Does Prayer really change things?

Does Prayer Really Change Things?

I think this is a question that many people have probably asked themselves at some point in their lives. Whether you know Christ or not, I think it’s a legitimate question. It’s made clear in the bible that if we would just pray, and ask God for something, it surely will be given to us.

If God tells us that we can come to him and pray at any time, why is it so hard for us? When a friend asks us to pray for them, do we really? Or do we just say we will because it is what they will want to hear?

This topic of prayer is something my church and my small group have been discussing together and challenging one another in. I think many of us are skeptical at times about if prayer really does change things; if God really listens, or if it is even worth our time.

Just as it is hard at times to spend time in God’s word, I think it can be equally hard to spend time in prayer. Especially in our society where there are distractions everywhere we look. We are also very busy people, who need answers to everything right away.

I think now more than ever, God wants us to slow down. He wants to teach his children patience and discipline. We are spoiled with technology and how quickly we get things done now. Believe me, I totally take advantage of all the new technology and social networking and I think there are many great aspects and benefits to it. But I think we need to remember to balance it with a little old school bible reading, journaling, time in prayer, and laying hands on a friend and praying with them. As much as I love the communication through technology, I hope we don’t lose the sometimes uncomfortable face-to-face, physical touch and small gatherings of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Do I believe prayer changes things? Yes, I do. I believe it gives me time with my Heavenly father; to praise Him, to thank Him, to give Him my burden, to ask for His guidance, to show gratitude for the people He has brought into my life, to let Him know I am lost without Him. It brings me a sense of humility and patience. But this is just from my own experience, I cannot answer the question for you.

To me, it is much more than just asking him for help. It is a beautiful act of Worship that brings me closer to my Heavenly Father who I so desperately need to guide me everyday. And I hope I will engage in this more.

Even though we study science, have college degrees, build fast computers and do just fine on our own; we still need Jesus.

Our small group has challenged each other to be intentionally praying for one another. I pray that we will let our guards down, as well as our skepticism and even hurt feelings from other people; And just let God move. I pray he will use this little group of people to cause a wave of prayer that will change things for the glory of God.

Thank you God, for your Son Jesus. So that we may have the opportunity to come straight to you with our problems, praises, and requests. You are so near to us. Help us to realize that this week.

“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” -John 14:14

You never let go.

I will admit that I have felt a little distant from God lately. I know he is here with me, all around; yet I have not felt intimate with him in awhile. It's not uncommon for Christians to fall into a rut when it comes to our walk with God. Sometimes it's not even on purpose, but we just get so busy with life. I think this is the case for me right now.

This morning I put my worship playlist on shuffle, and the first song that came on was "You never let go" by The David Crowder Band, which also happens to be one of the songs on my blog. This song is so fitting right now. Even when I have become so busy with life, Jesus never let's go. He never stops tugging on my heart or reminding me of how much he loves me.

In November, our baby boy was born. It was seriously the most amazing experience in my life, alongside my wedding day. I love spending countless hours with my son; holding him, feeding him, changing him, playing with him, singing to him. He has brought an unspeakable joy into the hearts of Marcos and I. With this said however, I realize that I have put God on the back burner.

I have hardly picked up my bible or prayed as my soul longs to. I was reading today and this is a verse that stuck out to me.

"The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name." - Psalm 119:131-132

I don't know about you, but as a Christian I'm not okay being stagnant in my walk with God. I don't want to just be comfortable where I'm at in life. I want to be continuously seeking my King and learning how I can better serve him in the hopes of changing this world for HIS glory. Even if it is in the everyday, repetitive things like being a wife and mommy. Or for others, a student or co-worker. No matter the life-stage we are in, whether we are young or old, single or married, working or taking care of babies; God is at work in our lives and he is using us for a bigger purpose.

Sometimes in life, things are so good that we forget to make God a part of it. He should be the biggest part because it is he who made it happen. I think this has been the case for me lately. I am so comfortable in my life right now, but I pray that is no reason for me not to trust or lean on my sweet Jesus every single day. I don't want to just be intimate with my heavenly father when life is hard. I want that Divine Romance every day.

