We sat there in our weekly Mom’s In Prayer time and thanked God for blessings, answers to prayer and unexpected favors of the Lord. I found myself in awe of our son’s academic week. Four 100’s on tests or quizzes some of which are more difficult subjects for him. My heart was voicing the awe and surprise in it all. My prayer came out saying something about almost falling out of my chair in excitement, shock and celebration.
A few days later I was glancing through my prayer journal and saw it there – my written request for A’s on Mitchell’s behalf earlier that week. I had totally forgotten that I asked God for this specific request on Mitchell’s behalf. Not sure if my short term memory loss had to do with the fact that I didn’t really believe it would happen or what. We stress doing your best and aren’t caught up in having to make all A’s yet I found myself asking God for this. And somehow I initially missed that this was a direct answer to prayer until I went back and looked at what I had taken to my God in prayer.
Journaling our prayers lets us remember what we voice to God because how quickly we forget. It also lets us trace the hand of God in our lives as we go back and read our hearts in prayer. Even in the repeated requests with what seems to be a deafening silence from God we can see Him working. It might not be in the first week or even the second week of looking back. But in that 6th month of looking back and remembering it will be like, “Oh yes, I can see how He was working during that time.”
So grab you a cutie pa-tootey journal and start writing out those prayers. Be sure to date them and check back in to see how God is working. He is not bound by our little prayer journals. These are not “tickets” to our wishes. Of course not. Our God is sovereign and works his plan in his own way and timing. But he does listen to us and he hears us. And in his heart of love he does what he knows is best for us so he can receive glory.
(Linking for the first time with Jenn, The Beauty in His grip, Laura, and Michelle and EO and Rich Faith Rising. These are blogs I’ve been reading but not commenting on so I’m not sure how the linky protocol works. Nothing like showing up, wedgies and all, to other people’s blogs. Sorry guys!)
I am so glad that I was your neighbor at Playdates With God on your first time linking!! Somehow it feels like an honor for me. Weird. I know. But truly I loved your post. It is so true that we so easily forget what we pray for. As I read your post, I thought, no wonder God tells us to remember so many times throughout Scripture! He knows how bad our memories are. I also browsed around on your site & must tell you, girl – you made me laugh! I am not sure if it was the candid camera idea, or your mom trying to use her spit to erase your tattoo or your confession on a cruise ship but you are sure enjoying life & I loved reading it. So welcome! Hope to see you around more link ups!
Have a great Monday,
Joanne
Hi Melody! I am coming over from SDG.
I would have to say that I was intrigued by your blog name. It made me smile! So thank you for that on a Tuesday morning.
Journaling is a wonderful way to start the day. I like to just ‘get it all out there’ on paper, and then let God drive the hours. How fun that you saw your prayer for son! We do get into the groove and sort of forget what we write. Congrats on the job well done on those tests!
I very much agree with the 20/20 hindsight. It’s a lot easier to see God working as I look back. In the present, it’s not always that easy!
Nice to meet you today 🙂
Ceil
Seriously, I saw your pic on the linky and was like “Who is that?” (I know what you look like because I’VE GOTTEN TO MEET YOU IN PERSON, but the pic is small). Anyway, I was not surprised when I traveled here to find out it was you. So happy you are here! And I love what you have written. It’s so, so true. I think sometimes the enemy helps us forget because he doesn’t want God to get the glory, but then I also think it can just be a natural product of humanness, too!
I’m coming over from Heather’s to say hello! Journaling has helped me put my days end to end in a way that shows me how God shows up in his time answering some prayers and helping me wait for others. Definitely an ebb and flow and I’d forget too if it weren’t so plainly written in front of me. So cute to see how prayers for good grades were answered!!
Journals are great learning tools–especially prayer journals. I have also experienced seeing God’s hand more clearly thru notes in my journal. I’m glad you have a group of moms to pray with! Visiting from UNITE.
Blessings.
Hi, Melody, I’ve had so much fun roaming around your site today- savoring the glimpses into your family’s life and delighting in your spirit of joy. Wish you lived across the street. I’m used to “wedgies” – think it just comes with the turf as a mom of five. Thanks for stopping by the Overflow! yesterday so I could “follow you” here! And btw, I agree with you on the 20/20 hindsight… so thankful a junior high mentor taught me to journal my prayers- and I’ve never stopped. I’ve got 30 years of God’s faithfulness captured in scribbles on pages and pages of cute journals. I think it’s easier to see His answers when we can look back at what we’ve been asking for/wrestling with.