begging, yet trusting, and demanding, then walking away. As God revealed to me the difference, Valerie (Mrs. Blankenburg, who could probably do well as Mrs. Claus) told me a story of a miracle they witnessed earlier in the year. A friend of theirs had tried to commit suicide. As he was rushed to the hospital, his organs began to shut down. He wasn’t expected to live through the night. Of course, this was an absolute tragedy. As they prayed for this man, Valerie told me that she didn’t stop at praying for healing. She prayed for life, deliverance from his medication and release from his ailments, this depression he had been consumed by for so long. Man, that’s a big request huh? In my mind I was just hoping for life. But, let me tell you, God healed him, every part of him…body, mind, soul. When he woke, he was the man his family always missed and wanted him to be. He had somewhat become a recluse and when God healed him, he sold his house, took a trip and is now completely involved in his family. Can you imagine such an extreme healing?
I found this moment very enlightening. I always knew God could do anything, I guess I just didn’t realize that I didn’t always give him that opportunity, or didn’t always trust enough to request it in my life.
So, this is my thought. Why don’t we boldly make our requests to God, as if there are no limits? If we request our desires, and all the while trusting him with or without our defined request, we actually open our eyes and heart to let him move mountains…to give us strength to chase lions. So, why do we place limits in our prayers, or not even limits, why do we only request the bare essentials? Our God is a mighty and powerful God; if we open ourselves up to a limitless idea of prayer…we just may be that tool that He uses to change the world.