Today my prayer is this:

Lord, thank you for the amazing blessings you have poured into my life. I have such a grateful heart, yet I feel stagnant in my walk with you. Help me to prioritize my time so that I make time for you. Help me to spend more time in your word so that I can be the wife and mother you created me to be. Just as the best thing I can do for my son is to love my husband; I know the best thing I can do for both of them is to love my Jesus. I don't want to be a lazy christian. I want to seek more of you. Lord, draw me close. Use me.

p.s. Thank you for never letting go :)

Amen.

G.U.T.S.

Check this out :)

http://www.girlsusingtheirstrengths.blogspot.com/

Blessings,

Mindy

Heavenly Father.

Here is a poem I wrote and had the opportunity to share with my Seven community last night before communion. 

"How great the Father’s love for us,

His mercy and grace cover us.

Hallelujah we sing, to our father the King,

His love fills us 

and heals us, 

our praises to him, in the songs that we sing.

How great the Father’s love for us, 

this everlasting love,

this real love,

 this love we cannot escape.

His body the bread and his blood the wine,

heal us oh heavenly Father and let your light shine.

We are your children, 

children who need a holy Father, a mentor and a savior.

Hear us now as we remember you,

let us remember all you went through.

Our souls thirst for you 

and burn for you,

Let us remember you, as we live as the ones you have called.

O how you love us, in a way that is so deep and so wide,

hear our worship and accept our praise.

Lord you are the father, who gives us joy, and breath, and life,

thank you for hearing your children,

as we sing of your holy sacrifice."

Written by Melinda Clark

Bye-bye books... Hello baby!

As I approach my college graduation, this time is very bittersweet to me. I can't believe that after the summer, I will not be returning to school. I've been waiting so long for this moment... and now it is actually happening. My journey through college was a crazy, tough, fun, long, rewarding roller coaster. It has taken seven years, but I've now reached the end.... and it feels good to have accomplished one of my biggest dreams.

I began junior college down in Riverside in 2002. I can still remember my first day. I was a lost little small town, 18-year-old leaving Barstow to try out the real world. I remember sitting in rush hour traffic and being late to my first day of college. There was nowhere to park, and the Riverside Community College seemed so huge to me. 

I just remember crying and calling my mom. I know she wanted to just tell me to come home but she stayed strong and encouraged me that everything would be okay.I felt so small in this big new world and I didn't know anyone. Luckily, my dad was working in Riverside at the time and he came to my rescue =) He helped me find parking, then walked the campus with me so that I knew where all my classes were. He took me to lunch and I felt so much better. It was a silly story... but I will never forget it.

Many years have past since that first day of college and many life changes have happened during that time. I went through adjusting to a new place, to break-ups with boyfriends, finding my relationship with Christ, finding the love of my life, becoming his wife, and now.... becoming a mommy. I can't wait to tell my baby boy that he walked with me across that stage when I get my diploma.

Without this sounding like an academy award acceptance, I want to give credit where credit is due. There have been so many people who have helped me get where I am today. I know that it is my precious Jesus who carried me through all those tough times when I wanted to give up and run away from college altogether. Satan had such a hold on me and my confidence when it came to college. He was winning, then my Jesus stepped in and told me that with HIM, I can do anything.

My parents are so amazing. Their love and belief in me is such a big part of why I am where I'm at today. My dad always pushed me when I needed it, bought my books even when I failed classes repeatedly, and even provided me with a car so that I didn't have to worry about a car payment during school. He never gave up on me. My mom was there when I had a bad day, needed to cry over a failed test or an ex-boyfriend. She always encouraged me and told me to keep my head up. She is the glue that held our family together and would do anything to see her children happy. I hope I will be as good of a mom as she is. I am blessed to have been raised by two incredible individuals. Their love for the Lord and for each other has paid of greatly when I look at our family. 

My husband has been my anchor for the past two years. He has worked hard and provided for me so that I can continue my dream of education. He is my best friend, my love, my support, and now, my baby's daddy =) His love for Christ, and his passion to see others succeed has helped me to believe in myself and always work hard. He is my hero, and it is a honor that I get to graduate from the same school as him and wear his graduation robe at my graduation. I know that his grandpa Clark who is not longer with us on Earth is looking down from Heaven and thinking what an amazing man Marcos has become. I am so blessed to be his wife. 

There are so many others who have encouraged me, prayed for me, and made my college years unforgettable. My brothers, my family, my Clark family, my best friends, my small group, college buddies, church pastors... this accomplishment is not just mine... it belongs to everyone around me and I am convinced that it takes a community to raise a college grad =)

It's now time to say bye-bye to the books and hello to our beautiful baby boy. I am so humbled by the fact that God has chosen Marcos and I to take on the role of parents and raise one of his beautiful creations. I am so excited about this new chapter in our lives, and there is no one I would rather share it with than Marcos. I won't be working right away, and we often wonder how we are going to afford to raise a family, but that is when our faith comes in. We are trusting that Jesus will provide just has he has since the day we got married. God has truly blessed our lives and I know that every single thing that is good comes from my Jesus. Thanks for being a part of our journey!

"The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." - Psalm 116: 5-7

L-O-V-E

"Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and you former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness-righteous, holy and true". Ephesians 4:21-24

When we become Christians, we become a new creation. We all have a filthy past that has at some point brought us and the people we love shame. We are sinners, but before we ever sinned, Christ died for us. He knew our nature was to be selfish, but he gave in to an excruciating death on our behalf anyway. 

Because of this death that Christ took on our behalf, we are able to flee from that life of selfishness, lust, bitterness and greed. 

Because of Christ's death for me, "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me". Galatians 2:20

As Christians, we are called to be set apart. We are called to love the unloveable and to forgive the unforgivable. For it is not in our own power that we are able to do this, but in the power of Christ Jesus. Instead of wasting our days mocking others, or trying to make their days miserable, we are called to lift them up and encourage them. 

Our years on this Earth are so short. And we are unaware of the day God will call each of us home. So I ask myself-- what will I do with my short years to make a difference in eternity? How will I play my part in extending the Kingdom of God?

I want to learn to love people the way that Christ loves me.

Love is such a simple word, used over and over in this life-- but do we really show love when it truly matters? It is easy to love those who love us first. It is easy to love those who make life easier on us. It is easy to love precious, innocent children. But do we love the people who have hurt us and showed nothing but disrespect to us? Do we love those who make our lives miserable and who spit in our face? 

All people love the lovable, but it takes the power of Christ in our lives to love the unloveable. 

Remember, Christ died for those men and women who spat upon him, mocked him, slashed his back, and nailed him to a cross. That is what real love looks like. 

The Bible teaches what is important in this life. "There are three things that will endure-- faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

 Jesus showed love to the people who were most undeserving. There is no time and no room in our lives to hold grudges and not forgive others. It doesn't matter what someone has done to us, if we claim the name of Christ, we are commanded to forgive them. Bitterness does nothing to the other person, but it will eat us alive inside and keep us from living a life to the full that Christ called each one of us to live.

Who do you need to forgive or encourage today? Their time on Earth as well as ours is too short. Don't wait until it is too late. 

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you". Ephesians 4:31-32

Just a thought.

Awhile back, my friend Heidi shared a website with me that has been very encouraging and helpful as a wife. The website is http://www.the-generous-wife.com and if you sign up for it, it will send you daily reminders on little things you can do to be a generous wife. This is something I read today that I thought I would share:

     I encourage you to make listening a priority.  I know that may sound a bit simplistic, but listening is an important skill.  It helps you understand those around you (hubby included) and will give you many opportunities to bless.  If you know what your husband is feeling, you can encourage him.  If you know what he likes you, can bless him.  If you know what your husband dreams of, you can inspire.

     "The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood.  The best way to understand people is to listen to them."  Ralph Nichols

Be blessed!